Commencement Information

Each May, College of Law graduates gather to celebrate their success. We encourage you to plan on joining other fall, spring, and summer grads as they come together to receive their diplomas. Commencement begins at 11:00 am and is held at the Breslin Center. The ceremony usually lasts about two hours. (Graduates must arrive by 10 am.)

Commencement Dates

Fall 2024, Spring 2025, & Summer 2025 - Friday May 9, 2025

Global Food Law Graduate Reception

A special reception is held Thursday afternoon prior to commencement, for all Global Food Law graduates. This reception gives graduates and their families an opportunity to meet faculty, staff and Sparty.

It is your responsibility to submit an Application for Graduation indicating your intention to graduate before or during the first week of your last semester. Once this application is submitted, you will be added to the list of graduates and receive important communications regarding commencement.

The College of Law produces a composite photo each spring. The photo includes graduates for the entire academic year. All graduates wanting to be included in the composite must submit photos to law.commencement@law.msu.edu by March 1:

• At least 5 x 7 and 300 dpi in size
• Gray background
• Student turned slightly right or left, not straight on
• Include students face, neck and top of shoulder
• Be taken in professional attire

Commencement regalia (4-corner Tam; Gown; Hood, trimmed in purple velvet; and purple tassel) is ordered and can be shipped directly to you or to the College of Law to be picked up the day before commencement. It is imperative that you notify the Global Food Law Program if you have your gown sent to the college so it can be picked up for you.

The Spartan Spirit Shop, located in the MSU Union, has diploma frames, class rings, and other graduation related items you may be interested in. Please contact them if you have specific questions regarding Law Regalia.

You are encouraged to book your hotel and dinner reservations early. Commencement brings many Spartan friends and family members to East Lansing. The MSU Office of Admissions has some great travel information available (including lodging and airport information.)