Your support has helped your graduate get to this day, and it’s your support and encouragement that makes Commencement day special. Join us in honoring an achievement that carries these students through all of their future endeavors.
You are vital to the celebration
Commencement Ceremony
Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
Time: Procession at 9:45 a.m. CDT, Ceremony at 10 a.m. CDT
Location: IU Northwest Savannah Parking Lot 2 (west section)
65 W 33rd Ave.
Gary, IN 46408
Things to know
Gates open for family and guests at 8 a.m. We encourage all guests to be seated by 9:30 a.m. to see the full ceremonial procession. Seating is first come, first served.
The ceremony begins at 10 a.m.
Family and friends are welcome to bring a water bottle as water refill stations will be available.
Venue and Parking
Commencement will be held in the IU Northwest Savannah Lot 2 (west section). The procession will begin at 9:40 a.m., and the ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. Please note that all times are Central Standard Time.
Student and guest parking will be available beginning at 8 a.m. The closest building to the event is the Savannah Center. Use the link below to locate the venue and parking to plan your visit.
Graduation Photos
Photographs may be taken during the ceremony, but you may be restricted from certain areas. We contract with a photographer to capture graduates in their caps and gowns holding their diploma covers as they step away from the stage. Proofs and order forms will be mailed after graduation, or you can preorder.
Accessibility Information
All student and guest seating at Commencement is ADA accessible. An ASL interpreter will be provided for the hearing impaired.
If you need further accommodations, please reach out to our trained Commencement organizers three weeks prior to the ceremony by emailing eventsnw@iun.edu or calling 219-980-7763.
Weather and Safety
In the event of inclement weather the day of the event, students, families, and friends are encouraged to visit the university website and social accounts for updates and safety recommendations. Go to IU Northwest's website or any of IU Northwest’s social media accounts for the latest developments.
Celebrate your Graduate
Capture the moment
Preorder digital or printed professional photos taken by GradImages during the procession lineup.
Preorder photos
Make it official
Order personalized announcements, a class ring, or diploma frame through Herff Jones.
Browse mementos
Give a bouquet
Order from IU’s exclusive Commencement vendor to have flowers ready for pick up at the ceremony.
Order flowersEducation has always been extremely important to my parents, even though they did not have the opportunity to attend college. So when I graduated in 2022, I was earning my diploma not only for myself, but also for my parents. Having my family’s presence at the ceremony made the day that much more special, memorable, and celebratory!
Karla Trujillo, Class of 2022
