RUSVM COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Yes. RUSVM is excited to celebrate our graduates in person on Friday, May 20, 2022, at 1 p.m. ET at the Watsco Center (located on the University of Miami campus), 1245 Dauer Drive, Coral Gables, Florida.

We are working closely with the commencement venue in monitoring COVID-19 updates from the Center of Disease Control (CDC), the Florida Department of Health, and the World Health Organization (WHO) to uphold a successful event. With your health and safety as our top priority, we will adjust plans as needed to comply with local guidelines and restrictions and will keep you informed should we need to modify our graduation plans.*

*With the evolving environment, date, time and location are subject to change. We recommend taking advantage of flexible booking options for flights and hotels.

We are awaiting guidance from the venue on any specific restrictions for guests. However, at this time there are no headcount restrictions regarding guests. We are strongly encouraging flexible travel including flight and hotel accommodations should anything change. We will continue to communicate any guidelines/restrictions with graduates via email. 

Please note that the event will also be livestreamed in real-time so family and friends can watch from anywhere across the world. The livestream link will be provided to graduates via email.

No, there will not be a standalone virtual event. RUSVM is excited that we will be able to celebrate our graduates’ accomplishments together in person – exact details regarding COVID-19 guidelines will be shared closer to the event date. If you are unable to attend the in-person commencement, there will be a livestream link shared so that it can be watched from anywhere across the world. The livestream link will be provided to graduates via email.

For Class of 2022 graduates who are unable to attend the in-person event, the Commencement Planning Team will include instructions for an option to participate virtually during the in-person ceremony when the commencement registration details are shared via email.  You must register by the designated deadline for these arrangements to be made.

Yes! Graduates who participated in 2020 or 2021 virtual celebrations may participate in the 2022 in-person commencement ceremony. An email will be sent to graduates with additional information for registering for the event and designating your class year.

No. If students choose not to take part in the ceremony and their university academic requirements are met, graduates will receive their diplomas in the mail.

Yes. You must complete a graduation application regardless of ceremony participation so that your degree is officially conferred. The graduation application can be found on the home page of the My Ross Vet Portal under ‘Quick Links’ and ‘Submit Your Application for Graduation.’ For information on degree conferral, special graduation dates, etc. Visit  https://veterinary.rossu.edu/alumni/graduation/graduation-information.

Specific questions can also be sent to Registrar@rossu.edu.

RUSVM will provide honor cords to qualified honor students at check-in on the day of the ceremony.  Your honor status, if applicable, will be printed on your DVM diploma. It is important to note the pre-clinical cumulative GPA through 7th semester is used to determine your honor status and ranking – clinical grades are not factored in. For more information visit https://veterinary.rossu.edu/alumni/graduation/graduation-information.

If your university academic requirements are met, you will receive your diploma in the mail. Diplomas are mailed to the student's diploma mailing address from their graduation application, which can be viewed and updated in the My Ross Vet student portal.

Please email hjcollegefl@aol.com and a Herff Jones representative will respond directly.

We anticipated a program time no longer than 2 ½ hours.  

RUSVM will celebrate all of our graduates at one ceremony. Our 2020 and 2021 graduates will line up with 2022 graduates in alphabetical order by last name.  

No. Face coverings/masks are not required at the ceremony. Should circumstances change, we will communicate updated recommendations.

Face covering/masks are not required and at the discretion of the graduate and their guests. Graduates may remove their face covering while receiving a diploma and taking portrait photos. 

At this time, proof of vaccination will not be required for students and guests to attend the in-person ceremony. The university continues to strongly recommend strongly that people get vaccinated.

Physical tickets will not be required, however, we kindly ask that you stay as close to your projected guest count as possible since accommodations were made with those RSVP counts and details.

The entire list of eligible graduates for 2022 will be added to the commencement program and we do our best to ensure that the lists are correct. Should you notice a discrepancy, our team can send a revised digital copy post-ceremony if you email RUSVMGraduation@rossu.edu. Please note that if there is an error, your name will still be announced in person.

For the Class of 2020 or 2021, your name will be included in this program if you register for the ceremony by the designated deadline. Please note that if there is an error, your name will still be announced in person.

RUSVM has started sending out ceremony registration emails. If you have not yet received emails, we ask that you first check your junk folders in your primary email address. If you use a legacy RUSVM email, we also request you check there. You can contact rusvmgraduation@rossu.edu for additional information.

RUSVM has started sending out ceremony registration emails. If you have not yet received emails, we ask that you first check your junk folders in your student email address. You can contact rusvmgraduation@rossu.edu for additional information if you are unable to locate the commencement email communications.  

Graduates should arrive at the Watsco Center by 11:00 AM with your robe, tam, hood and tassel. If you have not received your regalia order as of yet, please refer to the email that was sent from our team regarding regalia and the global supply chain issues impacting shipping timelines. You should enter through the breezeway to the right of the main entrance (street level) and go to the Multi-Purpose Room (Field House).

You need to check-in no later than 12:00 PM ET.  Please line up at the appropriate check-in station based on the first letter of your last name. The check-in stations will be as follows: A-D, E-K, L-R, S-Z. There will be an additional table to pick up honors cords after you’ve checked in for those who qualify.

Guests will be permitted to enter the Watsco Center beginning at 11:30 AM ET through the main entrance. Please note that this is 30 minutes LATER than graduates need to arrive, so plan accordingly. Physical tickets will not be required, however, we kindly ask that you stay as close to your projected guest count as possible since accommodations were made with those RSVP counts and details.

Suggested parking lots for commencement guests are 425 North and South. Visitors at the Watsco Center are required to pay for parking. All vehicles must park head-in only and register the vehicle license plate with the University via a kiosk or PaybyPhone app. To pay for parking, visitors may use PayByPhone (download app or call 877-885-8899) or a Pay Station kiosk. Parking costs for PayByPhone are $1.50 an hour plus a 27 cents transaction fee. Parking sessions over 5 hours are converted to $8.00 plus the 27 cents transaction fee. Parking costs for Pay Stations are $1.50 an hour and parking sessions over 5 hours are converted to $8.00. Pay station kiosks are located in the parking lot, not at the main entrance. Parking must be prepaid prior to entering the building. For more information, please visit https://pt.fop.miami.edu/campus-parking/visitors/index.html.

Guests will be permitted to enter the Watsco Center at 11:30 AM ET through the main entrance. Please note that this is 30 minutes LATER than graduates need to arrive, so plan accordingly. Physical tickets will not be required, however, we kindly ask that you stay as close to your projected guest count as possible since accommodations were made with those RSVP counts and details. No coat check is available.

• Be aware that large bags and backpacks of all guests may be searched upon entrance to the Watsco Center.
• Light refreshments will be available for purchase on the concourse. Outside food and beverage are not permitted.
• The facility will not permit us to have balloons inside the arena.

For guests requiring a wheelchair or similar accessibility access for entering – Please locate the sign with the symbol of accessibility on it and the attending staff will be able to assist.

As noted in prior communications, the ceremony will be live-streamed in real-time for friends and family who cannot be in attendance. Please have them join via the Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine Facebook or YouTube pages.

Yes. It is required to register to participate in RUSVM’s in-person commencement ceremony. A link will be made available to you via email.

To place your order, follow these easy steps:

• Go to: herff.ly/ross
• Choose Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine
• Click Cap & Gown
• Choose your degree type from the drop-down menu
• Click ‘Cap & Gown’ tab at the top of the page, fill out your information, and complete the order

RUSVM will provide honor cords to qualified honor students at check-in on the day of the ceremony.

For your convenience, we have secured a block of rooms at the Hilton Miami Downtown, 1601 Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33132, at a discounted rate of $209 per night* for our graduates if you book by April 19, 2022. This hotel is approximately 25-30 minutes from the Watsco Center. If you are interested, please access the hotel reservation link: https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/miacy-courtyard-miami-dadeland/overview/

*Hotel block is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The price reflected does not include taxes and fees.

There is not a specific dress code for graduates; however, all graduates are REQUIRED to wear the designated academic regalia to participate in the ceremony-- a doctoral tam (or graduation cap if you are in a Masters program), gown, hood, and tassel

We’re so sorry that the block has already filled up! As communicated, our reservation block at the Hilton was available on a first-come-first-served basis.  However, we feel confident one of these other hotels in the area can meet your needs.

Hotel Colonnade

Miami Marriott Dadeland

Courtyard Miami Dadeland

Hyatt Regency Coral Gables

Hotel Biltmore Coral Gables Miami

For other options and assistance with booking.