RUSVM Commencement Ceremony

RUSVM is excited to celebrate our graduates in person on Friday, May 16, 2025, at 6:00 PM ET at the Watsco Center (located on the University of Miami campus), 1245 Dauer Drive, Coral Gables, Florida.

 Yes! Friends and family are welcome at the ceremony. At the time at which we share registration, there is no limit on the number of guests, however you will be asked to provide a number of guests, for security and planning purposes. 

Please note that the event will also be livestreamed on the RUSVM Facebook and YouTube pages in real-time so family and friends can watch from anywhere across the world if they are unable to attend in person.

No, there will not be a virtual component for the ceremony. RUSVM is excited that we will be able to celebrate our graduates’ accomplishments together in person.

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 anticipate a program time of around 2 ½ hours.

There is currently not a limit to the number of guests a graduate can bring to commencement. However, the events team asks each graduate kindly provides the most accurate headcount possible for guests when you register to participate in the in-person ceremony. This will allow the events team to plan accordingly for capacity and security purposes.  

If a student has an international shipping/billing address, and they want to order the diploma frame, they will need to order the cap and gown by itself and then go to framingsuccess.com to order the diploma frame.

Physical programs will be available at the ceremony. However, in the spirit of One Health and being environmentally conscious, we ask that programs are limited to 2-3 per family/friends. There will be a QR code available to pull up a digital program the day of the ceremony on a mobile device.

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 2025 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.

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.  

Yes! By entering the 2025 Commencement event for Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, you are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur.

Your entry and presence on the event premises constitutes your consent to be photographed, filmed, and/or otherwise recorded and to the release, publication, exhibition, or reproduction of any and all recorded media of your appearance, voice, and name for any purpose whatsoever in perpetuity in connection with Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine and its initiatives, including, by way of example only, use on websites, in social media, news and advertising.

By entering the event premises, you waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media.

You understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent. If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter the event premises.

Graduates should begin to arrive for check-in and line-up two hours prior to the start of the ceremony at 4:00 PM ET.

• Check-in will be at the Watsco Center Concourse 2.
• Remember to bring your ID with you (student or driver’s license is acceptable). You will receive seating cards placing you in one of four groups (as noted above) printed with your name. Please do not lose this seating card because it will also be used to announce your name during the ceremony.
• If you have personal belongings that do not fit in your pocket, please give them to a family member or friend to hold – doors will not be locked during the ceremony itself.

The ceremony will begin promptly at 6:00 PM ET.
 

• You can pay for parking at one of the University of Miami pay station kiosks or you can download and use the PayByPhone app (download app or call 877-885-8899). Pay Station kiosks are located in the parking lot, not at the main entrance. Parking must be prepaid prior to entering the building.
• Parking costs for PayByPhone are $2.50 an hour plus a 35 cents transaction fee. Parking sessions over 5 hours are converted to $11.00 plus the 35 cents transaction fee. For more information, please visit https://pt.fop.miami.edu/campus-parking/visitors/index.html or for PayByPhone's frequently asked questions or click HERE for Pay Station's frequently asked questions.
• Please be aware that large bags and backpacks of all guests may be searched upon entrance to the Watsco Center.

Guests of the graduates will be permitted to enter the Watsco Center 2 hours to the start of the ceremony.

We require all graduates to wear regalia while participating. You can find a video on how to wear your regalia here. 

For guests requiring 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.

If you are planning on attending your commencement ceremony in May and have not secured a hotel reservation, search for hotel availability via our trusted partner aRes Travel.

Book online or call 1-800-559-3186 for assistance | International callers 1-619-546-5773

aRes Travel is a third-party travel planner. Rates, deposits, and cancellation policies may vary and are the responsibility of the guest. Questions on hotel policies or payments made on aRes website should be directed to the aRes Reservation Center or to the hotel directly.

Yes. It is required to register to participate in RUSVM’s in-person commencement ceremony. A unique link will be made available to you via email. The email sender with be no-reply@rossu.edu but be sure to check your SPAM folder! Again, you must register to participate onsite via NameCoach even if you noted that you would attend the ceremony when filling out your degree conferral information for the Registrar.

Please note that registration for commencement will close at midnight eastern standard time on Friday, April 25, 2025.

Deadline to order is APRIL 7, 2025 with standard shipping of $14.90 and late site order will open April 8, 2025 with order deadline APRIL 18, 2025 with expedited shipping of $21.30. All will deliver on or before May 2, 2025.

Directions:

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

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

• For guests requiring 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.
• Light refreshments will be available for purchase on the concourse. Outside food and beverage is not permitted. 
• The facility will not permit us to have balloons inside the arena.

The ceremony will be livestreamed in real time for friends and family who cannot be in attendance. Please have them join via the RUSVM Facebook or YouTube pages.  

You can stay engaged by attending alumni events at upcoming industry conferences, volunteering, providing your updated contact information via this form, and keeping in touch with your classmates.

Being involved in alumni activities can help you expand your professional network, gain access to job opportunities, receive career advice and mentorship, and contribute to the growth and success of your alma mater. View additional alumni benefits here.

You can stay informed about alumni events and opportunities by following your alma mater's social media channels (Facebook, LinkedIn), checking the alumni website, and reading the bi-monthly alumni newsletters.