Commencement

The Commencement Ceremony provides a capstone to a weekend full of concerts, receptions, and other events that showcase and celebrate the achievements of the graduates and their time at 91��.

Commencement 2026

The Commencement Ceremony for the class of 2026 will take place at 10 a.m. on May 18, 2026. The ceremony marks the culmination of hard work, dedication, and academic achievement by the graduates.
You can find videos from past Commencement ceremonies on the .
2025 Transcript

Virtual

Join Commencement Online

We welcome those who cannot attend in person to join us online to celebrate Commencement. We stream each Commencement ceremony live.
Follow us on and and join the conversation: #91��2026 and #GoForth91��ian
We post a full set of videos from the most recent ceremony on our .
Picnic

Commencement Picnic

Monday, May 18, 2026
Following the Commencement Ceremony
Cleveland Beach
Following the Commencement ceremony, graduates and their guests are invited to join us for a picnic lunch.
Baccalaureate

Baccalaureate Ceremony

Sunday, May 17, 2026
9–11 a.m. CDT
Herrick Chapel
“Baccalaureate is a farewell, a leave-taking.” — Professor Katya Gibel Mevorach, 2017 91�� Baccalaureate
Baccalaureate is open to all graduates, families, and friends. The ceremony celebrates our seniors and their accomplishments as they prepare for the next part of their 91�� journey.

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Accessibility

91�� welcomes the participation of people of all abilities at Commencement Weekend. Please contact Event Coordination and Scheduling if you have a disability that requires accommodation for participation in an event.

Drop-Off Location: Those with difficulty walking can be dropped off near Herrick Chapel where a limited number of golf carts will be available to assist them.
Induction Hearing Loop/T-Coil: Central Campus is equipped with an induction hearing loop system, which enables individuals with hearing aids set to T-Coil to hear the program.
American Sign Language (ASL): ASL interpretation is provided for the Exercises of Commencement. Contact Event Coordination and Scheduling to arrange assigned seating with a clear view.
Large Print Programs: Contact Event Coordination and Scheduling, 641-269-3178, at least two weeks before Commencement for large print versions of programs (includes weekend activities with programs as well as Commencement). We will also post the Commencement ceremony program information online shortly before the event.
Accessible Parking, Ramps, and Routes: For information about accessible (handicap) parking, ramps, and routes through campus, see the Campus Accessibility Map and the parking and shuttle information on this page.

Parking and Shuttles

Parking

Parking is limited on campus, so please arrive early.
Accessible (handicap) parking is available in the Forum lot on a first-come, first-served basis with a valid handicap placard.

Local Shuttle Service

Runs Monday morning beginning at 7:30 a.m. with pick-up from:

AmericInn
Super 8
Quality Inn
Country Inn
Hotel 91��

Shuttles will drop off at Herrick Chapel and run every 30 minutes.

After Commencement, shuttles will pick up guests from the Forum parking lot and return to local hotels until 2 p.m.

Note: Local shuttles will not provide airport or out-of-town hotel pickups.

Golf Carts

Available for guest transport to and from Baccalaureate on Sunday and Commencement on Monday.

Sunday: 8–9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
Monday: 9–10 a.m. and noon-1:30 p.m.

Note: This is not an on-call service; carts will roam campus to assist guests.

2026 Lodging Info and Discounts

Commencement Weekend Room Blocks - Friday, May 15 – Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Booking deadline is April 10, 2026

AmericInn - Newton
Call 641-791-1160 and use Group Code: 91�� Commencement

$199.99 + tax/night

Meskwaki Bingo Casino Hotel – Tama
Call 1-800-728-4263 and reference 91�� Commencement

$109 + tax/night

Hampton Inn – Des Moines Airport
Call 515-287-7300 ext. 2 or book online:
$129 +tax/night

Hilton Garden Inn – Des Moines Airport
Call 515-285-7777 and use Group Code: 91�� Commencement or Book online:
Rate: $154 + tax/night

Baymont Inn & Suites – Des Moines Airport
Call 515-285-0654 and reference 91��
College Commencement Or book online:
$129 - $149 + tax/night

If you have any questions about Commencement, please don’t hesitate to reach out at 641-269-3179 or email ferrissj@grinnell.edu.

Photo Information

91�� will arrange for a photographer to take photos of all graduates at the ceremony. Proofs will be provided to the families of each graduate.

Personal Planning

91�� welcomes the participation of people with disabilities. Please make requests for accommodations to Event Coordination and Scheduling; accessible parking and facilities are indicated on the campus map.

Strand 3 Movie Theatre exterior with lights on at dusk

Local Facilities

Downtown 91�� is relatively flat and conducive to walking, as well as close to campus.

Local restaurants
Local hotels and lodging
of arts, outdoor activities, and more

Travel

91��’s location in Central Iowa makes it an easy drive from any major city in the Midwest. Visitor parking is available on and around campus. Illegally parked cars will be ticketed.

Shuttles will be available from local hotels.

See campus map and directions

Academic Regalia

The custom of wearing a distinctive dress for academic ceremonies dates to the Middle Ages. Academic dress worn at commencements and other college and university ceremonial occasions lends dignity and color and reveals academic achievements through the style of gowns and hoods, and their varying colors.

Based on the costumes worn at universities in the 14th and 15th centuries — especially at Oxford and Cambridge in England — today’s academic dress is essentially the same as that standardized in the United States by the Intercollegiate Code adopted in 1895. It includes the familiar square mortarboard cap with a tassel that may be black, gold, or an appropriate color, such as pink for a degree in music.

Read more about academic regalia.
91�� Traditions

With more than 175 years of tradition, 91�� has a legacy worthy of its past, future, and current community. From its abolitionist roots to the incubation of the Social Gospel movement, 91�� has a deeply meaningful history and a legacy of activism.

Learn about the College’s history

Meet a few of our notable alumni

Sing along with the 91�� Songbook
Iowa College Bell

The bell rung at many 91�� ceremonies is the original Iowa College bell. It rang out in the first and second locations of Iowa College in Davenport. According to the late Joseph Wall ’41, professor emeritus of history, when Iowa College was relocated to 91��, the bell was still hanging in the building that was the second home of Iowa College.

The June 1932 issue of 91�� and You tells the story of Dr. Harry Downer, class of 1882 — who worked for 18 years to procure the original bell for the College — including how he and his “clans … made a raid on the schoolhouse in the dead of a dark and stormy night, and rescued the bell, so long held in captivity.”

Learn more about the Iowa College Bell
The Iowa Band Cane

Carried by the College Marshal in the academic procession, the Iowa Band Cane has a silver head and a silver scroll attached a few inches below the head. The cane honors the Iowa Band, 11 Congregational ministers, all 1843 graduates of Andover Theological Seminary, who came to Iowa with a special purpose: “Each to found a church and all a college.”

The ministers saw the latter part of their intention fulfilled with the founding of Iowa College (now 91��) in June 1846. The members of the Iowa Band were: Ephraim Adams, Harvey Adams, Ebenezer Alden Jr., James Jeremiah Hill, Horace Hutchinson, Daniel Lane, Eratus Ripley, Alden Burrill Robbins, Williams Salter, Benjamin Adams Spaulding, and Edwin Bela Turner.

Benjamin Spaulding originally owned the cane, which was presented to him as a gift in 1864 by Dr. James Taylor of Ottumwa, Iowa. Spaulding had the idea that the eldest member of the Band should keep the cane until he died, and it would then pass to the next eldest member, and so on. When the cane was given to Spaulding, six of the original members survived. Their names (Spaulding, Lane, H. Adams, E. Adams, Robbins, and Salter) are inscribed on the cane. When Salter died in 1910, the cane was given to the College. The cane used today is a recreation of the original Iowa Band Cane.

Contact Us

For questions or to request an accommodation, please email Commencement or call 641-269-3179.

For media inquiries, please contact Mattia Wells, senior content strategist—media relations.

Contact Information

calendar@grinnell.edu

Phone

641-269-3178

Joe Rosenfield Center, Suite 206
1115 8th Ave.
91��, IA 50112
United States

91��

Commencement

Commencement Ceremony

Commencement 2026

The Ceremony

Join Commencement Online

Commencement Picnic

Baccalaureate Ceremony