How to RSVP

The RSVP system (Tassel) opened March 17. If you did not receive the RSVP email and believe you should have, please email commencement@wichita.edu.

Commencement RSVP is different from the Toast. Students must RSVP for each event individually.

Once you have RSVP'd, make sure to print your Stage Pass. You will bring this with you to commencement for check-in and to scan as you cross the stage. You can access and print your Stage Pass until the ceremony. You can access your Stage pass by logging back into the Tassel platform and using your wsu email address (fmlastname@shockers.wichita.edu) and the password you created. 

RSVP (Commencement) vs AFD (Graduation)

It is not uncommon for students to confuse graduation with the university's commencement ceremony, which many students refer to as their "grad walk." It is understandable that there could be some confusion as in some places, graduation and commencement are used interchangeably. However, at Wichita State University, they have distinctly different meanings, as described below.

Commencement is the celebratory ceremony held by the university in May (Spring) and December (Fall), meant to recognize graduates from the preceding semester. Graduates are invited (RSVP) to the appropriate ceremony based upon their proposed graduation term. Summer graduates are recognized in the May ceremony. It is important to note that Commencement is voluntary, so no students are required to attend. This is a strictly social event that is not tied to the actual award of the degree. The Commencement ceremony is what many refer to as their "Grad Walk," and many students, especially international students, will delay participation in this ceremony to allow more time for their families abroad to receive a visa to allow them to attend the ceremony.

Graduation is the mandatory process each student must complete in order to have their degree conferred. This involves the filing of an Application for Degree (AFD) and completing all degree requirements by a prescribed set of deadlines for the semeser in which the degree is to be awarded. Degrees are awarded following the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters.