What is appropriate dress for the Commencement ceremony?
It seems just about anything goes concerning dress. Graduates will wear anything from Sunday best to shorts and a T-shirt. It generally doesn’t matter because their attire is concealed beneath their gowns. Weather is the most important factor when considering what to wear. In Wisconsin, May weather can be balmy or downright frigid. More often than not, it is both in the same day. Please be prepared for changes in temperature by dressing in layers. The ceremony generally lasts an hour and a half, so it may be 50° F and cloudy at the beginning and 75° F and sunny by the end, or vice versa. Nothing compares to an outdoor Commencement ceremony at Ripon, and, if at all possible, the ceremony will be held on the Union lawn as scheduled. So dress appropriately for any changes in the weather. Suggested accessories: blanket, lawn chair, sunscreen, hat and mittens.
