Opening Convocation and Rotunda Passage
Monday, August 17, 2026
Rotunda Processional at 10 a.m. | Opening Convocation at 10:30 a.m.
McFarlin Auditorium
At this event, students are formally welcomed to the SMU community in a ceremony dating back to 1915, in the very first days of the University. The ceremony is designed to set students on their new path of academic discovery.
An important part of Opening Convocation is the Rotunda Passage. Students will pass through the rotunda of Dallas Hall, SMU’s first building and a historic landmark. Recognizing that every undergraduate student at SMU has crossed through the Dallas Hall rotunda, students have an opportunity to reflect on their passage to college and their intellectual and personal growth for their time at SMU.
Graduating students confirm year after year that the full impact of Rotunda Passage is not felt until their graduation and the Rotunda Recessional, another SMU tradition when seniors walk through the rotunda of Dallas Hall in reverse and their thoughts turn back to the beginning of their SMU experiences.
It’s a special event you will not want to miss!
Welcome to SMU! New first-year and transfer students are invited to attend Rotunda Processional and Opening Convocation.
For Rotunda Processional, you assemble with your assigned Residential Common and march together to Dallas Hall where you then process through the rotunda with the University seal and proceed to McFarlin Auditorium. Transfer students who are not living on campus should meet with their affiliated Residential Common: Ware.
Opening Convocation begins at the conclusion of the Rotunda Processional and lasts approximately one hour. Appropriate attire for Rotunda Processional and Opening Convocation is summer business casual, students strongly encouraged to wear white. Comfortable walking shoes are strongly encouraged.
Parents and guests of incoming first-year or transfer students are invited to attend Opening Convocation. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony.
Doors to McFarlin open at 9:45 a.m. Guests are encouraged to be seated by 10 a.m. Family and friends can also watch the ceremony via a .
Alumni who are parents of incoming freshmen are welcome to participate as marshals for Opening Convocation. Please contact Amy Thompson at amythompson@smu.edu.
You are invited to the SMU’s Opening Convocation.
On the morning of Opening Convocation, faculty assemble in academic regalia no later than 9:45 a.m. in the basement of McFarlin Auditorium. At approximately 10 a.m., the entering students march through Dallas Hall Rotunda and down the diagonal walk between Dallas Hall and McFarlin Auditorium. Upon entering McFarlin, faculty greet the new students as they enter the lobby. Once all new students have found their seats, the Faculty Marshals line up all faculty and lead the procession to faculty seating. Retired faculty march at the head of the procession followed by in-service faculty and new faculty members.
If you plan to attend Opening Convocation, please RSVP as soon as possible and no later than August 10. An RSVP is necessary to reserve a seat. If you do not RSVP by the deadline, we cannot guarantee you a seat in the faculty section.
