Commencement

Caps and Gowns

If you have not yet purchased your cap and gown from the bookstore, you can do so any time. Student Engagement & Events also has a limited number of gowns collected from past graduates who wanted to donate theirs, and we are happy to give these away to anyone who would like one.

Weather Call

We hope to hold the commencement ceremony outdoors on the campus mall. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held indoors in the Cougar Sports Center Gymnasium. The call will be made on or before the morning of May 11. If the ceremony is moved indoors, you will be notified via email.

Before the Ceremony

You and your guests are welcome to attend the pre-ceremony events on campus. See the schedule for details.

Line-Up Instructions

Outdoors Line-Up

• Line-up begins at 12:30 p.m.
• Stop at the Office of the Registrar's table to pick up your name card.
  • Hold onto this card. You will hand it to the stage assistant when you cross the stage, and announcer will read your name from this card.
• Graduates will line up in the HFA hallway. 
• You may line up with whomever you want to sit with during the ceremony. 
• The color guard and marshals will precede you onto the campus mall and will show you where to sit. 

Indoors Line-Up

• Stop at the Office of the Registrar's table to pick up your name card.
  • Hold onto this card. You will hand it to the stage assistant when you cross the stage, and the announcer will read your name from this card.
• Graduates will line up on the RFC walking track. 
• You may line up with whomever you want to sit with during the ceremony. 
• The color guard and marshals will precede you into the Cougar Sports Center gymnasium and will show you where to sit. 

Ceremony Instructions

• The class of 2024 will be seated in folding chairs on the campus mall or on the floor of the CSC gymnasium. Student marshals will show you where to sit when you walk in.
• A Native American honor song will be part of the ceremony. You will stand during the song, as you are able, men with bared heads. During the song, photography and video is not allowed.
• Student marshals will instruct you when to stand and move toward the stage.
• As you approach the stage, you will hand your name card to the assistant. The announcer will read your name from this card as you cross the stage.
• The chancellor will hand you your diploma cover (diplomas will be mailed to you in early summer) and shake your hand. 
• You will then move off the stage and back to your seat.
• At the end of the ceremony, the marshals will tell you when to recess out.
• Following the ceremony, you are free to join your guests and friends.

For Your Guests

Invitations

If you need additional guest invitations, you may pick them up in the One Stop and mail them out.

Tickets

There will be NO TICKETS this year! This means that you can invite all of your guests to attend the ceremony, whether we are outside or inside.  

Receptions and Pre-Ceremony Events

Your guests are welcome at any of the events on commencement weekend . Your faculty and staff will be thrilled to meet them and share in your celebration.  

Parking and Transportation 

Golf carts will run from the parking lots to the events on campus the day of commencement.

Accommodations

If you or any of your guests need accommodations in order to fully participate in the ceremony, contact the Disability Resource Center at 320-589-6178 or ummssc@morris.umn.edu as soon as possible. Sign language interpretation will be provided at the ceremony.
 

Regalia

Please wear your academic regalia for the ceremony.

Weather Call

We hope to hold the commencement ceremony outdoors on the campus mall. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held indoors in the Cougar Sports Center Gymnasium. The call will be made on or before the morning of May 11. If the ceremony is moved indoors, you will be notified via email.

Before the Ceremony

Division receptions are at 11 a.m. on May 11. 

• Education—Cougar Room, Oyate Hall, Student Center   
• Humanities—outside of the Morrison Gallery, HFA  
• Science and Mathematics—Science Atrium, Science Building  
• Social Sciences—Alumni and University rooms, Oyate Hall, Student Center

Line-Up Instructions

Outdoors Line-Up

• Line-up begins at 12:30 p.m.
• Faculty will line up on the sidewalk outside of HFA. 
• You may line up with whomever you want to sit with during the ceremony. 
• You will form two lines along the sides of the walkway, and the graduates will process between you as you applaud.
• The faculty marshal will precede you onto the campus mall and will show you where to sit. 

Indoors Line-Up

• Faculty will line up on the floor of the RFC gymnasium. 
• You may line up with whomever you want to sit with during the ceremony. 
• You will form two lines, and the graduates will process between you as you applaud.
• The color guard and marshals will precede you into the Cougar Sports Center gymnasium and will show you where to sit. 

Ceremony Instructions

• Faculty will be seated in folding chairs on the campus mall or on the floor of the CSC gymnasium in front of the graduates. The faculty marshal will show you where to sit when you process in.
• A Native American honor song will be part of the ceremony. You will stand during the song, as you are able, men with bared heads. During the song, photography and video is not allowed.
• At the end of the ceremony, the faculty marshal will tell you when to recess out.

Accommodations

If you need accommodations in order to fully participate in the ceremony, contact the Disability Resource Center at 320-589-6178 or ummssc@morris.umn.edu as soon as possible. Sign language interpretation will be provided at the ceremony.