Ceremony details

Arrival & check-in

Please arrive for the ceremony with appropriate regalia in hand by 9:00 a.m.

Upon entering Hancher Auditorium, follow the signage to the graduate check-in area. When checking in, graduates will be asked to verify the phonetic spelling of their name and given a card with that verified spelling. This card is to be given to the name reader prior to walking across the stage during the ceremony. If graduating with academic honors, honors distinction cords will be distributed at this time as well.

After checking in, graduates may proceed to the graduate staging area to find their position in the processional order. To ensure a timely start to the ceremony, graduates should be in their processional position no later than 15 minutes prior to the start time of the ceremony.

If a graduate needs any special accommodations, please contact Raven McMurrin at raven-mcmurrin@uiowa.edu for assistance with making the appropriate arrangements.

Attendance

Hancher Auditorium offers the opportunity for open seating but attending the Iowa MBA Commencement Ceremony does require reservations. As a result, during the RSVP process, graduates are expected to provide a count of how many guests they plan to have in attendance at the event. Ultimately, this allows for the outlined building capacity guidelines to be maintained.

No backpacks or large bags are allowed inside of Hancher Auditorium. We reserve the right to inspect items brought into the building.

If graduates have a guest(s) planning to attend who needs special accommodations, please contact Raven McMurrin at raven-mcmurrin@uiowa.edu for assistance with making the appropriate arrangements.

Program

The program will begin with a processional of the graduates led by the platform committee. Once everyone is seated, the ceremony will begin with a welcome from Dean Jennifer Blackhurst, followed by the commencement address, conferral of degrees, presenting of graduates, and ending with closing remarks.

For the presenting of graduates, participants will be invited to the stage front to be recognized individually. After handing their name card (received at check-in) to the name reader at the podium, graduates will walk briskly to center stage to shake hands with a university official and Dean Amy Kristof-Brown. Graduates will then continue across the stage to shake hands and receive their diploma cover from Dean Blackhurst. After receiving their diploma cover, graduates will continue off stage to have their professional picture taken before returning to their seat on stage.

Following the closing remarks, graduates will be asked to stand, and the platform committee will then lead the recessional out of the ceremony auditorium and back to the graduate staging area.

Though the actual length of the event is dependent upon the number of participants, the Iowa MBA Commencement Ceremony is approximately just over one hour in length typically.

Commencement apparel (regalia)

For graduates attending the commencement ceremony, the appropriate regalia listed below is required to be worn:

• University of Iowa Masters Gown
• Graduation Mortar Board Cap
• MBA Hood
• MBA Tassel

**NOTE: Executive MBA graduates do NOT need to purchase regalia. Your program administrator will distribute your apparel.

To purchase the items listed above, complete the following steps:

• Go to www.hawkshop.com
• Click on the dropdown menu at the top left of the homepage and select “Graduation” from the drop down menu list 
• Select the regalia items listed above and add them to your cart. Please note:
  • Caps have elastic backs and fit most people.
  • You will need to know your height and weight when ordering a gown. 
• Once the desired items are in your cart, select "Checkout" after clicking on the bag icon in upper left of the page
  • Follow necessary prompts to complete the transaction.

Please place your order in a timely manner so that the needed items are in your possession prior to the commencement ceremony.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Hawk Shop at (319) 335-3179.

Honor distinction cords (graduates)

As noted above, those graduating with academic honors will receive honors distinction cords at check-in on the day of the event.

Iowa MBA candidates who have achieved at least a 3.80 cumulative grade point average and Iowa Executive MBA candidates who have achieved a 4.00 cumulative grade point average are awarded “With Distinction” honors. During the commencement ceremony, these individuals wear gold honor distinction cords.

Due to required printing lead times as well as the timing of the ceremony, “With Distinction” notations are based on the cumulative grade point average calculated through the previous fall semester. Final qualification for graduating “With Distinction” is based on the cumulative grade point average through the completion of the degree. Therefore, “With Distinction” designations reflected on official University of Iowa records may differ from those indicated during this program.

Other recognition (graduates)

Various university clubs, groups, and organizations provide a commemorative graduation item to its members. These items range from medals and medallions to cords and stoles that can be worn during the commencement ceremony.

Many of these items are provided by the managing unit. As an example, the Iowa Veteran Education, Transition, and Support (IVETS) Office contacts graduating veterans via their university email address approximately one month prior to the end of their graduating semester regarding the provision of an honorary sash. Graduating veterans can also contact the IVETS Office (ui-ivets@uiowa.edu). If not provided by the managing unit, such recognition items can be obtained through the Hawk Shop.

Please note that the Graduate and Professional Programs division do not manage or maintain a comprehensive list of recognition items.

Commencement dress (graduates)

As noted above, graduates are required to wear the appropriate regalia during the commencement ceremony.

If time permits, masters gowns should be pressed with a cool iron or allowed to hang in order to remove wrinkles. Flowers or other adornments may not be attached to gowns. Caps are to be worn with the mortarboard horizontal and the tassel on the left. Caps should be worn from the start of the processional until exiting ceremony auditorium.

When wearing your masters gown, please note that your outfit may be visible from above the neckline and/or below the hemline of the gown depending on the size and fit. We recommend that students consider wearing a collared dress shirt and tie, collared blouse, or shallow scoop neck top with khakis, dark-colored dress pants, or a skirt. A dress with a similar neckline and a hemline shorter than the master's gown is an option as well. Dress footwear should be comfortable as there will be a good amount of walking and standing throughout the event. Ultimately, we encourage students to try on their graduation day outfit with their gown (sitting and standing) to make sure they are comfortable with their outfit selection. 

Besides the name card, nothing should be taken on stage by graduates during the ceremony. Graduates are encouraged to leave any personal items including jackets and purses with their guest(s) prior to checking in as the graduate staging area will not be secured during the ceremony. 

Diplomas

University of Iowa graduates with no outstanding University charges receive one 8.5" x 11" diploma per degree earned.

Diplomas are mailed by the Office of the Registrar using the respective Diploma Mailing Address of each graduate. If a Diploma Mailing Address is not listed for a student, the diploma is mailed to the Residing Address listed in MyUI. This mailing process begins once final grades for the degree are processed.

Students can expect to recieve their diploma approximately eight weeks after their graduating session.

Certificates

A certified electronic and/or print version of certificate awards are available for purchase.

Please wait to order certificates until after degrees have been conferred and after receiving a conferral email from Graduation Services.

For more information, visit the Office of the Registrar Diplomas page.

University ceremonial program

The University of Iowa Commencement Program is available in PDF format on the Commencement Programs page.

This program includes a listing of degree candidates from each college, sorted by degree type.

Fall and summer degree candidates are listed in the fall program for their graduating session, while spring degree candidates are listed in the spring program for their graduating session.

Publishing names of degree candidates in the program booklet is not a verification of completion of degree requirements. Inclusion in the commencement program is not tied to participation in a ceremony. All graduates are listed in the program according to the time at which they earned or are expected to earn a degree. Applying for a degree after the degree application deadline may result in exclusion of the student name from the commencement program.

If you have additional questions about the commencement program please contact: UI-commencement@uiowa.edu

Graduation Products

Through Herff Jones, a variety of personalized graduation products are available for purchase. These items include graduation announcements, college rings, and diploma frames.

Orders may be placed online or by phone at (800) 837-4235. Please order accordingly as delivery time is approximately two weeks.