May 2023 Commencement Events
Saturday, May 13th, 2023
Commencement ceremony:
- 5 p.m. at Carver-Hawkeye Arena
- Doors will open at 4 p.m. Graduates should arrive no later than 4:15 p.m.
- Graduates only may use East doors for express entry. Graduates are not required to enter through the East doors but it is highly recommended.
- Tickets are not required. There is no limit on the amount of guests a student can bring.
- Please see additional information about Carver Hawkeye Arena, including allowed and prohibited items
- Parking will be available free of charge on the day.
- Students are required to RSVP through MyUI.
Degree application deadlines
- Spring 2023 graduates: February 24, 2023
- Summer 2023 graduates: June 9th, 2023*
- Fall 2023 graduates: September 29th, 2023
* There is no summer ceremony. If you are interested in participating in a ceremony but are a summer graduate, see this page for instructions.
Information for graduates
Tickets for the commencement ceremony are not required.
Attire
All graduates must wear a cap and gown, which will be available at the University Bookstore, Iowa Memorial Union, during regular business hours, three weeks before the ceremony. Men are expected to wear shirts and ties; jackets are not required. Women are advised to avoid high heels, because floors may be slippery when crossing the stage. Flowers should not be worn with caps and gowns or carried into the auditorium.
Beta Gamma Sigma members and Tippie Honors graduates will wear honors cords with their academic attire. Cords can be picked up in the Undergraduate Program Office, C140 PBB.
Announcements
You may purchase personalized announcements specifically designed with the University of Iowa's school crest and customized with your name, degree, major, time, date, and place of the ceremony.
May ceremony details
Arrival and Line-up
Upon arrival, you will locate your check-in table (organized according to last name). There you will pick up your name card, which you will carry with you to the stage. At 4:40 p.m. you'll be asked to find your seats on the arena floor. You may sit where you want, there is no line-up. The ceremony will begin with the faculty processional promptly at 5:00 p.m.
Ceremony
The ceremony begins with a welcome and introduction of the platform officials, comments from an invited speaker, comments from the student speaker, and conferral of degrees. Next, the marshals will direct graduates to walk across the stage.
You will scan your card so that your name appears on the live streaming broadcast of the ceremony. Then, you will hand your card to a college representative who will read your name as you proceed across the stage to shake hands with officials, and exit the stage to have your photo taken.
Recessional
At the conclusion of the ceremony, your marshal will dismiss each row in an orderly manner. You will proceed through the auditorium in the same way you entered. You can rejoin your guests in the lobby.
Diplomas
Diplomas will be mailed to your residing address after a final audit confirms that all requirements have been met. Participation in the ceremony is not a validation of graduation.
Photos
Professional photographers will be taking two photos of each candidate at the ceremonies: a more formal "posed" photo taken prior to being recognized on stage and a "candid" photo taken while shaking hands with a university official.
To receive a complimentary proof (with no obligation to purchase), students must complete the address information on the back of the name card. This photo name card will be handed to the reader as each student is recognized on stage. Students should check for accuracy.
Complimentary proofs will be mailed and emailed to the graduates within 10 days of the ceremony.
Information for guests
Seats are not reserved and tickets are not required.
Special needs
A sign language interpreter will be on-stage to interpret the ceremony.
For the May ceremony at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, see parking and seating information (pdf) for guests with physical disabilities and limited mobility.
For the December ceremony at Hancher Auditorium, see the parking map (pdf) for locations of accessible parking.