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Graduates

Preparing for Commencement

Academic Attire

Academic attire (cap and gown) is required of all graduates who plan to participate in the University Graduate Exercises and/or Spring Commencement. Attire is available for purchase at three local locations:

(Please note that doctoral attire is not available at the Michiganensian.)

Bachelor's and Master's Degree Graduates and Candidates:
Academic attire may be purchased beginning in mid-March at all three campus locations listed.

Doctoral Degree Recipients:
Doctoral degree recipients who plan to attend the University Graduate Exercises on Friday, May 3 are responsible to rent or purchase the hood with which they will be hooded, as well as their cap and gown. This attire may be rented or purchased at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore, and is also available for purchase online through Ulrich's.

Rental attire may be reserved Monday, March 11 through Friday, April 26. The Barnes and Noble Bookstore cannot guarantee gown sizes or hood colors after April 26. Rental attire should be returned by Friday, May 10.

Custom attire can be purchased any time during the year. Please allow four to six weeks for the delivery of custom attire orders.

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Announcements

Announcements may be purchased at the Michigan Union Bookstore, and Ulrich's Bookstore.

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Diplomas

Bachelor's and Master's Degree Recipients:

Diplomas will be mailed to the graduate’s permanent address (or the diploma address if one has been created by the student in Wolverine Access) by the end of June. Address updates can be made on Wolverine Access through May 31, 2013.

Doctoral Degree Recipients:

Doctoral degree recipients attending University Graduate Exercises receive their diplomas at the program. Doctoral degree recipients who are not attending University Graduate Exercises may pick up their diploma at the Registrar's Office, Diploma Office, 1210 LSA Building, 500 S. State Street, from Tuesday, April 30–Friday, May 3, and Tuesday, May 7–Friday, May 10, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Diplomas not picked up by May 10 will be mailed beginning May 13.

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Eligibility

All graduates and candidates of the Winter Term 2013, Spring/Summer Term 2013, or Fall Term 2012, may participate. Individuals who are unsure of their eligibility to participate in Spring Commencement should contact the Registrar's Office in the school, college, or unit from which they are graduating.

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Grad Fair

The Spring Grad Fair will be held on Thursday, March 14, 2013, from 11:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. on the ground floor of the Michigan Union. 

This is your one stop shopping place for all of your graduation needs. You can purchase your cap and gown, class rings, graduate portraits, announcements and frames. University staff will be available to answer your general commencement questions or concerns.

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Graduation Extravaganza

The Graduation Extravaganza will be held from March 18 to March 22, 2013 and April 8 to April 12, 2013 from 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at the Student Publications Building at 420 Maynard Street..

 

With a variety of products the semi-annual Graduation Extravaganza is a one-stop shop for all of your graduation essentials.

 

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Tickets

All family members and guests attending Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 4, including children over age two, need a ticket to enter Michigan Stadium. All tickets are marked with a section number and a row and seat number where you are able to sit. There is no cost for tickets.

* Bachelor’s degree recipients are eligible to receive up to eight (8) tickets for guests
* Graduate/Professional (master’s and doctoral) degree recipients are eligible to receive up to four (4) tickets for guests
* Graduates participating in the graduate procession will need a graduate ticket
* Graduates must present their student identification (MCard) in order to receive guest tickets and their graduate ticket at distribution

Graduate Ticket Distribution:

All graduating students participating in Spring Commencement must attend Ticket Distribution to pick up a Graduate Ticket which they need to bring with them to commencement.

Even if graduates do not intend to pick up their allocated 4 or 8 guest tickets, they still must have the Graduate Ticket. The mandatory Graduate Ticket does not impact the guaranteed 4 or 8 tickets.

Graduates participating in Spring Commencement can pick up their guest tickets through ticket distribution at:

Alumni Center, Founders Room

(Alumni Association, 200 Fletcher Street, corner of Fletcher and Washington Streets).

Updated Schedule

* Monday, April 29: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

* Tuesday, April 30: 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

* Wednesday, May 1: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

 

Tickets are distributed at random throughout the distribution days; the quality of your seats is not dictated by which day you go to Ticket Distribution.

Additional Ticket Distribution

Following distribution to graduates, remaining tickets will be made available to the general public on a first-come, first-served basis with a limit of two tickets per person. General public ticket distribution will be held at the Alumni Center during the following times:

* Thursday, May 2: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Graduates may return during these times to request extra tickets.

Wheelchair Seating for Guests:

Wheelchair seating is available on a first come first served basis. Please call (734) 647-6037 to put your guest on the seating list by Friday, April 26. You must have your student's UMID number (Mcard) to reserve tickets.

For those guests with a wheelchair ticket, please note that one companion ticket will be provided next to the wheelchair seating ticket. The rest of the party will be seated nearby.

Please see our Persons With Disabilities page to learn more about parking on the day of Spring Commencement.

Guests with Limited Mobility:

Guests who have limited mobility are eligible to sit in rows designated as “Accessible Seating”. These rows require minimal stair climbing.

Due to the limited number of seats available, guests of those requiring “accessible seating” may sit together in this section. "Accessible seating" tickets are first come first served at ticket distribution.

Graduates should request “Accessible Seating” tickets when they pick up tickets at ticket distribution. It is not necessary to call in advance to reserve these tickets.

Please call (734) 647-6037 for additional information.

Please see our Persons With Disabilities page to learn more about parking on the day of Spring Commencement.

Will Call

Graduates who are unable to attend ticket distribution (due to off-campus work or internship) please contact our office at (734) 647-6037 to make arrangements.

On the day of commencement, the Will Call tent will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. The Will Call tent is located outside of the Stadium Boulevard entrance to Crisler Center, which is near Gate 2 of Michigan Stadium.

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International Students

The University of Michigan will provide a letter of invitation to assist graduates whose parents need to apply for a visa in order to attend their student's commencement ceremony.

To obtain a letter, please follow these steps:

  1. Prior to submitting a request for a letter of invitation, the graduating student should apply for graduation. Visit this link for instructions.
  2. Visit the International Center website for an overview of documents needed to apply for a visa.
  3. After successfully applying for graduation and visiting the International Center website, please request the letter(s) of invitation by completing the online request form.

The letter from the University is mailed to the graduate, who can then forward it to the parents for use in documenting their visa request. Please allow up to four weeks to receive the letter.

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Preparing for Commencement

Commencement Day Instructions

Student Speaker Competition

Persons with Disabilities