RGE Schedule

In this Section:

Rackham Graduate Exercises
Friday, May 2, 2025 | 10:00 a.m.

Master’s and Doctoral Degree Recipients

Rackham Graduate Exercises begin with an academic procession from the Rackham Building to Hill Auditorium.

At 8:30 a.m., graduates and candidates gather in the Rackham Auditorium, where faculty marshals and event staff will help them prepare for the procession.

Graduate Schedule for Rackham Graduate Exercises:

  • 8:30 a.m. Assemble at Rackham Auditorium to prepare for procession to Hill Auditorium
  • 9:15 a.m. Instructions announced
  • 9:30 a.m. Procession begins
  • 10:00 a.m. Rackham Graduate Exercises ceremony begins
  • 12:00 p.m. Conclusion of ceremony (approximate)

Master’s Degree Recipients

As you enter Rackham Auditorium, scan one of the Grad Foto QR codes in the inner lobby, then take a seat on either the left or right section of the auditorium filling every seat from front to back. 

Master’s Degree recipients do not need to sit in any particular order.

After you take a seat, fill out your information on the Grad Foto website if you would like to be contacted after the ceremony about purchasing your photos.

Doctoral Degree Recipients

Pick up your name card at the Ph.D. table in the Rackham lobby and scan one of the Grad Foto QR codes in the inner lobby. 

Find your numbered seat in the center section of the auditorium. The seat number will be printed on your name card. NB: Doctoral recipients must be in alphabetical order for hooding.

After you take a seat, fill out your information on the Grad Foto website if you would like to be contacted after the ceremony about purchasing your photos.

Take your name card with you to the ceremony in Hill Auditorium.

Guests

Beginning at 8:30 a.m., guests may enter Hill Auditorium through the front and side lobby doors. All guests should be seated by 9:30 a.m. Since most of the seating on the main floor of Hill Auditorium is reserved for the graduates, family members and other guests should plan to sit in the mezzanine or balcony.

View Hill Auditorium seating chart.

If you have questions or require special accommodation in order to participate in Rackham Graduate Exercises, please contact the Office of University and Development Events at (734) 647-7900 by Friday, April 19, 2024.

Arrival Information for Guests

  • Doors at Hill Auditorium open at 8:30 a.m. to guests. Please arrive early due to limited parking.
  • If your guests have limited mobility or use a wheelchair, please use the Thayer Street entrance at Hill Auditorium.
  • Guests should have their tickets available when they arrive.
  • If your guests are having trouble accessing their tickets, they can go to the Box Office located on the Thayer Street side of Hill Auditorium.
  • If you have guests coming who do not have tickets, they are welcome to watch a live stream of the ceremony in the Modern Languages Building in Auditorium 3.

Please note that no bags are allowed in Hill Auditorium. Please refer to the Hill Auditorium section to view the full list of prohibited items.