Commencement

Students who complete their degree requirements during the Spring 2025 semester and who have filed their intent to graduate form are invited to participate in the Spring Commencement ceremony.

Due to capacity limitations, it is LAS policy that only students who have fulfilled the entirety of their degree requirements and completed a certified intent to graduate form may participate in an LAS commencement ceremony. A student with outstanding degree requirements is ineligible to participate until all requirements have been satisfied. For all Spring commencement ceremonies this means that only students who completed their degree requirements during that spring semester can participate. Students completing their degree requirements during the summer or fall semesters are eligible to participate in the December commencement ceremony.

FAQ about participation:

What is the difference between Commencement and Graduation?

Commencement is a ceremony students may participate in for the purpose of celebrating the completion of an academic degree program. Commencement is held annually in May and December for students who graduated during the preceding term.

Graduation occurs when the student has completed all of his or her requirements and is awarded a degree. Graduation can occur during any semester. Attendance at Commencement is not required for graduation.

Who can participate in the spring 2025 Commencement ceremony?

Only students who have filed their intent to graduate and have been certified to complete their degree requirements in spring 2025 are eligible to participate in the 2025 Spring Commencement ceremony. Students who will be enrolled in any number of credit hours during summer 2025 or beyond may not participate; instead, they will be invited to a future ceremony that corresponds to their term of graduation.

Due to the size of our graduating class and to ensure that we do not issue tickets that go unused, we are guaranteeing only four guest tickets to each graduate. All tickets will be electronically available to students. Graduates may request additional tickets closer to the date of the ceremony. In the event that extra tickets become available, announcements will be delivered via Marching Order. For questions about degree progress, please make an appointment with your LAS academic advisor.

What do I need to do to participate in Commencement?

After submitting an Intent to Graduate for spring 2025, students must also register for the Commencement ceremony to participate. All eligible students receive a personalized invitation (to their UIC email address) with a registration code for Marching Orders, the registration platform. Due to the size of our graduating class and to ensure that we do not issue tickets that go unused, we are guaranteeing only four guest tickets to each graduate. All tickets will be electronically available to students. Graduates may request additional tickets closer to the date of the ceremony, more information about the availability of extra tickets is forthcoming. Students who do not register will not be accommodated.

Further instructions for the day of the ceremony and about guest tickets will be sent via email to those who have registered. Students will receive an email with the unique registration link. Registration opens on March 10, the deadline to register is April 13, 2025.

If I filed an Intent to Graduate Form/Pending Degree List Form, do I still have to register to attend the commencement ceremony? 

YES! Only eligible students registered through Marching Orders (individualized links are sent to eligible students via their UIC email)  may participate in the ceremony. In addition, this is the only way to secure tickets for guests. The registration deadline for eligible graduates is April 13, 2025.

I didn’t receive an email invitation. Can I still participate in Commencement?

Email invitations to Commencement are sent to eligible students in early March. If you submitted your intent to graduate and believe that you should be eligible to participate in the Spring 2025 commencement ceremony you may email lascommencement@uic.edu.

Is there a fee for participating in Commencement?

No. However, all graduates are required to purchase their own cap and gown. Caps and gowns are available for purchase in Follet, the UIC Campus Bookstore. Cap and gowns cannot be purchased on the day of graduation. Only those with correct academic attire are permitted to participate. Tassels are to be worn to the front right of the cap before the ceremony. When degrees are conferred, graduates will be instructed to switch them to the left side.

Am I required to attend Commencement to receive my diploma?

No. Diplomas will be mailed to you 3 – 4 months after your graduation is certified. Only diploma covers, not diplomas, are distributed at Commencement.

Is there a rehearsal?

No. Please follow the instructions on the Day-of-Commencement page for information on what to expect on the ceremony day.

All eligible students wishing to participate in the Spring 2024 commencement ceremony must register. UIC has partnered with Marching Order, which will create a display that shows your name, degree, and major on screen as you cross the stage.  Marching Order will also have professional name readers record your name to be played while you are on stage. Students will receive an email with the unique registration link. Registration opens on March 10, and the deadline to register is April 13, 2025.

Due to the size of our graduating class, capacity limits of the UIC Credit Union 1 Arena, and to ensure that we do not issue tickets that go unused, we are guaranteeing only four guest tickets to each graduate. All tickets will be electronically available to students. Graduates may request additional tickets closer to the date of the ceremony; more information about the availability of extra tickets is sent to student via Marching Order. The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences does not control ticketing for the LAS Commencement Ceremony. Tickets cannot be purchased at the Credit Union 1 Arena on the day of the event (or before).

FAQ about tickets:

Are tickets required for the Commencement ceremony?

Graduates are guaranteed an assigned seating ticket with their registration and do not need a separate ticket.

All guests sitting in the audience will need a ticket to gain entrance to the Credit Union 1 Arena. Tickets are required for all guests over the age of 1 year.

Tickets cannot be purchased at the Credit Union 1 Arena on the day of the event (or before).

How do I reserve tickets for the ceremony?

Eligible Students will receive an email with the unique registration link via Marching Order. Registration opens on March 10, and the deadline to register is April 13, 2025.

Due to the size of our graduating class and to ensure that we do not issue tickets that go unused, we are guaranteeing only four guest tickets to each graduate. All tickets will be electronically available to students.

Is there a way to obtain or purchase extra tickets?

No.  There is no charge for ceremony guest tickets, and UIC will never sell any extras. The number of seats at the Credit Union 1 Arena is limited, and we need to accommodate all students and their guests. No tickets can be purchased at the venue.

Where are tickets picked up?

All eligible students who have registered for the commencement ceremony (via Marching Orders) receive instructions on how to register for guest tickets. All tickets are issued to the graduate electronically. Tickets are available only to graduates who have reserved them. Tickets cannot be purchased at the Credit Union 1 Arena.

Do infants or children need tickets?

No. Tickets are required for all guests over the age of 1 year.

Diplomas represent degrees earned, not majors and minors. Majors are only listed on diplomas for students with specialized curricula. See a list of how diplomas and majors are represented (see – “Degree Conferred”).  Transcripts, however, list all appropriate majors, minors, and concentrations. Educational goals are not listed on diplomas or on transcripts.

Diplomas will be ordered and sent 4-6 weeks after degrees are certified. UIC’s diploma printing group, Michael Sutter, has provided a link that shows what a student’s diploma will say and when it was mailed.  Students can begin checking the website in 2-4 weeks after degrees are certified to see when a diploma was sent.

Address Change Information

Personal information (e.g., address change) and diploma information can be found on the UIC Registrar website.

Caps and gowns are available for purchase in Follet, the UIC Campus Bookstore.  Cap and gowns cannot be purchased the day of graduation. Only those with correct academic attire are permitted to participate. Tassels are to be worn to the front-right of the cap prior to the ceremony. When degrees are conferred, graduates will be instructed to switch them to the left-side. If you are receiving a Bachelor of Science, your tassel will be gold. If you are receiving a Bachelor of Arts, your tassel will be white.

In addition to our in-person events, all events have a virtual ceremony which will include the live webcast and the customizable graduate slides. The virtual sites will be posted on our homepage closer to the ceremony dates.  Commencement | University of Illinois Chicago (uic.edu)

All graduates are encouraged to customize a commencement slide through the Marching Order registration system.  Graduates can customize a slide with a photo and personal message that can be downloaded and shared with family and friends or posted to social media.  In addition to the virtual ceremonies, the customized slides will be shown prior to the in person events for most ceremonies.

If you have any questions, please email commencement@uic.edu.

Who should I contact with questions about my diploma or to update the address my diploma will be sent?

Contact the Office of Registration and Records at (312) 996-4381.

Who do I contact if I or my guests require special accommodations?

Contact the Credit Union 1 Arena at (312) 413-5700 or email questions@uicpavilion.com.

Who do I contact if I have additional questions not answered on the website or FAQ page?

Email commencement@uic.edu.

LAS Commencement is televised live through the University’s Commencement website, and archived audiovisual recordings can also be viewed after the ceremony through the website. Copies of the recording can be ordered here. In addition, still photographs of Commencement activities are taken for University archival and promotional purposes.

Professional photographs will be taken of each graduate as you cross the stage and as you leave the stage with your diploma cover in hand and will be available for order. Within 2 to 3 days following the ceremony, the photographs will be posted online and can be accessed via the following web page by entering the last name of the graduate and the Commencement year: http://www.gradimages.com/universityofillinoischicago. You will also receive proofs and order forms from the photography company to both the mailing and email addresses you provided on the Attendance Reservation Form within 2 to 7 days following the ceremony.

Faculty attending the commencement ceremony should arrive no later than 9:30 am.

Enter through Gate 2, located far right of the main doors.

Obtain your academic attire, if needed, from the faculty robing area on the lower concourse of the Credit Union 1 Arena.

By 9:40 am form a double line behind the Platform Party of campus and college officials. Staff will guide you.

A hooding ceremony will be held  on Friday, May 9, at 5:00 pm in the UIC Forum, hosted by the Graduate College.

Hooding will not take place at the LAS commencement ceremony. Contact Assistant Dean in the Graduate College Jamie Haney with questions about the hooding ceremony: jamieh@uic.edu.