Here you’ll find important information to help you plan ahead and make the most of your commencement day — from arrival and check-in to the celebratory walk across the stage.
On This Page
Before Commencement
Tickets & Applying for Graduation
- All doctoral candidates must apply for graduation in order to claim tickets for the commencement ceremony.
- Graduates must be on the list as applied for graduation before Oct. 31 to be able to claim tickets.
- Students who miss the deadline will be able to attend the ceremony, however, they will be unable to obtain tickets in the first round of ticketing for their guests.
Submit Your RSVP
All doctoral candidates must have a faculty escort at the ceremony and must RSVP for the ceremony if they plan to attend, in addition to applying for graduation.
Students who miss the RSVP deadline will be able to attend the ceremony; however, they will not have a preprinted name card, and they will be in charge of providing their escort the information for the ceremony.
Order Your Regalia
- Order your regalia after Sept. 2 and before Nov. 21.
- Information about your regalia (cap and gown)
- Regalia rental information
Commencement Day
Arrival & Rehearsal
- Report to the PhD check-in area located at the north end, lower level, of the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena, 400 W. Kilbourn Ave., starting at 8:30 a.m. (Fourth St., between State & Kilbourn) and no later than 8:55 a.m. for the rehearsal
- When you arrive at the PhD check-in area, candidates who have RSVP’d will receive a pre-printed name card that will be read during the ceremony. Make sure you complete a photo card and pick up a printed program. Marshals will help you find seats with your escort for the rehearsal.
- If you did not RSVP, you will need to fill out a name card and a photo card
- Once the rehearsal — which involves walking onto and across the stage and back down — is completed, the marshals will direct the PhD candidates and their escorts to their seats.
- Photographers will be taking pictures of candidates as they approach the ramp to go on stage, as well as while they receive their diploma cover on stage. The photographers will be distributing a contact photo card to students at the arena. Please be sure to complete a contact photo card; it will be used to contact you once your proofs are ready to view and purchase.
- No alcoholic beverages or helium balloons are permitted in the arena.
Conferring of Degrees
- Doctoral candidates will be asked to rise for conferring of their degree. The candidate and escort approach the stage from left and right sides with the escort on the candidate’s left.
- The escort will hand the name reader the candidate’s name card, which will be read. The candidate and the escort will then move to the center of the stage.
- The candidate will turn and face the audience. The escort will hood the candidate.
- Then the provost and Graduate School dean present the diploma. The chancellor and regent shake hands with the degree recipient.
- The candidate and escort leave the stage using the center ramp, return to their seats and sit down.
- The name reader reads the name of the second candidate and escort – and so on, until all candidates have gone through the ceremony.
Recessional
The platform party will lead the recessional, followed by the faculty and graduates. Marshals will lead students from their seats to exit the arena.
Congratulations on Completing Your Degree!
Contact
Doctoral Student Services, Graduate School 414-229-6569 or gs-doctoralservices@uwm.edu
Secretary of the University Office
414-229-5988 or secofunv@uwm.edu
Security Details
Traffic, Parking & Security Screening
Please allow extra time for traffic, parking and the security screening process.
Event Disruption
Disruption of university events, including graduation activities, violates state law and university policies. Disruptions will not be tolerated. Participants who engage in disruption risk arrest, and/or criminal charges and student disciplinary action. Graduates are asked to pass through security with their graduation gowns unzipped and open as part of the Wisconsin Center District security screening process.
Bag Policy at UWM Panther Arena
Graduates and guests attending public ticketed events are permitted to bring a 12-inch-by-6-inch-by-12-inch or smaller clear stadium bag, gallon-sized clear zip bag, a 4-inch-by-6-inch-by-1-inch wristlet, or a diaper bag or medical bag, which will be searched. This will be strictly enforced.
Prohibited Items at Panther Arena
A list of prohibited items can be found in the A-Z guide of the Panther Arena website. Guests will be asked to return prohibited items to their vehicles. Prohibited items include larger banners or flag signs, poles and tripods, laser pointers, outside food or drink, and professional photo and video recording equipment.