IMPORTANT: If your contact information is restricted and you would like your name included in the Commencement Booklet, please contact the Registrar’s Office, Mellencamp Hall 274, (414) 229-3800.
Thank you for your inquiry about walking in the UWM Commencement ceremony. We congratulate you on your achievement!
Please note, Commencement is not a required event.
Directions for:
Bachelor & Associate Degree Candidates
Master Degree Candidates
Doctoral Degree Candidates
Past Graduates are allowed to attend a commencement ceremony within one calendar year following their official graduation date. They are welcome to attend and walk across the stage during the event; however, we cannot guarantee tickets to accommodate their guests at the UWM Panther Arena on the day of commencement. Guests may view the ceremony live on the day of the ceremony or afterwards from the Commencement Archives Commencement Archives.
Please note that your name will only appear in the Commencement Program issued at the time of your official graduation.
Details, about Commencement can be found on the UWM Commencement webpage at https://uwm.edu/secu/com_cer/
Unfortunately, any graduate wanting to walk beyond one year cannot be accommodated.
Important:
- Please allow extra time for traffic, parking and the security screening process.
- Important information: 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.
Tickets
Students who have applied for graduation by October 31st, 2024 will be sent a link in the middle of November to claim tickets for their guests.
A Ticketmaster account is required to download tickets.
Graduates do not need tickets, but all guests over the age of 2 will require a ticket to enter the arena; please transfer the tickets you claim to a member of your family with a Ticketmaster account. Doors open at 8:30 am. Guests should enter through the main entrance doors located at 400 W. Kilbourn Ave and should be sure to have their tickets downloaded on their phones in advance.
Please email boxoffice@wcd.org directly for assistance.
Children 3 and under do not require a ticket and will be considered a lap child.
** Please review the list of prohibited items when entering the arena. **
When:
Sunday, December 15, 2024, 10:00 a.m.
Ceremony is for all Associate, Bachelor, Master, and Doctoral Candidates
(The ceremony is approximately 2.5 hours long)
Where:
UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena
400 W. Kilbourn Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Attire:
- Infromation about your regalia (cap and gown) please click HERE
- Order your regalia after September 15
- If you would like to connect with the PantherShop: Please see their website or email them: 2356mgr@follett.com
Student Seating:
Seating chart will be posted the first week in December
Guest Seating:
Arena doors open at 8:30 a.m.
Commencement is a ticketed event, guests without a valid ticket will not be allowed to enter the arena. Please transfer the tickets you claim to a member of your family with a Ticketmaster account. It is general admission seating: guest can sit anywhere in any seat.
Commencement is a momentous occasion, and we are delighted for family and friends to celebrate with their graduating student. We have recently been experiencing larger crowds at UWM commencement ceremonies. In addition, we understand there are several other universities holding graduation ceremonies in close proximity to the UWM Panther Arena at the same time as our ceremony. We therefore encourage graduates and guests to arrive early.
If you would like to avoid the large crowds, you may watch the live stream of UWM’s Commencement using the following link:
https://uwm.edu/streamingvideo/commencements/
Special Accommodations:
The handicapped entrance to the Arena is located at 500 W. Kilbourn Ave (between the Miller High Life Theatre & the UWM Panther Arena). ADA decks for wheelchair seating are located in Sections 200, 205, 210, 222 and 226. Accessible seating is available on a first come first serve basis; due to limited space, we request that only one non-disabled person sit with each person with a disability in the seating area designated for these guests.
There will be sign language interpreters available in section 211. This seating is available on a first come first serve basis. There will also be captioning available on two large screens located on the left and right sides of the main stage.
Photographs & Videos:
GradImages is the official photographer at commencement. They can be reached at 800.628.4509, kmay@iconicgroup.com , or you can visit their website at GradImages
A live video feed will be available the day of the ceremony. Click here to watch!
You may view past and present commencement ceremonies here.
Parking, Maps, and Directions:
Hotel Accommodations:
Please check under the accommodations here: Accommodations – Secretary of the University
Faculty Reps & Ph.D. Escorts:
Please click HERE to order your faculty regalia (It will be available after September 15)
Faculty will receive further information via email.
*PLEASE NOTE* If you are a faculty escort for a Ph.D. student and have not received any information yet, it is because your Ph.D. student has not yet filled out the online RSVP form. Once the RSVP form is filled out, you will automatically receive further instructions via email. The RSVP form can be found here.