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!
Directions for:
Bachelor & Associate Degree Candidates
Master Degree Candidates
Doctoral Degree Candidates
Security Details:
- 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.
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 can not 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.
Tickets:
Graduates do not need tickets, but all guests will require a ticket to enter the arena; please transfer the tickets you claim to a member of your family. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. ceremony and at 12:30 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. ceremony. 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.
Below are the links for the two ceremonies, please make sure you select the correct ceremony that your college is a part of as your tickets will not work for the other ceremony.
You may select up to 3 tickets; this round will be open until commencement or until all tickets have been claimed. It is first-come first-serve.
BLACK CEREMONY 9:00 a.m. TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT
Gold Ceremony 2:00 p.m. ticket link
- Access Key- MAYGOLD25
Steps to claim your tickets:
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- At the top right of the screen, click on GET TICKETS
- The screen that pops up will require an ACCESS KEY
- Enter the access key and click UNLOCK.
- The offer has been unlocked, add up to three (3) tickets and click continue
- Enter your contact details at the top and check create an account OR log in with the email from the first round for faster checkout (This will allow you to manage your tickets later.)
- Under Ticket Information, you can add the names/emails of the guests attending the ceremony – click SAVE TICKET. This will allow you to send the tickets directly to those coming. Otherwise, you will have to back in and transfer the tickets to your guests.
- Scroll to the bottom and click Register
- Be patient as the system processes your order
- You will receive an email with the tickets OR the person you listed under each ticket will receive an email with the tickets
- SAVE THESE TICKETS TO YOUR DIGITAL WALLET
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- Troubleshooting Ticketing Issues:
- Use an incognito browser
- Troubleshooting Ticketing Issues:
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. **
Black Ceremony – Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
For all Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Candidates from the following schools/colleges: (each ceremony is approximately 2 1/2 hours long)
- College of the Arts & Architecture
- School of Architecture & Urban Planning
- Peck School of the Arts
- College of Community Engagement and Professions
- School of Education
- School of Information Studies
- Helen Bader School of Social Welfare
- School of Freshwater Sciences
- College of Letters & Science
Gold Ceremony – Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m.
For all Associates, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Candidates from the following schools/colleges: (each ceremony is approximately 2 1/2 hours long)
- College of Health Professions & Sciences
- School of Biomedical Sciences & Health Care Administration
- School of Nursing
- School of Rehabilitation Sciences & Technology
- Sheldon B. Lubar College of Business
- Joseph J. Zilber College of Public Health
- College of Engineering & Applied Science
- College of General Studies
Please check with the Registrar’s Office or the Graduate School directly if you are unsure whether you are eligible to graduate.
Where:
UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena
400 W. Kilbourn Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53203
Attire:
- Information about your regalia (cap and gown) please click HERE
- Order your regalia
- Order your regalia before May 1st with Rush shipping
- If you would like to connect with the PantherShop: Please see their website or email them: 2356mgr@follett.com
Student Seating:
- Black Commencement Ceremony (9 a.m.) Seating Chart
- Gold Commencement Ceremony (2 p.m.) Seating Chart
Guest Seating:
- Arena doors open at 7:30 a.m. for the 9:00 a.m. ceremony
- Arena doors open at 12:30 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. ceremony
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.
Graduation day 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 visit our accommodations page for hotel information
Faculty Reps & Doctoral Escorts:
Order your faculty regalia HERE
Faculty will receive further information via email and campus mail.
*PLEASE NOTE* If you are a faculty escort for a Doctoral student and have not received any information yet, it is because your Doctoral 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.