Commencement:
Sunday, May 21, 2023

Black Ceremony:
8:00 a.m. – Doctoral rehearsal
9:00 a.m. – Ceremony start time

Gold Ceremony:
1:00 p.m. – Doctoral rehearsal
2:00 p.m. – Ceremony start time

RSVP
All Doctoral candidates must fill out the online RSVP form and have a faculty escort at the ceremony. Please click HERE to RSVP by April 17th, 2023

Assembly and seating diagrams will be posted the first week of May.

Dress Rehearsal
Please report to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena no later than 7:55 a.m.(Black)/ 12:55 p.m. (Gold). There will be a dress rehearsal for Doctoral candidates and their escorts that starts promptly at 8:00 a.m. (Black)/1:00 p.m. (Gold).

Arrival & Rehearsal
Students should enter the arena via the Annex entrance located at 490 W. Kilbourn Ave, which is the entrance between the Arena and the Theatre.  From their students should report to the lower level and proceed to the Ph.D./Doctoral assembly area on the northside. Signs are posted and marshals will be present to direct you. Candidates who have RSVP’d will receive a pre-printed name card which will be read during the ceremony, as well as a photo card and printed program. Once the rehearsal, consisting of walking onto and across the stage and back down, is completed, the marshals will immediately direct the PhD candidates and their escorts into their seats.

Ceremony

Doctoral candidates will be asked to rise for conferring their degree. The candidate and escort approach the stage from their left and right sides of the stage 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 presents the diploma. The Chancellor shakes hands with the degree recipient. The candidate and escort leave the stage using the center stairway, return to their seats and sit down. The name of the second candidate and escort are read- and so on until all candidates have gone through the ceremony.

For any questions, contact:

Doctoral Student Services, Graduate School: 414-229-6569 or
gs-doctoralservices@uwm.edu

Secretary of the University’s Office: 414-229-5988 or secofunv@uwm.edu