Celebration events are submitted to us by the schools, colleges, departments and programs that host these events. Updates to this list happen frequently.
Asian American Studies
The Asian American Studies Program and APIDA Student Center will hold a graduation celebration for AAS class of 2024. There will be graduation activities prior to student recognitions. Food and cake will be served.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 2 – 3 p.m.
Location: MSC Lounge, Red Gym
Contact: asianamerican@letsci.wisc.edu
Asian Languages and Cultures
Join the Asian Languages & Cultures department faculty, staff, and students for an end-of-semester gathering to celebrate the graduating class of 2024. Come together to recognize the ALC community for many accomplishments this year. Graduates are welcome to bring guests. Refreshments and cake will be served. For more information please visit the event website.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 4 – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Bascom Hall 260
Contact: rweiss@wisc.edu
Astronomy-Physics
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 5 – 6 p.m.
Location: 2241 Chamberlin Hall
Contact: Evan Heintz, eheintz@wisc.edu
Biology Major
Stop by the 3rd floor of the Microbial Sciences Building near the Biology Major advising offices to enjoy ice cream with advisors and fellow grads. While you’re there, pick up your Biology Major mug. It’s our gift to you as our newest alumni. For more information please visit our website.
Date: Friday, May 3, 2024
Time: 12 – 1:30 p.m.
Location: 3rd floor of the Microbial Sciences Building
Contact: info@biologymajor.wisc.edu
Chancellor's Undergraduate Awards Ceremony
Date: Friday, May 3, 2024
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Varsity Hall, Union South
Chemistry
The Department of Chemistry Graduation Celebration will be held in person with a ceremony from 3 – 4 p.m. in the John Morgridge Lecture Hall, North Tower S429, and a reception from 4 – 5 p.m. in the Chemistry Lecture Commons. A live stream will be available here.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: S429 John Morgridge Lecture Hall, North Tower S429
Contact: connect@chem.wisc.edu
Chican@ & Latin@ Studies
For more information please visit the event website.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 9–11 a.m.
Location: Ingraham Hall, Room B10
College of Agricultural and Life Sciences
Doctoral, professional, master’s, and bachelor’s degree candidates in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences are invited to attend the CALS Pre-Commencement Celebration. This informal event will feature gifts for graduates, photo opportunities and a light breakfast. Friends and family are welcome to attend. For more information please visit the event website.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Allen Centennial Garden
Contact: academicaffairs@cals.wisc.edu
College of Engineering
The College of Engineering Graduate Recognition Event is a formal event where graduating engineers at all levels will march across the stage in the company of their peers, have their name read, shake hands with college and department or program leaders, receive their diploma cover, and have a graduation photo taken. Many of our academic departments will be hosting celebrations for their graduates earlier in the day on May 11. Details can be found on our Department Celebrations page.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 5–7 p.m.
Location: Kohl Center
College of Letters and Science
The College of Letters & Science will hold an in-person Spring 2024 Pre-Commencement Celebration for L&S graduates and their families. Celebrate your milestone at this informal event with the Dean, your family and friends, and Bucky. Enjoy refreshments, a complimentary L&S alumni t-shirt, and more, at this free event.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 9–10:30 a.m.
Location: UW Field House
Contact: commence@ls.wisc.edu
Communication Arts
The Department of Communication Arts will be hosting a graduation ceremony for spring, summer, and winter graduates and their guests. The event will include speeches, a hooding ceremony for PhD grads, name reading ceremony with graduates crossing the stage, and a reception with light refreshments after. Undergraduates and PhD students were emailed instructions to RSVP. Guests do not need to RSVP. Event doors will open at 1:30 p.m.
Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Time: 2 – 4 p.m. (we ask graduates to arrive by 1:30 p.m. to get checked in)
Location: Gordon Dining & Event Center in the Overture/Sonata Concerto Rooms, 770 W. Dayton St.
Contact: Steffie Halverson, halverson2@wisc.edu
Communications Sciences & Disorders
The Communication Sciences and Disorders Program will host a graduation for the AuD program for all graduating AuD students and their guests.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Lake Mendota Room in Dejope
The Communication Sciences and Disorders Program will host a hooding ceremony for the SLP program for all graduating SLP students and their guests.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location: Lake Mendota Room in Dejope
Criminal Justice & Legal Studies
Please join us in celebrating our Legal Studies and Criminal Justice graduates! Graduates will have an opportunity to share a few words at the event and refreshments will be provided. Please RSVP here.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 3 – 4 p.m.
Location: Carson Gulley, Upper Room, 1515 Tripp Circle
Contact: cjcp@ssc.wisc.edu
Departments of Botany and Integrative Biology
We are excited to celebrate your accomplishments at the Departments of Botany and Integrative Biology graduation celebration. Graduates can pick up a gift and play some cornhole. Families, friends, and Department of Botany and iBio faculty and staff are welcome.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 12 – 2:30 p.m.
Location: Birge Hall front lawn (rain location is the Birge Hall Atrium)
Contact: vjackson4@wisc.edu
Division of Diversity, Equity and Educational Achievement
Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Time: 5:30–9 p.m.
Location: Shannon Hall and Great Hall, Memorial Union
Contact: events@cdo.wisc.edu
Division of the Arts - Creative Arts Awards
Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024
Economics
Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Time: 4–8 p.m.
English
The English department will recognize students in the major who are graduating during this event that includes speeches from the Department Chair, Director of Undergraduate Studies, and student speakers. Students will be recognized as they walk across a stage with their name read to receive their English department mug. Coffee and refreshments will be available along with a live stream of the event for those that are unable to attend.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.
Location: Alumni Lounge, Pyle Center
Contact: For questions or to RSVP, email Erin Polnaszek Boyd, Academic Advising Manager in the English Department, erin.polnaszek.boyd@wisc.edu
First-Generation Student Graduation
First-gen Badgers and their support networks are invited to celebrate commencement during Trailblazers of Tomorrow: A First-Gen Graduation Event. Enjoy light refreshments ahead of inspiring remarks from fellow students, UW–Madison faculty, and a captivating keynote by author Tanja Pajevic. The event will culminate in a cording ceremony, where students will have their incredible achievements recognized by walking across the stage to receive their first-gen student cord and pin. Please RSVP for yourself and your guests by April 12.
Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024
Time: 1 – 3 p.m.
Location: Union South, Varsity Hall
Contact: SeniorClass@StudentAffairs.wisc.edu
Global Health major
This will be a graduation event for all undergraduate Global Health majors. RSVP is required. See program website for event details.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 4 – 6 p.m.
Location: Gordon Commons
Contact: todd.courtenay@wisc.edu
GSCC
The GSCC will host their Rainbow Graduation to celebrate graduates, award winners, and scholarship recipients. For more information and to RSVP please click here.
Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, DeLuca Forum
Contact: Tiffany at lgbtq@StudentAffairs.wisc.edu or Tslee2@wisc.edu
Hillel, Jewish Community Commencement
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 11–1 p.m.
Location: UW Hillel
International Student Services
Come join ISS in recognizing and celebrating our graduating international students from around the world and across campus departments. This is a free, ticketed event that requires an RSVP online. Guests such as friends, family, and other supporters are also welcome to attend in-person but will need to reserve “Guest Tickets“. The event will also be live-streamed and recorded for supporters across the world to be able to join in. Students will be able to opt-in to a processional or “walking ceremony”, often seen as a graduation tradition, but something Camp Randall cannot offer at commencement. A reception following the ceremony will include free food and drink, as well as photo opportunities.
Date: Thursday, May 9, 2024
Time: 4–7 p.m.
Location: Fluno Center
Kinesiology Department
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Marquee Theater, Union South
Contact: ugkines@education.wisc.edu
La Follette School of Public Affairs
For more information please visit the event website.
Date: Sunday, May 12, 2024
Time: 10–12 p.m.
Location: Assembly Chambers of the WI State Capitol Building
Law School
The UW Law School’s hooding ceremony is a special ceremony for UW Law School graduates. During the ceremony, a faculty member places the hood on students, symbolizing completion of the program.
Guests, family members and friends are welcome to attend. There is no ticketing for attendance and seating is general admission, first-come, first-served. We do request that graduates and guests register for the event for planning purposes. Please RSVP here.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Monona Terrace
Contact: events@law.wisc.edu
Spring Leadership Certificate Ceremony
Date: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Time: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Union South, Varsity Hall
Mathematics
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 3 – 5 p.m.
Location: Math Learning Center – Van Vleck B224
Mead Witter School of Music
Graduation, Hooding, and Awards Recognition ceremony with reception to follow in HMC lobby
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 2 p.m.
Location: Hamel Music Center – MWF Concert Hall
Multicultural Graduation and Leadership Awards
The Multicultural Graduation and Leadership Awards (MGLAs) reception is held annually as a way to recognize the graduating class as well as members of the UW-Madison community. Each year graduates are invited to receive a stole and identity center cord. Awards are given out based on nominations and a selection committee. For more information and to RSVP please visit their website.
Date: Thursday, May 2, 2024
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: Great Hall, Memorial Union
Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
Hey, Nelson Community! Help us celebrate our 2024 spring and summer graduates. Enjoy appetizers and drinks, take pictures in our photo booth, and meet Bucky Badger and the UW-Marching Band. Come and go as your schedule allows. Please RSVP to attend here.
Date: Friday, May 3, 2024
Time: 4 – 6 p.m.
Location: Tripp Commons, Memorial Union
Contact: Alessandra Rella, arella@wisc.edu
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Pharmacology and Toxicology undergraduate students will be recognized at our breakfast event. Space is limited and students must RSVP on behalf of their guests; details will be sent to students.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Carson Gulley Center
Contact: Kendra Gurnee, kgurnee@wisc.edu
Physics
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 3–5 p.m.
Location: 2241 Chamberlin
Political Science
The Department of Political Science will be celebrating their graduates with a brunch reception for students and up to two guests. RSVP is required. Students who have applied to graduate will receive email updates regarding the event.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 9 – 11 a.m.
Location: Gordon Dining and Event Center
Psychology
The Department of Psychology will celebrate Bachelor’s degree candidates with a drop-in Graduation Reception. For more information and to RSVP, please visit our website.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 9 – 11 a.m.
Location: Brogden Psychology Building
School of Education
PhD’s MFA and OTD Graduation Pre-Commencement Celebration
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 1–3 p.m. reception; program is at 1:30 p.m.
Location: Gordon Commons Dining Hall – Overture, Concerto, Sonata Rooms
Contact: Shaun LeCloux, salecloux@wisc.edu
Bachelor’s and Master’s Pre-Commencement Celebration
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 9–11 a.m. reception; program is at 9:45 a.m.
Location: Gordon Commons Dining Hall, 2nd floor
Contact: Shaun LeCloux, salecloux@wisc.edu
School of Human Ecology: Undergraduate
The School of Human Ecology will host a reception for all graduating SoHE students and their guests. Take pictures with Bucky or Dean Shim, grab a breakfast snack, chat with your faculty, and show off Nancy Nicholas Hall to all of your guests. More information can be found here.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 9:30–10:45 a.m.
Location: Nancy Nicholas Hall
Contact: Ashley Hintermeyer, hintermeyer@wisc.edu
School of Journalism and Mass Communication
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 12–2 p.m.
Location: DeLuca Forum in the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery (WID)
Contact: calyx@wisc.edu
School of Medicine and Public Health
Join us as we celebrate graduates from across our five health professions programs and from the graduate school. Multiple days of events are planned. Explore our event website for more information.
School of Nursing
School of Nursing Undergraduate: BSN
The School of Nursing will host the Nursing Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration starting with a reception and followed by a ceremony (guest ticket required). For more details, please visit the website.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 2–3:30 p.m. (reception), 4–6 p.m. (ceremony)
Location: Great Hall (reception) and Shannon Hall (ceremony), both at Memorial Union
Contact: Morgan Lewis, mlewis7@wisc.edu
School of Nursing Doctoral: DNP, PhD
The School of Nursing will host the Nursing Doctoral Hooding Ceremony starting with the hooding ceremony (guest ticket required) and followed by a reception. For more details, please visit the website.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 1 p.m. (ceremony with reception following)
Location: Signe Skott Cooper Hall
Contact: Morgan Lewis, mlewis7@wisc.edu
School of Pharmacy
School of Pharmacy MS/PhD Hooding Celebration
The School of Pharmacy are hosting graduating recognition and hooding ceremony for our Capstone, Master’s, and PhD students in Pharmaceutical Sciences, as well as PhD students in Health Sciences Research in Pharmacy. The event includes breakfast at the Wisconsin Idea Lounge, a hooding ceremony at the AT&T Lounge, and a reception in the Courtyard, all held at the Pyle Center. Please note that tickets are necessary to attend in person (graduates need to distribute tickets to their guests). However, there will also be a live stream available for those unable to attend in person.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: TBA
Location: Pyle Center
Contact: Ace Hilliard, ace.hilliard@wisc.edu
School of Pharmacy PharmD/Health Systems MS Hooding Celebration
The School of Pharmacy will host a hooding ceremony for our Doctor of Pharmacy and Health Systems Pharmacy Administration Master’s Degree candidates in Shannon Hall at the Memorial Union. Tickets are required to attend this in-person event. (Graduates are responsible for distributing tickets to their respective guests). A live stream will also be available. For more information please reach out to Lindsey.Weigel@wisc.edu
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Location: Shannon Hall, Memorial Union
Contact: Lindsey.Weigel@wisc.edu
School of Veterinary Medicine
The School of Veterinary Medicine will host a breakfast in Great Hall, Memorial Union. Following the breakfast, there will be a hooding ceremony for our Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Students in Shannon Hall, Memorial Union. Tickets are required for this event. There will also be a live-streaming option for this event.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: Breakfast is from 7 – 8:30 a.m.; Ceremony is from 9 – 10:30 a.m.
Location: Great Hall, Memorial Union; hooding ceremony in Shannon Hall, Memorial Union
Contact: Office of Academic Affairs: oaa@vetmed.wisc.edu
Statistics
The Department of Statistics will be hosting a reception for all undergraduates and graduate students. This will be a casual event in a “come and go” style with food, graduation mug pickup, and photo opportunities. Families, friends, and Department of Statistics faculty and staff are welcome to attend. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.
Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Time: 12:30 – 2:30 p.m. (Undergraduate reception) and 3 – 4 p.m. (Graduate Reception)
Location: Discovery Building, H.F DeLuca Forum (Room 1225)
Contact: plia.xiong@wisc.edu
Wisconsin School of Business
The Wisconsin School of Business Undergraduate Program will host a BBA Graduation Celebration honoring December 2023 and May 2024 graduates. For more details, please visit the website.
Date: Friday, May 10, 2024
Time: 2–4 p.m., doors open at noon
Location: Alliant Energy Center
Contact: bbagraduation@wsb.wisc.edu
UW-Madison Online
UW-Madison Online will host a Graduation Celebration brunch honoring December 2023 and May 2024 graduates. The celebration includes a brief ceremony to announce graduates and time for connection between students, families, and campus representatives.
Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Time: 9-10:30 a.m.
Location: Gordon Dining & Event Center – Symphony Room
Contact: oss@advising.wisc.edu