Doctoral, MFA, and Medical Professional
Degree Candidate Ceremony
Friday, May 10, 2024 at 5:30 p.m.
Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton Street
Bachelor’s, Law, and Master’s Degree
Candidate Ceremony
Saturday, May 11, 2024 at Noon
Camp Randall, 1440 Monroe Street
Meet the keynote speaker: Meghan Duggan
Use these jump links or scroll down to learn more about what to expect the day of the event.
Doctoral, MFA, and Medical Professional Degree Candidates
The Doctoral, MFA, and Medical Professional Degree Candidate Ceremony will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10, and will last approximately two hours. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. Graduates are asked to arrive no later than 4:50 p.m. to check-in and pick-up their name reader card.
There is no separate registration process for commencement, and there is no master list that students’ names are read from. A graduate’s name does not need to appear in the program to participate in the ceremony.
Name Reading
Graduates will need to provide a phonetic pronunciation for how they would like their name read at the commencement ceremony. UW–Madison, in partnership with NameCoach, will send each graduate an email with a link to complete your pronunciation and recording. Graduate name cards will be printed with this information and available for pick-up at the ceremony. Name readers will use your provided pronunciation to read your name as you cross the stage. Additional information can be found through this KB document.
Seating
Graduates should enter the Kohl Center at Gate A (West Dayton Street entrance). Access to candidate seating is via the grand staircase located outside Section 127.
Degree candidate seating will be in designated areas by school, college, or degree on the floor of the Kohl Center. Seating is not pre-assigned by graduate name and is first-come, first-served. Commencement Marshals wearing cardinal red academic attire, as well as ushers and posted signs, will be present to provide seating directions and assistance upon arrival. Degree candidates with faculty escorts (PhD, DMA, MFA) should ask their escort to sit on their right.
No guests, including children (except children of nursing parents), are permitted in the candidate seating area.
Accessibility
For graduates in need of accessibility accommodations, please email accessibility@chancellor.wisc.edu to make arrangements.
Cap and gown pick up
Cap and gown rentals can be picked up at the University Book Store (711 State Street). Academic attire (cap and gown) is required to participate in the ceremony.
Reading of graduate names
Doctoral, MFA, and Medical Professional degree candidates will have their names read as they walk across the stage to receive their diploma cover at the Kohl Center on Friday, May 10. Each degree candidate will receive a name card upon arrival to the Kohl Center. This card will have each graduate’s information printed out on it, including the phonetic pronunciation of their name as well as a QR code. When graduates approach the stage, they will hand this card to a Marshal who will read their name from the card as the graduate crosses the stage.
Graduate photographs
Professional photographs will be taken as graduates receive their diploma cover and as they leave the stage. Proofs will be emailed out approximately 48 hours after the ceremony. Learn more about graduate photos and additional photo opportunities.
Diplomas
Graduates will receive a diploma cover as they cross the stage at the Friday commencement ceremony. The actual diploma will be mailed six to eight weeks after grades are entered to the permanent home address listed in the MyUW Student Center.
Programs
A printed program will be at each degree candidate’s chair and available for guests at the
ceremony. A digital program will be available after the ceremony on the ceremony archives and recording page.
Bachelor’s, Law, and Master’s Degree Candidates
The Bachelor’s, Law, and Master’s Degree Candidate Ceremony will begin promptly at noon on Saturday, May 11, and will last approximately 90 minutes. Doors open at 10 a.m. Graduates are asked to arrive no later than 11:10 a.m.
There is no separate registration process for commencement, and there is no master list that students’ names are read from. A graduate’s name does not need to appear in the program to participate in the ceremony.
Seating
Graduates should enter Camp Randall at Gate 5 (the student gate for football games). This is the only gate with access to candidate seating.
Degree candidate seating will be in designated areas by school, college, or degree. Seating is not pre-assigned by graduate name and is first-come, first-served. Commencement Marshals wearing cardinal red academic attire, as well as ushers and posted signs, will be present to provide seating directions and assistance upon arrival.
Graduates arriving late will be redirected to late arrival seating sections in the stands.
No guests, including children (except children of nursing parents), are permitted in the candidate seating area.
Accessibility
For graduates in need of accessibility accommodations, please email accessibility@chancellor.wisc.edu to make arrangements.
Cap and gown pick up
Cap and gown rentals can be picked up at the University Book Store (711 State Street). Academic attire (cap and gown) is required to participate in the ceremony.
Reading of graduate names
Bachelor’s, Law, and Master’s Degree Candidates will NOT have their names read during the ceremony at Camp Randall on Saturday, May 11. This decision is due to the high number of graduates in attendance and limited time available at Camp Randall.
Graduate photographs
Professional photographers will be on the sidelines of Camp Randall for graduates to take portrait photos before and after the ceremony. Proofs will be emailed out approximately 48 hours after the ceremony. Learn more about graduate photos and additional photo opportunities.
Diplomas
Bachelor’s, Law, and Master’s degree candidates will receive a diploma cover from the University Book Store when they pick up their cap and gown, except for undergraduate engineering or business graduates who will receive their cover from their school or college. The actual diploma will be mailed six to eight weeks after grades are entered to the permanent home address listed in the MyUW Student Center.
Programs
A printed program will be available for graduates and guests upon arrival at the ceremony. A digital program will be available after the ceremony on the ceremony archives and recordings page.
Guests
Tickets
No tickets are required to attend either ceremony. Guest seating is general admission, first-come, first-served. There is no limit to the number of guests that graduates may bring.
Accessibility
Please visit our Kohl Center accessibility page and Camp Randall accessibility page for
more information.
Parking
Complimentary parking is available in several campus parking lots on commencement weekend. Please visit our parking page for more information.
Live stream
The commencement ceremony will be streamed live on UW–Madison’s YouTube channel. Shortly after commencement weekend, archived video of the ceremony will be available.
Carry-in Policy
The carry-in policy applies to both the Kohl Center and Camp Randall Stadium. To expedite entry into the Kohl Center and Camp Randall, graduates along with guests are encouraged to limit the number of items they bring. Metal detectors will be in place at both ceremonies. As guests enter the venues, they will not need to remove personal items such as cell phones, cameras, keys, wallets, or coins from their pockets before going through the metal detectors. They will not need to remove clothing or accessories such as hats, jewelry, belts, shoes, or jackets.
Please note that the clear bag policy does not apply at the Kohl Center or Camp Randall on the day of commencement.
All items and spectators are subject to search. Storage facilities are not available for checking prohibited items. Items left at gates will be disposed of accordingly.
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Permitted items
The following items are allowed at the venue:
- Bags no larger than 8.5 by 11 inches
- Binoculars
- Cameras
- Items related to a medical condition
- Chairbacks (not more than 16” wide)
- Flowers (with no glass vase)
- Diaper bags (with child)
Prohibited items
The following items are not allowed at the venue:
- Bags larger than 8.5 by 11 inches, including backpacks
- Flags, banners, signs
- Food, beverages
- Containers
- Strollers
- Baby carrier seats
- Laser pointers
- Noisemakers
- Weapons
- Selfie sticks
- Tripods
- Inflatables
- Any items deemed dangerous or inappropriate.
- Umbrellas (prohibited in Camp Randall Stadium ONLY. Umbrellas are permitted in the Kohl Center.)
Inclement Weather
We are hopeful that Mother Nature will cooperate in the celebration, but because inclement weather is possible, plans are in place to ensure a safe commencement celebration.
The ceremonies are scheduled to take place rain or shine. Given the size of the gathering, it’s not feasible to move the ceremonies to an alternate date.
- In the event of severe weather, the ceremony may be delayed, paused, or canceled. Guest safety is the highest priority.
- If a schedule adjustment is required prior to arrival, information will be shared via email, the commencement website, social media (@UWMadison on X, formerly Twitter, and UWMadison on Facebook), and local news media.
At the venue, instructions will be given via public address announcements and video screen messages. Graduates and guests are asked to listen for announcements and remain seated until instructed otherwise.
Let's stay connected
Check out the latest email updates from commencement by visiting our communications page.