Faculty Commencement Instructions
Cardinal Faculty,
Thank you for submitting an RSVP to attend Commencement. If you also submitted an RSVP to attend the Doctoral Hooding, you will receive separate instructions from the Graduate School pertaining to that ceremony.
The University of Louisville will celebrate its December 2026 Commencement ceremony*, honoring certificate, bachelor’s master’s, and doctoral candidates, on Friday, December 11, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the KFC Yum! Center.
The ceremony will last approximately two hours and will culminate in the conferral of degrees and the turning of tassels. Tickets are not required, and graduates may invite an unlimited number of guests.
*The Doctoral Hooding ceremony will take place on Friday, December 11, 2026, at 2 p.m., in the Swain Student Activities Center Ballroom.
ACADEMIC REGALIA: If you submitted an order for regalia on the Jostens website before the deadline, or if you have been in contact with our office regarding late apparel, you will pick it up from the Red Barn on Thursday, December 10, 2026, from noon 6 p.m., or on Friday, December 11, 2026, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. There will be no regalia available after the event closes on Friday.
PARKING: Faculty parking passes for the University-wide Commencement may be picked up from the Information Centers on Belknap Campus or from the front desk staff of the Kornhauser Library (2nd floor) located on the Health Sciences Center Campus beginning on Tuesday, December 1, 2026. These passes are for faculty and staff to park in the Riverside Witherspoon Garage, located at 100 Witherspoon St. https://riversideparking.com/parking-location/witherspoon-garage/
Faculty who choose to park elsewhere or who do not turn in their parking pass are responsible for their parking fees. The University is not liable for your vehicle.
Please note that other events and road closures may impact your driving time and parking availability. Please allow plenty of time for parking and traffic.
ENTRANCE & SECURITY: Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. All individuals entering the KFC Yum! Center will pass through metal detectors. Please allow a few extra minutes to enter the facility. All bags will be searched upon entry. Bags may be no larger than 14" X 14" and a clutch may only be 9" X 7". Balloons are prohibited at the KFC Yum! Center.
The Suite Entrance located on 2nd St. has been designated as the Express Entrance for graduating students and faculty participants. We recommend using this entrance, as it is the closest entry from the Witherspoon Garage.
FACULTY LOUNGE & LINE-UP: The Elijah Craig Lounge, located on the event level, has been reserved for faculty participants and will offer light refreshments. We kindly ask faculty to gather at the Elijah Craig Lounge no later than 6:35 p.m. Faculty Marshals, will organize the faculty line-up 20 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony in the hallway just outside of the room. Please do not leave valuables in the space, as it is not attended during the ceremony.
FACULTY PROCESSIONAL: Faculty will process in following the Platform Party and will be seated near the stage. If you need accommodations, or are unable to participate in the procession, please contact the commencement staff at commence@louisville.edu
FACULTY RECESSIONAL AND REGALIA RETURN: The ceremony will last approximately two hours. At the conclusion, a Faculty Marshal will guide participants out of the arena bowl. If we rented regalia for you, we kindly ask that you return it before you leave. The regalia return station will be located inside the Elijah Craig Lounge.
Thank you for your support of our graduates and your participation in Commencement. Questions may be directed to commence@louisville.edu.
Thank you,
Commencement Staff
http://louisville.edu/commencement
(502) 852-6528