Ceremony Checklist

Commencement is NOT the same as graduation! Applying for your degree (graduation) is a separate process from RSVP-ing for the graduation ceremony (commencement). All candidates for graduation, whether or not participating in commencement, must apply for their degrees. For Spring 2025 degrees, the application period is November 15, 2024 – April 14, 2025 . 

• If you completed your degree over the summer and did not apply for your degree before the April 14 deadline, please contact your academic advisor for assistance in applying late.

TO ACCESS THE DEGREE APPLICATION, LOG INTO ULINK, click the "Graduation" tile, then click "Degree Application" on the left.

Once you've applied for your degree, it's time to RSVP for commencement on May 10!  We use the information you provide to display your name, college, and degree on the video monitors and livestream, so it's important that you complete the RSVP on time in order to be properly recognized at the ceremony. 

We will print a custom name call card which will be given to you in the Student Check-In room at the KFC YUM! Center that will have a unique QR code to be scanned as you cross the stage. If you have a name that may be difficult to pronounce, there is also a field in the RSVP where you may provide the correct pronunciation of your name.

The RSVP is intended only for graduates, not guests. Commencement is a nonticketed event and graduates may invite as many guests as they wish. 

The deadline to submit is April 25 at 5:00 p.m. If you do not submit your RSVP by April 27, you may still walk in the ceremony, but the video monitor and livestream will display "Congratulations, Graduate" instead of your name, college and hard-earned degree.

All graduates participating in commencement are required to wear the custom University of Louisville academic regalia sold by Jostens. The deadline to order is March 30, 2025 to guarantee delivery in time for the May 10 ceremony. 

All other accessories, such as cords, stoles, etc. are optional and can be found in the "Affiliation Accessories" on the Jostens UofL ordering page.

Honor cords are not provided but they may be purchased on the Jostens ordering page. For questions regarding Honors eligibility, please contact your academic advisor. If you order an Honor cord but later find that you need a different color than ordered, you will have the opportunity to exchange it at the Red Barn the day before and day of the ceremony.

Know where to go! There is no longer an in-person rehearsal, so we strongly encourage all grads to view the brief Virtual Rehearsal video, where we provide a visual guide to where grads and their guests need to go, and what to do when arriving at the KFC YUM! Center on the Big Day.

If you are graduating and need accommodations due to a disability, physical limitation, or other circumstance in order to participate in the Commencement ceremonies, please email the Commencement Staff.

The University has partnered with ProPics for graduation photography. Graduates will be photographed as they cross the stage. After crossing the stage, you will proceed to the graduate portrait station to have quick portrait made in your cap & gown. ProPics will photograph your portrait on a green screen and you will later have access to select from a variety of backgrounds. As our gift to you, each graduate will receive a free 5" x 7" print of the image of your choosing. 

To access the virtual photo booth website please click here.

Use of this virtual photo booth is completely FREE and you may use as many photos and backgrounds as you would like. This technology will work for individual and group photos! This will allow you to take your group photos with your guests at the location of your choosing (outside of the event) where you can later upload them into the virtual photo booth providing you with photos that appear to be on campus in iconic locations or using the background created for your academic unit. This technology is also available to those graduates who could not join us in person but would still like to utilize the virtual photo booth. 

Program books for May 2025 commencement will be viewable online by May 7.

Graduates may order two printed copies of the program book to be mailed in June 2025. A link to order program books will be posted on the commencement website in the days leading up to the ceremony.

Diplomas will arrive at the Registrar's office approximately eight to ten weeks after the end of each term/semester. An email notification will be sent to all graduates when diplomas arrive and are ready to be picked up. When you pick up your diploma, be sure to verify that your name is spelled correctly and that your diploma includes any special notations, if applicable (honors, etc). You may have someone pick up your diploma for you.

If you live out of town, your diploma can be mailed to you. After the diploma arrival date, students may email the Registrar’s Office at regoff@louisville.edu to arrange mailing. Diplomas cannot be mailed to local addresses including: Anchorage, Buckner, Clarksville, Crestwood, Goshen, Jeffersonville, LaGrange, Louisville, Mt. Washington, New Albany, Pewee Valley, Prospect or Shepherdsville.

For framing purposes, diploma measurements are 14" X 17".

If you wish to order a duplicate diploma, you may do so online at http://louisville.edu/registrar/forms/replacement-diploma-form. The fee is $25.