Commencement Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions
The December 2025 University-wide Commencement* ceremony honoring Certificates, Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral** graduates will be held on Friday, December 12th, 2025 at the KFC Yum! Center at 7:00pm. The ceremony lasts about two hours and culminates with student recognitions and the turning of tassels. The event is non-ticketed, and graduates may invite an unlimited number of guests.
*Medical, Dental, Law and Nursing all conduct their own ceremonies in the days surrounding December 12th . Professional school graduates are invited to also participate in the University-wide ceremony if they wish on December 12th but are not required to do so.
** Doctoral level graduates will receive hooding ceremony information and instructions from their school/college. More information to come. Doctoral graduates are invited to participate in the University-wide ceremonies, as well as their hooding, if they like.
- School of Medicine Fall 2025 Commencement
- More Information to come
Contact: cynthia.morse@louisville.edu
- School of Dentistry Fall 2025 Commencement
- More Information to come
Contact: dentsa@louisville.edu
- School of Nursing Fall 2025 Convocation
- Friday, December 12, 2025, 10:00 a.m., at the Brown Theatre
- More Information to come
- Contact: rlcard02@louisville.edu
No in-person rehearsal will be held. A brief informational video walkthrough is available here.
Commencement is a non-ticketed event. Graduates may invite an unlimited number of guests to attend.
Parking is located onsite in the arena garage along with many other parking garages, surface lots, and on street metered parking in the area. Parking costs are the responsibility of the graduate or guest. All parking is available on a first come, first served basis. The University is not liable for parking fees or damage to vehicle.
- The Ceremony will begin at 7:00 pm – Doors will open for Graduate and guests at 5:30pm
- The ceremony will last approximately two hours.
We expect about 1100 graduates to be recognized at each ceremony. Please show consideration for all graduates of our campus community by crossing the stage in a timely manner, returning to your seat and remaining seated until the recessional at the end of the ceremony.
Graduates are required to wear UofL’s official cap and gown to participate in the ceremony. Go directly to the Jostens University of Louisville online store to place your order.
Only Bachelors are eligible for Latin Honors. Cords may be purchased with your cap & gown on the Jostens ordering page. If you order a cord and later find that you need a different color, you can bring it to the Red Barn and exchange it for another when Jostens is on campus on December 11th and 12th.
Colors are as follows:
Summa Cum Laude = red & gold
Magna Cum Laude = red/red
Cum Laude = gold/gold.
You can find your honors eligibility here: https://catalog.louisville.edu/undergraduate/university-wide-unit-specific-policies/graduation-academic-honors/#universitypoliciestext. If you are unsure as to what your GPA is, check with your academic advisor.
Yes, absolutely. We love to see your creativity! No obscenities, violations of law, or university policy. Be sure to use #UofLGrads2025!
Class rings, zipper pulls, custom diploma frames, Cardinal stoles, Kente stoles, tassels and announcements may be purchased from the Jostens online ordering site. These items are NOT required and are entirely OPTIONAL. Promotional pricing is available at the Countdown to Commencement event. Please see the calendar of events page for additional details.
Yes. All individuals arriving at the facility will pass through metal detectors upon arriving at the facility. Please allow a few extra minutes for entering the facility. Per KFC YUM! Center policy, all bags are subject to search upon entry. Backpacks of any kind, including drawstring, fanny packs, computer bags, and camera bags are prohibited. Bags may be no larger than 14” X 14” X 6" and a clutch may only be 9” X 7”. Please also note that balloons are prohibited.
Signs which are hand-held and no greater than 11" x 17" in size are permitted. Signs may not be hung or fastened anywhere in the arena. Small signs should not be commercial or obscene in nature, nor promote violations of law or university policy, nor cause any disturbance. The KFC Yum! Center reserves the right to remove any banner at any time. Graduates may not carry anything onstage (flags, signs, objects etc.).
Yes.
Yes. Americans With Disabilities Act accessible seating areas are available. All seating is available on a first come, first served basis.
Additionally, the fan assist wheelchair escort program will be available. Upon arrival at the venue, any venue staff with a radio can contact fan assist for you. A staff member will meet you in the lobby with a wheelchair they will use to escort you to your seat. You may contact them at 502-609-9034 when you are ready to be picked up and returned to the lobby. If you plan to use this service, please allow extra time for entry. Should you need assistance, their office will be staffed during the event located by section 103 on the Main Concourse.
There is not a dress code for guests. Graduates must wear the official UofL cap & gown to participate in the ceremony. We encourage students to wear appropriate footwear. While there are no restrictions on footwear, be mindful that you will be walking on many different surfaces and navigating stairs or a ramp.
Beverages and snacks will be available for purchase.
No. To minimize crowding, if you want to sit with your friends, you must arrive together.
Yes. The link is here and may be viewed live or anytime.
We no longer print program books for distribution at the ceremony, however, we will post a link to download the book in the days approaching commencement. We will also provide a QR code at the ceremony so you and your guests may download it while at the KFC YUM! Center. You may request 2 printed copies to be mailed to you here: https://student.louisville.edu/registrar/reg-commencement-booklet-order….
Our photography partner, ProPics, will be onsite photographing the ceremony. Each student will be photographed as they cross the stage and will also have a graduate portrait taken after crossing the stage. Each graduate will receive one free 5X7 photograph. To make sure Pro Pics has the most accurate contact information to send your photo proofs and free print, please visit www.UofLphotos.com to fill out your information.
No. The Registrar’s Office will send graduates an e-mail notice when diplomas become available. Diplomas usually arrive in the Registrar's Office approximately 8-10 weeks after commencement. You will be contacted via e-mail once the diplomas are available. If you have a question regarding your degree application or diploma, visit the Registrar's website or contact the Office of the Registrar at 502-852-6522 . You may also send an e-mail to regoff@louisville.edu.
Diplomas for all degrees measure 14"x17".
Academic units have one month to approve degrees. Once a degree is approved it will post to your transcript.
The University’s information technology staff will provide video services at the commencement ceremony. The ceremony livestream is available on the University's Youtube channel. For additional video questions, please contact Mike Peak at mike.peak@louisville.edu