Commencement Frequently Asked Questions
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Frequently Asked Questions
The May 2025 University-wide Commencement* ceremony honoring Certificates, Bachelor, Masters and Doctoral** graduates will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025 at the KFC Yum! Center. Each 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.
Ceremony #1 (10am) Honoring graduates from the College of Arts & Sciences, Brandeis School of Law*, Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs, Kent School of Social Work & Family Science, School of Dentistry*, School of Medicine*, School of Nursing, and School of Public Health & Information Sciences. Doors open to grads and their guests beginning at 8:30 a.m. Ceremony will last for two hours.
Ceremony #2 (3pm) Honoring graduates from the College of Business, College of Education & Human Development, JB Speed School of Engineering, and School of Music. Doors open to grads and their guests beginning at 1:30 p.m. Ceremony will last for two hours.
*Medical, Dental, Law and Nursing all conduct their own ceremonies in the days surrounding May 10. Professional school graduates are invited to also participate in the University-wide ceremony if they wish on May 10 but are not required to do so.
** Doctoral level graduates will receive hooding ceremony information and instructions from their school/college. The hooding ceremony will take place on May 10, 2025 at 2:00pm in the Student Activities Center. Doctoral graduates are invited to participate in the University-wide ceremonies, as well as their hooding, if they like.
- School of Medicine Spring 2025 Commencement
- Saturday, May 10, 2025
- 4:30 p.m.
- Galt House - 140 N Fourth St, Louisville, KY 40202
Contact: cynthia.morse@louisville.edu
- School of Dentistry Spring 2025 Commencement
- Saturday, May 10, 2025
- 4:30 p.m.
- Louisville Palace - 625 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202
Contact: dentsa@louisville.edu
- Louis D. Brandeis School of Law Spring 2025 Commencement'
- Sunday, May 11, 2025
- 10:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m. - Doors open at 9:00 a.m.
- Louisville Palace - 625 S 4th St, Louisville, KY 40202Doors open at 9:00 a.m.
- No tickets required - graduates may invite an unlimited number of guests
- Free street parking on Sundays, or, the 5th Street garage is available for a fee.
- Security checkpoint upon arrival
- Ceremony will be livestreamed (link to follow)
Contact: Dean Coel at crystal.coel@louisville.edu
- School of Nursing Spring 2025 Commencement
- Saturday, May 10, 2025
- 4:00 p.m.
- Broadbent Arena @ Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center 937 Phillips Ln, Louisville, KY 40209
- 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.
- 10:00 a.m. ceremony - doors open for graduates and their guests at 8:30 a.m.
- 3:00 p.m. ceremony - doors open for graduates and their guests at 1:30 p.m.
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.
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://louisville.edu/commencement/program-book.
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.
Most degrees are posted on transcripts one month after commencement. You can check your unofficial transcript from the UofL web site: Unofficial Transcript This service provides unofficial transcripts of course work between Fall 1982 to the present.
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