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Frequently Asked Questions – Faculty

General Commencement Information

Check the current ceremony information page for the dates, times, and locations. Note that several changes have been made to the spring ceremony schedule, including several ceremonies taking place in different locations, and Bachelor’s and Master’s students participating in ceremonies together.


Faculty and Staff parking is available:

  • G-10 Garage – located next to Neyland Stadium (enter off Neyland Dr due to construction). The top level is reserved for accessible and mobility-limited guests.
  • CC6 across from the Arena – Enter from Lake Loudoun (next to Andy Holt Tower across from the Food City Center)
  • G16 Volunteer Blvd garage (1320 Pat Head Summitt St) – enter from Pat Head Summitt St

Faculty and staff enter the venue at the lower floor-level entrance near G10 garage. Balloons will mark the entrance.

Additional information can be on the Parking and Transportation Commencement webpage.


Each ceremony lasts roughly two to two and a half hours.


Contact commencement@utk.edu to be directed to the correct area.

Commencement Regalia and Dress Code

  • The dress code for commencement is business casual.
  • Participating faculty must wear regalia.


Participating faculty may visit the VolShop website to rent regalia or wear their own. There is a deadline for renting regalia each semester.

Registration

  • Information on registering for commencement as a faculty participant is sent once a semester, usually by your college’s dean.

Graduate Hooding

Doctoral students are asked to identify their hooder on their commencement registration form. As the hooder, you will then receive an email invitation to RSVP for the hooding ceremony, usually within the next week. If you are unable to attend, you must contact your student to let them know so they can make other arrangements. Students who cannot find a replacement will be hooded by their dean.

Faculty will receive an invitation to register once a semester. Only faculty who are not planning on hooding a doctoral student should register on this form. Hooding faculty will receive a different invitation when their doctoral student registers.

Accessibility

Health and Safety

Food City Center Information


Don’t see your question answered? Contact commencement@utk.edu.