Undergraduate students must apply for graduation with the Office of the University Registrar before they register for commencement.

Graduate and professional students must complete all requirements before applying to graduate with the Graduate School.

Registration to participate in a ceremony is a separate process and cannot be completed until the student has applied to graduate.

No. Graduation is the procedure by which the university recognizes that a student has completed all necessary academic requirements for a degree. You must apply for graduation for the university to award your degree, order your diploma, and finalize your academic transcript. Commencement is the public academic ceremony where your accomplishment is recognized. You are not required to participate.

Check the ceremony information page for the dates and times of each ceremony.

See the Parking and Transit Services website for more information.

IMPORTANT NOTES:

• There may be construction in the area during the ceremonies. Be sure to check Waze or Google Maps for current traffic information.
• Review the university’s Clear Bag Policy before leaving your home or hotel.  Food City Center is unable to store or secure prohibited items.
• Share a vehicle with friends and family whenever possible – spaces are very limited on campus!
• Avoid Neyland Drive eastbound. Joe Johnson Blvd. to Volunteer Blvd. is typically faster. Follow traffic direction and signage where available.
• Plan for traffic delays.
• UBER/LYFT rides may only drop-off and pick-up at Circle Park off of Volunteer Blvd.

Each ceremony lasts roughly two to two and a half hours. Graduates are required to return to their seats after their photos are taken to participate in the Alma Mater and degree conferral at the end of the ceremony.

There will not be a rehearsal for graduates. All necessary information will be shared in a detailed email several weeks prior to the ceremonies.

No, diplomas are not distributed at the ceremony. Graduates will receive their diploma 6-8 weeks after their degree has been conferred. Graduates will receive a gift as they cross the stage.

Commencement is an important milestone in the lives of our students, and it is the most important activity of the university. As more students graduate, and more academic programs are added to our curriculum, the ceremony schedule has been adjusted slightly to maintain an exceptional experience for our students and their families and friends.

Instead of fourteen ceremonies with widely varying numbers of graduates and guests, this year, there are five evenly sized ceremonies recognizing master’s and undergraduate students, and one ceremony recognizing doctoral students. Graduates from the Colleges of Law and Veterinary Medicine will be recognized in hooding ceremonies.

As is our standard practice for commencement, graduates are assigned to a ceremony with their college or specific area of study so they can celebrate with their peers and major professors. Once inside the arena, graduates will line up with, process onto the arena floor and cross the stage with their classmates.

This structure change allows for a more consistent ceremony experience for all graduates.

Undergraduates: Contact the University Registrar.

Graduates: Contact the Graduate School.

Or contact commencement@utk.edu if you’re not sure who you need to speak with.

• The dress code for commencement is business casual.
• Graduates are required to wear full regalia (cap, gown, and tassel) during the ceremony.
  • The UT stole is optional.
  • Hoods are required for graduate students. They are sold separately.

Visit the VolShop website to purchase your regalia (cap and gown). Contact the VolShop if you are unsure about what you should purchase.

We have partnered with the Graduate Student Senate and the Free Store for their Reduce, Reuse, Regalia program. Please visit the Free Store to check current availability.

Yes, you are welcomed and encouraged to decorate your cap. Note that there will be a cap tossing celebration at the end of the undergraduate ceremonies, so be sure to keep an eye on yours if you choose to throw a decorated cap. We recommend writing your name inside the cap.

Each academic college manages its own honors cords. Contact your dean’s office for more information.

Eligible graduates will typically receive an email from their college to let them know when cords will be available for pick up. Most have a specific time frame during the semester. If you do not hear from your college and believe it is an error, reach out to your dean’s staff.

Please note that honors cords are not available on-site at commencement, unless you have worked it out with your college’s staff to bring them for you. University Events does not keep them on-hand.

Yes, organizations and academic departments may distribute their own cords, stoles, medals, or pins to recognize graduates’ academic achievements and extracurricular activities.

For example, the Jones Center for Leadership and Service provides Service Medallions and the First-Generation Initiative distributes stoles for first generation graduates at a special reception each semester.

• Information on registering for commencement is sent to each graduate’s UT email address the Monday after they apply for graduation beginning after registration opens each semester. It is critical that graduates check their university email to stay updated and meet all deadlines.
• Commencement registration forms are personalized to the graduate. They cannot be forwarded.
• You will receive an automatic confirmation email within 24 hours of submitting your registration.
• Once a registration form has been submitted, you cannot make changes to it. You must contact commencement@utk.edu to request any changes.
• Students who have a religious or cultural conflict with their assigned ceremony could contact diplomas@utk.edu for rescheduling options.

Graduates will receive an email when registration opens. Fall registration will open in September 2024.

The university does not host a summer commencement ceremony. Undergraduates who complete their degree requirements in the summer typically have the option to attend spring or fall ceremonies.

Non-thesis master’s students can choose to walk in either ceremony.

Graduate students who have completed coursework but need to finish a thesis or dissertation may not participate in the Graduate Hooding until their graduation date. Please contact the Graduate School at graduatehooding@utk.edu with questions.

• Commencement will send you an email confirming your space in your ceremony. You will receive additional information at your UT email address regarding arrival times, entry locations, and other details a few weeks before commencement.

• Nashville-based MSSW graduates are invited to attend both the Nashville and the Knoxville ceremonies. They will have separate registration forms.

Master’s and doctoral graduates have different types of gowns and additional pieces, i.e. hoods. Hoods are sold separately. When purchasing a hood, ensure that it is the right color for your concentration. If you are unsure, ask your department head.

Master’s Hood Colors

Doctoral Hood Colors

Josten’s has provided a step-by-step guide to assist you in the proper way to wear your hood. A good rule of thumb is “satin goes down”.

All graduate and professional students are assigned to the graduate ceremony. The college-based ceremonies are for undergraduate students.

All doctoral and professional graduates will be hooded during the graduate ceremony. Master’s-level graduates arrive wearing their hood and will not be hooded on stage. Many Master’s programs will host their own hooding ceremonies.

Master’s students will wear their hoods throughout the ceremony. Doctoral candidates are hooded by their advisor, major professor, or another faculty member from their dissertation committee. Doctoral candidates will identify their hooder on their graduate hooding registration form. While their hooder will receive an invitation to RSVP from the Commencement office, it is the responsibility of the doctoral candidate to follow up with their hooder to ensure they are able to attend. If the hooder is not available, the candidate will need to identify a replacement and contact commencement@utk.edu to update their information. In the event that no replacement hooder is available, the candidate will be hooded by their college dean.

• Visit the Accessibility Information page for more information.

• Visit the Security Information page for more information.

Yes, all ceremonies will be webcast live on the commencement website.

Each participating graduate may bring guests. There are currently no plans to require guest tickets or limit the number of guests per graduate for the ceremonies. Graduates will be contacted if anything changes.

Refer to the clear bag policy.

Yes, colleges, departments, and affinity groups may host their own graduation celebrations. Several annual spring campus-wide traditions, including I Heart UT Week and Torch Night: A Farewell to Thee, typically take place at the end of the school year to celebrate graduates.

Graduating students have the opportunity to symbolically receive the Torch of Service during Torch Night: A Farewell to Thee, pledging to serve both the university and their community as responsible and loyal alumni. This event was formerly known as Aloha Oe. All graduates and their families are invited to participate.

Graduating students will register as part of their commencement registration. There is no separate registration form. Participants will receive additional information in the weeks leading up to Torch Night.

BOPP serves as the official commencement photographer. They work with a company called Grad Images to provide online proofs of the photos. A link will be sent to each participating graduate to view and purchase the photos once they are ready. Graduates have the option to include an additional email address to receive the link on their commencement registration form. You may also search for your name and graduation year on their website to find your photos.

Printed programs will be available at the ceremonies. All summer graduate names will be printed in the fall 2024 commencement program. If a summer graduate applies by a certain deadline in the spring (varies from year to year), their name will also be included in the spring program.

Diplomas are not distributed at commencement. They are typically mailed approximately 8 weeks after the official graduation date (after final grades have been submitted and degrees have been conferred). It will be mailed to the address you provided on your graduation application.

All UT graduates automatically become members of the Alumni Association when they graduate. Visit the New Grads and Alumni Association websites to learn more about requesting a digital alumni card, updating your contact information, and receiving all of the great benefits for which UT graduates are eligible.

Smokey’s Closet is an on-campus service that provides professional clothing for students. They have started an initiative to collect regalia from young alumni for students who cannot afford to buy theirs. If you are interested in donating your regalia, please contact Smokey’s Closet or drop it off during their designated donation hours.

The Free Store is another great option for donating your regalia.