Dates and Times
We want to see your celebrations! Use #UTGrad2024 to share your decorated mortar boards, graduation photos, or family celebrations.
Spring 2024 ceremonies will take place in Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, unless otherwise noted. Each ceremony is estimated to last two to two-and-a-half hours. Graduates are required to stay for the entire ceremony. College-based ceremonies are only for undergraduates, unless otherwise noted.
Thursday, May 16
| 8:30 a.m. | College of Law |  Webcast |
| 12:30 p.m. | Herbert College of Agriculture | Webcast |
| 4:30 p.m. | College of Architecture and Design | Webcast |
| 7:30 p.m. | College of Communication and Information | Webcast |
Friday, May 17
| 8:30 a.m. | College of Social Work | Webcast |
| 12:30 p.m. | College of Nursing | Webcast |
| 4:30 p.m. | College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences and College of Music | Webcast |
| 7:30 p.m. | Tickle College of Engineering | Webcast |
Saturday, May 18
| 9:00 a.m. | Graduate Hooding Ceremony
(All Master’s and Doctoral candidates, except Veterinary Medicine and Law) |
Webcast |
| 10:00 a.m. | College of Veterinary Medicine*
*Location: Alumni Memorial Building Cox Auditorium. Contact your college for registration information. |
Webcast |
| 1:00 p.m. | Haslam College of Business | Webcast |
| 5:30 p.m. | College of Arts and Sciences | Webcast |
Sunday, May 19
| 10:00 a.m. | Audiology and Speech Pathology**
**Location: Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center. Contact your program for registration information. |
Monday, May 20
| 2:00 p.m. CT | Nashville MSSW Graduate Hooding Ceremony***
***Location: Trevecca’s Boone Center, Nashville, TN. Contact your program for registration information. |
Getting to the Arena
Parking and Arena Entry
Due to a partial closure of Phillip Fulmer Way, including the intersection at Peyton Manning Pass, for continued renovations to Neyland Stadium – we encourage guests to arrive in the following manner:
- We expect heavy traffic around the arena and parking garage. Please plan your arrival time and route to the arena with this in mind (consult Google Maps or Waze for real-time traffic).
- For G10 garage, please enter from Neyland Drive (across from the Wayne G. Basler boathouse).
- Additional parking is available off Lake Loudoun in student parking areas: C8 (Lake Loudoun & Volunteer Boulevard lot) and G5/C6 (surface lot next to Andy Holt Tower), and G16 garage levels 1-5 (Volunteer Boulevard & Pat Head Summitt).
- Please do not park in Staff (S) areas. Many ceremonies take place during a regular workday for staff.
- Avoid traffic congestion at Lake Loudoun Boulevard and Neyland Drive intersection by using alternative entry points to campus – such as Joe Johnson, Volunteer Boulevard West, Volunteer Boulevard by Greve, Dunford, and Henson. Do not use Phillip Fulmer Way off Cumberland.
- Accessible/handicapped spaces are available in all parking areas. We recommend both the G10 garage and the G5/C6 surface lot with the bridge to the arena.
For more information, visit Parking & Transportation / Commencement Parking.
Graduates enter the venue at the lower floor-level Media entrance. Orange and white balloons will mark the entrance.
Guests enter the arena at the upper level gates.
Ceremony Protocols
Graduate entry
- Tickets are not required for graduate entry.
- Graduates will enter the arena at the lower level Media entrance near G-10 garage. Orange and white balloons will mark the entrance.
- Doors will open for graduate entry 90 minutes before the ceremony start time.
- On arrival, graduates will pick up their card at designated registration tables. The card will be used as the graduate crosses the stage.
- All graduates will participate in a processional. They will be directed to a designated spot to wait in line.
- Graduates are asked to bring as little as possible inside the venue with them. This will speed up the entry procedure and reduce chances of lines. The university’s clear bag policy will be enforced. Security screenings will be in place as graduates enter the building. Thompson-Boling Arena is unable to store or secure prohibited items.
Guest entry
- Doors will open for guest entry 90 minutes before the beginning of the ceremony. The upper level gates will be open for guest entry.
- There are currently no plans to require tickets for entry.
- Guests are asked to bring as little as possible inside the venue with them. This will speed up the entry procedure and reduce chances of lines. The university’s clear bag policy will be enforced. Security screenings will be in place prior to entering the building. Food City Center is unable to store or secure prohibited items.
After the Ceremony
Graduate and Guest Exiting
Graduates are required to return to their seat on the arena floor after crossing the stage. After all graduates have crossed the stage, graduates and guests will rise to sing the Alma Mater.
Graduates will exit at the concourse level and are encouraged to make a plan to meet up with their guests in the parking garage or elsewhere after the ceremony. No guests will be permitted on the arena floor.