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Spring 2025 Ceremony Information

Dates and Times


We want to see your celebrations! Use #UTGrad2025 to share your decorated mortar boards, graduation photos, or family celebrations.


Spring 2025 ceremonies will take place in Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, unless noted otherwise.

Commencement registration will open mid-February 2025. Graduation applicants will receive an email invitation at that time.

 

Thursday, May 15

10:00 a.m.

College of Law 

  • Doctor of Jurisprudence
  • Master of Legal Studies

*Location: Student Union Auditorium

 Play Webcast TBD
4:00 p.m.

Doctoral Hooding

  • All PhD programs
  • Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
  • Doctor of Engineering (D.Eng.)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
  • Doctor of Social Work (DSW)

*Location: Student Union Auditorium

 Play Webcast TBD

Friday, May 16

9:30 a.m.

Bachelor’s and Master’s Ceremony

  • Haslam College of Business:
    • Accounting
    • Finance
    • Supply Chain Management
    • Master of Business Administration
  • Herbert College of Agriculture
 Play Webcast TBD
1:30 p.m. Bachelor’s and Master’s Ceremony

  • College of Communication and Information
  • Haslam College of Business:
    • Business Analytics
    • Economics
    • Human Resource Management
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Public Administration
 Play Webcast TBD

Saturday, May 17

9:30 a.m. Bachelor’s and Master’s Ceremony

  • College of Arts and Sciences:
    • Division of Arts and Humanities (School of Art, Classics, English, History, World Languages and Cultures, Philosophy, Religious Studies, Theater, Pre-professional programs – pre-law concentration, Jewish Studies, Linguistics, Medieval & Renaissance Studies)
    • Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology; Chemistry, Biology, Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Mathematics, Microbiology, Physics and Astronomy, Pre-professional programs – all concentrations except pre-law, Economics, Statistics, Medical Laboratory Science)
  • College of Nursing
 Play Webcast TBD
11:30 a.m. College of Veterinary Medicine

*Location: AMB Cox Auditorium

 Play Webcast TBD
1:30 p.m. Bachelor’s and Master’s Ceremony

  • Baker School for Public Policy and Public Affairs
  • College of Architecture and Design
  • College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences (including Ed.S.)
  • College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies
  • College of Social Work
  • Natalie L. Haslam College of Music
 Play Webcast TBD
5:30 p.m. Bachelor’s and Master’s Ceremony

  • College of Arts and Sciences:
    • Division of Social Sciences (Africana Studies, Anthropology, Geography and Sustainability, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Cultures & Societies, Public Policy & Administration, College Scholar Program, Computational Social Science, Digital Humanities, Global Studies, Justice Studies, Latin American & Caribbean Studies, Middle East Studies; Science, Technology, Health, and Society; Women, Gender, & Sexuality, Neuroscience)
  • Tickle College of Engineering
 Play Webcast TBD



Each ceremony is estimated to last two to two-and-a-half hours.


Getting to the Arena


Map.

Parking and Arena Entry

Avoid Neyland Drive eastbound. Joe Johnson Boulevard to Volunteer Boulevard is typically faster. Follow traffic direction and signage where available.

Plan for traffic delays.

Graduate and guest parking is available in the G10 and G5 parking garages.

Graduates should enter the venue at the lower floor-level Media entrance. Orange and white balloons will mark the entrance.

Guests should 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. Food City Center 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.

All graduates will exit at the media entrance level to receive a gift. Guests will exit at the concourse level. All 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 at any time. Graduates must stay until the end to receive their gift. The gifts will only be distributed at the FCC ceremonies.