MS & PhD Commencement Ceremonies

class of 2024

Congratulations to our MS & PhD graduates!

Spring 2024 CEREMONY SCHEDULE

Thursday, May 2nd 9-11AM – Doctoral Ceremony

Degrees recognized: PhD, EdD, AuD, DAT, DBA, DNP, DMA, DPM, DPT, OTD, PharmD

Schedule:

• DATE & TIME: Thursday, May 2, 9am-11am
• LOCATION: Stephen C. O’Connell Center
• CANDIDATE & ESCORT ASSEMBLY: Gate 4 will open for candidates and escorts at 7:30am. Candidates should wear regalia (but carry their hood draped over their left arm). Escorts should arrive in full regalia
• GUEST ARRIVAL: Gate 1 will open for guests at 7:30am
• TICKETS: We will not ticket this commencement ceremony nor restrict the per-candidate guest count
• REGALIA: Required

Contact: UF-commencement@ad.ufl.edu 

CEREMONY REGISTRATION: To check, change, update, or edit your registration.

• Log in to your https://one.ufl.edu/
• Go to “academic information”
• Go to “graduation checklist”
• Go to “RSVP for graduation”
• Your answers will be displayed. If you didn’t register, it will ask you if you wish to register.
• To edit your answers, click on the pencil icon.

What happens at this ceremony (the highlights)?

• UF President presides over the ceremony
• Faculty speaker gives the commencement address
• Degrees are conferred
• Each new doctor is recognized individually and hooded by their faculty mentor as they walk across the stage and appear on the Jumbotron

Friday, May 3rd 7-9PM- Master/Specialist/Bachelor Ceremony

Colleges participating: Arts; Design, Construction & Planning; Education; Health & Human Performance; H.W. College of Engineering; Journalism & Communications; Medicine; Nursing; Pharmacy; Public Health & Health Professions; Veterinary Medicine

Schedule:

• DATE & TIME: Friday, May 3, 7pm-9pm
• LOCATION: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
• CANDIDATE ASSEMBLY: Wearing their required regalia, candidates should check in under the stadium, go through metal detectors, then sit with their college. Check in begins at 6pm. Everyone should be in their seats by 6:45pm
• GUEST ARRIVAL: Gates 1, 2, 12, 15, 16, and 18 will open for guests at 5:30pm
• TICKETS:  No tickets are required for this ceremony
• REGALIA: Required

Contact: uf-commencement@ad.ufl.edu

What happens at this ceremony (the highlights)?

• All candidates from all colleges and all degree levels are invited to participate.
• The UF President presides over this ceremony.
• The celebrity speaker provides the keynote address.
• Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Specialist’s Degrees are conferred; bachelor’s candidates turn their tassel from right to left.
• The band plays, the choir sings and everyone celebrates together as they are pronounced UF Alumni for the first time. No names are called at this ceremony.

Ordering and Picking Up Regalia

Regalia must be ordered through the UF Bookstore. When ordering you must provide height and weight. Make sure your order is submitted by the deadline to guarantee on time delivery. The Bookstore requires that you present your Gator1ID card when you pick up your order. Someone else can collect your regalia if he/she provides your Gator1ID card.

The deadline to order regalia for MS/PhD Commencement Ceremonies is March 22nd. Regalia pick-up is at the UF Bookstore in the Reitz Union beginning April 22nd.

Doctoral candidates rent a tam with orange tassel, gown with open sleeves, and hood; there is an option to buy the hood as a memento. The tam and tassel are yours to keep.

Master’s and Specialist’s degree candidates purchase a cap with black tassel, gown with slitted sleeves, and hood depicting the color of their college. 

If you have any questions, contact the UF Bookstore at cap-gown@ufl.edu or 352-392-0194.

Returning Regalia

• Doctoral Gown and Hood orders are due back to the UF Bookstore May 6th. Your tassel, tam/cap are yours to keep.
• Masters Cap & Gown Orders: All Masters Regalia is purchased and yours to keep.

Information for Guests

• UF Campus Map
• Stephen C. O’Connell Center
• Ben Hill Griffin Stadium
• Parking Map/Seating

• Handicapped accessible or Special Seating is available. For students
• For those requiring special accommodations please arrive early and contact an usher for assistance.
• No smoking, food or drinks are allowed in the theater.
• Unless CDC guidelines change, we do not expect to restrict the number of guests per candidate at either ceremony.
• Questions about MS/PHD Commencement Ceremonies? Contact uf-commencement@ad.ufl.edu