Commencements: May 17, 2013 and December 20, 2013

The Graduate College holds two commencement ceremonies each year, one in December and one in May.

Friday, May 17, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at Carver Hawkeye Arena
Doors to Carver Hawkeye Arena open at 6:00 p.m.
(Graduates: plan to arrive no later than 6:15 p.m.)

Friday, December 20, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at Carver Hawkeye Arena
Doors to Carver Hawkeye Arena open at 6:00 p.m.
(Graduates: plan to arrive no later than 6:15 p.m.)

• For questions regarding the ceremony:
  Kathy Klein Gerling (kathy-klein@uiowa.edu) or at 335-3492.
• For questions regarding rented apparel for faculty:
  Dana Wagner (dana-wagner@uiowa.edu) or 335-3184 at the University Bookstore, UCC.
• For questions regarding apparel for students:
  Contact the University Bookstore at 335-3043 or www.hawkshop.com

How Do I Register to Participate?

Doctoral candidates must register online as soon as possible to participate in the May Graduate College commencement ceremony.

Doctoral candidates should check with their advisors to be sure they are available to attend the ceremony to participate in the hooding exercise. If your adviser/dissertation chair is not available, you may ask someone else on your committee to be your faculty hooder as long as they are a UI graduate faculty member.

Faculty apparel orders must be placed by Friday, March 8, 2013 using this form and must be submitted along with payment arrangements by the aforementioned deadline.

Summer doctoral degree candidates wanting to participate in the May commencement ceremony should check with their adviser. If approved, they may register online.

Masters candidates must register online to participate in the Graduate College commencement ceremony. You should register as soon as possible and be aware of the dates to pick up your academic apparel (cap, gown, tassel and cord).

What Do I Wear?

Doctoral candidates

The apparel rental fee is $85.00.

Arrangements for rental can be made in the Book Store during the days/times listed below:

• Monday, April 22 through Friday, April 26: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday, April 27 & 28, noon – 5 p.m.
• Monday, April 29 through Friday, May 3: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Saturday & Sunday, May 4 & 5, noon – 5 p.m.

For May commencement, you must make arrangements to purchase or rent your doctoral academic apparel no later than 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 5, 2013.

The Book Store accepts cash, check, Visa and Master Card.

If you are out of town, send a personal check to arrive no later than Wednesday, May 1, 2013, payable to “University Book Store” to University Book Store, 63 IMU, Iowa City IA 52242. If you are an Iowa resident, please add 7% sales tax. Include a note stating your height and the degree to be received.

Orders will be available for pickup at Carver Hawkeye Arena, at the apparel table, located in Section A (west side) of the upper concourse, prior to the start of the ceremony.

Master's candidates

Master’s candidates are required to wear a black gown, black cap, cord, and appropriate color tassel. This apparel can be purchased at the University Book Store in the Old Capitol Town Center on Clinton Street, downtown Iowa City, and is yours to keep. Master’s apparel (cap, gown, cords and tassel) is $30.85. Gown only: $19.25. Cord only: $5.35. All hats are $3.75 and tassels are $2.50. Purchase your apparel no later than Sunday, May 5, 2013.

Master’s candidates planning to wear academic apparel obtained from any other source should contact Commencements at 335-0296 since seating is initially planned on the basis of apparel sales. You must call no later than Friday, May 3, 2013.

At the Ceremony

Men are expected to wear ties although jackets are not required. Flowers are not worn on gowns, nor are they carried in hand. Caps or gowns decorated with inappropriate messages will not be permitted. We also caution graduates regarding their choice of footwear, as the stairs and floor covering at the arena may be difficult to navigate. Wearing high heeled footwear is not advised. Bags or purses may not be carried; plan to leave them with friends or relatives.

Caps are to be worn with the mortar board horizontal and the tassel on the left. They should be worn during the Processional, while degrees are being conferred and during the Recessional. They may be removed at other times.

Additional information is available from the Office of the Registrar's Commencement Information Page.