Convocation

Commencement and Convocation are not a certification of graduation, but rather a ceremony that celebrates your academic achievements. All degree requirements must be satisfied before graduation and diploma conferral. Registering for the university-wide Commencement and/or Convocation ceremonies does not place your name on the pending degree list. Students are responsible for putting themselves on the pending degree list the semester they plan to graduate.

Please note that a late addition to the pending degree list may result in your name not appearing in the Commencement and/or Convocation program.

View the to-do checklist (link forthcoming) for important deadlines.

Eligibility 

Bachelor’s degree candidates: Bachelor’s degree candidates are eligible to participate in the iSchool Convocation ceremony if you graduated in August 2024, December 2024, expect to finish your degree requirements in May 2025, or have 13 or fewer hours to complete by August 2025. Please note, if you expect to finish your degree requirements in August 2025, your name will only appear in the iSchool Convocation Program if you register to participate in our ceremony by the deadline.

For more information about adding your name to the degree conferral list (required to graduate) and services after leaving the iSchool, please email bsis-advising@illinois.edu.

Master's and CAS degree candidates: Master's and CAS degree candidates are eligible to participate in the iSchool Convocation ceremony if you graduated in August 2024, December 2024, expect to finish your degree requirements in May 2025, or have 8 or fewer hours to complete by August 2025. Please note, if you expect to finish your degree requirements in August 2025, your name will only appear in the iSchool Convocation Program if you register to participate in our ceremony by the deadline.

For more information about adding your name to the degree conferral list (required to graduate) and services after leaving the iSchool, please email mslis-advising@illinois.edu (LIS & CAS students) or msim-advising@illinois.edu (IM students). 

Doctoral candidates: Doctoral degree recipients are eligible to participate in the iSchool Convocation ceremony if you graduated in August 2024, December 2024, expect to finish your degree requirements in May 2025.  Recipients of doctoral degrees must have deposited their dissertations in the Graduate College Thesis Office by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 25, 2025, in order to participate in the Graduate College Hooding Ceremony, Commencement, and/or Convocation ceremonies. 

iSchool Convocation ceremony

The iSchool Convocation ceremony will take place in the Activities and Recreation Center (ARC) Gym 1. Eligible graduates must register to participate in the Convocation ceremony. 

The doors for Gym 1 open at 12:30 p.m., and seating is general admission. No tickets are required for the ceremony. If your guests have accessibility requirements, please email cmhopper@illinois.edu by May 1, 2025, to make the necessary arrangements. 

Convocation preparation

Academic Attire 

Academic attire is required for the university-wide Commencement and iSchool convocation ceremonies. Please visit the Academic Attire website for additional details and order deadlines.

Check-in and line-up 

Graduate check-in for Convocation will be held from 12:00-1:00 p.m. at the ARC Gym 2.

Upon arrival, participants should report to the appropriate degree table to check ­in. You will receive an information card that will have your name (and pronunciation, if provided when you registered online). You will hand this card to the reader before you cross the stage. Staff will direct you to appropriate location to line up. In order to ensure the procession begins on time, please stay in your designated place in line (alphabetical order within degree) after you check in. 

Please bring or wear all academic attire. Personal belongings should not be brought to the line-up as there is no storage available. Family members will not be permitted into the line-up area.

Photographs 

A professional photographer from Gradlmages® will be present and will take photographs of each graduate as they receive their diploma cover. Registering your information (link forthcoming) on Gradlmages® website will ensure that picture proofs will be provided to you as soon as they are available after the event. 

Etiquette and Decorum

Convocation is a milestone that should be celebrated appropriately. We ask that all graduates and guests respect the importance and dignity of the occasion, and celebrate in a way that does not infringe upon the rights of others or diminish the experiences of others. Graduates should remain for the duration of the iSchool convocation ceremony.

Parking 

Spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis. ADA parking and drop-off are available in Lot E-24. Parking is also available in Lot E-15 and Lot 31. Metered parking is not enforced on the Sunday of Commencement weekend. Please note that parking in Lot E-38 across from the ARC (near the residence halls) is not permitted. For additional parking information, see the Illinois Campus Parking Map. 

University celebrations

University-wide Commencement Ceremony (Memorial Stadium) 

The university-wide Commencement ceremony is the official University of Illinois academic ceremony at which the Chancellor presides and the President confers degrees. Doctoral degree candidates are invited to attend but will not be hooded at the event; Doctoral, Bachelor’s, Master’s and Professional (J.D., D.V.M., and M.D.) degree recipients stand as a group at their seats and are recognized by college. This is a dignified ceremony that lasts about two hours. Academic attire is required. 

This ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. in Memorial Stadium. Please visit the university-wide Commencement at Illinois website for more details.

Graduate College Doctoral Hooding Celebration

The ceremonial hooding of doctoral degree recipients recognizes their academic achievements and welcomes them into the community of scholars. During the ceremony, the hood with designs that indicate the degree and institution is placed over the student’s head, often by their faculty mentor or another mentor with a doctoral degree.

The Doctoral Hooding ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. Please visit the Doctoral Hooding ceremony website for more details.