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Home Commencement Office Graduates Commencement FAQs

FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is my "College or School?"

  • All academic fields of study are located within a College of School. The colleges are: Arts & Sciences, Business and Economics, Communication & Fine Arts, Education, Engineering, University College, Nursing, Kemmons Wilson School of Hospitality and Resort Management, School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Law, and Graduate School. All graduate students are in the Graduate School regardless of major. The commencement program will list graduate students with the undergraduate college of their major to correspond with the processional.

 

2. I want to file my intent for May 2024 (or a  future term), but that is not an option? Why can't I file for spring?

  • You might be looking at the "Curriculum Term Selection" screen, which asks you to choose the right term for your correct program. Choose the most recent term and you will choose the graduation term/date in a few more screens after this selection.

 

3. I get an error message when I try to file by intent!

  • If you have previously filed for graduation, it will not allow you to do so again. If you have not filed, it may be that you do not have enough hours to file in which case you should contact your graduate analyst.

 

4. Who is my Graduation Analyst?

 

5. What if I don't have 80 hours but plan to graduate in two or three semesters?

  • Contact your Academic Advisor and graduation analyst to develop a plan for securing sufficient credits to graduate in the time frame you wish.

 

6. I need to change my date, and the form will not allow me to do this.

  • Notify your graduation analyst that you need to move your date.

 

7. I click on Step 3, but it tells me there is no graduation application.

  • You must do Steps 1 and 2 prior to submitting Step 3. If you have done the previous steps, email commencement@memphis.edu with your address, name, UNumber, height and weight.

 

8. Step 3 asks me about cap and gown measurements, but I don't plan to participate in a ceremony.

  • Step 3 is required by all students, Undergraduate (UG), Graduate (GR) and Law. The Commencement Office will confirm if you are attending at a later date within your graduating semester. All steps are required. Simply place "dummy measurements" there if you are not attending. A cap and gown is only ordered if attending the ceremony.

 

9. Can I decorate my cap and gown? What if I purchase it from the company?

  • Yes, it can be decorated. Decoration MUST be flat on the surface.

 

10. How do I indicate I plan to participate in Commencement?

  • You MUST complete Step 4 by the deadline. No Step 4 submission indicating attendance (YES), no seat at Commencement. 

 

11. Where do I pick up my cap & gown?

  • Students will pick up regalia (caps, gowns, hoods, and tassels) 1-2 days before Commencement during Cap and Gown Distribution.

 

12. What do I need to bring to cap and gown?

  • An electronic copy of the Step 4 Confirmation email. 

 

13. Can someone else pick up my cap and gown, if I am unable?

  • Yes. Anyone can pick up a participants items. The designee should have an electronic copy of the Step 4 Confirmation Email. 

 

14. When and how do I get a pronouncer card?

  • If you complete all parts of the checklist, a pronouncer card will be given to you during cap and gown distribution. Pronouncer cards must be brought with the graduating student to Commencement or you cannot cross the stage to graduate. Keep it and don't destroy or misplace it. You cannot participate without it.

 

15. How many people may I bring to the graduation ceremony?

  • All three University of Memphis Commencement ceremonies are currently held at the FedEx Forum. The ceremonies are open to the public. No tickets are required. We encourage large parties to arrive one hour before the ceremony to secure setting together. Commencement and the FedExForum do not reserve seats. There is seating for families who have members with disabilities.

 

16. Do the undergraduate and master's students walk at the same time?

  • Yes, undergraduate and master's students with the same majors walk with others in the same college/school. For example, an undergraduate major in History and a master's student majoring in History will walk at the same ceremony with The College of Arts and Sciences. If you have questions about this, please contact our office at commencement@memphis.edu.

 

17. How long do the ceremonies last?

  • The ceremonies will last approximately 2 hours.

 

18. Can I borrow a cap and gown from the Commencement Office to take pictures?

  • No, we do not loan out caps, gowns or hoods. 

 

19. Can I delay my Commencement participation to a future ceremony?

Hello. Thank you for inquiring If you are a student graduating or has graduated and you do not get a chance or did not get a chance to participate in Commencement, the door is always open. This means you can participate at any time if we have a ceremony and seats available. However, you do need to tell submit specific information on a specific date. Please read thoroughly the information below and comply on the deadline date designated- Details on How to Delay Commencement Participation:

Read and follow all steps exactly as indicated:

  1. Complete Steps 1, 2, 3 and 4 (ONLY if you are a graduating student in the semester that you are inquiry). If you are not a graduating student, meaning you graduated officially in a prior semester, skip to #3.
  2. Simply state no for attending on Step 4
  3. Then, on the deadline below prior to any Commencement you want to attend, email us with the following:
    • Unumber
    • Full Name
    • Degree you received
    • Height
    • Weight
    • Phonetics for Name

The Commencement Office handles signing up for participation only and only needs to hear from you on the dates below with the information above. We handle no other part as related to this process, and cannot help with letters, invitations, etc.

Required TIME of Notification

  • For May attendance, February 1st (on or one week before this date. No emails will be accepted after this date. Seats are extremely limited.)
  • For August attendance, June 1st (on or one week before this date. No emails will be accepted after this date. Seats are extremely limited.)
  • For December attendance, October 1st (on or one week before this date. No emails will be accepted after this date. Seats are extremely limited.)

 

Process of Inviting Family to Commencement: International Travel, Letters, and Invitations

 Invitations are not required to attend the University of Memphis Commencements. It is a free and open to the public event. However, if you are a graduating student who needs a letter of invitation for family international travel, etc., please understand Commencement cannot provide these types of letters or documents. It must come from an office of record. Please continue to read below for the offices that can help you with Letters for Graduation Invitation, etc.

For international students who want to delay the commencement participation, please contact International Student Services at TheWorld@memphis.edu to inquire whether you have a valid visa status to stay in the US until the commencement date or need to obtain a new visa status to return to the US for the commencement in the future.

DIPLOMAS

Diplomas & Graduate Certificates will be mailed 4 months after Commencement. They are not available any earlier and not available for pickup. It is your responsibility to ensure we have your correct address. Please pay close attention to the following:

  • Diplomas are mailed 4 months after each Commencement. They are not available for pick-up.
  • The address on your Graduation Application is what we use.
  • If you have an update to your address, email us one month after Commencement Day. Do not simply update your address with the University. Again, the address we use is the address that is listed on our graduation application.
  • If you do not update your address by our deadline above, you will be charged for any reprints, if necessary.
  • Diplomas: Will only reflect the degree, any undergraduate honors distinctions, and undergraduate departmental honors. Undergraduate Majors and Concentrations are available on your transcripts and will not be placed on any undergraduate (bachelor) diplomas.
    • Student’s name
    • College or School Name
    • University Name
    • Date of Graduation
    • Academic honors (if earned)
    • College honors (if earned)
    • Departmental honors (if earned)
    • No, we do not have digital copies (soft copy).
  • The official document of your Degree Award is the Transcript, not the diploma. The Registrar handles Transcripts, Degree Verification for Schools, Jobs, etc.. You can reach them at 901-678-2810 or online at https://www.memphis.edu/registrar/.
  • For academic related questions and overall certification of your degree, contact your Advisor or Graduation Analyst https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/graduates/graduation-analyst.php.
  • We do not have digital copies (soft copy). The official document of awarding of your degree is the official transcript. The Registrar handles this at 901-678-2810.

 

Diploma Covers- Diploma covers are participant only items and are not mailed. Programs are available electronically and can be found at www.memphis.edu/commencement.