Commencement and Convocation
School of Music Convocation, Sunday, May 18, 2025, 1 p.m. start time
REGISTRATION FOR THIS EVENT WILL BEGIN IN FEBRUARY
The School of Music hosts a schoolwide ceremony in May to recognize students earning a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree. Participating doctoral degree candidates must have defended and deposited by the published spring deadlines. Participating doctoral degree candidates will be hooded during the ceremony.
All participating students should arrive at Smith Memorial Hall, second floor, no later than 12:40 p.m. Please note that to participate in our ceremony, all participating students must wear a cap and gown.
Please watch this video on how to wear your regalia properly: https://go.illinois.edu/wearingregalia
Undergraduate Students
Please arrive at Smith Memorial Hall dressed in your regalia (cap and gown). The tassel should be on the left front quadrant of your mortarboard. Please leave all personal items with your family or friends attending the ceremony; there will be no place to store personal items. Please check in with Rebecca Spennetta on the second floor of Smith Memorial Hall at 12:30 p.m. You will be given a card with your name, and you may add pronunciation tips or phonetic spelling if needed. You will line up along the hallway in degree and number order based on your name card.
Graduate Students
Please arrive at Smith Memorial Hall dressed in your regalia (cap, gown, and hood—master’s students only). The tassel should be on the left front quadrant of your mortarboard. Please leave all personal items with your family or friends attending the ceremony; there will be no place to store personal items. Please check in with Jenny Phillips on the second floor of Smith Memorial Hall starting at 12:30 p.m. You will be given a card with your name, and you may add pronunciation tips or phonetic spelling if needed. You will line up along the hallway in degree and number order based on your name card.
Doctoral students only: Your hood should not be attached; please drape it over your left arm. You will give the designated faculty your hood for the hooding ceremony when you approach the stage.
Parking
Street parking will be available on all campus lots, streets, and parking garages. Please plan to arrive early on campus because many ceremonies will be going on that day, and you should expect traffic.
Tickets
Tickets are not required for this event; however, seating is limited. We ask that each graduate bring no more than five guests. This year’s ceremony will be live-streamed for guests who cannot attend. Guest seating will begin at 12:30 p.m.
Live Stream
Live Stream Link – https://www.youtube.com/illinoismusic
Pictures
Memory Lane Photography will take pictures of the ceremony. The photographer has asked that students register in advance of the ceremony here.
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University-wide Commencement Ceremony
Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at Memorial Stadium
For more information about the university-wide ceremony and ticket information, visit https://commencement.illinois.edu/may-commencement/.
For questions related to undergraduate eligibility: FAA Undergraduate Academic Affairs: contact faa-uaa@illinois.edu
For questions related to graduate eligibility and convocation, contact Jenny Phillips, SoM Academic Affairs