This page will provide important information to graduates and guests about the Engineering School Commencement Ceremony and Events for spring commencement.
The Xfinity Center is designed with parking, restrooms, water fountains, ATMs, and seating areas accessible to guests with disabilities. Power-assisted doors and closed captioning are also provided.
Closed-Captioning & Livestream
Closed-Captioning
The Engineering School's Commencement Ceremony are closed-captioned.
Directions & Entrances
View Directions for:
Entrances for guests with disabilities are available at four locations:
- Gate C: Southeast corner of the arena on the Ground Level
- Gate D: Northeast corner of the arena on the Ground Level
- Gate E: Southwest corner of the arena on the Concourse Level
- Gate F: Northwest corner of the arena on the Concourse Level (Student Entrance)
- ADA parking is available on first come first serve basis.
- Extra ADA parking is available in Terrapin Trail Garage.
Elevators
Elevators are located on the east side of the XFINITY Center that provide access to the Ground, Plaza (2nd Level), and Concourse (3rd Level) Levels. An additional elevator near Gate F provides access between the Plaza and Concourse Levels.
Parking & Shuttles
Parking in all surface and pay lots is free and available first come, first serve on commencement days.
Parking for guests with disabilities is available at the Xfinity Center in:
No special permit is required for the Clark School ceremony.
The University of Maryland does not have wheelchairs available. If you have difficulty walking long distances, consider renting a wheelchair from an off-campus vendor. If you require accessible transportation for a disabled guest the day of commencement, please call the dispatch services at 301-314-0318 and make arrangements.
Restrooms
Each of the 37 restrooms located conveniently throughout Xfinity Center are ADA compliant and accessible to our guests with disabilities. Xfinity Center has four private bathrooms designed for use by persons with disabilities:
- Top of Sections 105 and 110 on the Plaza Level (Level 2).
- Behind Sections 122 and 217 on the Concourse Level (Level 3).
ADA Seating
- Top of 120 and 121 - 3rd level concourse
- Guests should park in Terrapin Trail Garage and enter Gate E. This is a fully accessible pathway.
- Flat surface should be reserved for wheelchairs only.
- Those with limited mobility should sit in fixed seating around 120.
- Elevators at section 217 (near gate A) can be used to go down to level 2 if needed.
- Limited wheelchair seating is available next to suites in Xfinity center, this is not published because it is very few.
- Section 105 is wheelchair accessible but behind stage. Guests are welcome to sit here if they choose.
If coming from the Terrapin Trail Garage, Accessible Seating section is on your left. Ushers can direct you to these sections once inside the building. Due to limited space, the university recommends that only the person with the disability and one other guest sit in the accessible seating. Additional members of your party should sit in regular seating areas. You do not need to reserve seating for special needs guests.
Sign Language Interpretation
If you have guests attending the Engineering School Commencement Ceremony who will need sign language interpretation be sure to contact the Disability Support Service at 301-314-7209 or dhhs@umd.edu to make arrangements. The ceremony will be closed captioned. If you will be utilizing this service, please email engr-commencement@umd.edu providing us with your information.
Doctoral Students
Be sure to make prior arrangements with your advisor to be hooded during the Engineering School Commencement Ceremony. If your advisor is not available, you can ask another member of your committee or a favorite faculty member to hood you, or your Department Chair can hood you. Inquiries regarding commencement ceremony participation should be directed to your department.
All Students Graduating
Be sure to arrive one hour (1.5) before the ceremony for check-in. Upon entering the Pavilion through Gates C and D go to room 0601/Auxiliary Gym at the XFINITY Center look for Check-In/Registration tables.
Each graduate should:
- Obtain announcement card from the Check-In/Registration tables in the Pavilion Room 0601
- Complete the survey on the back of the card or online.
- Find the sign with your degree/major and lineup.
- Hold the announcement card and give to the person reading names on stage.
Diplomas will be mailed to all Doctoral, Master of Science, Master of Engineering, and Undergraduate students students who have completed all graduation requirements approximately six weeks after graduation.
Undergraduate Students
Summer/Fall 2024 & Spring 2025
Undergraduate students that completed all degree requirements during the Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and students that will be completing all degree requirements during the Spring 2025 semesters are eligible to participate in the Clark School and Main Commencement Ceremonies.
Summer 2025
Undergraduate students that are within the last 7 credits or less to be completed during the summer 2025 term, can submit a "Commencement Early Participation Request".
Students must:
- Be registered for the summer term
- Have submitted the “Summer Graduation Application” before submitting the participation request.
The Summer Graduation Application will be available mid-April.
Ph.D. Candidates & Master's Students
Information regarding graduation procedures is available on the Graduate School page under Academic Deadlines. Inquiries regarding commencement ceremony participation should be directed to your departmental graduate advisor.
STUDENTS MISSING SPRING GRADUATION APPLICATION
- If you are an undergraduate student in the Clark School of Engineering and have missed the deadline to apply for graduation, you will need to submit an Exception to Policy Request for a Late Graduation Application by May 7, 2025.
- If you are a graduate student and missed the deadline to apply for graduation, you will need to reach out to the Graduate Coordinator from your department or check with your advisor.
Future Dates
There is a range of dates posted on the University of Maryland Academic Calendar and we are acutely aware that families and friends are anxious and excited to make their reservations based on the individual ceremony schedules. Unfortunately, the University has not approved a schedule for publication because those schedules could change prior to release.
We do not know when the dates will be released but as soon as they are, they will be posted on the University Commencement website and then on the Engineering School's Commencement website.
We appreciate your patience in this process!
Length of Ceremonies
- The Engineering School Commencement Ceremony will lasts approximately 2.5 to 3.5 hours . During the ceremony, we ask that all graduates, guests, faculty, and staff remain seated for the entire ceremony to provide full recognition to all graduates.
- The University of Maryland Commencement ceremony last approximately 2.5 hours.
HONORS
Latin honors at the time of commencement are tentative. The final determination will be made when all grades are submitted for all semesters. To view GPA cutoffs and review the university policy, visit the Office of the Registrar website.
Undergraduate students earning Latin Honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude or Cum Laude) will be notified and receive a tassel from the college.
Detail information about Latin and Engineering Honors cutoff and eligibility can be found in the links below.
CORDS & MEDALS
Students receiving departmental honors chords, stoles, or special medals must contact the department offering the specific honor. Honor cords and medals are placed on top of the stole.
GradImages is the university’s official photographer, will take photographs of each graduate participating in the Main Commencement Ceremony prior to the procession and at the Clark School graduation ceremony as they cross the platform. While there is no obligation to purchase the prints, the graduate will receive color proofs emailed approximately two weeks after commencement. Be sure to complete the company's address card distributed in the line-up area prior to the procession to receive the proofs.
Graduating students are responsible for obtaining their own graduation regalia. Regalia is required in order to participate in the Engineering School Commencement Ceremony.
ON CAMPUS (UNIVERSITY BOOK CENTER)
Academic Regalia is available for purchase from the University Book Center (UBC). The UBC will continue to provide regalia services up until commencement. Along with full regalia packages, UBC will stock individual pieces, including the tassel, stole, and hood.
ORDER ONLINE (OAK HALL CAP & GOWN)
Regalia will be available to order online directly from our vendor Oak Hall for a limited time. Visit the University Book Center for ordering and additional information. The ordering link will be available from November 26, 2024 - April 18, 2025.
GRADUATE SALUTE
The University Book Center will host a Graduate Salute event that takes place the first week in December. The event will provide an opportunity to purchase regalia, order announcements, and class rings. Custom Doctorial regalia fittings will be available. Special pricing on diploma frames.
GRAD FAIR
The University Book Center will host a Graduation Fair on March 4 and 5, 2025, from 10:30am - 6:30pm. The event will include regalia fittings and purchasing. Candidates will have an opportunity to order announcements & class rings. There will be special pricing on diploma frames. A professional photographer available.
- Doctoral Degree Candidates:
The most elaborate regalia on display at Commencement are worn by those receiving a doctoral degree. A doctor's gown is a much fuller gown and is decorated with velvet lapels and three chevrons sewn onto the sleeves of the gown that designate the recipient as a “doctor.” In place of the mortarboard, doctoral students wear a tam, a velvet hat with a tassel attached that is much less rigid in construction and a hood (Doctor of Philosophy – Dark Blue Velvet). Doctoral regalia may be purchased or rented.
****Doctoral Candidates who are undecided or pending defense are strongly encouraged to pre order. Payment is deferred until regalia is picked-up.
- Master of Science: Students will wear a modified gown with longer sleeves, the mortarboard with an attached UMCP black tassel, custom UMCP red stole, and a hood.
- The Gold Hood color represents your specific degree or discipline. Be sure to provide the name of the degree you are earning.
- Master of Professional Studies in Technology Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation, previously (Technology Entrepreneurship) and Product Management: Students will wear a modified gown with longer sleeves, the mortarboard with an attached UMCP black tassel, custom UMCP red stole, and a hood.
- The Gold Hood color represents your specific degree or discipline. Be sure to provide the name of the degree you are earning.
- Master of Engineering: Students will wear a modified gown with longer sleeves, the mortarboard with an attached UMCP black tassel, custom UMCP red stole, and a hood.
- The Orange Hood color represents your specific degree or discipline. Be sure to provide the name of the degree you are earning.
- If you are not sure, be sure to reach out to your department graduate coordinator.
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Bachelor’s Degree Candidates
For those earning a bachelor’s degree, a black gown and mortarboard are worn. A black tassel with a custom UMCP medallion is attached. A custom UMCP red stole completes the regalia for bachelor’s degree candidates. Be sure to indicate that you will be completing a Bachelor of Science degree. (Bachelor Hoods are no longer required)
- Active-duty U.S. military personnel are allowed to wear their dress uniform instead of regalia if they prefer.
University Book Center
Stamp Student Union Bldg.
Visit University Book Center website for more information.
Placement of Honor Cords and Medals
• Honor cords and medals are placed on top of the stole.
Graduating students are encouraged to attend both the Engineering School Ceremony and the Main Commencement Ceremony but participation in both is not mandatory.
Students graduating within the same academic year (summer & fall 2024) will be invited to participate in the Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony.
Be sure to check the Engineering School Commencement website periodically for more information.
Engineering School Commencement
Tickets are not required for graduates or guests to attend the Engineering School Commencement Ceremony.
Main Commencement
Tickets are required for all graduates and their guests to attend the Main Commencement Ceremony. Graduates will receive one ticket each and six for their guests. Additional information can be found on the Main Commencement website under the FAQs section.
The University or the Engineering School does not issue invitation letters for guests to visit the U.S. to attend commencement ceremonies. These letters are not required by the embassy to issue a B2 visa, which is designated for tourist activities such as sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, and obtaining medical treatment.
The graduating student should submit a copy of their I-20 or DS-2019 to the relative applying for the tourist visa. Students can also send an Enrollment Verification along with the copy of your passport. The Enrollment Verification can be requested from the Office of the Registrar.
Bag Policy and Prohibited Items
■ All bags will be searched upon entry.
■ Clear bags are not required for COMMENCEMENT ACTIVITIES ONLY, but are heavily encouraged for easiest entry. Visit the Xfinity Bag Policy for more information.
■ NO balloons.
■ NO megaphones or other noise makers.
■ Personal signs are OK. NO flag poles/sticks.
■ Xfinity A-Z guide
Directions
XFINITY Center
Food & Drink (Concessions)
■ Outside food and drink is not permitted.
■ Concession stands will be open with food and drink options.
Gates
All Gates open 1 hour prior to the commencement ceremony.
Parking
■ Recommended parking is available in lots 4b, 9b, 11b, Terrapin Trail Parking Garage and the Xfinity Visitor Lot.
■ Refer to DOTS website for up to date general parking/shuttle information.
■ All parking including ADA is available on first come first serve basis.
■ In addition to ADA spaces, extra ADA parking is available in Terrapin Trail Parking Garage.
Email us at engr-commencement@umd.edu for additional questions.
Important information about the Engineering School Commencement Ceremony for Faculty and Staff.
