Students are invited to participate in an In-Person University College Commencement Ceremony at Carver-Hawkeye Arena and a University College Virtual Recognition of Graduates Ceremony. 

Graduation and Commencement are two related, but separate processes at the University of Iowa.

• Graduation is applying for degree, satisfying all degree audit requirements, having your degree conferred, and receiving your diploma.
• Commencement is the optional celebration and ritual conferring of the degree through a ceremony with other graduates and guests.

BAS and BLS graduates are invited to participate in the in-person University College Commencement Ceremony.

• The Fall 2024 University College Commencement ceremony will take place Sunday, December 22, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. (Central Time) at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Please mark your calendar to save this important date.
• University College and College of Liberal Arts students are recognized in this combined ceremony.
• Students who plan to attend the in-person ceremony must submit a Commencement RSVP.
  • Students must have an active degree application on file to RSVP; applying for a degree does not automatically RSVP for a commencement ceremony.
  • The RSVP process is an opt-in system. Only students who RSVP as "I plan to participate" by the deadline will have their names read aloud and displayed during the in-person commencement ceremony and livestream.
  • The RSVP portal is anticipated to open in early September. You will receive communication to your UI email account from the Registrar’s Office regarding RSVP open and close dates.
  • The RSVP portal is located in MyUI within the Degrees/Graduation tile by clicking on Commencement Attendance.
• Students who do not complete the RSVP by the deadline are still welcome to attend the in-person ceremony and will have their name read and “Congratulations Graduate” displayed on the jumbotron screen as they cross the stage.
• Attending commencement is optional. Degrees are not distributed at commencements. Not attending commencement does not impact your ability to receive your degree.
• Students attending the in-person ceremony should carefully review the Office of the Registrar/Commencement website at https://commencement.uiowa.edu.

Commencement Apparel: Graduates attending in-person commencement must wear a black gown and black mortar board cap with a white tassel. Ordering information and ordering deadlines are available at https://commencement.uiowa.edu/apparel. Regalia will not be available to purchase or rent at the ceremony.

Detailed information on participating in the fall in-person University College Commencement Ceremony will be sent to your University of Iowa email address at a later date. 
 

University College offers a Virtual Recognition of Graduates each May. This virtual event streams at the end of the spring semester to honor both Fall 2024 and Spring 2025 recipients of the BAS and BLS degree. The exact date of the livestream will be published later in the fall semester.

• This prerecorded event has a livestream debut, with a later on-demand view option.
• President Barbara Wilson, along with Tanya Uden-Holman, associate provost for undergraduate education and dean of the University College, will deliver messages to students.
• A faculty speaker and a University College student speaker will also be selected to deliver an address to graduates.
• Students are not required to be in attendance for the virtual event. 
• Students who opt in to the virtual event will have their names read aloud and displayed on a personalized slide during the livestream broadcast.
• Students have the option to upload an individual photo which will be included in their personalized slide.
• To be recognized in the virtual event you will need to submit your University College Virtual Recognition of Graduates Participation Form.
  • Later this fall semester you will be sent a link to indicate your intention to be included in the University College Virtual Recognition of Graduates event.
  • Additional information will be provided later in the semester.

We are seeking a Virtual Recognition of Graduates Speaker! University College graduates from the fall, spring and summer sessions have an opportunity to be selected as the student speaker for the Virtual Recognition of Graduates ceremony in May.  If you are interested in receiving this honor, please email uc-asc@uiowa.edu to indicate your interest.