UW and iSchool Graduation

Graduation, Commencement, and Convocation

What are Graduation, UW Commencement, and iSchool Convocation? 

Graduation is the completion of degree requirements to earn a University of Washington diploma. To graduate and obtain a diploma, students need to fill out the proper paperwork to apply for graduation.  You can learn more about degree requirements or how to apply for graduation by checking the individual iSchool program graduation pages:

Commencement is the University of Washington ceremony held in Husky Stadium every June to commemorate the achievement of the graduating students. To participate in the Commencement Ceremony, students must register via the Commencement Web Registration/Order Form at www.uwgraduation.com after completing their application to graduate.

iSchool Convocation is the Information School's separate annual celebration of graduates, held in Meany Hall the evening before general UW Commencement.  Students can register and request tickets for iSchool Convocation between April 15 and May 15 at the iSchool Convocation Registration Survey.  See below for event details.

Information School Convocation

Thursday, June 11, 2009
Information School Dessert Reception: Red Square, 6pm
Convocation Ceremony: Meany Hall, 7:30pm—Doors open for guest seating.  8:00pm—Ceremony begins.

Please join the Information School community in celebrating our graduates for 2009!  This event commemorates the hard work of our outstanding Informatics, MSIM, MLIS, and PhD students.

Register Here for iSchool Convocation between April 15 and May 15.  More information regarding the iSchool Convocation will be emailed to students in early spring quarter, and can also be found at the iSchool Graduation FAQ. 

Tickets are required for your guests to attend the Convocation ceremony in Meany Hall; tickets are not required for the reception on Red Square.  Caps and gowns are required for the iSchool Convocation ceremony.  Convocation attire and parking must be ordered through the general UW Commencement site.   See the iSchool Graduation FAQ for more details about tickets, caps and gowns, and parking for Convocation.

Information School 2009 Convocation Speaker:  Michael Porter
 
Michael Porter is a librarian, blogger, presenter, technology fan, author and PEZ collector.  He has nearly 20 years of experience working in libraries and technology.  In 2009 he was selected as a Library Journal “Mover & Shaker” for his work identifying hot new social/content tools and contextualizing them for the library community.  He is currently the Communications Manager at WebJunction.org in Seattle.  Before heading to WebJunction in 2006, Michael worked at OCLC Western (Ontario, CA), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation US Library Program and the Allen County Public Library (Fort Wayne, IN).  He holds an MLS degree from Indiana University (’99).
 
Michael’s professional focus is on practical technology, community, library futures, training and planning.  He is currently working on a book about successful electronic communities for ALA Editions, co-authors the “Internet Spotlight” column in Public Libraries Magazine and also teaches the “Technology Planning” course for PLA’s “Certified Public Library Administrator Program”.  Libraries, librarians, travel, creating digital multi-media, and PEZ are all near and dear to him.
 
Notes for the Day of Convocation:
  • The reception will start at 6:00 pm on Red Square, with free cake, espresso, and a brass band.
  • Academic attire is not required for the 6:00 reception, but is required for the Ceremony at 8:00 in Meany. 
  • Please note that there is no storage available in Meany or on Red Square for students, so it is best to just wear cap and gown to the reception if you plan to attend both, and make other plans for storing any other personal items.
  • Staff and student volunteers will begin guiding graduates at 7:00 pm from the reception on Red Square to Meany Hall Studio Theatre, where the graduates will be lined up for the procession.
  • If you are arriving directly to the ceremony, plan to arrive at no later than 7:15 pm at the Meany Studio Theatre for line-up for the procession.  The entrance to the Studio Theatre is to the left/east of the main doors, and down the stairs.
  • Staff and student volunteers will begin guiding all guests to the main doors of Meany Theatre at around 7:30 pm, when the doors open for the event.
  • MSIM and MLIS graduates:  you do not need to wear your hoods into the ceremony.  Please carry masters hoods over your arm into the ceremony, where it will be placed upon you.
  • If you have made a disability/special accommodations request for your guests, please check in with a Meany Theatre usher or staff member, who will guide you to your seats.
  • The Convocation ceremony will start promptly at 8:00 pm, and will last two hours or less.

UW Commencement Ceremonies

Saturday, June 13, 2009
Husky Stadium
1:30pm

UW Commencement is the campus-wide celebration of UW's graduates each year.  More details at www.uwgraduation.com.

Husky Stadium Ceremony participants must register and order tickets, pre-paid parking passes and apparel between May 4 and May 24, through the Web Registration/Order Form located at www.uwgraduation.com.  Payment will be taken on-line. Visa, MasterCard, a debit card, or a valid checking account number will be accepted.   Prices are: Bachelor apparel - $39.95 (purchase only), Masters apparel - $55.95 (purchase only), and Doctoral apparel - $65.95 (rental price). Additional Tassels - $7.00.  Pre-paid parking permits - $11.00 (required for all ceremonies on June 13, or any graduation event which occurs during regular parking hours, including iSchool Convocation).
 
For complete details on the UW Ceremonies, including ticket and parking information, see the UW Commencement site.  Students who plan to graduate during any quarter of this academic year (i.e., Autumn 2008–Summer 2009) are welcome to participate in the UW Commencement.  

Getting your name listed in the Commencement Program

 
The Commencement program lists the names of graduates from Summer 2008 through Spring 2009.  Note: Spring 2009 Bachelor's Degree candidates must have their Application to Graduate submitted and received by the Office of Graduation and Academic Records by the April 17th deadline in order to have their names listed.  Master's and doctoral degree candidates must have their Master's or Doctoral Requests submitted by May 1st in order to have their names listed.  Summer 2009 graduates' names will be listed in the following year's program.

Academic Attire

Those participating in either the UW Graduation Ceremony or the iSchool Convocation are required to wear a cap and gown. You can order academic attire during Spring Quarter.  Information is available here on the Commencement Academic Attire page.  Additional information can be found on the iSchool Graduation FAQ.

UW Diploma

Three or four months after you graduate your diploma will be sent to the permanent address on record in the MyUW website at the time of graduation. The name on the diploma will appear as it does on the MyUW Web site. To change your address or the spelling/appearance of your name on your diploma, review the graduation information on the Office of the Registrar's website. You can also order replacement diplomas at this site.