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.  The UW Graduation order form is open between May 3 and May 23.

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 16 at the iSchool Convocation Registration Survey.  See below for event details.

Information School Convocation

Thursday, June 10, 2010
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 2010!  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 16.  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 2010 Convocation Speaker:  Mary Czerwinski, Research Area Manager, Visualization and Interaction Research Group, Microsoft 
 
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 12, 2010
Husky Stadium
1:30pm

UW Graduation Speaker:  William H. Gates Sr., co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as a prominent lawyer, civil activist and philanthropist.  More information:  http://uwnews.org/uweek/article.aspx?visitsource=uwkmail&id=57420

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 3 and May 23, 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 12, 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 2009–Summer 2010) 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 2009 through Spring 2010.  Note: Spring 2010 Bachelor's Degree candidates must have their Application to Graduate submitted and received by the Office of Graduation and Academic Records by the April 16th deadline in order to have their names listed.  Master's and doctoral degree candidates must have their Master's or Doctoral Requests submitted by April 30th in order to have their names listed.  Summer 2010 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.