FAQ
General Questions
- What is the difference between the Main Commencement Ceremony and my college's Recognition activity?
- Am I required to attend Commencement?
- How long do the Commencement activities last?
- Are the Main Commencement Ceremony and the college recognitions accessible to the disabled?
- Do I need to notify anyone that I am coming to Commencement?
- Is there a rehearsal? How will I know what to do when I arrive at the Main Commencement Ceremony?
- Do I need to check-in upon arrival at Rupp Arena?
- What is the first thing I need to do to ensure I am graduating in May?
- Who is eligible to participate in the Main Commencement Ceremony?
- When will I receive my diploma?
- Where may I find more information about Commencement Honors, such as "Summa Cum Laude", "Magna Cum Laude", "Cum Laude", degree with honors, etc.?
Family/Travel
- Where may my family and I park?
- At what time will my family be able to enter Rupp Arena for the Main Commencement Ceremony?
- Is there a list of hotels or other area accommodations?
- Is there any way for my family to know where I will be seated?
- Does my family need tickets, and how many family members may attend?
- What accommodation has been made for my relative who is hearing impaired?
Academic Apparel
- Must I wear a cap and gown?
- On which side of my mortarboard do I wear my tassel prior to receiving my degree?
- If I am a Masters or Doctors degree candidate, is it correct to wear my tassel on the left?
Photographs
- Will I have my photograph taken by an official, professional photographer at the commencement ceremony?
- How will I receive the proofs of my commencement photograph?
- Will I have a commitment for this service?
- When should I expect to receive my commencement ceremony photo proofs?
- Who should I contact with any questions concerning my commencement ceremony photos?
- What is the difference between the Main Commencement Ceremony and my college's Recognition activity?
The Main Commencement Ceremony at 2:00 p.m. is the ceremony where the President of the University acknowledges degree recipients. It is the "pomp and circumstance" activity. The President presides at this ceremony. The members of the Board of Trustees attend. An honored guest, usually of national or international status, is the official Commencement Speaker. The Honorary degrees and the Sullivan Medallions are awarded. Approximately 8,000 persons attend this event.
Your college recognition activity is where the dean of your college presides and when you will be recognized individually.
- Am I required to attend Commencement?
All graduates are encouraged to attend but attendance is not mandatory. While most students attend both the Main Commencement Ceremony and then their college recognition activity, you may attend either, both, or none.
- How long do the Commencement activities last?
The Main Commencement Ceremony should last approximately one hour and 40 minutes to one hour and 50 minutes. The individual college recognition activities usually last one hour. They cannot last over one hour and fifteen minutes.
- Are the Main Commencement Ceremony and the college recognitions accessible to the disabled?
Yes, all facilities in the Lexington Civic Center are accessible to the disabled. In Rupp Arena, seating for persons in wheelchairs is at the rear of Sections 22, 23, 30, 32 and 33.
For the hearing impaired, a signer will be present to the right side of the platform (facing the platform), near Sections 11 and 12.
For attendees in need of assistive devices such as wheelchairs and walkers, it is suggested that personal assistive devices are brought to the ceremony/recognitions from home or local leasing services.
- Do I need to notify anyone that I am coming to Commencement?
If you are receiving your doctoral degree and planning to attend the Main Commencement Ceremony, you must notify the Graduate School that you will be in attendance. Other students simply need to be at Rupp Arena forty (40) minutes before the Ceremony is scheduled to begin.
You should notify the dean's office of your college if you are planning to attend your college recognition activities.
- Is there a rehearsal? How will I know what to do when I arrive at the Main Commencement Ceremony?
There is no rehearsal for the Main Commencement Ceremony. When you arrive at Rupp Arena, you will line up on the Cox Street parking lot, nearing the loading dock area. There will be a banner designating where a line for your college forms (A & S, B & E, Engineering, etc.). Faculty Marshals will assist you with directions.
NOTE: In case of inclement weather, enter Rupp Arena from the Cox Street parking lot at the loading docks/receiving area (near door 8) and follow directional signs for the line-up of the graduates of your college.
- Do I need to check-in upon arrival at Rupp Arena?
Doctoral candidates must check-in at the table located on the Cox Street parking lot, near the loading dock area. Check-in is not required for any other degree candidates.
- What is the first thing I need to do to ensure I am graduating in May?
Contact your college student services office to verify you have a degree application on file and have met the university, college, and major requirements.
- Who is eligible to participate in the Main Commencement Ceremony?
All undergraduate and graduate degree candidates who received their degree as of August 2005, December 2005, or May 2006 are eligible to participate in the Main Commencement Ceremony.
- When will I receive my diploma?
Diplomas will be mailed to degree recipients 45-60 days after graduation.
- Where may I find more information about Commencement Honors, such as "Summa Cum Laude", "Magna Cum Laude", "Cum Laude", degree with honors, etc.?
These terms are defined in Section 5.4.2 of the University Senate Rules. These terms are also explained in the Student Rights & Responsibilities Handbook, Part II in Section 5.4.2 (Commencement Honors) at www.uky.edu/StudentAffairs/Code/part2.html.
- Where may my family and I park?
The parking lots near the Lexington Center (High Street lot and Cox Street lot) are open (free) and available on a first come, first served basis. There is no reserved parking.
The University Commencement activities, along with the usual Sunday activities of the downtown churches will result in heavier than usual traffic. Graduates and their families should allow extra time for traffic and parking.
Other commercial parking around and near the Lexington Civic Center (Rupp Arena) is available for a charge.
See parking diagram for areas near the Lexington Center where parking will be available.
NOTE: Documents in PDF file format, require Adobe Acrobat Reader.
All parking on the UK campus is free on Commencement Day. See the Campus Parking pages for more information about parking on campus.
- At what time will my family be able to enter Rupp Arena for the Main Commencement Ceremony?
For the Main Commencement Ceremony at 2:00 p.m., the doors to Rupp Arena will open at 12:30 p.m. Since there are college activities continuously in Rupp Arena, everyone must leave Rupp immediately after the conclusion of the Main Commencement Ceremony.
Since most facilities have one activity after another all during Commencement Day, persons attending one activity are asked to leave the facility as soon as that activity is concluded. Usually persons are permitted to enter a facility no more than thirty (30) minutes prior to the beginning of the next activity.
- Is there a list of hotels or other area accommodations?
The following list of possible accommodations is provided for your convenience: Hotels, Airport, Taxicabs.
The Lexington Chamber of Commerce (859) 254-4447 and/or the Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau 1-800-845-3959 or (859) 233-1221 can provide a list of lodging and housing.
- Is there any way for my family to know where I will be seated?
A diagram of the seating arrangements for the graduating candidates can be found in the Commencement Program. The diagram shows where the graduates of each college will be seated. For your family to sit nearest to you, they should review the diagram and sit on the appropriate side of Rupp Arena.
(Copies of the Commencement Program will be available on Commencement Day as your family enters Rupp Arena.) Persons at the information booths at the front of Lexington Civic Center Mall or ushers may also be able to assist your family with seating information.
- Does my family need tickets, and how many family members may attend?
Tickets are not needed for the Main Commencement Ceremony. There is no limit to the number of family members who may attend.
As to the college recognition, you need to check with the dean's office of your college to see if tickets will be needed.
- What accommodation has been made for my relative who is hearing impaired?
If you are attending your college's Recognition, you need to call the office of the dean of your college for an accommodation to be made. Hearing Assistance Devices are available for the Recognitions in East/Central Heritage Hall at the sound/light mix locations.
If you are attending the Main Ceremony at 2:00, a sign language interpreter will be positioned on the right side of the Platform near sections 11 & 12 and may be viewed throughout the Arena on the large ceremony screens. Hearing Assistance Devices are available in Rupp Arena at the sound/light mix location.
- Must I wear a cap and gown?
Participation in the commencement activities requires that you wear appropriate academic attire, the traditional cap and gown. Caps and gowns may be purchased at the University Book Store in the Student Center Addition or at Kennedy's Book Store.
- On which side of my mortarboard do I wear my tassel prior to receiving my degree?
Before candidates receive their degrees, the tassel is worn on the right side of the mortarboard; after conferral of the degree, the tassel is moved to the left side.
- If I am a Masters or Doctors degree candidate, is it correct to wear my tassel on the left?
Yes, Masters and Doctors degree candidates may correctly march in the processional with their tassels on the left, signifying their previous degree or degrees.
- Will I have my photograph taken by an official, professional photographer at the commencement ceremony?
Yes, Classic Photography, Inc. will be photographing each graduate as s/he crosses the stage at the college Recognition. All PhD candidates will have their photograph taken by Classic Photography, Inc. at the Main Ceremony, immediately after leaving the Platform. There is a no obligation to purchase any photographs.
- How will I receive the proofs of my commencement photograph?
You will receive your proofs via email and direct (U.S. Mail) mail. You will be asked to provide these addresses at the college Recognition or the Main Ceremony.
- Will I have a commitment for this service?
No, this is a complementary service with no obligation to purchase. You will have the opportunity to order prints after you have seen your proofs.
- When should I expect to receive my commencement ceremony photo proofs?
Proofs are normally emailed to graduates within a week of Commencement. Proofs are direct-mailed to the street address provided within two weeks of Commencement, if you do not place an order via the Internet.
- Who should I contact with any questions concerning my commencement ceremony photos?
You can email Classic Photography, Inc. directly at info@gradphotos.com, or call toll free at 866-882-2897.
