Student FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions for Students

The following list provides information specifically for degree candidates.  If your question is not answered below, please email convocation@uchicago.edu or you can also get in touch with your Division or School Dean of Student's Office.

The 538th Convocation will take place on the Main Quadrangle of the University of Chicago's campus on Saturday, June 1, 2024. All candidates are invited to participate in this ceremony, during which President A. Paul Alivisatos will verbally confer degrees by school or division. Divisions and schools will also hold separate ceremonies or receptions where degree candidates receive their diplomas.

All degree candidates must line up in their designated lineup location between 8:00 - 8:45 a.m. The College lines up in Bartlett Quadrangle, and Graduate Divisions and Schools lines up in Harper Quadrangle. Please come fully dressed in your academic regalia. To guarantee your participation in the procession, be in line by 8:45 a.m.  

The Main Quadrangle will open general seating for the University-wide ceremony at 7:00 a.m. Guests are asked to be in their seats no later than 8:45 a.m. so they can watch the procession. Seating is first-come, first-served.  

Please note that all bags are subject to inspection upon entering the Main Quadrangle. Items that may disrupt other guests from seeing or hearing the ceremony are not permitted. Several thousand attendees are expected at the University-wide ceremony. It is strongly recommended that guests plan to arrive on campus early and allow extra time to park, travel to the Main Quadrangle, pass through the security check point and locate desirable seats.

In gathering all degree candidates together for a shared graduation, the University is honoring its earliest traditions and the goals set out for convocations by the University’s first president, William Rainey Harper. 

 While it is not required, it is strongly recommended that all degree candidates participate in the morning ceremony, as this is where your degree is formally conferred by President A. Paul Alivisatos.  

Degree candidates will line up in a designated area within their respective division or school. Within that group, candidates may sit in any order during the university ceremony.  Undergraduate degree candidates, or those receiving Bachelor degrees, will assemble in Bartlett Quadrangle. All graduate degrees, master and doctoral, will assemble in Harper Quadrangle. 

Tickets are not required to attend the University-wide Convocation ceremony, and all are welcome to attend.  However, tickets may be required for the smaller division and school diploma ceremonies.  You are encouraged to check with your respective Dean of Students office for details.

Convocation takes place outside on the Main Quadrangle and the ceremony will take place rain or shine, so we recommend all guests come prepared for the weather.  In the event of extreme, threatening weather, appropriate security measures are in place to ensure the safety of all degree candidates and guests.  Details will be posted on the Convocation website or announced broadly at the ceremony.

Each division and school will hold their own ceremony or event.  Some may also provide lunches or receptions to graduates and their guests. See the individual division and school schedules for more details.

Guests who prefer an indoor location may view a live broadcast of the University Convocation ceremony in Kent Auditorium and Bond Chapel, which is located within the Main Quadrangles. Please note that seating is limited.

Yes, the University Convocation ceremony will be broadcasted for all guests who are unable to attend in person. The viewing link will be shared on the convocation.uchicago.edu website closer to Convocation. 

Please visit the Accessibility and Accommodations page, where information about reasonable accommodations can be submitted via the Accommodation Request Form

To participate in Convocation, degree candidates must have satisfied all curricular requirements and passed all prescribed examinations before the deadlines published by the Office of the University Registrar or have the approval of their area Dean of Students office.

For additional details, please refer to Office of the University Registrar.

To participate in Convocation, degree candidates must have satisfied all curricular requirements and passed all prescribed examinations before the deadlines published by the Office of the University Registrar or have the approval of their area Dean of Students office.

For additional details, please refer to Office of the University Registrar.

Be sure to check with your Dean of Students Office, Academic Advisor, and any organization of which you are affiliated with.

You should contact your Dean of Students office to see if you will be permitted to walk early. If not, you will need to return the following June.

There is one, annual Convocation each June. You may receive your diploma at the conclusion of the quarter in which you graduate. If you have additional questions, it is encouraged that you consult your division or school Dean of Students Office.

Support letters are not required for B1/B2 visa applications, but you can prepare an optional supplemental letter for your family and friends using this template on OIA’s website. You can also print out the official convocation details from the university website or print out a formal confirmation email you have received regarding convocation details.

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