The following list provides general information for all members of the University community. If your question is not answered below, please consider viewing our Candidate FAQ and Guest FAQ, or email convocation@uchicago.edu.
Convocation is the University-wide ceremony during which degrees are officially conferred to all graduates.
The 539th Convocation will take place on the Main Quadrangle of the University of Chicago's campus on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
Degree Candidates:
All degree candidates must line up in their designated lineup location between 8:00 and 8:45 a.m. The College lines up in Bartlett Quadrangle, and 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.
Guests:
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.
University-wide Ceremony:
Tickets are not required to attend the University-wide Convocation ceremony, and all are welcome to attend.
College Diploma Ceremonies (Undergraduates):
Tickets are not required for the College (undergraduate) Diploma Ceremonies.
Division and School Ceremonies:
Tickets may be required for the division and school ceremonies. You are encouraged to check with your respective Dean of Students office for details.
The University-wide Convocation ceremony is outdoors and will take place rain or shine, so we recommend all attendees come prepared for the weather. The ceremony may be shortened due to inclement 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.
College Diploma Ceremonies (Undergraduates):
Graduates of the College and their guests are invited to attend a luncheon, Diploma Ceremony, and reception at various locations across campus. Graduates are honored individually through the presentation of diplomas. Please see location assignments and other details on the College Diploma Ceremony page.
Division and School Ceremonies:
Each division and school will hold their own ceremony or event. Some may also provide lunches or receptions to graduates and their guests. Please see the individual division and school schedules for more details.
University-wide Ceremony:
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.
University-wide Ceremony:
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 for candidates and guests can be submitted via the Accommodation Request Form.
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.
cAlert is the University’s emergency notification system. In a life-threatening situation that requires immediate action, cAlert sends every member of our community a short message.
You may enroll in cAlert by texting "UChicagoConvo2025" to 226787 to receive SMS text message emergency alerts from the University of Chicago Department of Safety and Security. Following Convocation, all who signed up to receive cAlerts can text "stop" to 226787 to be removed from the system.
