Spring 2013 Commencement Information

The Philip Merrill College of Journalism's commencement ceremony will take place on Monday, May 20 at 3:30 p.m. in the Dekelboum Concert Hall,  Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. The following information is for graduating students and their guests:

University Convocation

The campus-wide convocation will begin at 1 p.m. in the Comcast Center on Sunday, May 19. Graduates will assemble by school/college in their full academic regalia at the Comcast Center starting at 11:45 a.m. in Lot 4B (weather permitting). The procession of graduates will begin promptly at 12:15 p.m. Graduates and their families are asked to allow themselves plenty of extra time commuting to campus so that they do not miss the procession. Tickets are NOT required for the spring convocation. The main commencement speaker is Baseball Hall-of-Famer Cal Ripken. Complete information, including information on parking arrangements, for the university ceremony at the Comcast Center can be found at www.commencement.umd.edu.

Parking permits will NOT be required on May 19 or 20. Free campus shuttles will be available to transport graduates and guests on campus and from the College Park Metro. Concessions will be available for purchase throughout campus, including locations at the Stamp Student Union, the Comcast Center, and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

Please note that students are NOT individually recognized by name at the university convocation; such recognition is given at the individual department/college ceremonies.

Journalism Ceremony

The Philip Merrill College of Journalism graduation ceremony will begin promptly at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, May 20. The ceremony will not last longer than 90 minutes. Tickets are NOT required.  The Dekelboum Concert Hall at the Clarice Smith Center will open to guests approximately 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and ushers will be on hand to assist disabled guests and their companions to accessible seating. The featured speaker will be ABC Senior Justice Correspondent Pierre Thomas.

The ceremony will be streamed live and broadcast on UMTV - the University of Maryland's cable station. UMTV is on campus channel 38. Comcast customers can watch on Channel 73 in Prince George’s County and on Channel 2 in Montgomery County. On Verizon, UMTV is on channel 40 in both counties. The cable channel is operated by the Philip Merrill College of Journalism.

Students are asked to convene one hour prior to the start of the procession, wearing their full academic regalia, in their assigned robing room (information will be available on site).

Students with disabilities should contact the Assistant Director of Graduate Studies, David Watson, at 301-405-2380 (after March 27) to make arrangements for accommodation. For guests with disabilities: the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center is wheelchair accessible, and ample handicapped-accessible seating will be available within the concert hall. Please plan to arrive early, as there will be no reserved seating.

Graduates and guests who plan to attend the Merrill College ceremony are encouraged to park at the Stadium Drive parking garage adjacent to the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center (accessible off Stadium Drive). Free campus shuttles will be available to transport graduates and guests, and concessions will be available for purchase throughout campus, including locations at Stamp Student Union, the Comcast Center, and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

Diplomas

Students will receive a decorative print specially designed by the university for the academic year at the commencement ceremony. Associate Journalism Dean Olive Reid's office clears undergraduate candidates for graduation once all semester grades have been filed, at which point the Diploma Office will mail out diplomas. Graduate students are cleared by the Graduate School, and diplomas are mailed in a similar fashion. 

Diplomas are mailed to the address students have provided on their Diploma Applications. If this information has recently changed for you, make sure the Diploma Office in the Mitchell Building is notified. Students are advised to keep their address updated on Testudo.  

Regalia

Cap, gowns, and tassels are available from the University Book Center located in Stamp Student Union Monday through Friday (10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and Saturdays (10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). For more information, contact the University Book Center at 301-314-9455. 

Undergraduates: All undergraduates earn Bachelor of Arts degrees. Be sure to make this distinction while ordering your hood; it will have a white collar.

Master's: Unless you have completed a master's thesis, you will earn a Master of Journalism degree. When ordering hoods, specify the "Journalism" distinction of your degree. Order a red-trimmed hood. Master of Arts students should order an "arts" hood, trimmed in white.

Best wishes to the Class of May, 2013. We look forward to seeing you at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism ceremony on May 20.

Those with additional questions relating to the Journalism ceremony are advised to contact David Watson (After March 27) at 301-405-2380.