Eligibility

All April 2013 degree candidates, as well as, August 2013 prospective degree candidates may participate.  Students planning to participate in this ceremony must RSVP between February 22, 2013 and March 15, 2013 to participate.

Academic Attire

All degree candidates who participate in the April 2013 Commencement must wear academic attire. Academic attire is available for purchase at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore from Tuesday, March 19, 2013 through Friday, April 19, 2013. For pricing information, see Graduation Fair.

Honors Cords

At Commencement, April degree candidates and August prospective degree candidates receiving Graduation Honors (Distinction and High Distinction) are invited to wear Honor Cords.

If you qualify for Graduation Honors, you are eligible to purchase an Honor Cord. Honor Cords will be available for purchase at the UM-Dearborn Bookstore from March 19, 2013 through April 26, 2013.  

All eligible degree candidates will be sent an email on March 18, 2013 containing further instructions on purchasing an Honor Cords.

Honor cords will not be available the day of the commencement ceremonies.

Please refer to the Graduation Fair for Honor Cord pricing.

Graduation Honors (Distinction and High Distinction)

At the beginning of their last term, students in all UM-Dearborn undergraduate programs with a cumulative GPA of 3.6 and above, and students in graduate programs of the College of Business and certain degree programs of the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters with a cumulative GPA of 8.0 and above are designated as graduating “With High Distinction”.

Likewise, students in the programs listed above who have an undergraduate GPA between 3.2 and 3.59 or a graduate cumulative GPA between 7.0 and 7.99 are designated as graduating “With Distinction”.

Graduation distinctions are not calculated and granted for graduate programs of the College of Engineering and Computer Science and School of Education or for any graduate programs affiliated with the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.

Tickets

All family members and guests attending the April 2013 Commencement on Sunday, April 28, 2013, including children over the age of two, need a ticket to attend the Commencement Ceremony. No admissions without a ticket.

• Degree candidates must RSVP by March 15, 2013 to be eligible to receive guest tickets.
• The number of tickets per graduate will be announced on Monday, March 18, 2013.
• Degree candidates participating in the graduate procession do not need a ticket.
• Degree candidates must present picture identification and receipt from the purchase of their cap and gown in order to receive tickets at the Enrollment Services counter, Room 1169 UC.

Guest tickets are non-replaceable.

Ticket Distribution

Degree candidates participating in the April 2013 Commencement must pick up their guest tickets at the Enrollment Services counter, 1169 UC.

Ticket distribution will begin Tuesday, March 19, 2013 and end Friday, April 19, 2013.

• Degree candidates attending the 10:00 a.m. ceremony will be eligible to receive up to 5 guest tickets.
• Degree candidates attending the 3:00 p.m. ceremony will be eligible to receive up to 4 guest tickets.

Office Hours

Please Note:  Tuesday, March 19 and Wednesday, March 20 the office will be open from 8 am through 7 pm.

Degree candidates who are unable to pick up tickets, may authorize a family member or friend to pick up their tickets. Written authorization from the degree candidate along with the receipt from the purchase of a cap and gown must be presented in order to pick up commencement tickets.

Tickets are distributed at random, NOT on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Graduation Fair

The Graduation Fair, sponsored by the University of Michigan-Dearborn Bookstore, will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2013 and Wednesday, March 20, 2013 from 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.  The Fair will be held in the Bookstore.

HIGHLIGHTS OF GRADUATION FAIR

• Purchase your Academic Attire (Cap and Gown)
• Order Class Ring
• Order Graduation Announcements
• Order Enlarged Diplomas (at Enrollment Services)
• Graduation Portraits Available
• Commencement Tickets Distribution  

CAP AND GOWN PRICING

Bachelor's cap and gown      $57.98

Master’s  cap and gown         $93.98

Honors Cord                             $12.00

Barnes and Noble Bookstore
4901 Evergreen Road
Room 1225 University Center

For stores hours, please contact the Bookstore at 313-593-5551.

General Information

Announcements

Announcements may be purchased at the Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Room 1225 University Center.  For store hours, please contact the Bookstore at 313-593-5551.

Photography

Photographs of all participating candidates will be taken by Graduation Images during the program. Degree candidates will also have the option to have a portrait taken prior to the beginning of the ceremony. Participants will receive a free proof and can order additional photographs.

Description cards will be distributed to all graduates in the Wellness Center .The photographers will collect the description cards before the portrait is taken in the Wellness Center .The proof and ordering instructions will be mailed.

DVD

DVDs of the Commencement Ceremonies will be available for purchase through the Dearborn Campus Video for $20.00 per tape. Please allow 6 – 8 weeks for delivery. To order, please Campus Video at 313-593-5479. Order forms will also be available at the Commencement Ceremony.

Diplomas

Diplomas for graduation will be mailed to the graduate's permanent address or the address listed on the Degree/Diploma Application approximately eight week after graduation.

Assembly for Graduates and Candidates

College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Business, and School of Education graduates should arrive at the Wellness Center in the Fieldhouse/Arena no later than 8:30 a.m.  

College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters graduates should arrive at the Wellness Center in the Fieldhouse/Arena no later than 1:30 p.m.

Upon entering the Wellness Center, graduates will be directed to the check-in table to receive a name card.  Your card contains a number that indicates your place in the line for the processional.  You must line up according to this number.  The processional line must be organized and orderly to facilitate the timely beginning of the ceremony.  There will be assistance with the line-up order.  

Only graduates and authorized personnel are allowed in the Wellness Center.  Please make arrangements with family and friends to meet in a designated area after the ceremony.

Approximately ½ hour prior to the start of ceremony, graduates will be directed to the ice arena area to prepare for the start of the processional.

Graduate Seating

Degree Candidates from each school and college are seated together for the ceremony.

Inclement Weather

The Campus Closure Information Line, 313-436-9157, will provide information on whether the commencement ceremonies are canceled due to inclement weather.

The University of Michigan-Dearborn will provide a letter of invitation to assist graduates whose parents need to apply for a visa in order to attend their student's commencement ceremony. The letter can be requested by sending an email to international@umd.umich.edu

The email should include:

• graduate's name
• graduate's local mailing address
• graduate's gender
• graduate's degree being earned
• graduate’s school or college
• date(s) of ceremony(ies) in which the graduate plans to participate
• names of parents (please specify relationship next to parent's name, Example: mother, father)

The letter from the University will be mailed to the graduate, who can then forward it to the parents for use in documenting their visa request. Please allow three weeks to receive the letter.

Graduates

Degree Candidates with disabilities who plan to participate in the Commencement Ceremony and require assistance in accessing the Fieldhouse/Arena should call the Commencement Coordinator at 313-593-4753 to make arrangements.

Graduates who use wheelchairs will be able to access the stage for recognition.

General

Personnel will be available to direct and assist people with disabilities into the Fieldhouse/Arena. An elevator is available to assist individuals to the lower level if needed. Accessible restroom facilities are located inside the Arena. Sign language interpreters will be present for those with hearing impairments. Graduates with disabilities who have questions about parking or access or who have special needs that are not addressed above are invited to contact the Commencement Coordinator, Soraya Jeffries Patton, at 313-593-4753. Without advanced notification, we may not be able to adequately address your special needs.

If you are a Veteran of the United States military, you are invited to receive a free Red, White, and Blue cord that you can wear at the commencement ceremony.  This cord is presented to you as a “Thank You” for your service to our nation.

The Red, White, and Blue cord is available for pick up at the Office of Enrollment Services/Registration and Records beginning on March 19, 2013 during regular office hours.  Please be sure to mention your veteran’s status when picking up your guest tickets.

August graduates are invited to attend the Commencement Ceremony.  August graduates who wish to participate in the Winter commencement ceremony must complete the Request to Participate in Commencement Ceremony Form. Please submit your request to participate by February 28, 2013.

Preparing for Commencement

Graduation Fair

Commencement Day Instructions

International Graduates

Persons with Disabilities

Veteran Graduates

August Graduates