Graduation & Commencement

Please read this document [Google Doc] with important information for guests. If you are interested in receiving information regarding logistics for the INFO ceremony, please sign up to receive our update emails from infoevents@umd.edu by completing this Commencement Email Sign-Up form [Google Form].

At this time, tickets are not required for graduates or their guests for the College of Information ceremony. If you plan on bringing a larger group of 20+, please coordinate with us at infoevents@umd.edu. If you have questions about ticketing for the university-wide ceremony, please visit the university’s Commencement page [External Link].

With the exception of fire lanes and accessible parking locations, all campus parking is free on the days of commencement. If you need accessible parking, please contact the Department of Transportation Services (DOTS) at transportation@umd.edu or 301-314-PARK. The campus also provides free accessible shuttle buses for graduates and their guests.

Graduates will receive their diplomas through the mail roughly eight to twelve weeks after commencement. Please note that diplomas will not be mailed out if a student has any incomplete or failing grades in courses required for their degree. Contact Diploma@umd.edu or 301-314-8270 for more information.

Full regalia must be worn at the University Commencement and can be purchased at the University Bookstore in the Stamp Student Union. All graduates participating in the INFO commencement ceremony are strongly encouraged to wear full regalia, although it is not mandatory. Graduates may purchase regalia packages at the University Book Center [External Link] or through the direct link which will be made available in the coming months. The University Book Center will also host a Grad Fair in March 2026 in STAMP where students can try on regalia and participate in graduation related activities.

If you as a graduate or someone in your party would like to request accessibility accommodations, please visit UMD’s page on accessibility at Commencement [External Link].

The University and the College of Information will no longer issue invitation letters for guests to visit the U.S. to attend commencement ceremonies. These letters are not required by the embassy to issue a B2 visa, which is designated for tourist activities such as sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, and obtaining medical treatment.

The graduating student should submit a copy of their I-20 or DS-2019 to the relative applying for the tourist visa. Students can also send an Enrollment Verification Certificate along with the copy of your passport. Enrollment Verification Certificate can be requested from the Office of the Registrar [External Link].