Graduation & Commencement

Many of our graduates have wanted to double check that they are signed up to walk/participate in the INFO Spring 2025 Commencement on May 23, 2025.

Click here to view the RSVP list, these are the students we are expecting to attend and walk. We are preparing for your big day! See “Day of” details below for next steps.  Students who recieved honors will recieve their cords at check in.

If you do not see your name on the RSVP list, but expected it to be there or still want to participate, please contact your advisor. You can still participate if you are approved for graduation! The RSVP deadline helps us to pre-print check in cards, plan for capacity, and more. However, we anticipate and welcome day-of attendance. TICKETS are not required. You can come day of yourself and with guests (no number limit) and participate in the commencement. What you need to do:

• Contact your advisor. If your advisor has approved your graduation and that you can walk on 5/23, your next steps are:
  • You can attend as a day-of walk-in. We allow this and have extra name reading cards.
  • The event is NOT ticketed. You and guests can just attend, arrive 7-7:30am.
  • You can purchase regalia from the University Bookstore (see Regalia section below). Although regalia is recommended, it is not required.
  • Read all of the day-of instructions on this web page (see Day-of section below), including arriving 7-7:30am for check-in.
  • Send your Guests the instructions for them (see Guests section below), especially what they can bring into Xfinity – which has very strict policies.

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. Some third party sites also sell used UMD regalia.

For more information about regalia, please visit: https://commencement.umd.edu/graduation-regalia-information

Friday, May 23, 2025
Xfinity Center, 8500 Paint Branch Drive, College Park, MD 20742

Arriving  7:00 a.m.

Parking:

• With the exception of fire lanes and accessible parking locations, all campus parking is free on the days of commencement including parking spots with meters, campus map. See accessible parking and transportation information at the bottom of this page. At Xfinity, you will want to enter through Gates C or D to enter near check in (parking and gate map).

Tickets and Guests:

• This event is not ticketed. Graduates and guests do not need tickets.
• The amount of guests submitted on the RSVP form helps INFO to estimate, but you are not limited to that amount. All guests are welcome.

What to Bring:

• Bring: Regalia (not required, but recommended).
• Don’t Bring: Balloons, megaphones, noise-makers, outside food or drink (concessions available in Xfinity).
• Don’t Bring: Coats, purses, etc. or leave them with family members; any item you bring with you, you will have to carry across the stage. Note: Clear bags are not required, but all other Xfinity bag policies are in place = the only permissible bags are small clutch bags, measuring 4.5″ x 6.5″. 

Check-In 7:00 – 7:30 a.m.:

• All graduates will be subject to security checks upon entering the building. Please allow time to get through security.
• Check-in at the Xfinity Pavilion/Auxiliary Gym (Room 0601), Gates C & D are closest. This is also where you will pick up your name-reading card (or fill in one if you are a day-of walk-in). Must check-in by 7:30 a.m.
• Students who recieved honors will recieve their cords at check in:
  • Cum Laude (Bronze Cord)
  • Magna Cum Laude (Silver Cord)
  • Summa Cum Laude (Gold Cord)
• You will be directed to the Arena floor and seating with your degree program.

During the Ceremony, 8:00 – 10:00 a.m.

The ceremony lasts approximately 2 hours. We ask that all graduates and guests remain for the entire ceremony to respect all graduates.

1.  Bachelors and Masters graduates will alternate walking across from both sides of the stage via the side ramps. Your program group will be escorted to line up on the correct side of the stage when it is time for you to walk.
2. You will be queued when to individually walk up on the stage. You will hand your name-reading card to the reader (don’t lose your card!), who will keep it. The name reader will read your name as you walk across to the center of the stage to shake hands with the Dean. GradImages will capture this moment.
3. You will then exit the stage via the steps down to ground level at the center of the stage, you will be handed a commemorative poster at ground level, and then proceed down the center aisle back to your seat.  (Email infoevents@umd.edu if you have mobility issues and would prefer to exit on a ramp vs. steps.)

After the Ceremony

• Photos: Graduates will receive color proofs from GradImages via email two weeks after the commencement. There is no obligation to purchase.
• Video: The recording of the commencement ceremony will be available post-event on INFO’s YouTube page.
• Diploma: Graduates will receive their diplomas through the mail six 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 for more info.

Tickets are not required for graduates or their guests for the INFO Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony. Guests, please plan to arrive between 7:00am – 7:30am to ensure time for parking, entering/security, and seating.

The UMD College of Information (INFO) Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 23 at 8:00am at the UMD Xfinity Center. The Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony can also be viewed live, virtually here on May 23rd at 8am.

UMD Xfinity Center
8500 Paint Branch Dr.
College Park, MD 20740

Parking:

• With the exception of fire lanes and accessible parking locations, all campus parking is free on the days of commencement including parking spots with meters, campus map. See accessible parking and transportation information at the bottom of this page.
• Xfinity Gates (Entries) A-F are open to all guests and graduates. Graduates report to the Pavilion. Gates C and D are closest to their check-in location inside Xfinity. Please see the Accessibility section below for information on parking and accessible entries.
• If you are dropping of a graduate, we recommend they enter through Gates C or D to enter near the graduate check in, in the Pavillion room (parking and gate map).

Security:

• All students and guests will be subject to a security check.
• Not allowed: Balloons, megaphones, noise-makers, outside food or drink (concessions available in Xfinity).
• Not allowed: Clear bags are not required, but all other Xfinity bag policies are in place = the only permissible bags are small clutch bags, measuring 4.5″ x 6.5″.  A list of prohibited bags includes, but is not limited to: large purses, backpacks, drawstring bags, briefcases, coolers, fanny packs, luggage, computer bags, camera bags, binocular cases and diaper bags. Guests are encouraged to return unauthorized items to their vehicles.

Seating:

• Seating is not reserved, you may sit in any section (except sections 114, 120, 121 which are reserved for accomidations, see accessibility section below)
• If you are part of a large group, you are encouraged to arrive early to secure seating together
• When you arrive, geeters will direct you to the seating areas
• Seating map

The University or 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.

Parking for guests with disabilities is available at the Xfinity Center in Lot 4, 6 (Terrapin Trail Garage), 9, and 11 surrounding the Xfinity Center. No special permit is required for the INFO College ceremony. The Terrapin Trail Garage has elevators that will take guests to the entrance level of Xfinity and is recommended for those with limited mobility.

Guests in wheelchairs and guests with limited mobility should park in Terrapin Trail Garage, which has elevators to take guests to the entrance level of Xfinity. Guests will then enter through Gate E. This is a fully accessible pathway. Proceed to section 120 for accessible seating.

Additionally, any of these for Gates are accessible entrances:

• Gate C: Southeast corner of the arena on the Ground Level
• Gate D: Northeast corner of the arena on the Ground Level
• Gate E: Southwest corner of the arena on the Concourse Level
• Gate F: Northwest corner of the arena on the Concourse Level

If you need accessible parking, please contact the UMD 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. All Xfinity entrances/gates are open to graduates and guests.

The University of Maryland does not have wheelchairs available to borrow. However, if you require accessible transportation for a disabled guest on the day of commencement, please make arrangements by calling UMD Shuttle dispatch services at 301-314-0318.

You do not need to reserve seating for special needs guests. Please plan to arrive early to give yourself plenty of time.

Seating for hearing impaired guests is available in section 114, rows 1-2. An ASL translator will be projected on screen in this section.

Captions will also be projected on the central video board, which is visible from all seating sections.

Accessible seating is available for guests who are elderly, in wheelchairs, or have limited mobility in sections 120 and 121, located on the 3rd-level concourse. There is a fully accessible path from the Terrapin Trail Garage, entering through gate E, and proceeding to sections 120, 121.

Ushers can direct you to these sections once inside the building. Due to limited space, the university recommends that only the person with the disability and one other guest sit in the accessible seating.

All other seating is general admission.

The Xfinity Center is designed with parking, restrooms, water fountains, ATMs, power-assisted doors, and seating areas accessible to guests with disabilities.

Each of the 37 restrooms located conveniently throughout Xfinity Center is ADA compliant and accessible to our guests with disabilities. However, for the comfort of our disabled guests, four (4) private bathrooms have been designated exclusively for their use:

• At the top of Sections 105 and 110 on the Plaza Level (2nd level).
• Behind Sections 122 and 217 on the Concourse Level (3rd level).

Visit the Xfinity Center Accessibility Information webpage for additional information.

The deadline to apply for Spring 2025 graduation was February 7, 2025. All graduating students must apply to graduate from the university by the deadline.

The university requires that students must be registered in the semester in which they intend to graduate and will have completed all requirements to graduate prior to the ceremony. For example, if you are not finishing coursework until Summer 2025, you will not be able to participate in the Spring 2025 ceremony.

All university coursework requirements must be completed by the time of graduation. Your student account must be cleared with the university before your diploma will be mailed. This includes any outstanding Health Center charges, parking fines, library fines, tuition fees, etc. If you have questions, schedule an appointment with your advisor.

Graduation Checklist:

• • Apply for graduation from the University (The deadline to apply for Spring 2025 graduation was Feb 7, 2025)
  • Settle your student financial account.
  • Meet all university and program requirements. If you have questions about this, schedule an appointment with your advisor.
  • Update your address and email address on Testudo.

Graduates will receive their diplomas through the mail roughly six 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.

All Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 INFO graduates are invited to participate in the Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony.

All INFO graduates planning to participate are required to complete the RSVP registration form (closed). The RSVP form is now closed, if you missed the deadline to complete this and would still like to participate in the ceremony, see the section below with instructions on how to work on this with your advisor.

The deadline to request support in obtaining regalia has passed. All graduates participating the INFO Commencement Ceremony are requested to wear official regalia. Regalia can be purchased from the University Book Center. Some third party sites also sell used UMD regalia.