Graduation & Commencement

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.  If you have questions, schedule an appointment with your advisor.

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. 

• Apply for graduation. (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
• Purchase your regalia from the University Book Center

All INFO students planning to attend the Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremony are required to complete the RSVP registration form.  This form will be emailed from ischoolevents@umd.edu beginning in late February 2025 to all eligible students from Summer 2024, Fall 2024, and Spring 2025.  The deadline to complete the registration is April 8th, 2025. 

Guests, family and friends may sign up to receive direct communications regarding event logistics by signing up through this form: https://forms.gle/mqDsCL2fzazxYskS7

Logistic emails will be sent beginning in early May.

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

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 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.

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 theINFO commencement ceremony are strongly encouraged to wear full regalia, although it is not mandatory. Graduates may purchase regalia packages at the University Book Center, or through the direct link for undergraduate and graduate student:  https://oakhallcg.com/pages/umcpsth or for PhD students: https://oakhallcg.com/pages/umcpfinequality.  

The UMD Bookstore will also be hosting the Grad Fair, which will be held on  March 4 & 5 from 10:30am to 6:30pm in the University Bookstore in Stamp. The event will provide an opportunity to purchase regalia, order announcements, and class rings. Special pricing on diploma frames. Other services include custom doctoral regalia fittings, professional photography, and a young alumni travel agency. The event will include giveaways, raffles, and light fare.

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

Accessibility information for the Xfinity Center can be found on the Main Commencement website: https://commencement.umd.edu/accessibility

If you as a graduate or someone in your party would like to request additional accessibility accommodations, please notify us at ischoolevents@umd.edu.

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.