Schedule

• 1:15 p.m. - Graduates arrive at Xfinity Center, enter through the Pavilion Gym doors at Lot 4B roundabout (designated by the graduation cap on this map) and report to your assigned major table
• 1:30 p.m. - Guests begin to arrive at Xfinity Center and enter through Gate A, B or E
  • Gate A: Southeast corner atop the grand staircase (main public entrance)
  • Gate B: Northeast corner atop the staircase
  • Gate E: Southwest corner adjacent to the Terrapin Trail Parking Garage
• 2:15 p.m. - All graduates must be seated. Please note: Students not in their seats by 2:15 p.m. will not be permitted to enter the Xfinity floor until after the ceremony begins.
• 2:25 p.m. - Procession begins
• 2:30 p.m. - Ceremony begins
• ~5:30 p.m. - Reception immediately follows the ceremony (Map)

The ceremony will last approximately 3 hours and graduates must remain seated on the floor for the entirety of the ceremony.

Parking is free on commencement days and you can park in most campus lots. Shuttle service around campus will also be available.  [Parking and shuttle guide]

All guests should enter through Gates A, B and E. 

Accessibility

• Accessible parking spaces will be available in most lots on a first-come, first-served basis and still require a state-issued license plate or hang tag.
• Guests with limited mobility should plan to arrive early to park in the Terrapin Trail Garage and enter Xfinity Center through Gate E to ensure a short distance between parking and entering the facility.
• ADA seating for wheelchair users will be available in Section 120. We are unable to provide wheelchairs.
• If you need special arrangements for hearing impairment or other disabilities, please contact the CMNS undergraduate commencement team (CMNSUGCommencement@umd.edu).
• Captioning on personal devices will be available in English and Spanish. The links will be included here closer to the date of the event. If you'd like captioning in another language, please contact the CMNS undergraduate commencement team (CMNSUGCommencement@umd.edu).

Items Allowed and Not Allowed

Review the Xfinity Center guidelines for items allowed and security procedures for the facility during commencement ceremonies.

Freedom of thought and expression are the lifeblood of our academic community. Our values regarding free speech and an open marketplace of ideas can be found in our policy on expressive activities.

The University also recognizes that a healthy and thriving academic community depends on mutual respect and civility. Appropriate behavior, as described in our university policies, is an essential component of what we stand for as a university.

Commencement marks a celebratory occasion and the culmination of academic pursuits for thousands of Terrapins. We kindly ask that all in attendance stay focused and true to the purpose and spirit of today’s event.

Our policies do not allow for the obstruction, disruption, interruption, or attempt to force the cancellation of any university event, including commencement. If you wish to engage in protests, demonstrations or other such expressive activity, we ask that you abide by university policy and do so in the designated areas outside of the stadium. Failure to uphold a respectful atmosphere in accordance with our policies will result in being asked to leave, and potentially disciplinary or other such action.

Thank you for your shared commitment to observe and protect our principles of free expression.

• August 2024 bachelor's degree graduates
• December 2024 bachelor's degree graduates
• May 2025 bachelor's degree candidates

Students can bring up to 6 guests to the CMNS Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. The event is not ticketed.

All August 2024 graduates, December 2024 graduates and May 2025 candidates must RSVP to attend the CMNS Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. 

Undergraduate students who have one course to take in the summer may complete the “Participate only” RSVP form by April 7, 2025. Remaining degree requirements and summer course registration will be verified before students are approved so they must be registered for the course. If the course is being taken at another institution, an approved PTE request must be on file and proof of enrollment must be sent to the CMNS undergraduate commencement team (cmnsugcommencement@umd.edu).

Please note: Participating in the May 2025 ceremony consists of you and your guests attending the ceremony, sitting with your major and walking across the stage with your name being called. You will receive your diploma, in the mail, in the fall, after summer degree clearance is completed.

Names of August 2025 graduates who are approved to participate will not appear in the University or CMNS Commencement programs until the May 2026 ceremonies.

Full regalia is required to participate in the CMNS Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony.

Graduation regalia is required. All students can purchase regalia from the University Book Center or order online from Oak Hall. Bachelor's degree candidate regalia are available for purchase only.

Faculty and staff should contact their department's commencement coordinator for assistance with bulk regalia orders or order online. Faculty and staff regalia will be available for pick-up in early May.

For further information, visit https://commencement.umd.edu/graduation-regalia-information.

If you are a double major candidate, your diploma will show your primary major and secondary major. If you are a dual degree candidate, you will receive two diplomas, one for each major. Latin Honors and Departmental Honors are on both the transcript and the applicable diploma. Everything else (e.g. Honors citations, College Park Scholars citations) are only on the transcript.

The University or the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences does not 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 a Enrollment Verification Certificate along with the copy of your passport. Enrollment Verification Certificate can be requested from the Office of the Registrar.

Please visit the CMNS Graduate Commencement webpage for more information.