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Graduation

Commencement Updates

Our commencement ceremonies are open seating for guests. You will not need a ticket to attend our commencement ceremonies. Live streaming will be available for anyone who cannot attend. Those links will be added closer to each ceremony on the Watch Commencement Live! page.

 

Commencement Dates

We will host Memphis commencement activities in person on the following days: 


Fall Commencement

  • December 9, 2024
    10:00am – Canon Center for the Performing Arts

Spring 2025 Commencement

  • May 12, 2025
    Time TBD; Cannon Center for the Performing Arts
Commencement Ceremony Contact Information 

Office of Student Life
910 Madison Ave., Suite 105
901.448.2350
studentlife@uthsc.edu

Memphis Hotel Accommodations

We want to ensure our families have options when traveling to Memphis for commencement. Below are a few suggestions we have:

  • Canopy Hotel, 164 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38103, 901.467.0309
  • Hampton Inn, 175 Peabody Place, Memphis, TN 38103, 901.260.4006
  • River Inn, 50 Harbor Town Square, Memphis, TN 38103, 901.260.3333
  • Country Inn & Suites, 2270 N. Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, TN 38016, 901.386.1110
  • Marriott Memphis East, 5795 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119, 901.682.0080
Is there a limit to the number of guests one can invite?
No, there is not a limit to the number of guests a student can invite.
Parking and Directional Signage

Faculty, staff, and students may park in any of the garages around the Cannon Center. The university will not cover the parking fee. Some available options are:

  • Renasant Convention Center Parking Garage: 266 N. Front St., Memphis, TN 38103
  • Mud Island River Park Garage: 125 N. Front St., Memphis, TN 38103
  • Best Park Tennessee: 234 N. 2nd, Memphis, TN 38105
Ceremony Process
  • When the degrees are conferred please walk up the stairs and hand the reader your name card. You will receive a green tube with a graduation letter from the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of Student Success. You will then walk behind the curtain to have your picture taken. Staff will assist you in getting back to your seat.
  • Please be seated immediately after returning to your seat.
  • Graduates will not return to the graduate lineup area. Please do not bring any items that you will need to carry or store.
  • Students, please return your regalia using the shipping label provided to you by Oak Hall. If you have misplaced the shipping label you may contact them via e-mail at customercare@oakhalli.com to receive a new shipping label. Regalia Must be returned within 2 weeks after your ceremony. Faculty, please leave your regalia in the faculty room to be shipped back to the vendor by the institution.

Commencement Day Etiquette
  • Students and faculty may arrive 1 1/2 hours prior to the ceremony start time.
  • Guests may arrive 1 hour prior to the ceremony start time.
Regalia Ordering and Pick-up

Students may order regalia through the student portal. The ordering link will close November 8, 2024, at 11:59pm. Regalia will be shipped to your home. If you miss the ordering deadline, please contact the Office of Student Life at studentlife@uthsc.edu to get your regalia ordered. Late orders will be available for pick-up at the Cannon Center the morning of your ceremony.

How early do I need to arrive to the ceremony?

Graduates are asked to arrive 1 ½ hours prior to ceremony start time. Guests are asked to arrive 1 hour prior to ceremony start time.

Commencement Pictures

The University provides professional graduation photo services through GradImages. Graduates will be contact by GradImages following commencement and offered the opportunity to purchase photos.

How long does graduation usually last?
The ceremony can last approximately 1½ hours, depending on the speaker and number of students graduating.
Disability Accommodations
  • Graduates or their guests in need of accessibility assistance to attend the commencement ceremony should e-mail studentlife@uthsc.edu as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.

  • Please, include the following information:
      • Name
      • College
      • Guest name requesting accommodations
      • Accommodation needs
      • Name of escort (if needed)
How can I order announcements?
You may order announcements by visiting www.jostens.com. Make sure to completely spell out “University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center,” when searching for our campus. All information regarding the venue, date, and time should be available on the website of the vendor. You may also order announcements through your regalia ordering site by clicking “Accessories.”
Replacement Diploma Request

Duplicate / Replacement Diplomas:

To order a duplicate or replacement diploma, please click here to place your order though Paradigm, our diploma servicer. 

All Diplomas will reflect four (4) signatures from the current UT-System administrative officials.

Timeline / Delivery Window: 

Domestic (non-expedited): 6-8 weeks
Domestic (expedited): 3-4 weeks

Notification of shipment will be emailed to the email address used on the order when the diploma is produced and shipped. 

Name changes on Diploma: You will need to provide a copy of a legal document showing the name requested. This is only if the name differs from what appears on the academic transcript. The "Name Change On Academic Record Form" is located here

Places to Visit in Memphis

Visit Memphis Travel for local trip recommendations. Below is a list of recommendations for some of the top Memphis restaurants and attractions:

  • Majestic Grille
  • Flying Fish
  • Gus’s World-Famous Chicken
  • Central BBQ
  • Rizzo’s
  • Bleu
  • McEwens
  • Blues City Café
  • Flight
  • Maciel’s
  • Pearl’s Oyster House
  • Peabody Place
  • Capriccio Grille
  • Huey’s
  • Automatic Slims
  • Miss Polly’s
  • Memphis Zoo
  • Riverside 
  • Beale Street 
  • Civil Rights Museum

 

Oct 1, 2024