College of Education Undergraduate Commencement and Teacher Education Program Recognition Ceremony is held at the end of the fall and spring semesters to recognize all of the graduating Teacher Education Program students.
Doors open one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. No tickets required.
A livestream of the ceremony is available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYfJ4BDEHtM
Dean Daniel Clay and President Barbara Wilson will confer degrees. Mark McDermott, associate dean for undergraduate education and educator preparation, will recognize those who completed the Teacher Education Program and who are graduating with the Education Studies and Human Relations major. Brad Kelly, restorative practices coordinator for the Iowa City Community School District and founder of the Community Reimagining Together Restorative Processes, will be the keynote speaker. Erika Johnson, College of Education assistant professor of elementary literacy, will be the faculty speaker. Hochi Rosario Cuevas, a graduating Education Studies and Human Relations major from North Liberty, Iowa, and originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico, will be the student speaker.
Livestream
The ceremony will be livestreamed with captions enabled. If you can't tune in to the livestream during the live broadcast or if you have trouble with the embedded video a copy will be available on the University of Iowa YouTube channel after the start of the ceremony.
Additional Info for Graduates and Guests
Apparel
All graduates are expected to wear academic regalia at their ceremonies. Required for all College of Education graduates: black UI gown, mortar board cap, black & gold tassel. Those graduating with a Master’s degree can wear their graduate apparel.
Ordering information and a link to the apparel portal can be found on the Apparel page.
All regalia must worn upon arrival at Hancher Auditorium on commencement day. Regalia will not be available to purchase or rent at the ceremonies.
Parking
Complementary parking for commencement is available at Hancher Auditorium. Traffic congestion around Hancher Auditorium is expected during commencement, so please allow extra time for your travel and parking.
Lot information and accessible parking details can be found on the Hancher Auditorium venue page.
Personal Items/Security
Detailed security information including allowed and prohibited items can be found on the Hancher Auditorium venue page.
Graduates arriving with a coat or purse should plan to leave these items with their guests.
Entering Hancher Auditorium
Doors to Hancher Auditorium will open at 3:00pm, one hour prior to the start of the ceremony. Guests are encouraged to arrive as early as possible so they can ensure they are in their seat by the start of the ceremony.
Graduates should arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to ceremony start. Please arrive 3:00pm – 3:15pm.
Name Card Hand-Out
Graduating students should proceed to Hancher’s Strauss Hall (left down the hallway from main entrance) and find the name card table for their program (by last name). Volunteers can assist with name card location. Hold onto your name card; your name card will be scanned and then handed to the name reader prior to crossing the stage.
Graduate and Guest Seating
Graduates: After getting their name card, graduates will remain in Strauss Hall. Rebecca Stai or College of Education representative will direct students when it is time to line up for Processional.
Guests: There are no tickets required and no assigned seating for guests at Hancher Auditorium.
Detailed information on accessible seating can be found on the Hancher Auditorium venue page.
Processional
Platform party (Dean, President, faculty, etc.) will line up at Door 1 upon volunteer/staff direction. Graduating students will be directed to line up behind the platform party. All will enter through Door 1 – platform party proceeds to stage, students are directed to their seats in the audience.
Presentation of Graduates
All guests should be in their seats at the start of the ceremony.
After a brief video and remarks from speakers, the individual recognition of graduates will begin.
Marshals will begin leading graduates to the left side of the stage; graduates need to have their name cards in hand. Graduates will have their name card scanned to be displayed on the screens in Hancher Auditorium and on the livestream. Graduates will then hand their card to the name card reader who will individually recognize the graduate. The student proceeds to Dean Clay to receive a diploma cover and to have a photo taken with the Dean by Flash Photography. Graduates then exit off stage right, have an individual portrait photo taken by Flash Photography, then return to their original seats.
After all graduates have been recognized there will be a few more remarks and the class will recognized as a group and the ceremony will conclude.
The ceremony is expected to last around 1.5 hours.
Expectations of Graduates
Commencement is the culminating event of University study for students who choose to attend. An appropriate and dignified academic atmosphere is absolutely expected so that you, your family, and other guests may enjoy this important gathering.
The following rules of behavior will be enforced at all ceremonies:
- No alcoholic beverages of any kind
- Inappropriate dress and costumes worn under gowns will not be allowed
- Cell phones must be turned off or silenced in the graduate seating area
- No flowers, purses, gifts, balloons, or bags will be allowed in the student seating area
- Marshals and security staff will be looking for intoxicated persons. Inebriated students are not permitted to participate
With everyone’s cooperation, this occasion will become a proud and happy memory of your academic achievement at the University of Iowa.