- Graduation is applying for a degree, completing your degree audit, getting your degree conferred, and receiving your diploma.
- Commencement is the ritual of the conferring of degrees through a ceremony with your classmates and guests. Participating in commencement is optional; you must RSVP in MyUI to be individually recognized during a ceremony.
- Applying for a degree does not sign you up to attend commencement.
Graduation Checklist
Apply for Degree
Thinking about graduating?
Need help with a degree audit? Applying for a degree? Have questions about diplomas?
Degree Services is here to help!
Attend Your Ceremony
Attending commencement is optional. Degrees are not distributed at commencements. Not attending commencement does not impact your ability to receive your degree.
Other Academic Recognitions
In addition to earning a degree, many students qualify for other academic recognitions including University Honors, Honors in the Major, and Distinction.
First Steps as Alumni
Once a Hawkeye, Always a Hawkeye! Let us know what your next steps are going to be and learn how to stay connected to the Hawkeye Family.
Degree Services
Professional Photographs
Flash Photography photographs each graduate during the ceremonies. Proofs will be sent to the email and mailing addresses listed on your commencement name card. Expect receipt of these free, no obligation to buy proofs within 14 days of the ceremony’s conclusion.
Early/Late Participation
The commencement RSVP is primarily used by students applying for degree during the same session in which they will attend commencement. However, due to various reasons an individual may wish to attend commencement during a session other than one in which they earn their degree, the RSVP is available to additional populations.
Eligibility/Criteria
Some students wish to participate in a ceremony during a session before all degree requirements have been met or after their degree has been conferred.
- Students who have submitted a degree application for the current session or one session after the current session can RSVP for commencement in MyUI if the RSVP is open.
- The RSVP for fall ceremonies opens by October. The RSVP for spring ceremonies opens in February. If your degree has already been conferred or you will apply for degree in a future session, please contact your collegiate coordinator to inquire about eligibility.
- RSVP responses will no longer be accepted after the RSVP deadline.
I Want to Participate Early
You may wish to attend a commencement ceremony before all of your degree requirements are met. This would be considered early participation. Not all colleges allow early participation. Please contact your collegiate coordinator to confirm.
Examples of Early Participation
Fall Commencement Attendance: You submitted a degree application for the future spring session and plan to participate in the fall ceremony prior to the spring session.
Spring Commencement Attendance: You submitted a degree application for the future summer session and plan to participate in the spring ceremony
RSVP Process for Early Participation
The RSVP process for early participation is tied to the status of your degree application. You will be able to RSVP in MyUI if the following are true:
You have an active degree application on file for the current session or one session after the current session.
The RSVP is open. The RSVP for fall commencement will open in September and the RSVP for spring commencement will open in February. Check to see if the RSVP is open here.
Your college holds a ceremony during the session you wish to participate.
Not all colleges hold ceremonies in the fall. Students who fulfill degree requirements in the fall are invited to the following spring ceremony if their program doesn’t hold a fall ceremony. View the full list of ceremonies.
Information about how to RSVP if your college does not hold a fall ceremony can be found below.
If you are unable to RSVP in MyUI, please contact the commencement team.
I Want to Participate Late
You may wish to attend a commencement ceremony after your degree has been conferred. This would be considered late participation. Not all colleges allow late participation. Please contact your collegiate coordinator to confirm.
RSVP Process for Late Participation
The RSVP process for late participation is related to when your degree was conferred. You will be able to RSVP in MyUI if the following are true:
Your degree was conferred in the last year.
Your college holds a ceremony during the session you wish to participate.
Not all colleges hold ceremonies in the fall. Students who fulfill degree requirements in the fall are invited to the following spring ceremony if their program doesn’t hold a fall ceremony. View the full list of ceremonies.
Information about how to RSVP if your college does not hold a fall ceremony can be found below.
If you are unable to RSVP in MyUI, please contact the commencement team.
My College Doesn’t Have a Fall Ceremony
If you are graduating in the fall and your college does not have a fall ceremony, you can attend the college’s spring ceremony.
RSVP Process for Colleges Without a Fall Ceremony
The RSVP for spring ceremonies opens in February. Watch the RSVP page on the commencement website for details about when the RSVP opens.
When the RSVP has opened, visit the commencement attendance portal in MyUI to complete your RSVP.
I’m Not Able to RSVP in MyUI
There are various reasons you may not be able to RSVP in MyUI. You will see a message that the commencement attendance portal is closed. It may be closed for any of the following reasons:
You do not have an active or conferred degree application within the timeframe allotted.
The RSVP has not opened. The RSVP generally opens in September for fall ceremonies and in February for spring ceremonies.
The RSVP deadline has passed. The RSVP closes in April for spring ceremonies and November for fall ceremonies.
It is the fall session, and your college does not hold a fall commencement ceremony.
If you are unable to RSVP in MyUI, please contact the commencement team.
Other Academic Recognitions
Cords, Stoles and More
There are many clubs, groups, and organizations that provide a commemorative graduation item to members. Items range from cords, medals, medallions, pins, stoles, and more. Many of these items can be obtained at the Iowa Hawk Shop or will be provided by the managing unit.
Please Note: The UI Commencement Team and Degree Services do not manage or maintain a comprehensive list of items.
Last Steps as a Student
First Destination Survey
Let the Career Center know about what you are doing next (job, continuing education, etc.). This information helps future Hawkeyes explore what they can do with their major.