May 2025 Commencement Ceremony

The May commencement ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, May 10, at the Expo Hall at the Florida State Fairgrounds. We plan to host three separate ceremonies:

•  The 9 a.m. ceremony will host graduates of the College of Natural and Health Sciences
• The 12:30 p.m. ceremony will host graduates of the College of Arts and Letters, and the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education
• The 4 p.m. ceremony will host graduates of the Sykes College of Business

In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, the commencement planning team is in communication with the Florida State Fairgrounds staff in regards to the Expo Hall repair timeline. An announcement regarding the May 2025 commencement venue and any updates to ceremony times will be made by Feb. 4, 2025. In the meantime, the University administration and commencement team are actively exploring options to ensure an outstanding experience for graduates, families, guests and the campus community.

For more information regarding the new ceremony times, please visit our May 2025 Commencement FAQ page.

Tickets are not required for family members or guests to attend either ceremony. However, due to limited seating, graduates are asked to invite six or fewer family members or guests. As seats cannot be reserved, it is highly recommended that family members and guests arrive early at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Student Step-by-Step Process

Students, please follow this step-by-step guide to ensure you are set to graduate on time and/or participate in the commencement ceremony.

Step 1: Apply to graduate on Workday no later than Monday, March 24.

Log into your MyUTampa and use the Workday widget to apply to graduate and have your degree conferred. Please note, in order to graduate from UT you still need to complete this step, even if it is past the deadline.

Students are highly encouraged to apply prior to March 24 to confirm their name will be included in the commencement program. If you did not fill out the graduation application by March 24, your name will not be included in the physical program. You will still need to apply for graduation using the Workday widget in order to receive your diploma.

If you have any questions regarding your status please reach out to diplomas@ut.edu.

Step 2: Apply to attend the ceremony through the Commencement Application no later than Tuesday, April 1.

Within this separate application from step one, you will provide the Office of Orientation and Family Engagement information relevant to your commencement ceremony experience. This information includes the phonetic spelling of your name to be read, accommodations for you or any of your guests, the commencement speaker application, etc.

The link for this application will be posted in January.

Step 3: Pre-order your cap and gown and more at the Grad Fair (dates TBA)

It is highly recommended you complete the pre-order to ensure you have the correct sizing available to you for the ceremony. Deadlines will be announced in January.

Step 4: Pick up your cap and gown from the University bookstore (dates TBA).

Visit the bookstore for cap, gown and honor cord pick-up before the ceremony at the University Bookstore! Cap and gown pick-up dates will be released in the spring, and typically begin late April.

Please note, that academic regalia will not be available for on-site pickup at the commencement ceremony and must be obtained before coming to the fairgrounds. 

Directions and Parking: Florida State Fairgrounds

The Florida State Fairgrounds is located at 4800 U.S. Highway 301 N. in Tampa. Cellular GPS directions to the fairgrounds vary within each app. Please use the following links to ensure you have the correct location for the entrance and parking at the fairgrounds - Apple Maps, Google Maps, Waze.

Directions from the University (Plant Hall):

• Turn left onto W. Kennedy Blvd. (towards Downtown Tampa)
• Turn left onto N. Ashley Drive
• Merge right onto I-275 N and take exit 45B towards I-4 E/Orlando
• Take exit 7 onto US-92 E/Riverview
• Merge right onto US-301 S/Riverview
• Turn right into the Florida State Fairgrounds entrance.

If you go past the light at the intersection of US-301 S. and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, you have gone too far.

There is no fee for parking and disability parking is available with the appropriate hangtags to students, families, and guests.

*Please note: Take proper precautions for Tampa rush-hour traffic/Commencement traffic and leave with plenty of time to arrive at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Hotel Information

Hotel information will be posted later this fall.

Family Communication Philosophy

While we understand family members and guests are excited to celebrate their student's achievements at commencement, we are only able to provide general information about the ceremony as opposed to student-specific information. Please visit the Student Affairs Family Communication Philosophy for more information. 

Questions?

Please contact Orientation and Family Engagement at commencement@ut.edu or (813) 257-1999.