Since 2017, UT has provided an outstanding experience for our graduates, families, guests and campus community at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Expo Hall. Previously, a ceremony was held in the morning for graduates in the College of Arts and Letters and Sykes College of Business, and in the afternoon for graduates in the College of Natural and Health Sciences and the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education.
 

As the number of May graduates continues to increase, the ceremony has become lengthy for graduates and families. It has also become a challenge to accommodate the number of family members and guests in attendance. Beginning at the May 2025 commencement ceremony, three separate ceremonies will be offered, ensuring the length of the ceremony will not exceed two hours and graduates will not be limited in the number of families and guests they are able to invite.

Students can access the list of majors and corresponding colleges to find out in which commencement ceremony they will participate. 

If you are graduating with two majors being honored at different ceremonies, you will need to select which ceremony you would like to attend on the commencement application. You can only walk at one ceremony.

No. Due to space limitations, students are only permitted to participate in the college ceremony in which their major is housed.

All commencement ceremonies will take place at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Expo Hall. This is an indoor venue.

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Graduates in the College of Natural and Health Sciences should plan to arrive to check in for the ceremony at 8 a.m. Graduates are required to check in for the ceremony wearing their cap, gown and hoods no later than 8:45 a.m. for the 9 a.m. ceremony on Commencement Day (please try on your cap and gown as soon as you pick it up to ensure it fits).

Please allow plenty of time for arrival, parking, and going through security before entering the building. From there it will take about 15 minutes to pick up your “reader name” card properly and line-up for pre-seating.

If you are not ready for pre-seating by 8:45 a.m. you will not be seated until after the processional.

Throughout the check-in process, it is imperative that you follow the instructions of the faculty marshals, staff and UT Diplomats who are organizing the event.

College of Arts and Letters and College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education 

Graduates in the College of Arts and Letters and graduates in the College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education should plan to arrive to check in for the ceremony at 11:30 a.m. Graduates are required to check in for the ceremony wearing their cap, gown and hoods no later than 12:15 p.m. for the 12:30 p.m. ceremony on Commencement Day (please try on your cap and gown as soon as you pick it up to ensure it fits).

When you arrive at the fairgrounds, there will be extra traffic from the ceremony prior. Please allow plenty of time for arrival, parking, and going through security before entering the building. From there it will take about 15 minutes to pick up your “reader name” card properly and line-up for pre-seating.

If you are not ready for pre-seating by 12:15 p.m. you will not be seated until after the processional.

Throughout the check-in process, it is imperative that you follow the instructions of the faculty marshals, staff and UT Diplomats who are organizing the event. 

Sykes College of Business

Graduates in the Sykes College of Business should plan to arrive to check-in for the ceremony at 3 p.m. Graduates are required to check in for the ceremony wearing their cap, gown and hoods no later than 3:45 p.m. for the 4 p.m. ceremony on Commencement Day (please try on your cap and gown as soon as you pick it up to ensure it fits).

When you arrive at the fairgrounds, there will be extra traffic from the ceremony prior. Please allow plenty of time for arrival, parking, and going through security before entering the building. From there it will take about 15 minutes to pick up your “reader name” card properly and line-up for pre-seating.

If you are not ready for pre-seating by 3:45 p.m. you will not be seated until after the processional.

Throughout the check-in process, it is imperative that you follow the instructions of the faculty marshals, staff and UT Diplomats who are organizing the event.