2024 Medical School Commencement
Commencement Date
Friday, May 10, 2024 – 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Location
Hill Auditorium
825 N. University Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1276
Commencement Day Schedule
3:00 p.m. - Graduates should arrive to robe and begin lining up for the Commencement Ceremony. Please use the East entrance of Hill Auditorium and go up one flight (look for signs directing you where to go).
Students will pick up name pronunciation card and honor cords, robe, and line up alphabetically.
3:15 p.m. - Doors to Hill Auditorium open to ticketed guests. Seating is first-come, first-served.
3:55 p.m. - All guests to be seated
4:00 p.m. - Processional begins with ceremony following
Parking
Parking is free in the U-M Thayer, Fletcher and Palmer lots
General Information
Commencement tickets will be available to graduates starting May 2, 2024. All graduates must register for tickets by completing the registration form sent to their @med.umich.edu email address.
- All students participating in UMMS Commencement are required to present a ticket to be admitted to Hill Auditorium and participate in the procession.
- Graduates will report to the Mezzanine of Hill Auditorium upon arrival at 3:00pm.
- Graduate seating is in the center of the main floor of Hill Auditorium and graduates sit together.
- All other guests—including family members and children two years of age and older–must have a guest ticket in order to enter Hill Auditorium.
- MD degree recipients are eligible to receive up to eight (8) guest tickets
- All non-graduate seating is General Admission. Section, row, and seat number are not assigned.
- Seating is on a first come, first serve basis.
- The entryway doors to Hill Auditorium will open to guests at 3:15pm and will include staff taking tickets and ensure items from the prohibited items list are not brought into the venue (similar to attending a U-M athletic event).
- Commencement faculty marshals Drs. Doug Gelb and Anita Malone will direct graduates to their seats during the student procession.
- Graduates or guests in need of accessible seating should contact: Denise Brennan denisebr@umich.edu
Prohibited Items
• All bags (including purses, clear bags, fanny packs)
• All bottles (including all types of water bottles)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Aerosol and spray cans
• Animals (except service animals for persons with a disability)
• Apparel or signage displaying profane or abusive language
• Containers of any kind (including coolers, thermoses, cups, cans, flasks)
• Flags and flagpoles
• Food of any kind
• Irritants
• Projectiles (including footballs, Frisbees and beach balls)
• Seat cushions containing any type of metal or those with pockets, storage slots, seat backs, arm rests, or attachments of any kind
• Strollers
• Video camera, tripods and selfie sticks
• Umbrellas
• Weapons
• Any other item that may obstruct or impair the view or enjoyment of another attendee
Campus safety and demonstrations
Commencement ceremonies have been the site of free expression and peaceful protest for decades and will likely continue to be. The University of Michigan does not attempt to prevent peaceful protests or other speech protected under the First Amendment. Many ceremonies will have a designated area for protests outside the venue.
The medical school follows central campus Campus safety and demonstrations commencement.umich.edu
Order Graduation Attire (Students)
CAP AND GOWN:
If you plan to participate in your commencement ceremony, please complete your online order at Cap & Gown Order Form. Please submit your order no later than Sunday, March 31st.
All tams, gowns & hoods must be returned after the ceremony. Andy Gillespie from the Oak Hall Cap and Gown Company will be there to collect your attire. He will be at the Clock on the Ingalls Mall Tower outside Hill Auditorium.
Academic dress (cap, gown, and hood) is required for faculty participating in the graduation ceremony. If you plan to participate in the 2024 Commencement, please visit https://Cap & Gown Order Form and submit the online form by Friday, April 5, 2024.
Cap and Gown Pick Up
If you would like someone else to pick up your attire for you, please email Denise Brennan denisebr@umich.edu the name of the person picking up your attire or send a note with the person confirming that they may pick up your attire. Gowns and hoods are to be turned in after the graduation ceremony at Hill Auditorium.
Wednesday, May 8, 2024
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Cap and gown pick up in Room 6215 THSL
Thursday, May 9, 2024
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Cap and gown pick up in Room 6215 THSL
Friday, May 10, 2024
3:00 p.m. - Graduates should arrive to robe and begin lining up for the Commencement Ceremony. Please use the East entrance of Hill Auditorium and go up one flight (look for signs directing you where to go).
Students will pick up name pronunciation card and honor cords, robe, and line up alphabetically.
3:15 p.m. - Doors to Hill Auditorium open
3:55 p.m. - All guests to be seated
4:00 p.m. - Processional begins with ceremony following
If someone in your party needs special accommodations, please contact Denise Brennan denisebr@umich.edu in the Office of Medical Student Education by Monday, May 6th to make arrangements.
We are unable to provide wheelchair service.
Information for Graduates & Guests
Will the ceremony be accessible for the hearing impaired?
An American Sign Language interpreter will be present on stage for the duration of our ceremony.
What is the attire for graduates?
All graduates must wear Medical School academic attire to participate in the ceremony. This is ordered by the student through The Oak Hall Cap & Gown Company.
Contact person at Oakhall is:
Andy Gillespie
gownman@gmail.com
888-678-GRAD(4723)
When and where is Commencement attire picked up by the graduates?
Graduates pick up their cap and gown orders in Room 6215 THSL.
Pickup Hours:
Wednesday, May 8th: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 9th: 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Can someone else pick up my attire?
If you would like someone else to pick up your gown for you, please send a note with this person confirming that they may pick up your attire or email Denise Brennan denisebr@umich.edu the name of the person picking up your attire.
If a graduate is receiving an honor cord to wear at Commencement, where and when can those be picked up?
Honor cords are picked up at Hill Auditorium when the graduate arrives to robe and line up for the processional on the day of the ceremony.
Where do I return my cap and gown after Commencement?
Caps and gowns are to be turned in at Hill Auditorium after the graduation ceremony. Andy Gillespie from the Oak Hall Cap and Gown Company will be there to collect your attire. Andy will be at the Clock Tower on the Ingalls Mall outside Hill Auditorium.
When do graduates need to arrive at Hill Auditorium and where do they need to go?
All graduates must arrive at Hill Auditorium by 3:00 p.m. on the day of the ceremony. Please use the East entrance of Hill Auditorium and go up one flight (look for signs directing you where to go). Graduates will pick up a name pronunciation card and honor cords, robe, and line up alphabetically for the processional.
Is there a rehearsal for Commencement?
There will not be a rehearsal for this ceremony. Instructions for the processional, etc., will be given to the graduates when they arrive at Hill Auditorium for the Commencement Ceremony on the day of the ceremony.
Will there be a photographer?
Photographs of all graduates will be taken by Graduation Foto when they cross the stage to receive their diploma. Graduates are not obligated to purchase any of these photos.
Will the ceremony be live streamed?
Yes, the Commencement Ceremony will be live streamed and recorded. Links to the live stream will be shared with students and the Medical School community the week of commencement. This is for your enjoyment as well as for your families, and friends - especially those who will not be able to attend the ceremony! You may view the livestream at: https://youtu.be/KgL3oHS7VMw
What should I do if I do not plan on participating in Commencement?
We will need to know if you will not be participating in Commencement. Please provide us with the information we will need to get you your diploma following Commencement by contacting Denise Brennan denisebr@umich.edu.
Where can we purchase graduation announcements or a picture frame for our diploma?
You can order graduation announcements online specifically for the University of Michigan Medical School, as well as a frame that will fit your diploma, which is a very large size.
Online orders: Herff Jones
Enter school name: University of Michigan Medical School
What about the Central Campus Commencement ceremony?
For those of you who would like to inquire about the Central Campus Commencement Ceremony, please check the U-M Commencement website.
Information for Faculty
What is the attire for faculty participating in Commencement?
Academic dress (cap and gown) is required for faculty participating in the graduation ceremony. If you plan to participate and have not already submitted your cap and gown order, please visit and submit the online form https://Cap & Gown Order Form. The Medical School will pay the rental fee for the cap, gown, and hood for all orders submitted by Friday, April 5, 2024
How will faculty get their Commencement attire and where should it be returned?
The Office of Medical Student Education will arrange to transport all faculty graduation regalia to Hill Auditorium the day of Commencement unless you call and make other arrangements. All attire must be returned following the Commencement Ceremony. There will be a designated place to leave attire at Hill Auditorium.
When do faculty need to arrive at Hill and where do they need to go to robe?
Participating faculty should be at Hill Auditorium at 3:00pm on the day of the ceremony to robe and line up for the processional. Please enter at the East side of Hill Auditorium and go down one level (look for signs directing you to the correct location). Your cap and gown will already be at Hill Auditorium and staff will be available to help you robe.