Commencement Degree Conferral Ceremony Instructions for Faculty Members
Please review the information below prior to commencement. Email [email protected] with any questions.
Thank you for participating!
Schedule
DOCTORAL COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Saturday, May 9, 10:00 a.m.
Mullins Center
MASTER'S COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Friday, May 15, 9:00 a.m.
Mullins Center
UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Friday, May 15, 5:00 p.m.
McGuirk Alumni Stadium
Instructions for Faculty at Graduate & Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies
Regalia
Academic regalia is required at all ceremonies.
Faculty Rental Regalia Update - May 8, 2026
Thank you all for your patience as we prepare for this weekend's Doctoral and Commonwealth Honors College ceremonies.
For faculty participating in tomorrow’s Doctoral and Commonwealth Honors College ceremonies, our team has assembled a supply of regalia that we hope will meet the immediate need. Please note that our inventory of robes in various sizes is limited, and we may not have enough for everyone. Faculty who borrow regalia for either the Doctoral or Commonwealth Honors College ceremonies must return the regalia immediately following the ceremony so that we have it available for other faculty members in need.
To manage distribution and return efficiently for Saturday’s two ceremonies, we will be using the Green Room on the first floor of the Mullins Center as our staging area. Faculty members who did not preorder should report to the Green Room to pick up regalia before the ceremony and to return it there afterward.
For any other events on May 15, 16, or 17, faculty should pick up regalia at the Campus Center next week, once the shipment arrives.
We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and flexibility as we work through this.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
Doctoral Commencement Ceremony, 10:00 a.m.
Assemble in the Mullins Center Green Room no later than 9:15 a.m.
For the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony, Saturday, May 9, please plan to arrive at the Mullins Center Green Room by 9:15 a.m. Please use the loading dock entrance. Metal detectors are in use. A continental breakfast, coffee, tea, and cold beverages will be available in the Faculty Robing Room. Commencement Ambassadors will assist with line up and indicate when the processional is ready to begin.
Faculty attending as a graduate advisor or participation as hooding faculty should report to Lot 67 (the graduate assembly area) by 9:00 am. Commencement Ambassadors will guide you to the doctoral line up where you will meet your graduates. The processional will begin at 10:00 am. Commencement Ambassadors will lead you and your doctoral graduates to your seats on the arena floor.
Schedule of Activities
9:15 a.m. Arrive at the Mullins Center and proceed to the Green Room, located on the first floor.
9:30 a.m. Commencement Ambassadors will arrange and lead members of the faculty into the arena (the processional).
10:00 a.m. Ceremony begins with procession of degree candidates and members of the faculty.
- Graduate students who have earned a doctoral degree will be individually recognized by name.
- Doctoral candidates will be hooded during the graduate commencement ceremony. If you are an advisor or faculty member participating in hooding, please gather in the Lot 67 Graduate Assembly area with your advisee no later than 9:00 a.m.
The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours.
Friday, May 15, 2026
Master's Commencement Ceremony, 9:00 a.m.
Assemble in the Mullins Center Green Room no later than 8:15 a.m.
Please plan to arrive at the Mullins Center Green Room by 8:15 a.m. Please use the loading dock entrance. Metal detectors are in use. Refreshments will be available in the Faculty Robing Room. Commencement Ambassadors will assist with line up and indicate when the processional is ready to begin. The processional will begin at 9:00 a.m. with Master's Candidates entering the arena, followed by faculty.
Schedule of Activities
8:15 a.m. Arrive at the Mullins Center and proceed to the Faculty Robing Room, located on the first floor.
8:30 a.m. Commencement Ambassadors will arrange and lead members of the faculty into the arena (the processional).
9:00 a.m. Ceremony begins with procession of degree candidates and members of the faculty.
- Graduate students who have earned a master's or education specialist degree will be individually recognized by name.
The ceremony is expected to last approximately three hours.
Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony, 5:00 p.m.
On Friday, May 15, please plan to arrive at the Football Performance Center at McGuirk Alumni Stadium by 4:15 p.m. Please enter through the Football Performance Center. Metal detectors are in use and security procedures are in place. Once inside, follow the posted signs to the Faculty Robing Area, by proceeding down the long hallway to the far doorway. Faculty will assemble in the team locker room. Refreshments will be available in the Faculty Robing Area. Commencement Ambassadors will assist with line up and indicate when the processional is ready to begin.
- The student processional will begin at 5:00 p.m.
- Following the student processional, Faculty will process down the center red carpet and be seated on one of the stages on either side of the main stage.
- If you need a restroom during the ceremony, portable toilets are located on either side of the south end of the stadium. Walk down the side stairs of the stage through the field fence gate to the restroom.
Schedule of Activities
3:00 p.m. Arrive at the Football Performance Center to pass through security and proceed to the Faculty Robing Area, located on the first floor at the west end of the FPC.
4:30 p.m. Commencement ambassadors and Faculty Marshals will arrange and lead members of the faculty onto the field (the processional).
5:00 p.m. Ceremony begins with procession of degree candidates and members of the faculty.
The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours.
Additional notes about the stadium:
- The ceremony will be held outdoors at the stadium, rain or shine. Please plan and dress accordingly.
- Stay hydrated! Water bottles and beverages will be permitted through security, however, alcoholic beverages are not allowed.
- Rain ponchos will be made available in the event of heavy rain.
- Please apply sunscreen, wear sunglasses, and dress as needed in the case of high heat.
Security
Our security protocols ensure the safety of our visitors and our campus community. Metal detectors and bag checks will be in place at the entrances to Mullins Center and McGuirk Alumni Stadium. Faculty are advised to pack lightly as all items taken into either venue are subject to search.
Please note that there is no secure storage for personal items such as backpacks. The university, therefore, discourages faculty from bringing any bag larger than a small purse into ceremonies; exceptions will be made but are subject to search, and must be carried on your person.
Signs must be no larger than 11" x 17" and cannot be affixed to or hung from any location. Signs must be free of sticks and poles and cannot obstruct the view of others.
Traffic, Parking, & Transportation
Please be advised that there will be heavy traffic on and around the university campus during both commencement weekends. Please allow extra time to navigate campus. Several roads will be partially closed or limited to one-directional traffic. Parking will be directed by the UMass Police Department based closest available parking lots.
Accessible parking is available throughout the campus. Accessible parking for the Stadium is available in Lot 11.
Schedule of Commencement Ceremonies & Celebrations
Senior Recognition Ceremonies will be held across campus by schools, colleges and other university programs, where undergraduates are individually recognized.
On Saturday, May 16, the Stockbridge School of Agriculture will conduct its Associate Degrees Commencement at 3 p.m. in Bowker Auditorium.
Detailed instructions for faculty participation in senior recognition ceremonies will be provided by each school and college.