Attention May 2012 Graduating Students and Guests:

Back up date

ONLY if the Memphis Grizzlies Basketball Team makes it to the Playoffs or has a Season Basketball Game on the original spring planned Commencement date, Commencement will be moved to Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 12 noon (Arts and Sciences, CCFA, UC and doctoral for these colleges) and 5 p.m. (Business, Education, Engineering, Nursing, SPH, SCS and doctoral hoodings for these colleges and schools). Arrival time for students would still be one hour prior to your Commencement event.

Congratulations on all of your accomplishments!

Please check your University of Memphis email accounts and this web site for updates. 

FAQs Regarding the Commencement/Playoff Conflict:

Why don’t we move to another venue?

This May, the U of M will confer 2,285 degrees for our students.  Our students bring enough guests to nearly fill the FedEx Forum – 19,000 seats!  In comparison, the Cannon Center seats 3,000.  We have actively explored other options and unfortunately, there are no other suitable venues for our spring ceremonies.

Couldn’t we have Commencement the same day as a game?

This option HAS been explored. This is not possible because TV has to lad in and there are shootarounds, game presentation, rehearsals and several other things not including the flooring, etc. Morever, graduates are seated on the court floor, which requires time for set up and clean up after both ceremonies.  An additional significant issue is filling and emptying the Forum and parking garages after each ceremony.  It isn’t easy to quickly move 20,000 people and their vehicles!

What if the Grizzlies end up playing May 5 and 6 at the FedEx Forum?

NBA Playoff games are not scheduled back-to-back, so if the Grizzlies play on May 5 they will not play on May 6.

Why doesn’t the U of M Commencement get precedence over the Grizzlies game?

The FedEx Forum was built for and is operated by the Memphis Grizzlies franchise.  The U of M rents the facility on an as-needed basis.  Grizzlies games are scheduled by the NBA and always take precedence over other activities.

Additional FAQ Statements

• The NBA determines the play off and play schedule for the NBA Playoff Teams. They tell the Forum when and what date games are played, and it is not movable.
• You are allowed to walk at a later date, if you are certfied. If you are certified for this spring 2012, you could take your graduation walk in August's ceremony or even another term. Please contact commencement@memphis.edu for details.