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Home Commencement Office
 

Welcome to the Commencement Office

Beginning in 2025, there will no longer be a Summer (August) Commencement Ceremony. All August graduates will participate in December (Fall) Commencement only. 

Thank you for stopping by the Commencement Office. Due to our office being an event office, we are often away or closed for visitors. Please email or call prior to stopping by our office. We highly recommend contacting us via email only with questions or concerns, commencement@memphis.edu.  Upcoming and future commencement dates and other information about commencement events can be found below. For details on our upcoming Commencement season, see below.

  • Notice for attending our events: We are NOT responsible for lost or stolen items, items left behind, theft, damage to vehicles, or personal injury of any kind. No property should be tampered, destroyed, or mishandled in any way by any graduate or guests attending. Attendance in the Commencement ceremony and events are completely optional, and decisions made to attend by the graduating student and any guests who choose to come on their own accord.

For questions about the diploma process, visit https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/diplomas/index.php or email us at commencement@memphis.edu. If you have recently cleared a hold or never received your diploma, email us at the email address above. Diploma processing and orders take 4-6 weeks. Diplomas are not kept in the office. We answer most messages within 24-48 hours, standardly.  All diplomas are mailed from the Processor and not available for pick up at anytime.

Summer Commencement Day

  • Saturday, August 3, 2024, with limited guest seating (Printed Tickets Required to Attend)
  • Time: 10:00 am 
    • Guests-All guests should be seated by 9:45 am.
    • Graduates: Must be in line by 9:30 am. 
  • Location: Renasant Convention Center 

  • Carpooling to Event: We highly recommend carpooling. Carpooling is a great option and makes the day easier for you and your guests. It allows you to arrive together and guests to be seated timely and with ease! For most parking you will need to know your License PLATE information and most do not allow backend parking.

  • Renasant Convention Center Garage: Located at 266 N. Front St. is the correct address to get to the parking garage.

    • To park here is $10 (credit card required for payment) for graduates and guests to park and there are QR codes located throughout the garage to pay. P1 is where you will enter through the Glass Doors if you choose this option. Parking Garage is limited and on a first-come first served basis. 

     

    Parking Lots near location: For more information about additional parking garages and parking lots, visit the following links:

     

     

    Other Considerations: Getting dropped off: In the past, several of our graduates and guests use private drivers or shuttle services, and this is fine. It is a very helpful and smart idea and allows for ease and not worrying about parking! This is a great option to consider. To consider:

    • Uber
    • Lift
    • Taxi
    • Have a non-attender drop off graduates and guests.

     

    If you have guests who need more time getting to places or having walking disabilities, etc., we highly recommend the above options and/or consider dropping them off at the door while the driver parks.

    Drop Off Locations

    255 N. Main St.

  • Watch Commencement Live  

 

  • Carpooling is highly recommended.
  • Tickets are required at this event. No ticket, no entry. 
  • Do NOT bring more guests than you have tickets for.
    • You have 8 tickets that we provided you with unique numbers.
    • Do not attempt to duplicate the tickets, use them more than once, print tickets more than one time, attempt to use one ticket for multiple guests, etc.
    • We want everyone to have a great experience, compliance to all this information is expected.
    • Attempting to bring additional non-ticketed guests will result in you and your guest being escorted out of the facility by Law Enforcement.
    • August 2024 Participants Reminder: We want to remind all participating graduates that you have been given 8 tickets. Eight tickets are the limit and maximum. You can bring 8 people with you to the ceremony. No one will be seated or allowed entry without a ticket that we have provided you and given you access to print. Please do not bring extra people with you. If you do, we will have no other choice but to turn them away, so to prevent this, you need to let your family and friends know the parameters.
    • Therefore, if you have additional guests who would like to join you will need to tell them that the event is streamed live and provide them with the link to the Live Viewing. https://www.youtube.com/@UofMemphisCommenceme. We hope this clears up any confusion by way of tickets.
    • It is the participants responsibility to have printed their guests’ tickets and informed the guests to print the ticket. Several communications have been sent out regarding this.
  • No saving or reserving seats by guests or graduates. 
  • Ushers and Staff will be present to assist guests and graduates upon arrival. 
  • No guests are allowed in the area indicated for graduates only. 
  • No guests are permitted on the graduate floor/section at any given time. 
  • Do NOT get out of order. Stay in numerical order as indicated on your Pronouncer Card. In the past, we have had participants get out of order and it completely caused several repercussions including names displayed incorrectly, video and photo confusion, delays, and more. 
  • If you get out of order for any reason, you will be escorted out of the facility, your participation in Commencement will be canceled, your diploma and transcript (grades/diploma) will be withheld, and possible further disciplinary actions. 

 

Warning: Each ticket will have its own unique scanning pattern. Once a ticket has been scanned, it is no longer valid. Printed guest tickets must be presented for entrance into ceremony. No guests will be allowed without a ticket. The ticket must be our ticket and cannot be duplicated, replicated, etc.

Registering for Guests Tickets

In a few days, you will receive an email to Register for your Guests Tickets from Marching Order. You will need to set up a username and password. Emails from Marching Order are legitimate. If you do not find ticket communications from Marching Order in your inbox by July 10th, search Clutter Folder or Junk mail Folder or contact us at commencement@memphis.edu. All tickets must be claimed prior to Cap and Gown distribution.

Claiming Your Tickets

After registering, revisit the site, login with your created username and password you created, and claim your guests’ tickets.  Note: You are responsible for providing printed copies of tickets to your guests. You are responsible for ensuring you have registered and claimed your guests’ tickets. You are responsible for ensuring each of your guests have their tickets upon arrival.

Printing Your Tickets

Upon arrival, guests will show their ticket. Only one ticket should be printed per an 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. If you try to shrink/enlarge the ticket size the barcode will not scan at the door, and it will delay your entry to the venue or no entry at all.

Other Information To Understand and Share with Guests

  • You can then choose to print all tickets and distribute or send individual tickets to your guests using your guests email address and have the guests print their own ticket. Using Hotmail is not recommended.
  • Tickets must be printed out.
  • Make sure your ticket prints the QR Code.
  • QR Code will be scanned.
  • No ticket can be scanned more than once.
  • Everyone must have a ticket.
  • Tickets cannot be duplicated.
  • Each ticket has its own QR number, and the numbers are not sequential.
  • Each participant is receiving 8 tickets TOTAL.
  • You can invite 8 guests TOTAL.
  • Children 4 and older need a ticket.
  • Each ticket will be scanned.
  • Guests are separated from the graduates.
  • No graduates can bring any guests with them to the graduate section or on the stage.
  • Each ticket prints on one page.
  • Ensure all guests know to print their ticket and it is required for entry.
  • You cannot alter these tickets and do not try to print with other numbers.
  • The numbers on all tickets are different. Each individual ticket has its own number, and we have the listing of all the numbers associated with U of Memphis August 2024 Ceremony tickets.
  • Each ticket is unique.
  • Duplicate tickets will not be scanned and cannot be used.
  • All guests should arrive together to sit together. Failure to do this will result in seating apart from each other.
  • Guests will be seated by ushers (first come, first seated).
  • No saving or spacing of seats allowed.
  • Law Enforcement will be at the doors and inside the facility to check tickets and assist with crowd control.
  • Keep digital ticket as back up. Doors will open for guests 2 hours prior to the ceremony for seating and ticket scans. 
  • All guests over the age of 4 years old must have a ticket.
  • No re-entry.
  • Arrive with all your guests for seating together.
  • Tickets are free of charge and general admission seating. 
  • Selling Commencement tickets is strictly prohibited.
  • Children who can sit with a ticketed adult (3 years old and under) do NOT require a ticket.
  • Ushers and Crew Members will sit all guests and graduates.
  • Ticket required for admittance into the ceremony.
  • The Pronouncer Card provided to participating students will serve as graduate tickets.

 

Free Online Live Stream

Family and friends who are unable to attend in person can watch the Commencement ceremony live. Live Stream Link https://www.youtube.com/@UofMemphisCommenceme/featured.

 

  • Live Stream allows viewers to experience the event as it is happening and can be enjoyed from any location.
  • The online option is free and does not require login.
  • The Live Stream is posted immediately after the ceremony is over for viewing after the ceremony.

 

Print Tickets

Printed Tickets are required for entry. If you have already sent or given your tickets to your guests, please make sure they are aware that these tickets must be printed off. Each ticket will be scanned after Security Checkpoints.

 

Security

  • All graduates and guests will go through Security prior to accessing the event. There will be separate lines for Graduates and Guests. Go to the proper line.
  • Absolutely no airhorns, noise makers, large signs, beach balls, helium balloons, weapons of any kind are allowed by graduates or guests.

 

Clear Bag for Ceremony

  • Clear bags made of plastic, vinyl, or PVC no larger than 6x8x2 inches.
  • Bags MAY NOT have an all-over print or decoration that prohibits FULL view of its contents.
  • The bag may contain a strap, but metal or chain straps are prohibited.
  • One quart or smaller clear plastic storage/freezer bag (Ziploc or similar).
  • Wallets (sized to carried in the front or back pocket) no larger than 5x3.5 inches.
  • Clear bags and wallets compliant with the above will also be screened through X-Ray machines.
  • Exceptions to this policy will be made for all medically necessary items after proper inspection.
  • Outside food and beverages cannot be brought into facility.
  • Remember that wrapped gifts and helium balloons are never allowed.
  • Water available for purchase.
  • Bring Keys, ID, Credit Card and Cash for Parking and Phone (keep it simple).
  • We do not keep any items for individuals.
  • You are responsible for your items.

 

Parking

  • August 2024 Participants: Please see above about Parking at Renasant Convention Center or refer to emails regarding your Parking Information and ALL Other Details. We will send you specific information at a later date that you should read and share with your guests. You can also click the link about about the venue we are using for August 2024 Commencement. 

  • Parking is available in the FedExForum Garage (FedExForum Gossett Motors Garage, 195 Doctor M.L.K. Jr Ave, Memphis, TN 38103) on a first-come/first-served basis for $10.00.

  • Must be paid via credit card ONLY. Guests will need to have a credit card to pay for parking in the FedExForum Garage.

  • No cash accepted.

Security at the FedExForum

  • Walk-through magnetometers were installed at FedExForum under the premise of being used at all Memphis Grizzlies games, as per an NBA mandate conceptualized during league security meetings. The magnetometers have become an industry standard across MLB, NHL and NFL venues and their use will now be mandatory for every FedExForum event in order to improve fan safety and guest experience, a shared goal between FedExForum, the University of Memphis and touring production companies. To ensure your Commencement ceremony is enjoyable for you and your guests, please note the following:

  • X-Ray Units that bags must be scanned through instead of just opened up and visually checked.

  • Secondary metal detector for failed screening or individual must pass through metal detector until they are cleared.

  • Guests are advised to bring ONLY necessary items to the FedExForum during events, concerts and games.

  • Separate express lanes will be available for guests in the Grand Lobby without bags to be inspected.

  • Guests will not need to remove their hats, shoes, belts, watches or jewelry as with airport security. Instead, guests will have to place their cell phones, cameras  and keys on a security table prior to walking through the metal detector.

  • Expectant mothers, those with pacemakers and ADA guests are not subject to the magnetometers and will instead be screened through handheld devices.

BAG POLICY AND NEW SCREENING MEASURES

FedExForum has implemented a CLEAR BAG POLICY that also limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into any event.

Only bags meeting the following standards will be allowed inside FedExForum:

    • Clear bags made of plastic, vinyl or PVC no larger than 6x8x2 inches
    • Bags MAY NOT have an all-over print or decoration that prohibits FULL view of its contents
    • The bag may contain a strap, but metal or chain straps are prohibited
    • One quart or smaller clear plastic storage/freezer bag (Ziploc or similar)
    • Wallets (sized to carried in the front or back pocket) no larger than 5x3.5 inches
    • Clear bags and wallets compliant with the above will also be screened through X-Ray machines.
    • Exceptions to this policy will be made for all medically necessary items after proper inspection.

  • Food will not be available for this event. Coffee and water are available for purchase at Snax by section 101.

  • Outside food and beverages cannot be brought into FedExForum.

  • Remember that wrapped gifts and helium balloons are never allowed into FedExForum.

Future Commencement Ceremonies

  • Sunday, December 15, 2024
  •  Saturday, May 10, 2025, with Sunday, May 11, 2025 (Backup date)
    • ***All May (Spring) Commencements have a back up date pending the NBA Memphis Grizzlies Basketball Team Playoff Schedule. https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/news/spring-commencement.php
    • Venue, Dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Times and College Breakdowns are determined after official participation has been obtained (1 1/2 months prior to commencement dates). 

Commencement Programs: Current and Past

Gifts to Graduates

Invitations 

  • Invitations are optional and not required. 
  • For more information about invitations, visit: https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/graduates/invitations.php. 
  • Letter of Invitation for Graduation/Visit for F-1 visa holders who wish to invite friends and family to the United States for graduation or a visit must complete this form.  https://www.memphis.edu/iss/current_international_students/letter_request.php. Click on letter request invitation. The Commencement Office is not permitted to write such letters. 
  • If you are not an F-1 Visa Holder and wish to invite friends and family outside of the United States for graduation, you should contact one of the following offices to assist (The Commencement Office is not permitted to write such letters): 

    • Registrar (901-678-2810)

    • College where the student is graduating from https://www.memphis.edu/commencement/graduates/graduation-analyst.php

Diploma Reorders (Copy of Diploma)

Loaning Out Caps and Gowns

  • We do not  loan out caps and gowns for photos. Please check with your photographer who should have caps available for props, etc.

  • Our caps and gowns are only available during Cap and Gown Distribution (1-2) days prior to commencement. 

 

We do not advise stopping by our office without emailing us first. We are an events office and are often away. Thank you!