Commencement
Spring COMMENCEMENT 2021
Join The University of Toledo in celebrating success as we recognize the graduating Class of 2021. Rocket Nation will celebrate spring Commencement on Saturday, May 8 with multiple in-person ceremonies.
Now that the state of Ohio is allowing outdoor events at sporting venues to reopen at 30% capacity, UToledo is able to hold multiple in-person outdoor commencement ceremonies to celebrate graduates in person while also adhering to COVID-19 safety protocols. UToledo had initially begun plans for a virtual celebration.
More information is available on the University Commencement page.
Ceremony Information
Undergraduate and graduate* students in the colleges listed below will be celebrated at the Glass Bowl in two separate ceremonies on May 8, 2021.10:00 a.m. Glass Bowl Ceremony:
| West/Press Box Side University College College of Health and Human Services |
East/Visitor Locker Room Side |
3:00 p.m. Glass Bowl Ceremony:
| West/Press Box Side John B. and Lillian E. Neff College of Business and Innovation |
East/Visitor Locker Room Side |
The College of Law, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, and College of Pharmacy
and Pharmaceutical Sciences will hold separate events for their graduating students.
*Doctoral students in the College of Arts and Letters, John B. and Lillian E. Neff
College of Business and Innovation, Judith Herb College of Education, College of Engineering,
College of Health and Human Services, College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics,
and College of Nursing will be celebrated at a hooding and commencement ceremony hosted
by the College of Graduate Studies.
More information about the Glass Bowl ceremonies and college-specific ceremonies will
be posted as it becomes available.
Information for 2021 Graduates
Spring 2021 Important Dates
Deadline to apply to be included in commencement program: Monday, March 1
Deadline to apply to be included in MarchingOrder response process: Friday, April 2
Deadline to submit name pronunciation information to MarchingOrder: Friday, April 9
MarchingOrder Website
Students who have applied for graduation in Spring 2021 or Summer 2021 will receive
an email invitation from MarchingOrder to submit name pronunciation information and
review the graduation information we have on file. Students will also be able to indicate
their intent to participate in the in-person ceremony.
Watch your email for more instructions from MarchingOrder.
Information for 2020 Graduates (Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Fall 2020)
Students who graduated from UToledo in Spring 2020, Summer 2020, and Fall 2020 are invited to participate in an in-person ceremony this May 2021.
All 2020 graduates should RSVP through the web form if they intend to participate. To appropriately accommodate all eligible participants, you must RSVP by Monday, March 29, 2021.
Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 graduates should not use the web form to RSVP. Spring 2021 and Summer 2021 graduates should respond through MarchingOrder.
General Information for Graduates and Guests
Ticketing Information
In adherence to social distancing and reduced capacity guidelines, commencement will
be a ticketed event. Graduates will receive four guest tickets to distribute to guests
of their choosing. The tickets are non-transferable. Once a graduate assigns a ticket
to a guest, it cannot be transferred to someone else. The tickets will be issued electronically.
There is no cost associated with the tickets. Additional tickets are not available.
On the day of commencement, all guests will be required to have a ticket for entrance into the Glass Bowl.
In mid-April, graduates will receive an email with more details and instructions about how to assign tickets to their guests. Graduates should check their UToledo email accounts for this information.
Masks and Social Distancing
All guests and graduates will be required to wear face masks and keep at least 6 feet
from others not in their household.
Viewing Commencement Virtually
A live stream video of the Glass Bowl ceremonies will be available on the main commencement
webpage. Recordings of the ceremonies will also be posted for graduates and guests who are
unable to attend in person.
Name Cards and Honors Cords Pick Up
Name card and honors cord distribution will begin on Monday, May 3 through Friday,
May 7. Eligible students will also receive their honors cords at this time. Details
about name card pick up were sent via email to students who responded that they plan
to participate in the ceremony.
Graduates must bring this name card to the commencement ceremony in order to have their name announced. During the ceremony, each graduate will receive a commemorative diploma case, hand their name card to the announcer to have their name read, and then walk across the stage. Afterward, graduates will return to their seats for the remainder of the ceremony.
Ceremony Line Up
Graduates will line up with their appropriate colleges in Parking Area 10 in front
of the Larimer Athletic Complex. Ushers will assist graduates in getting to designated
line-up locations. For the morning ceremony, graduates should begin lining up at
9:00 a.m. Graduates will be seated at 9:40 a.m. For the afternoon ceremony, graduates
should begin lining up at 2:00 p.m. Graduates will be seated at 2:40 p.m.
Diploma Cases and Commencement Programs
Diploma cases will be distributed at the in-person commencement ceremonies. If you
are unable to attend the commencement ceremony, you may contact graduation@utoledo.edu to arrange pick-up.
Spring 2021 graduating students wishing to have their names published in the Spring 2021 Commencement Program must apply for graduation by Monday, March 1. If you do not wish to have your name appear in the Commencement Program please email graduation@utoledo.edu and request to not have your name published.
Commencement programs from previous semesters are available electronically on the main commencement page.
Photographs
Each graduate is professionally photographed at multiple points during the ceremony.
Graduates will be allowed to remove their masks when having their photo taken in front
of the UToledo banner but must put their mask back on before processing to the stage.
Approximately three weeks after the ceremony, each graduate will receive a proof of
their pictures taken along with ordering instructions. For more information about
photographs, please go to Grad Images website at www.gradimages.com. Family and guests are free to take pictures from the stands, but may not come down
onto the field.
When are diplomas mailed? What happens after Commencement?
Following commencement and after all grades are posted, the colleges begin the task
of clearing students for graduation. This means the college reviews final grades
to determine that all degree requirements have been met and notifies the Registrar's
Office when the degree can be awarded. Once cleared by the college, the Registrar's
Office posts the degree to the transcript and orders the diploma from Paradigm Inc.
The diploma is printed and then mailed by Paradigm Inc. to the student at the address
listed on the graduation application. Students will receive an email to their UT student
email address once the diploma has been mailed. This clearing, posting, and ordering
of diplomas are ongoing for about 45 days past commencement.
To verify that your degree has been awarded, your unofficial transcript through the
myUT Portal. Follow instructions for viewing unofficial transcripts online.
How to update diploma mailing addresses
Students can verify the diploma mailing address that is currently on file by viewing
their application for graduation. To view your application go to the Student tab in
the myUT portal and select the Student Profile link found in the upper right-hand
corner of the page. Select the 'Active' link in the Graduation Information section
(middle of the page) to access your application. Here you will find all of the information
you included when you submitted your application.
If your diploma mailing address is different from what is displayed then complete
the Diploma Address Change web form. Diploma address changes can be made up until the last day of the graduating term.
Cap and Gown
Academic Regalia for all students is available for online purchase from the Main Campus University Bookstore. Students participating in commencement are required to wear appropriate regalia.
The University Bookstore will be open Saturday, May 8 from 9 am-3 pm for any last
minute commencement needs.
Please visit the bookstore's website or view the flyer for more information.
Honors
The actual honors awarded at the time a degree is posted is based on the final cumulative
GPA. The diploma will show the honors awarded with the degree. View the University's Graduation with Honors Distinction Policy for complete details.
Summer Graduates
Although there is not a summer commencement program, all summer graduates are invited
to participate in the spring commencement ceremony and will have their names published
in the spring commencement program unless otherwise indicated as do not publish.
General and Accessibility Parking
Details on general and accessibility parking can be found on the university's main
commencement page.
Inclement Weather Plan
In the event of inclement weather, notifications will be sent through the University’s
UT Alert System. The inclement weather date is Sunday, May 9, 2021. Additional information
on the Spring 2021 Commencement Inclement Weather Plan can be found at www.utoledo.edu/commencement.
Additional Tips for Graduates
- Leave personal items like coats and purses with guests. There are no facilities available for storing these items.
- Remember to wear sash, medal, ribbon, etc. that corresponds with your honor society.
- For safety reasons, high heeled shoes are not permitted on the turf at the Glass Bowl Stadium.
Contact Information
For questions or comments, please contact the Graduation Processing department at
graduation@utoledo.edu.
The First Destination Survey link will require you to log into your myUT portal.