Graduation and commencement FAQs
Get answers to common questions about CEHD Commencement. This page will continue to be updated throughout spring semester. Questions may be sent to cehdinfo@umn.edu.
If you are eligible to graduate, you have received an email from cehdinfo@umn.edu with a custom link to RSVP for Commencement. You will need to RSVP via this link in the email by April 15.
Commencement overview
2025 Undergraduate Commencement ceremonies will be returning to the college-specific format. CEHD’s Spring 2025 Commencement ceremonies will be held on Friday, May 16, 2025 at 3M Arena at Mariucci
- Undergraduate student commencement ceremony: 10 a.m.
- Graduate student commencement ceremony: 4 p.m.
- Undergraduate students: All students who graduated in fall 2023 or are currently enrolled students who are scheduled for spring or summer 2024 graduation.
- Graduate students: All Doctoral (EdD and PhD) students who meet any one of the following criteria: Advanced Doctoral Status, Passed Oral Prelim, Registered/Completed 24 Thesis Credits, All Specialist Certificate (EdPsych, Ed S) students who completed/registered 46 credits, and all masters (MA, MED, MS, MSW) students who completed/registered 18 credits
In eary March, invited students will receive an email invite from the Marching Order system with a link to RSVP. The deadline to RSVP is April 15.
Undergraduate students are automatically applied to graduate if they have reached 75% degree completion and have an EGT of Fall 2023, Spring 2024 or Summer 2024). See OneStop for more information, including how to request to change the EGT. Graduate students work through their department to clear their degree.
Yes! If a student has a financial hardship of any kind (cost of cap & gown, travel arrangements, etc.) they can apply for a scholarship by submitting a Commencement Scholarship application. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 10, 2022.
The Dean’s congratulatory letter/email inviting them to commencement, sent to students in February, can be used for this type of documentation and sent to the appropriate embassy; however often students need something more personal. If you need a letter like this, you can request a personalized letter to be sent via email from Dr. Marina Aleixo, Director of International Initiatives. You can request this letter via and they will work with the student on getting the information they need for their particular embassy. Students should note that it may take 7-10 business days to receive the letter. Note that this process can take a long time on the home-country’s part as well so encourage students to start early! If you have further questions about the letter, contact CEHD International initiatives (cehdintl@umn.edu).
Yes. Both the undergraduate and graduate ceremonies will be livestreamed and the links can be found below.
- Undergraduate: z.umn.edu/UG24
- Graduate: z.umn.edu/GRAD24
If you are no longer able to attend, we will miss you but there is nothing you need to do unless you are a PhD candidate. If you are a PhD student, please reach out to your faculty advisor to notify them that you will no longer be in attendance and will not need to be hooded.
Preparing for the ceremony
Yes. Order your cap and gown at the U of M Bookstores. The tassel color for CEHD undergraduates is light blue and graduates is black. For graduate students, hood color is determined by type of degree.
No, seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Mariucci arena has plenty of seating.
Please contact CEHD Student Services at cehdinfo@umn.edu. Heather Hagen-Mohr and the procession lead will be coordinating these requests.
Mariucci is an ADA compliant building with guest seating specified for those using a wheelchair or other mobility aids, and elevators to get to the concourse level from the entrances. If needs are not covered by these instructions, please contact CEHD Student Services at cehdinfo@umn.edu. Amy Pavlick will be coordinating these requests.
The check-in site is at the Maturi Pavilion which is across the street from 3M Arena at Mariucci (the ceremony space). After check-in, you will need to make your way from the Maturi Pavilion to 3M Arena at Mariucci. If you need help or accommodations to make it over to 3M Arena at Mariucci please email cehdinfo@umn.edu so arrangements can be made.
Each ceremony is expected to last approximately three hours.
Yes, professional photographers will photograph graduates on stage. Photographers will also take candid photos before, during, and after the ceremony. These photographs may be used in University of Minnesota print and online publications, social media, promotions, and/or shared in other ways.
ASL interpreters will be at both ceremonies and will be wearing yellow armbands for easy identification. Commencement staff will direct guests to the best area for viewing the interpreter. Students who need accommodations should contact cehdinfo@umn.edu.
Honors and distinction (undergraduate students only)
Latin Honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude) and graduation with "distinction" and "high distinction" are designations eligible only to undergraduate students at the time of bachelor's degree completion. These designations are not available upon completion of master's and doctoral level degrees.
Undergraduate degree candidates may graduate with either Latin Honors (cum, magna or summa cum laude) or with Distinction (Distinction of High Distinction) or both. Note that honors designations for the purposes of the Commencement ceremony are provisional. They become official once all requirements for the degree are fulfilled.
Students graduating from CEHD through the University Honors Program have taken part in a rigorous course of study, research, scholarship or other creative work in the major, culminating in an Honors thesis representing independent work done under the direction of a faculty supervisor or mentor. Students graduating cum laude (with Honor) have completed these expectations and have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50 for the last 60 graded credits at UMTC. Magna cum laude (with great honor) awards require a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.66 and summa cum laude (with highest honor) awards require a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.75 in the final 60 graded credits at UMTC.
Students are graduated “with Distinction” or “with High Distinction” based on their cumulative grade point average at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, with at least 60 graded credits completed at UMTC. Students graduating “with Distinction” must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher in UMTC coursework at the time of graduation; students graduating “with High Distinction” must have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.90 or higher in UMTC coursework at the time of graduation.