Commencement & Graduation
FAQs

Commencement & Graduation

Commencement & Graduation
FAQs

Each year, the Department of Economics holds a special commencement exclusively for its students in the undergraduate, Masters, and Ph.D. programs. The date for the 2027 Commencement will be announced in January of 2027. In past years, it has been the Thursday before the main University Commencement.

The program begins with a faculty and graduate processional. There will be a speaker (see below). Each graduate will have their name announced as they walk across the stage to receive a congratulatory certificate (actual diplomas are mailed after a final audit by the Auditor's Office). You will want to allow 1.5-2 hours for the event. We will open the doors at 5:00 pm, so if your family wants good seats, I recommend they come early.

Previous Commencements

Commencement FAQ

General Information:

Each spring, the Department of Economics holds a Commencement Ceremony for students who are either graduating that April/May, will be graduating in the following August, or have graduated the previous December.

Information about the University's larger Commencement can be found here.

Prohibited Items in Crisler Arena

About the Ceremony

The program begins with a Faculty and Graduate Processional, followed by a brief welcome and introduction to the Commencement Speaker. Following the Commencement Address, presentations begin of award recipients, Honors Candidates, and the Degree Candidates. At this time, each graduate will have their name announced as they walk across the stage to receive a congratulatory certificate (actual diplomas are mailed after a final audit by the Auditors Office). A photograph of each graduate will also be taken and available later (graduates, be sure to check your emails for more information about this!). The ceremony will conclude with a final farewell and Faculty Recessional. Graduates should be dressed in cap & gown for the event (see below under "Academic Attire").

Please allow 1.5-2 hours for the event itself. Doors open an hour before the start of the program and, as seats are unassigned, it is recommended to arrive early.

The venue does offer some seating for those with mobility limitations. Upon arrival, please seek out a staff member or usher for assistance. Please do try to come early so we can make our best effort to accommodate your needs. Please see "Graduate & Guest Arrival" below for more information.

Note: Graduates will not receive their diplomas at the Economics Commencement Ceremony (or at the U-M Commencement Ceremony). Diplomas are mailed by the Office of the Registrar some weeks after commencement, so please make sure your your permanent address in Wolverine Access is up to date. More information about diplomas can be found on the LSA Newnan Academic Advising Center's website.

Graduate & Guest Arrival

Doors open at 5pm.

Graduates: If you are unable to walk down stairs or have any mobility concerns, please email econundergradoffice@umich.edu as soon as possible.

Graduates should arrive at Crisler Arena at 5pm and use the Northeast (main) Entrance. Guests are also welcome to arrive and begin seating at 5pm.

Graduates* must check in at the Will Call Ticket Area of the Northeast entrance. You will then be given your name and photo cards, and directed to your place in the procession line. Your name and photo cards are needed as you cross the stage to be recognized.

*Economics Honors students will recieve alternate instructions. Please check your email in the days before the ceremony for more information.

Guests with Special Needs

Students with Special Needs

If you cannot walk down stairs or have any special needs not mentioned below, please contact econundergradoffice@umich.edu as soon as possible.

Parking

There are 60 handicap parking spaces available in front of the NE (main) entrance of Crisler on a first come, first served basis. Guests can also be dropped off and picked up at the NE Entrance. If parking at Crisler fills, overflow parking will be available at Pioneer High School (free of charge).

Entrance/Time of Arrival

All graduates and guests use the NE Entrance. Guests with limited mobility or other accessibility needs may enter at 4:40pm, along with their party. All other guests and graduates must enter at 5pm.

Stairs/Limited Mobility

Just inside the NE Entrance, there is an escalator and a small elevator that will take guests to the third (concourse) level. The closest entrance to the seating area is entrance B (between sections 104 & 101). This seating area is on the east side of Crisler and the stage will be on the south side of the arena floor.

Wheelchairs

Crisler will have 10-12 wheelchairs and Event Staff available to take guests with limited mobility up to the concourse. Guests are not able to use these wheelchairs during the ceremony. There will also be many Econ Dept and Crisler Event staff available if you need assistance pushing a wheelchair or helping someone with limited mobility.

Strollers

Guests bringing strollers to the ceremony should store them at Guest Services on the Concourse at Crisler, and pick them up when the ceremony concludes.

Seating within the Arena

Chairs are stadium style with padded folding seats and plastic (slightly padded) backs. The first two (top) rows of the lower bowl are reserved for families of those with mobility issues, but do require going down a couple stairs.

Guests in wheelchairs may sit around the concourse. To allow room for our many guests with need for this type of seating, we allow one guest (with mobility limitations) plus one companion. Folding chairs will be available for those sitting in this area. The rest of the family members may sit directly in front of the guest(s) sitting on the concourse.

Concourse and reserved seating are on a first come, first served basis. We encourage those with wheelchairs to go around to the farther side of the concourse seating to allow those who walk, but cannot climb stairs to sit on the near-side concourse.

Closed Captioning

We will provide closed captioning on the Jumbotron for guests with hearing impairments.

Parking

Parking is available free of charge in the Blue Lots surrounding Crisler Center (lots SC4, SC5, SC6, SC7; see map below). The Crisler Center lot has entrances on Stadium Boulevard and East Keech Avenue (off South Main Street) / Greene Street (off East Hoover Street). Note: graduates and guests will enter the center at the Northeast Entry only unless otherwise notified.

No parking areas are reserved specifically for the Economics Commencement Ceremony.

Overflow parking will be available in the Pioneer High School parking lot at no charge.

Parking for Persons with Disabilities

Parking is available for guests with disabilities outside the Northeast entrance of Crisler Center on a first-come, first-served basis. It can be accessed from Green Street and Stadium Boulevard. You must have a state-issued disability parking placard in order to use these spots.

Photos of the Ceremony

Academic Attire

Graduates participating in any U-M commencement must wear academic attire (i.e. cap & gown) which is not provided by the department. Such attire can be purchased from:

The Michigan Bookstore in the Union (734 205-2401)
The Michigan Bookstore on North Campus (734-668-6022)
Michiganensian Yearbook on Maynard St. (734-418-4115 x1247).

Please contact the individual bookstores for specific information on graduation attire.

Graduates may be standing until the ceremony begins (up to an hour) and walking up/down a long flight of stairs; please plan shoes accordingly. If you are unable to stand for long periods, walk up/down stairs, or have any other mobility concerns, please email econundergradoffice@umich.edu as soon as possible to arrange accommodation.

Note: LS&A undergraduate B.A. tassels should be white, B.S. should be gold; there is no specific color for Economics graduates. Tassels should be worn on the right side. Graduates are welcome to wear sashes, cords, tassels, etc., from their other programs or awards.

Honors Cords: Graduates who are part of the LSA Honors College will be given Honors cords at the Honors Commencement Ceremony. Genuine Honors cords cannot be purchased in the bookstores or online. Find out more about the Honors Commencement here.

RESOURCES

Deadlines &
Timelines

Diplomas &
Distinctions

What's an
audit?

Graduation VS
Commencement

Previous Commencements

Commencement FAQs

Tickets will be required for this event. The deadline to request tickets has passed. If you still need them, please reach out to econundergradoffice@umich.edu.

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Commencement & Graduation