Graduation & Commencement

Spanish majors and minors should complete the online release form.

French, Italian, Portuguese, and RLL majors/minors should schedule an RLL advising appointment for your graduation release. If you have multiple academic plans/subplans, such a Dual Major or Minor, you will need an individual release from each major/minor from each department.

For those who plan to be abroad during their final year, we strongly suggest that you complete your release(s) prior to your departure.

Apply for graduation through your Student Business Account in Wolverine Access:
Student Business > Nav Bar > Self Service > Degree Progress/Graduation > Apply for Graduation.

After you have completed your program release(s) and applied for graduation, LSA Auditors will send a final audit of your degree requirements for all of your college, LSA, major/minor concentrations to your umich.edu email account. This process can take 3-5 weeks.

Make sure that your permanent address in Wolverine Access is up to date. That is where the Registrar's Office will send your diploma approximately 8 weeks after graduation.

Graduates should arrive at the Michigan Theater for check-in at 1:00pm-1:30pm. Proceed to the screening area. This is where you will be given a name card and wait for the ceremony to begin. Your name card is necessary to be recognized as you walk across the stage. Staff will be present to direct you.

Graduates with accessibility concerns: please review the "Accessibility & Accommodations" tab in the next section. 

RLL majors and minors who have or will complete all requirements at the end of Fall 2026, Winter 2027, or Summer 2027 terms are invited to participate in the Department of Romance Languages & Literatures commencement ceremony. All students eligible for graduation during these terms will be listed in the RLL Commencement Program.

Graduates who would like to walk across the stage are asked to wear their cap and gown with their tassel on the right side. Academic regalia (tassels, chords, etc.) can be purchased at University bookstores or various online vendors. Business/Business Casual attire is encouraged for all other graduating students.

If you need financial assistance to purchase a cap and gown graduation package, LSA Student Government is running a program to subsidize the costs of the package for 150 LSA graduating seniors. Fill out the application form to be considered for a $42 Cap and Gown Package at the Grad Extravaganza Event April 7th-April 24th (10am-6pm) located at the Student Publications Bldg 420 Maynard St. Eligible students include students with LSA majors who are graduating this semester. 

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.

The Ginsberg Center offers service cords for students who -- through voluntary service, activism and advocacy, or other forms of civic engagement -- helped address or make positive change around a specific social issue in partnership with economically or socially marginalized communities beyond campus.

The maize cords at University bookstores are for graduates who earn Distinction/High Distinction/Highest Distinction.  Degrees ‘with distinction’ are awarded on the basis of rank in class:

• Students who have completed at least 58 credits in residence, at least 45 of which are “graded” (A+ to D-), and rank in the top 3% of their class are recommended for a degree “with Highest Distinction.”
• Students who rank in the top 10% of their class, but not in the top 3%, are recommended for a degree “with High Distinction.”
• Students who rank in the top 25% of their class, but not in the top 10%, are recommended for a degree “with Distinction.”

A notation is made on the diploma and the transcript.  The GPA ranges for the distinction notations are determined each May, based on the cumulative GPAs of LSA graduates of that May degree period.  Those same numbers are used for the August and December degree periods of that calendar year. Distinction ranges will not be calculated until all grades are posted for all graduates for the Winter term.  This means you will not officially know at the time you participate in commencement
activities.

That being said, previous distinction ranges are noted below:

• Highest Distinction: 3.940-4.000
• High Distinction: 3.847-3.939
• Distinction: 3.686-3.846

Guests are welcome to arrive at 1:30-2:00pm. Seating is available on a First Come, First Serve basis. Please see the tab for accessibility & accommodations for more details.

Tickets will not be required however graduates are asked to complete the RSVP form (see top of page). There, they will include an estimated guest count. Seating is available on a first Come, first serve basis.

A designated drop-off zone in front of the Michigan Theater is available. There is limited street parking in the surrounding area available on a first come, first serve basis. 

Nearby Parking: The nearest public parking structure is the Maynard Structure (324 Maynard St). The W13 Student Activities Building Visitor Lot with PayStation is also closeby. 

Students with an Accessible Parking Permit are able to park in Blue, Yellow, or Orange spaces, with the North Thayer Parking Structure having the largest capacity in the vicinity of the Michigan Theater.

Please refer to Ann Arbor's interactive map to view handicap street parking locations, view parking structures, and metered locations. For more information regarding Ann Arbor parking ordinances and policies, please see their parking services website.

Map of Downtown Accessible Parking (PDF)

Graduates: We would like to anticipate the needs of all graduating students and guests. If an accomodation is not listed below or requires an increase in accesibility, please email rll.mailbox@umich.edu. We want to ensure that all graduates and their guests are able to attend.

Stairs/Limited Mobility

The main seating area is accessed on the ground level and available on a first come, first serve basis. Additionally, handicap accessible restrooms are also available on the ground level.

Wheelchairs

The Michigan Theater will have wheelchairs available to transport guests from the lobby into the seating area. Please note, these wheelchairs are not available for use during the ceremony and simply serve as temporary transport.

The wheelchair sections in the main seating area allow for two companions per wheelchair. There will be Event Staff & Volunteers available to assist guests from the front area to their seats. Please note that they are not able to assist patrons in transferring or to provide personal attendant services.

Seating within the theater

Fold-down padded cushion with padded back and arm rests.