Graduation
Commencement Updates
The University does not cover parking for faculty, staff, students, or guests for commencement. Please, visit the “Parking” tab to view parking options around the venue. Our commencement ceremonies are open seating for guests. You will not need a ticket to attend our commencement ceremonies. Live streaming will be available for anyone who cannot attend. Those links will be added closer to each ceremony on the Watch Commencement Live! page.
Commencement Dates
We will host Memphis commencement activities in person on the following days:
Spring 2025 Commencement
May 12, 2025 at the Cannon Center for the Performing Arts (Memphis Ceremonies)
- 8:45am: College of Graduate Health Sciences, College of Health Professions, and College of Nursing
- 12:00pm: College of Medicine
- 3:15pm: College of Dentistry
- 6:00pm: College of Pharmacy
May 14, 2025 at the UTK Student Union Auditorium (Knoxville Ceremony)
- 3:30pm EST: College of Health Professions- Audiology and Speech Pathology
Office of Student Life
800 Madison Ave., Suite 317
901.448.2350
studentlife@uthsc.edu
We want to ensure our families have options when traveling to Memphis for commencement. Below are a few suggestions we have:
- Canopy Hotel, 164 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38103, 901.467.0309
- Hampton Inn, 175 Peabody Place, Memphis, TN 38103, 901.260.4006
- River Inn, 50 Harbor Town Square, Memphis, TN 38103, 901.260.3333
- Country Inn & Suites, 2270 N. Germantown Pkwy, Cordova, TN 38016, 901.386.1110
- Marriott Memphis East, 5795 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119, 901.682.0080
Faculty, staff, students, and guests may park in any of the garages around the Cannon Center. The University will not cover the parking fee. Some available options are:
- Renasant Convention Center Parking Garage: 266 N. Front St., Memphis, TN 38103
- Mud Island River Park Garage: 125 N. Front St., Memphis, TN 38103
- Best Park Tennessee: 24 N. 2nd , Memphis TN 38105
Most parking lots/garages use Premium Parking. Please, download the Premium Parking app in advance to assist with parking.
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When the degrees are conferred please walk up the stairs and hand the reader your name card. You will receive a green tube with a graduation letter from the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of Student Success. You will then walk behind the curtain to have your picture taken. Staff will assist you in getting back to your seat.
- Please be seated immediately after returning to your seat.
- Graduates will not return to the graduate lineup area. Please do not bring any items that you will need to carry or store.
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Students, please return your regalia using the shipping label provided to you by Oak Hall. If you have misplaced the shipping label you may contact them via e-mail at customercare@oakhalli.com to receive a new shipping label. Regalia Must be returned within 2 weeks after your ceremony. Faculty, please leave your regalia in the faculty room to be shipped back to the vendor by the institution.
- Students and faculty may arrive 1 1/2 hours prior to the ceremony start time.
- Guests may arrive 1 hour prior to the ceremony start time.
Students may order regalia through the student portal. The ordering link will close April 7, 2025, at 11:59pm. Regalia will be shipped to your home. If you miss the ordering deadline, please contact the Office of Student Life at studentlife@uthsc.edu to get your regalia ordered. Late orders will be available for pick-up at the Cannon Center the morning of your ceremony in the student line-up area.
Graduates are asked to arrive 1 ½ hours prior to ceremony start time. Guests are asked to arrive 1 hour prior to ceremony start time.
The University provides professional graduation photo services through GradImages. Graduates will be contact by GradImages following commencement and offered the opportunity to purchase photos.
Things to Avoid Bringing Inside the Venue
The Cannon Center for the Performing Arts prohibits vases, balloons, food, or beverages inside the venue. You are more than welcome to bring flowers that are not in a vase.
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Graduates or their guests in need of accessibility assistance to attend the commencement ceremony should e-mail studentlife@uthsc.edu as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.
- Please, include the following information:
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- Name
- College
- Guest name requesting accommodations
- Accommodation needs
- Name of escort (if needed)
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Duplicate / Replacement Diplomas:
To order a duplicate or replacement diploma, please click here to place your order though Paradigm, our diploma servicer.
All Diplomas will reflect four (4) signatures from the current UT-System administrative officials.
Timeline / Delivery Window:
Domestic (non-expedited): 6-8 weeks
Domestic (expedited): 3-4 weeks
Notification of shipment will be emailed to the email address used on the order when the diploma is produced and shipped.
Name changes on Diploma: You will need to provide a copy of a legal document showing the name requested. This is only if the name differs from what appears on the academic transcript. The "Name Change On Academic Record Form" is located here.
Visit Memphis Travel for local trip recommendations. Below is a list of recommendations for some of the top Memphis restaurants and attractions:
- Majestic Grille
- Flying Fish
- Gus’s World-Famous Chicken
- Central BBQ
- Rizzo’s
- Bleu
- McEwens
- Blues City Café
- Flight
- Maciel’s
- Pearl’s Oyster House
- Peabody Place
- Capriccio Grille
- Huey’s
- Automatic Slims
- Miss Polly’s
- Memphis Zoo
- Riverside
- Beale Street
- Civil Rights Museum