Graduation Information

Fall 2023 CEREMONIES

Saturday, December 16, 2023
James A. Rhodes Arena (JAR)

See more details and how to watch live

Graduation and Commencement

Fall 2023 Ceremony Information

Fall 2023 degree candidates will be recognized in two ceremonies on Saturday, December 16, 2023, in the James A. Rhodes Arena.

All communication regarding your degree progress and commencement activities will be sent to your UA email account.

Notes:

  • All financial obligations to The University of Akron must be reconciled prior to degree candidacy (i.e., commencement program notation, ceremony attendance and degree conferral).
  • If the University is required to modify or change commencement plans due to COVID-19 safety protocols, messages will be sent via email ASAP.

Questions? Contact us at registrar@uakron.edu.

The DPR is an online guide to assist you in reviewing your academic progress towards degree completion as well as being used in the final degree clearance process.  My DPR is accessible in your Student Center in My Akron.  

Based on your current academic record, My DPR will display your academic requirements including what requirements have been fulfilled and what needs to be satisfied in order to complete your degree.  Please see your academic advisor if you have questions regarding the course requirements shown in My DPR.     

Financial Obligations

In your Student Center in My Akron, review the information under the Finances section to ensure that you do not have any due charges.  Also review the Holds section to the right of your Student Center to ensure that you do not have any Library, Parking, or Accounts Receivable holds.   

All financial obligations to The University of Akron must be reconciled prior to degree candidacy (i.e., commencement program notation, ceremony attendance and degree conferral). If a financial obligation exists at the time of degree conferral, your graduation application will be cancelled. 

Diploma Mailing Address

Once your degree and/or certificate is posted to your academic record, it will be mailed to your DIPLOMA address.  If we do not have a diploma address for you at the time of mailing, your diploma/certificate will be mailed to your HOME address.  To ensure that your diploma/certificate is mailed to the correct address, make any necessary corrections to your DIPLOMA (and/or home) address via My Akron no later than the end of your graduating semester.  If a DIPLOMA address does not exist on your record, click on the “Add A New Address” button and follow the instructions. 

Your Name

In your Student Center in My Akron under the Personal Information section, click on the Names link and review your Primary Name Type.  Your Primary Name is what will appear on your diploma and/or certificate.  Please note that we do not include prefixes such as Mr. or Mrs. on the diploma/certificate.

If you have had a legal name change and you want your new name to appear on your diploma/certificate, please complete the Legal Biographical Information Update form and submit it to the Office of the University Registrar no later than the end of your graduating semester.

If you have questions regarding how your name will appear on your diploma, please contact us at registrar@uakron.edu.

The degree and certificate graduation application deadlines are as follows:

Graduate degree candidates:

  • Fall 2023: January 1, 2023 - November 1, 2023
  • Spring 2024: June 1, 2023 - April 1, 2024
  • Summer 2024: September 1, 2023 - July 1, 2024
  • Fall 2024: January 1, 2024 - November 1, 2024

Undergraduate degree candidates:

  • Fall 2023: January 1, 2023 – July 1, 2023
  • Spring 2024: June 1, 2023 – December 1, 2023
  • Summer 2024: September 1, 2023 - April 1, 2024
  • Fall 2024: January 1, 2024 - July 1, 2024

Law degree candidates

  • Fall 2023: January 1, 2023 – May 1, 2023
  • Spring 2024: June 1, 2023 - October 1, 2023

To apply for graduation, log into My Akron and follow these instructions.  Please see your academic advisor if you have missed the application deadline.

If you have missed the deadline, please consult with your academic advisor/advising office for a late graduation application.

Please note: In order for your name to be printed in the commencement program, your graduation application must be submitted prior to the following dates:

  • Spring commencement program - April 1
  • Fall commencement program - November 1

Fall 2023 degree candidates will be recognized in one of two ceremonies on Saturday, December 16, 2023 at the James A. Rhodes Arena.

Graduates are assigned to their college's ceremony.

The listed time is the start of the ceremony with a formal processional.

Doors will open for both graduate check-in and guest arrival one hour prior to the start of the ceremony.

Saturday, May 6, 2023, 9:00 a.m.
Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
College of Business
U.S. Army ROTC Cadet Commissioning

Saturday, May 6, 2023, 1:00 p.m.
College of Engineering and Polymer Science
College of Health and Human Sciences

Degree candidates will be sent communication via their UA email inviting them to RSVP for their commencement ceremony and reserve their guest tickets.

Candidates must have a graduation application on file to receive an invitation to RSVP for their commencement ceremony.

All degree candidates attending the commencement ceremony must wear proper graduation regalia.  Caps and gowns are available for purchase online as well as at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in the Student Union and in the Polsky Building.

For questions pertaining to regalia, graduates are encouraged to contact the Bookstore by phone at (330) 972-7624.

Want to proudly display your diploma from The University of Akron?  Diploma frames may be ordered online.   

Professional photographers from GradImagesTM take photographs of each degree candidate prior to the ceremony processional and while crossing the stage.    

All undergraduate spring and summer 2023 graduates who have qualified to graduate with honors will receive the appropriate honor cords or medallion on the day of the ceremony. Further instructions will be provided by email as your ceremony approaches.

If you are a member of a registered university organization which selects students from the entire University student body for membership and/or of a departmental or college honor society, you may wear appropriate recognition symbols.

When details of the live webcast for the Spring Commencement ceremonies have been finalized, information will be posted here. In the days leading up to the ceremony, a link will be posted to the appropriate page for accessing the live stream.

A final audit of your academic record and student financial account will be conducted beginning one week after your graduating semester and can take up to four weeks following your graduation date. 

After all degree requirements have been verified as successfully completed and all financial obligations have been verified as reconciled, your degree will be posted and your diploma will be mailed to your DIPLOMA address.  If we do not have a diploma address for you at the time of mailing, your diploma will be mailed to your HOME address.

Undergraduate students should review information on Graduating with Honors.

Are you an alumni and your UA diploma has been lost or damaged?  Alumni may submit a Duplicate Diploma Request. 

Countdown

At a Glance:


Ceremony Information

Saturday, December 16, 2023
9:00 a.m
.

Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences
College of Business
U.S. Army ROTC Cadet Commissioning

Saturday, December 16, 2023
1:00 p.m.
College of Engineering & Polymer Science
College of Health & Human Sciences


General Information

Parking Information

Parking Map

Commencement Programs

Duplicate Diploma Request

Graduating with Honors

Cap and Gown Order

Diploma Frame Order


Spring 2021 Graduate Profiles/Slideshow