Undergraduate Information

Below is important information for candidates to review.

Please note: Should you have any issues with tickets or name announcement cards, please be sure to contact the Office of Special Events prior to Thursday, April 25, as the team will be on-site from that date forward to prepare for the ceremony.  

Office hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.  | commencement@pitt.edu

INVITATION AND CEREMONY REGISTRATION

DISTRIBUTION AND RSVP

• ​All eligible candidates, who have graduated or are graduating between January 2024 - April 2024, will receive an invitation for the university-wide ceremony from the Office of Special Events (commencement@pitt.edu). The invitation goes to the candidate's PITT EMAIL ADDRESS. 
   
• An RSVP link is provided within the invitation. The deadline to register for the university – wide ceremony is Wednesday, April 10, 2024 by 6 p.m. REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. Responses after this date and time will not be accepted. A confirmation email is automatically sent to the candidate upon successful completion of the registration. 
   
• Undergraduate students who will complete their requirements to graduate in the Summer 2024 term and would like the opportunity to walk early and attend the Spring Commencement Ceremony are eligible to put their name on the Spring Commencement Waitlist.  The Spring Commencement Waitlist link will go live on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 at 10 a.m., and will close on Wednesday, April 10 at 6 p.m. THE WAITLIST IS NOW CLOSED. More information here >>

TICKET PROCESSS

RECEIVING AND SENDING TICKETS

Each registered candidate will receive (4) electronic tickets for guests via Ticketmaster. Tickets will be sent to the registered candidates PITT email account the week of April 15th.

The University of Pittsburgh utilizes Ticketmaster for distribution of ceremony tickets. Entrance to the Petersen Events Center is a completely digital process and requires a smart device. If your guests are entering together, all tickets may be on one device.  Review these instructions for candidates to obtain tickets and how to send tickets to your guests. 

INVITING GUESTS FROM OUTSIDE THE USA

Please refer to the Office of International Services PDF on how to properly invite your guests to commencement.

REGALIA (CAP AND GOWN), HONORS CORDS, AND DIPLOMA

CEREMONY ATTIRE

All students must arrive in their cap and gown to the ceremony. Do not plan on getting dressed at the Petersen Events Center. Those who serve in our armed forces are allowed to participate in their ceremonial uniforms in lieu of regalia.

Caps and gowns, along with honors cords, will be available for purchase at Graduation Central.

Beginning April 11, the online store will re-open for orders for in-store pick-up or ship-to-home through April 28, 2024.* Note: In-store pick-up will remain available through all ceremony dates. The University Store on Fifth cannot guaranteed shipi-to-home arrival after April 18. 

Order here >>

Pricing is as follows for keepsake regalia ONLY. All regalia sets include cap, gown, hood and tassel.

Bachelor's Regalia Set:  $57
Master's Regalia Set:  $61
Doctoral Regalia Set:  $75

HONORS CORDS AND DIPLOMA

You will be able to pick up your Honors Cords at the University Store on Fifth Information Desk. 

Diplomas are not given out at any ceremony during commencement week and are mailed directly to the graduate from the University Registrar’s office. Should you have questions about your diploma or how to apply for graduation, please contact the University Registrar.

PROFESSIONAL PHOTO SESSION

PROFESSIONAL AND GRADUATE PORTRAITS

On Tuesday, April 16, the Office of Special Events will host a Professional Photo Session in the William Pitt Union, Ballroom from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.  All candidates (undergradudate through doctoral) are able to attend this event.  The option for both formal regalia and LinkedIn professional photos will be available. A link will be posted in the coming days for graduates to register. More information here >>

NAME ANNOUNCEMENT CARD

NAMECOACH AND NAME ANNOUNCEMENT CARD

Each registered candidate will have their name announced and will cross the stage.

When you register for the ceremony, the Office of Special Events will send you a link to record your name via NameCoach.  This is to ensure your name is announced as you see fit at the ceremony. Please complete this link by Thursday, April 11.

The week of April 15, each graduate will be receive their name announcement card via their PITT email.  Graduates MUST PRINT this PDF in 8.5 x 11 format and BRING their name announcement card with them. It does not need to be printed in color.

Your Name Announcement Card is your ticket to enter the Petersen Events Center. If you do not have your Name Announcement card with you, you will not be admitted into the event.

GRADUATE ARRIVAL AND CEREMONY PROCESS

SECURITY POLICY

IMPORTANT NOTE: All graduates should refrain from bringing bags, backpacks, or purses with them to the ceremony as they might not return to the same seat after crossing the stage. Please review the CLEAR BAG policy set forth by the Petersen Events Center.

WHEN AND HOW TO ENTER THE PETERSEN EVENTS CENTER

Doors to the Petersen Events Center will open at 10:30 a.m.

ALL GRADUATES are to arrive through the Petersen Events Center Thomas E. Richards Family Lobby (LOBBY LEVEL) entrance only. This entrance is handicap accessible. DOORS ARE MARKED STUDENT ENTRANCE.

Graduates MUST arrive in full academic regalia and be in their seat by 12:15 p.m. Please allow adequate time to arrive, as there will be significant foot traffic and congestion around the Petersen Events Center.

Any graduate not in their seat by 12:15 p.m. may be held in the lobby until after the academic procession at the beginning of the ceremony, so please plan accordingly.

GRADUATE SEATING

When you arrive, ushers will be on hand to direct you to your designated seat within your school on the Petersen Events Center Floor.

If you want to sit with your friends within your school, please make plans to meet them outside the Petersen Events Center and enter the building as a group. Holding seats or waiting inside for friends to arrive is not allowed.

PHOTOGRAPHY

The University of Pittsburgh has partnered with GradImages to capture an image of each student during the ceremony. 

• GradImages will communicate with the graduates via their Pitt email address about photo selection and printing packages after the ceremony.
• Contact GradImages for any questions or site troubleshooting.
• Guests are not permitted to approach the stage to take personal photos

ACCESSIBILITY

If you are a graduate that requires additional assistance, please indicate this when you complete the ceremony registration process.  The Office of Special Events will reach out to you directly after you have successfully registered for the ceremony. 

The commencement ceremony will have a sign language interpreter (located near Section 120) and will provide captioning for the event in real time from a tablet or smartphone. To access captioning of the Commencement Convocation from a tablet or smartphone, please log on to  www.mobileCap.net   |    ID# 7488

 

PARKING, HOTELS, LODGING

PARKING AND SHUTTLES

All university-owned lots will be open and free of charge on Sunday, April 28 only.  Shuttles will run from various locations throughout campus for both graduates and guests.  More information here >>

HOTELS AND LODGING

We invite candidates and guests to visit our Local Hotels page for hotel contact information.

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LIVESTREAM

LIVESTREAM LINK

The ceremony will be livestreamed on this website as well as on Pitt's Official YouTube Channel.  The LIVESTREAM button will appear on the main page of the Commencement website the week of April 20. 

For graduates and their families who will be watching the ceremony online, open captioning will be automatically displayed during the broadcast.

SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CELEBRATIONS

SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CELEBRATIONS

The Office of Special Events does not coordinate any school or college ceremony. Please refer to the School and College Celebrations page for more information.

Graduates are able to attend BOTH their school or college celebration and the university-wide ceremony.