CEHD commencement is held once a year in the spring.
More information for graduating students.
Commencement is held at 3M Arena at Mariucci, 1901 4th Street Southeast, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Each ceremony is expected to last approximately three hours.
The CEHD Undergraduate Commencement ceremony will begin streaming at 10 a.m. (CDT) on Friday, May 10. A livestream of the ceremony will be available on YouTube and linked here. A recording will also be available on this website later in May.
The CEHD Graduate Commencement ceremony will begin streaming at 4 p.m. (CDT) on Friday, May 10. A livestream of the ceremony will be available on YouTube and linked here. A recording will also be available on this website later in May.
For the undergraduate ceremony, students are instructed to check-in beginning at 8:45 a.m. to Maturi Pavilion, 1925 University Ave SE, across the street from Mariucci. If you are dropping your student off, it's recommended to drop them off on the University Avenue side of the building and avoid 4th St.
For the graduate ceremony, students are instructed to check-in beginning at 2:45 p.m. to Maturi Pavilion, 1925 University Ave SE. If you are dropping your student off, it's recommended to drop them off on the University Avenue side of the building and avoid 4th St.
The doors to Mariucci will open 45 minutes before the start of the ceremony. At this time, no tickets are necessary. If conditions change and it's necessary to move to a guest-ticketing system, that will be communicated to all graduating students and on this page.
Graduates will line up and process across the stage by their department. Guests may want to sit on the side of the arena where their graduate will be sitting. Refer to the maps below.
There are several U of M parking lots and ramps near Mariucci Arena on the East Bank. Recommended lots:
View the bag policy. Concession stands will be closed. Water fountains are available and reusable water bottles and small snacks will be allowed. 3M Arena at Mariucci tends to be drafty, so we suggest wearing layers.
Due to strict fire codes, guests are restricted to hand-held portable video units only please. For your convenience, we have made arrangements with Grad Images for a professional photographer to record the moment graduates receive their diploma cover on stage. Graduates will receive a free proof of this photo within six days following the ceremony. There is no obligation to purchase.
Please direct any questions regarding commencement photographs to Grad Images.
Guests may be dropped off at the entrance on the northeast corner of the Mariucci Arena (access to this area is located between 5th and Oak Streets). We encourage guests with accessibility or other accommodation needs to arrive early. Seats cannot be reserved in advance. There are a limited number of parking spots for ADA guests in Lot 37 and the Maroon Lot.
Guests should visit the guest services kiosk/table located on the concourse level of Mariucci when they arrive for your ceremony. Staff will be available to answer questions and help direct your family or guests to their seats. A limited number of complimentary wheelchairs are available for check out at the guest services kiosk. Complimentary wheelchairs are for use to assist guests to their seats only. Complimentary wheelchairs are not available for people requiring a wheelchair for the duration of the program. Due to limited space, the reserved seating area is restricted to the guest with the disability and one additional guest. The rest of your guests should sit in nearby regular public seating areas. Wheelchairs cannot leave the building.
Live captioning and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available during both ceremonies.
Please consider pre-ordering flowers and other gifts that will be reserved and picked up at Mariucci.
Balloons are not allowed in Mariucci Arena.
Visit the Office of Admissions website for a list of nearby hotels, some with special U of M rates.
If a student’s guests are traveling internationally and require official documentation from the University in order to receive a visa to travel, students may use the Dean’s congratulatory letter/email inviting them to commencement, sent to students in February, for this type of documentation. This letter/email can be sent to the appropriate embassy; however often students need something more personal. If you need a letter like this, you can request a personalized letter to be sent via email from Dr. Marina Aleixo, Director of International Initiatives. You can request this letter via this form and they will work with the student on getting the information they need for their particular embassy. Students should note that it may take 7-10 business days to receive the letter. Note that this process can take a long time on the home-country’s part as well so encourage students to start early! If you have further questions about the letter, contact CEHD International initiatives (cehdintl@umn.edu).
