Spring Graduation

Undergraduate Students

In order to have your name appear in the University Commencement program, you must complete the online Apply to Graduate application in your MyUW Student Center before Friday, March 31, 2023. After that date, you may still complete the application to graduate, however your name will not be included in the printed program. Visit the Office of the Registrar’s webpage for detailed instructions on how to apply to graduate.

Undergraduate students should review their DARS to make sure all degree requirements have been met. If you have any questions regarding degree requirements, contact your academic advisor.

Doctoral Students

In order to have your name appear in the University Commencement program, you must complete the online Apply to Graduate application in your MyUW Student Center before Friday, March 31, 2023. After that date, you may still complete the application to graduate, however your name will not be included in the printed program. Visit the Office of the Registrar’s webpage for detailed instructions on how to apply to graduate.

Doctoral students should verify they meet the graduation eligibility requirements for DNP & PhD students: (1) be enrolled for a minimum of 2 credits during your final semester, (2) have a 3.0 GPA, (3) have no “Incomplete” grades, (4) meet all other degree requirements. Additionally, PhD students must submit a PhD Final Warrant Request.

Doctoral students should contact Mariah Allen, Graduate Academic Advising Manager, with any questions about eligibility.

Academic Attire is required for UW-Madison Commencement as well as the School of Nursing event. To ensure your academic regalia is reflective of the University’s current specifications, please place your order through the University Book Store.

To receive the Early Badger pricing of $20.00 off, students must submit their rental order by March 31, 2023. Starting April 1, all academic attire rentals will be regularly priced. Graduating students can rent academic attire online through May 8, 2023; in person rentals can be make at the Lower Level Service Counter of the 711 State St. store through May 10, 2023. Call (608) 257-3784, extension 5907, if you have questions.

Review the University Book Store’s May 2023 Timeline for additional instructions and deadlines.

Undergraduate Students

Accelerated BSN, Traditional BSN, and BSN@Home students should select the Bachelor Degree Cap and Gown Rental Package. Once you “ADD TO CART,” you will receive a pop-up menu; under School/College select “School of Nursing-Apricot” and enter “Nursing” under Subject of Studies.

Stoles
If you are in the Honors Program or if you qualify for Distinctive Scholastic Achievement, you are eligible to wear a stole for graduation. Academic stoles are available through the University Book Store by purchase only. For students in the Honors Program, the School of Nursing will notify you when stoles become available for purchase. The School of Nursing will notify students who qualify for Distinctive Scholastic Achievement by the end of April, at which point those students can purchase a stole if desired.

Doctoral Students

Doctor of Nursing Practice and Nursing PhD students should select the Doctoral and MFA Cap and Gown Rental Package. Once you “ADD TO CART,” you will receive a pop-up menu; under School/College select “Doctor of Nursing Practice-Apricot” (DNP) or “Doctor of Philosophy-Blue” (PhD), then enter “Nursing” under Subject of Studies.

Diplomas

Diplomas will be mailed to the designated Diploma Address in your MyUW Student Center 6-8 weeks after final grades are reported. Please be sure to update your Diploma Address in MyUW to ensure that these items reach you at the correct address. Learn how to update your Diploma Address here.

To avoid a delay in receiving your diploma, verify that you do not have any holds on your account in MyUW > Student Center > Tasks that will prevent the release of your diploma. These holds will be marked as “Hold Records.” Instructions are available here.

International students must add a Diploma address in MyUW Student Center in order to receive their diploma. The Diploma address can be the same as your home address, but there must be an address listed in Student Center with an address type of “Diploma.” F-1 and J-1 students must have a “Diploma” address on file in order for their diploma to be ordered.

The Office of the Registrar has compiled a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions regarding receiving diplomas here, as well as a visual timeline for Spring 2023 graduates which is available here.

Diploma Covers

Diploma Covers for Baccalaureates: Diploma covers are available for pick up at the UW Bookstore State Street location. Covers will not be handed out at the Camp Randall or Shannon Hall events.

Diploma Covers for Doctorates: Diploma covers will be available at the May 13 Kohl Center Ceremony. They are also available for pick up at the UW Bookstore State Street location.

Student Name on Diploma

Starting in 2023, students now have the option to indicate whether they want their legal name or their name in use/preferred name to be printed on their diploma! Previously the only option was legal name.

Students can select their diploma display name by completing the application for graduation (see Apply to Graduate tab) and selecting the name of their choice. More information on how to select your diploma name can be found in steps 6 and 7 of this KnowledgeBase document. Please note, indicating your commencement preferences and name in the commencement program are separate from the diploma name.

From the Office of the Registrar, a few things to note:

  • Students need to acknowledge and check two boxes when indicating their diploma name:
    • I confirm and agree that the name I selected here is the name that will appear on my diploma. I will be responsible for ordering and paying for another diploma if I wish to receive a copy with a different name in the future.
    • I understand that there may be scenarios in which my legal name is required or recommended on my diploma. Some professional licenses, certifications, visa documents, or official government purposes may require that the name on the diploma match legal name. In the case that I need another diploma in the future, including a diploma with a different name, I will be responsible for ordering and paying for another diploma.
  • Students can make changes to their name in use or legal name in their student records after selecting the name they would like on their diploma. If they indicate they would like their name in use on their diploma and they make changes to their name in use after they apply to graduate, the name in use at the time of diploma order is what will be printed on the diploma. The same is true for changes to legal name. Any changes after the degree conferral date are not guaranteed to be reflected on their diploma due to the timing of degree posting and diploma ordering.
  • Changes to name in use after the apply to graduate deadline will not impact the name that appears on the commencement program.
  • Students can go back into the application for graduation to change their diploma name preference if they wish (e.g. to change from legal to name in use). Again, the name at the time of diploma ordering is what will appear on their diploma, so final selections should be completed by the degree conferral date each term.
  • Students that don’t or aren’t required to apply to graduate will have their legal name printed on their diploma, unless they complete an application for graduation.
  • The transcript will still retain the legal name only.

If you have any questions about the name that will print on your diploma, please contact the Office of the Registrar directly.

Every year, students graduating with their BSN are given the opportunity to order an alumni pin through our partners at J. Brandt Recognition. You can learn more about the nursing pin’s symbolism and history here. The Academic Affairs Office coordinates with J. Brandt Recognition to set up accounts for graduating undergraduate students through which students can order a customized School of Nursing pin. Nursing pin online ordering instructions are emailed to students in February. Instructions will be emailed from J. Brandt Recognition and will include the year’s ordering deadline.

J. Brandt Recognition only manufactures the UW-Madison nursing pin once a year; if you do not order the pin during the spring semester before your graduation, but decide you would like to in the future, you can contact the School of Nursing Alumni Relations Officer at that time and they will provide you with a timeline and details on ordering a pin.

NOTE: The above information does not pertain to the NAO Alumni Pin Recipient Award; this is YOUR alumni pin. Information about NAO Alumni Pins can be found here.

2/11/2023 Update

J. Brandt sent online ordering instructions to graduating undergraduates on February 11, 2023. Students have until 5:30pm CST on Thursday, March 9, 2023, to place their order. No late orders will be accepted!If you have any questions regarding the ordering process, contact J. Brandt Recognitions directly.

3/13/2023 Update

Alumni pin ordering for Spring 2023 has concluded. Ordered pins will be shipped directly to student from J. Brandt Recognitions no later than May 4, 2023.

 

Undergraduate Students

Guest ticket information for the Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration

Tickets are required for guests to attend the Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration in Shannon Hall on May 13, 2023, at 4pm. Students should indicate how many guest tickets they need in the RSVP that is sent out in March. Each student is allotted a maximum of 4 guest tickets*. If there are remaining guest tickets after the RSVP deadline, the Academic Affairs Office will send out information regarding a ticket lottery where graduating students can enter their name for a chance to receive ONE additional guest ticket if desired. Ticket distribution will take place in Cooper Hall during student programming hours or between classes – dates and times will be announced closer to graduation.

*Due to fire code, every individual entering Shannon Hall must have a ticket, regardless of age or intended seating arrangements. For example, a child who plans to sit on an adult’s lap still needs a guest ticket and thus must be accounted for when considering your allotted guest ticket recipients. 

The Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration will be livestreamed to the School of Nursing’s YouTube page. Guests who do not have a ticket for Shannon Hall, but will be on campus for graduation events, are welcome to watch the event elsewhere in Memorial Union via livestream on their own device. Support people unable to attend graduation events on campus are also welcome to watch the livestream via the School of Nursing YouTube page!

Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration guest documents

Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration Announcement **THIS IS NOT A TICKET

Doctoral Students

Guest ticket information for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

The School of Nursing Doctoral Hooding Ceremony is a ticketed event. That being said, we typically have enough room in the Auditorium to accommodate all guests. To help us determine if we need to cap the number of guests per student allowed in the Auditorium, when filling out the RSVP survey in March students will be asked to indicate the total number of guest tickets they would ideally receive. Once the RSVP deadline has passed, we will compare the number of guest tickets requested to the number of guest seats available. We will then send out an email confirming how many guest tickets each student will receive for the event.

The Hooding Ceremony will be livestreamed to Enroth Hall for guests who do not have a ticket or who need to step out of the Auditorium during the ceremony. If Enroth becomes crowded, we will also stream the ceremony into an ALC. Support people unable to attend graduation events on campus are also welcome to watch the livestream via the School of Nursing YouTube page! 

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony guest documents

Doctoral Hooding Ceremony Announcement **THIS IS NOT A TICKET

Undergraduate Students

2023.05.08_FINAL DETAILS Nursing Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration
Attachment: 2023 Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration Final Details
2023.04.18_2023 Graduation Awards and Recognitions Recipients
2023.04.17_Baccalaureate Graduation Walkthrough and Guest Ticket Pick Up
2023.04.13_Baccalaureate Guest Ticket Lottery
2023.03.29_Reminder of March 31 Deadlines – BSN
2023.03.15_FINAL REMINDER Nominations for Nursing Graduation Awards and Recognitions – Students
2023.03.08_Graduation RSVP and Additional Updates and Deadlines for BSN Candidates
2023.02.28_Hoods for 2nd Bachelors Degree Candidates Action Required by 3.1
2023.02.22_Nominations for Nursing Graduation Awards and Recognitions Student Communication
2023.02.11_Alumni Pin Ordering Instructions
2023.02.03_Baccalaureate Save the Date, Pin Opt Out, Apply to Graduate REMINDER
2023.01.30_Baccalaureate Save the Date, Pin Opt Out, Apply to Graduate

Doctoral Students

2023.05.08_FINAL DETAILS Nursing Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
Attachment: 2023 Doctoral Graduation Celebration Final Details
2023.04.18_2023 Graduation Awards and Recognitions Recipients
2023.04.18_2023 Hooding Ceremony Guest Ticket Pick Up
2023.03.29_Reminder of March 31 Deadlines – Doctoral
2023.03.08_Graduation RSVP and Additional Updates and Deadlines for Doctoral Candidates
2023.02.22_Nominations for Nursing Graduation Awards and Recognitions Student Communication
2023.02.06_Doctoral Save the Date & Apply to Graduate

Campus Communications

To view communications that campus has sent out, visit the Campus Commencement site’s Communications tab.

Faculty & Staff

2023.05.08_FINAL DETAILS for Faculty – Nursing Graduation Events
Attachment: 2023 Faculty Graduation Celebrations Final Details
2023.04.18_2023 Graduation Awards and Recognitions Recipients
2023.03.29_Graduation RSVP & NAO Pin Nomination Reminder – Faculty
2023.03.15_FINAL REMINDER Nominations for Nursing Graduation Awards and Recognitions – Faculty
2023.02.22_Nominations for Nursing Graduation Awards and Recognitions FacStaff Communication

Events

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April 26: School of Nursing and Nurses Alumni Organization Pinning Ceremony

The School of Nursing and the Nurses Alumni Organization will honor undergraduate students who are selected to receive a nursing pin graciously donated by nursing alumni. This virtual ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 26th from 5:30-7:00 pm Central Time. There will be remarks from the NAO President, Dean Linda Scott, plus time for students to meet the owner of the pin they are receiving. This event is open to pin recipients and their families.

May 9: Student Send-Off

On May 9, 2023, from 4:30-7:00pm, all graduating nursing students are welcome to attend the Student Send-Off at Signe Skott Cooper Hall! There is no formal programing; this is an opportunity for our graduating students to celebrate together all they have accomplished.

More details to come!

May 12: School of Nursing Spring 2023 Doctoral Hooding Ceremony

School of Nursing Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
Time: 1:00 – 2:30pm
Location: Auditorium, Signe Skott Cooper Hall
The Doctoral Hooding Ceremony is where we recognize our award winners, hear from our elected graduation speakers from both doctoral programs, and individually recognize each graduate as they walk across the stage and are hooded by their advisor. Dean Scott, graduates, and faculty will begin the processional promptly at 1:00pm; we ask that guests be seated prior to that time. Please plan plenty of time for traveling and parking. There will be reserved seats for graduates, faculty, and ADA accommodations, the remaining seats will be general admission.

Guest tickets are required to sit in the Auditorium for the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony. Overflow viewing will be available in classrooms within the School of Nursing; guests who do not have a ticket to sit in the Auditorium will be able to watch a livestream of the ceremony in specified areas of Cooper Hall. The number of allocated guest tickets per graduate will be communicated via the student RSVP survey in early-March. Ticket distribution will take place in Cooper Hall during student programming hours or between classes – dates and times will be announced closer to graduation.

Doctoral Reception
Time: 2:30 – 4:00pm, following the Doctoral Hooding Ceremony
Location: Atrium, Signe Skott Cooper Hall
Tickets are not required. Graduates and guests can grab a snack, mingle, and take pictures with peers and faculty!

May 12: UW-Madison Spring 2023 Commencement - Doctoral & Medical Professional Degree Candidate Ceremony

Top 5 Things to Know

  1. Degree candidates individual names will be read as they walk across the stage. Graduate seating is arranged by School, College and Degree type. A graduate seating map will be uploaded at a later date.
  2. Gates open at 3:30 p.m. Please note the ceremony typically lasts approximately two and a half hours. A livestream of the ceremony will be available here on YouTube.
  3. Guests, family members and friends are welcome to attend. There is no ticketing for guests nor is there a limit to the number of guests. Seating is general admission, first come, first served. Guests and graduates in need of accommodations should see our section below about Kohl Center Accessibility. If you have additional inquiries, please email accessibility@chancellor.wisc.edu.
  4. The graduate entrance is located at Gate A (West Dayton Street entrance). Access to candidate seating is via the grand staircase located outside Section 127.  A graduate seating map will be posted here closer to date.
  5. No guests, including children (with the exception of nursing parents) are permitted in the candidate seating area. No food or beverages of any kind are permitted. Please review the carry-in policy to plan accordingly.

Graduate Seating

Graduates should enter the Kohl Center arena at Gate A (W. Dayton St. entrance). Access to candidate seating is via the grand staircase located outside Section 127. Candidate seating is arranged by school, college or degree type. Commencement Marshals wearing cardinal red academic attire will be available to assist you with seating. Degree candidates with faculty escorts should ask their faculty escort to sit on their right.

A graduate seating map will be uploaded closer to date.

May 13: UW-Madison Spring 2023 Commencement - Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Law Degree Candidate Ceremony

Top 5 Things to Know

  1. Degree candidates will be recognized en masse by each school and college. Individual names will not be read. Graduate seating is arranged by School, College and Degree type. Graduate seating map will be uploaded at a later date.
  2. Gates open at 10:00 a.m. Please note the ceremony typically lasts approximately 90 minutes. A livestream of the ceremony will be available here on YouTube.
  3. Guests, family members and friends are welcome to attend. There is no ticketing for attendance and seating is general admission, first come, first served. Guests and graduates in need of accommodations should see our section below about Camp Randall Accessibility. If you have additional inquiries, please email accessibility@chancellor.wisc.edu.
  4. The graduate entrance is located at Gate 5 (the student gate for football games) of Camp Randall Stadium. This is the only gate with access to candidate seating. Guests can enter the stadium through Gates 1, 7, 8, and 9. A graduate seating map will be posted here closer to date.
  5. No guests, including children (with the exception of nursing parents) are permitted in the candidate seating area. No food or beverages of any kind are permitted. Please review the carry-in policy to plan accordingly.

Graduate Seating

Graduates should enter Camp Randall Stadium at Gate 5 (the student gate for football games). This is the only gate with access to candidate seating. Candidate seating is arranged by school, college or degree type. Commencement Marshals wearing cardinal red academic attire will be available to assist you with seating.

A graduate seating map will be uploaded closer to date.

May 13: School of Nursing Spring 2023 Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration

Baccalaureate Reception
Time: 
2:00 – 3:45pm
Location: Great Hall, 4th floor of Memorial Union
Tickets are not required for the Baccalaureate Reception. Graduates and guests can grab a snack, mingle, and take pictures in this iconic Memorial Union space!
Students will be asked to make their way to the Memorial Union Play Circle starting at 3:15pm to prepare for the ceremony.

Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration
Time:
4:00 – 5:30pm
Location: Shannon Hall, 1st floor of Memorial Union
The Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration in Shannon Hall is where we recognize our award winners, hear from our elected graduation speakers from each undergraduate program, and recognize each graduate individually as they walk across the stage. Doors open for guests at 3:30 pm; all guests are required to have a ticket to enter. Dean Scott, graduates, and faculty will begin the processional promptly at 4:00 pm. We ask that guests be seated prior to that time. Please plan plenty of time for traveling and parking. There will be reserved seats for graduates and ADA accommodations, all other seats are general admission.

**Tickets: Tickets are required for guests to attend the Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration in Shannon Hall. Students should indicate how many guest tickets they need in the RSVP that is sent out in March. Each student is allotted a maximum of 4 guest tickets. If there are remaining guest tickets after the RSVP deadline, the Academic Affairs Office will send out information regarding a ticket lottery where graduating students can enter their name for a chance to receive ONE additional guest ticket if desired. The Baccalaureate Graduation Celebration will be livestreamed to the School of Nursing’s YouTube page. Guests who do not have a ticket for Shannon Hall are welcome to watch the event elsewhere in Memorial Union via livestream on their own device. Ticket distribution will take place in Cooper Hall during student programming hours or between classes – dates and times will be announced closer to graduation.

Other Campus Graduation Events

International Student Graduation Celebration

Thursday, May 11, 2023, 3:00pm-6:00pm, The Fluno Center
This event is open to graduating international students, at any degree level, and their family and friends.

Latinx Graduation Celebration

Saturday, May 6th from 11AM-1:00PM (doors open at 10:00), Gordon Dining and Event Center, 2nd floor
All UW-Madison Latinx Spring and Summer 2023 Graduates are invited to attend the 2023 UW-Madison Latinx Graduation Celebration! Attendees can expect brunch, a Latinx medal, photos, and networking! Register HERE. Questions? Contact lasawisconsin@gmail.com.

Contacts

Darby Sugar

Position title: Director of Advising and Student Services

Email: darby.sugar@wisc.edu

Phone: 608-263-5248

Address:
1145 Signe Skott Cooper Hall

Morgan Lewis

Position title: Student Services & Events Coordinator

Email: mlewis7@wisc.edu

Phone: 608-263-5288

Address:
1137 Signe Skott Cooper Hall