Winter Graduation

Students must apply to graduate to attend the ceremony and receive their diploma. Students who have not yet applied to graduate will not see their name in the printed program as that deadline has passed.

Students wishing to have their name listed in the commencement program with diacritical marks can email commence@chancellor.wisc.edu and request for those marks to be included. Deadline to be included in the printed program is November 28, 2022.

Visit the student center’s instruction page and the Office of the Registrar’s webpage  for detailed instructions on how to apply to graduate.  Master’s and PhD students can find additional information on the Graduate School’s “completing your degree” webpage.

For Winter Commencement 2022, orders should be placed by November 19th to receive discounted pricing. Orders can still be placed after November 19th, but for an additional late fee, up until the day of commencement.

Graduates facing financial hardship, who cannot afford to rent their academic attire, can request scholarship funds by submitting an application to cover the costs associated with renting a cap and gown. Scholarship requests need to be submitted by November 18, 2022 in order to be considered for approval.

Order your Cap & Gown Now!

CAPS AND TASSELS

Candidates for the bachelor’s degree wear black mortarboard caps with the School of Nursing tassel color, apricot. Candidates for first degrees wear the tassel on the right side of the cap until the degree has been conferred. Candidates for the MD, Law JD and SJD degrees wear an 8-sided black tam with a black tassel. Candidates for all advanced degrees wear black mortarboard caps with black tassels on the left side.

GOWNS

Gowns represent the three principal levels of academic achievement.  The bachelor’s gown, symbolizing the first degree, is made of black material and has a closed front and long, pointed, open sleeves.  Master’s candidates wear a black gown with a closed front and long, closed sleeves.  The gown worn by doctoral candidates has an open front with bell-shaped sleeves.  Doctoral gowns are further embellished with velvet trim in the form of crossbars on the sleeves.  In spring 2017, the gown designs were updated to include the University of Wisconsin-Madison colors and crest logo, providing both a pop of red among the traditional sea of black and an additional display of UW spirit that’s recognizable to all.  Marshals wear cardinal gowns with white bars.

HONORS AND DISTINCTIVE SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT

Bachelor’s candidates graduating with honors or distinctive scholastic achievement wear stoles, which are worn over the fronts of their gowns. Bachelor’s candidates from an honors program wear white stoles with three cardinal bars. Candidates that have distinguished themselves scholastically by ranking in the top 20% of their school or college wear solid cardinal red stoles.

Deans’ offices will notify students who are selected for Distinctive Scholastic Achievement and Honors. Stoles may be obtained at the University Book Store. Candidates will receive an indication of their achievement with a symbol next to their name in the commencement program.

HOODS

The hood, which has a velvet edging with the School of Nursing color, apricot, and a lining in the color or colors of the institution (cardinal at Wisconsin), hangs to the back from the neck. A cord on the hood is fastened to a button on the front of the candidate’s clothing. To avoid wearing the hood inside out, make sure that the velvet facing of the hood is visible under the chin and lies flat over the shoulders.

The bachelor’s hood is rather short with a narrow velvet edging and is worn only by candidates who previously received the baccalaureate degree. The master’s hood is considerably longer, has a wider velvet edging, and exposes more of the lining. The doctor’s hood has a still wider velvet edging, wide panels at either side, greater length, and a fully exposed lining. There is no hooding ceremony; candidates wear the hood throughout the commencement ceremony.

Each graduate will receive a diploma folder from their dean as they cross the stage. We request that you please refrain from giving handshakes at this time. Diplomas will be mailed out to graduates 6-8 weeks after grades are entered.

Awarding of degrees and receipt of diploma FAQ and visual timeline.

Steps you can take to make sure your diploma is delivered in a timely manner:

1. Add/update your diploma address in MyUW > Student Center > Profile > Addresses. The diploma address should be an address where you can receive your diploma when it is mailed in January or February (for most students). Instructions are available here.
2. Verify that you don’t have any Holds 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. Please note that the “FRA – Financial Responsibility Agreement” hold for a future term will not prevent release of the diploma and can be ignored.

Note for International Students: F-1 and J-1 students must have a “Diploma” address on file in order for their diploma to be ordered. Students with international diploma addresses are encouraged to view these diploma address tips.

Every year UW-Madison nursing graduates 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 Order Instructions  are emailed to students in late February. Instructions will be emailed from J. Brandt Recognition and will include the year’s ordering deadline.

J. Brandt only manufactures the UW-Madison specific nursing pin once a year; if Winter graduates are interested in ordering a pin they should let the Academic Affairs Office know by early February of the semester following their graduation in order to be included on the contact list sent to J. Brandt.

If you have any questions about ordering, you can contact Alicia Brandt Thoms at alicia.brandt@jbrandt.com.

Click HERE for UW-Madison’s full Graduate Checklist