Information for Faculty and Staff

The UMMC Commencement services proudly recognize graduating students for the current academic year (August graduates, December graduates, and May graduates), as well as honor faculty who have contributed to the education mission.

All full-time faculty participate in UMMC Commencement unless participating in patient care activities.

The UMMC Commencement ceremony begins promptly at 10 a.m. and should end shortly after 12 p.m.

Faculty preparations

Regalia

Faculty orders for renting regalia are processed through an online form emailed to all faculty in February. Rental orders must be completed using this website by April 22, 2024.

Rented regalia should be picked up in the Norman C. Nelson Student Union on Friday, May 17, 2024, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. If a faculty member cannot pick up their regalia, they must ensure someone picks it up on their behalf. All three pieces, cap or tam, gown, and hood, are required.

Regalia may be purchased through the UMMC Bookstore and Gift Shops.

Professional appearance

All faculty should wear the approved regalia for their degree following the UMMC Commencement policy.

All faculty are expected to dress professionally under the academic regalia (e.g., dark-colored dresses or slacks and dark-colored dress shoes).

• Mortarboards sit straight on the head, not at an angle.
• Wear the tam horizontally so that it is parallel to the ground and sits about an inch above the ears.
• The tassel should hang over the left front of the mortarboard or tam at all times.

Rented regalia should be returned to the Bookstore personnel in the Trade Mart immediately following the UMMC Commencement ceremony.

Robing area

Faculty should enter the Coliseum using the Midway (south) entrance. The robing and line-up area is to the left at the west-end corner - Blue Room.

Faculty must be lined up in their regalia by 9:30 a.m. in the Blue Room.

Processional line-up area

Faculty will line up outside of the Blue Room and enter the arena in a single file line in the following order:

• Dr. Billy S. Guyton Professorship faculty,
• The Academy for Excellence in Education members,
• The Norman C. Nelson Order inductees (including the Regions Bank TEACH Prize recipient), and
• all remaining faculty, regardless of rank.

Processional Map

The platform party and all faculty hooders will robe and line up in their designated area.

Staff preparations

Staff are encouraged to participate by supporting the UMMC Commencement Committee with event operations. Staff interested in serving before, during, or after the UMMC Commencement Ceremony should sign up through GivePulse.

Professional appearance

All staff are expected to dress professionally following the UMMC Professional Appearance policy.

All staff are asked to wear all-black, and comfortable shoes.

Check-in area

Staff should enter the Coliseum using the Midway (south) entrance. The check-in area is to the right (passing the back of the platform) at the east-end corner - Red Room.

Staff should check-in at least 30-minutes prior to their designated time.

UMMC Commencement Home

For more information, please contact the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs by phone at (601) 984-5009 or by email at AcademicAffairs@umc.edu.