Update: Both the main and Arts and Sciences commencemement ceremonies will be held outdoors.
The University of Vermont will celebrate its 213th commencement Saturday, May 17 and Sunday, May 18. The main commencement ceremony, where the president will confer baccalaureate degree by college/school, will take place on Sunday, May 18 on the University Green. The ceremony begins with the procession at 8:20 a.m. Tickets are not required if the event is outdoors.
The Graduate College commencement ceremony, where master and doctoral students will be hooded and presented with their diploma, will take place on Saturday, May 17 in Patrick Gymnasium at 12:30 p.m. Tickets are not required for this ceremony.
The College of Medicine commencement ceremony, where graduates will take their professional oath, will take place on Sunday, May 18 in Ira Allen Chapel at 2:30 p.m. This ceremony is ticketed.
Individual college/school undergraduate ceremonies, where degree candidates will receive their diplomas, will take place throughout the day on Sunday, May 18. View the full commencement weekend schedule
In the event of severe weather, the university’s main commencement ceremony and College of Arts and Sciences ceremony will be held in the Multipurpose Facility of the Athletic Complex, and tickets will be required for each ceremony. Guests without tickets may view the ceremonies on large screen display and closed-circuit TV in the Dudley H. Davis Center. Visit the UVM homepage, www.uvm.edu, or call (802) 656-3309 or toll-free (800) 903-6601, beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 17 for an announcement regarding this possible change of venue.
Tickets are required for the College of Medicine Ceremony and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences Ceremony regardless of weather.
Learn more about ticketing for each of the ceremonies.
The main ceremony and each college’s ceremony will be webcast live on the following website: http://live.vpt.org/uvm/uvm.html. See the complete schedule of all ceremonies and receptions.
This year, President Tom Sullivan will confer degrees on an estimated 2,904 graduates, including 2,359 bachelor's, 324 master's, 112 doctoral and 109 M.D. degree recipients. Among expected degree recipients are students from 41 states and 84 international students from 20 countries. Approximately 1,059 graduates are from Vermont. The graduating class includes an expected 290 African, Latino/a, Asian and Native American (ALANA) and bi/multi-racial students.
Samantha Power, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and a member of President Obama’s cabinet, will deliver the commencement address and be presented with an honorary doctor of laws. A journalist, an academic and one of the foremost voices in U.S. foreign policy, she is known for her outspokenness, her intellect and her passion. At the United Nations, Ambassador Power works to advance U.S. interests, promote and defend universal values, and address pressing challenges to global peace, security and prosperity. She is the youngest person ever to hold the post. From 2005 to 2006, she worked as a foreign policy fellow in Senator Barack Obama’s office. She served as an adviser to President Obama and senior director for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights from January 2009 until February 2013. In April 2012, Ambassador Power became the first chair of the U.S. Atrocities Prevention Board, newly established by President Obama. Her influence continues to grow as she inspires the next generation of leaders in human rights.
Six others will receive honorary degrees at the ceremony: Professor Jonathan David Jansen, Dr. Irwin H. Krakoff, Dr. Robert Larner, Crea Sopher Lintilhac, Dr. Robert B. Low and Richard E. Tarrant. Learn more about these recipients.
Guidebook, a free mobile app with event details, maps, local information and more, is available for download, and free wireless access will be available on campus on campus by choosing the “UVM Guest” network; no password is required. Please note wireless will not be available at event venues.
The following street closings are planned in conjunction with commencement: from Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m. through Sunday, May 18, at 8 p.m., University Place will be closed from Colchester Avenue to Main Street, and South Prospect Street will be closed from College Street to the University Health Center entrance. In addition, on Sunday, May 18 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., South Prospect Street will be closed form Colchester Avenue to Main Street, and College Street will be closed from South Prospect Street to South Williams Street.
Shuttle buses will run between ceremony sites and parking areas. A parking map is available on the Commencement 2014 website. Guests are encouraged to carpool when possible and take shuttles from hotels when provided. Parking on residential streets is prohibited.
More information about commencement weekend is available on the Commencement 2014 website: www.uvm.edu/commencement.