The University of Vermont will hold its 222nd commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 21 for the class of 2023—the first class to complete four years of study at UVM paying the same for tuition as they did when they started, thanks to an ongoing commitment to keep UVM affordable and accessible for students and families from Vermont and across the nation.
UVM President Suresh Garimella will confer degrees on an estimated 3,383 graduates, including 2,645 bachelors, 493 masters, 133 doctoral and 112 medical degree recipients. Among expected degree recipients are students from 44 states and 102 international students from 30 countries. Approximately 1,025 graduates are from Vermont. The graduating class includes an expected 440 students of color.
The University Commencement Ceremony—where the president will confer degrees and the commencement address will be delivered—will start at 8:20 a.m. on the University Green and will be held rain or shine. In the event of severe weather, the traditional ceremony will be cancelled and a modified program will be livestreamed.
Apart from the Graduate College ceremony and the Honors College Scholars Recognition ceremonies, which will be held on Saturday afternoon, all individual college/school undergraduate celebrations and the Larner College of Medicine’s ceremony will take place throughout the day on Sunday. View the full Commencement weekend schedule. All ceremonies will be livestreamed and may be viewed at https://www.uvmcommencement.com/.
In the event of severe weather, the College of Arts and Sciences celebration will move indoors to Patrick Gymnasium and will become a ticketed event (two tickets per graduate). The weather call will be made by 1 p.m. on Saturday and will be posted on the commencement website.
This year’s commencement speaker is The Honorable Sethuraman Panchanathan, director of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and one of the most dynamic advocates for the power of research and education to inspire collaboration and create solutions for global challenges.
Panchanathan has a distinguished career in science, technology, engineering and education spanning more than three decades. He has led NSF, a $9.5 billion independent federal agency charged with advancing scientific discovery, technological innovation, and STEM education, since 2020.
Panchanathan, along with Michele Resnick Cohen ’72 and Dr. Mark A. Levine will receive honorary degrees during the University Commencement Ceremony. Additional information about Panchanathan and honorary degree recipients is available here.
Street Closings
- University Place, from Colchester Avenue to Main Street, will be closed from Friday, May 19 at 7 a.m. until Monday, May 22 at 4 p.m.
- South Prospect Street, from College Street to the University Health Center entrance, will be closed from Friday, May 19 at 7 p.m. until Monday, May 22 at 4 p.m.
- South Prospect Street, from Colchester Avenue to Main Street, and College Street, from South Prospect Street to South Williams Street, will be closed on Sunday, May 21 between 5 a.m. and 6 p.m. The northern-most, west-bound lane on Main Street, from University Heights Road to South Prospect Street, will also be closed.
For additional information, please visit www.uvm.edu/commencement