Graduation

The Class of 2025 includes those who completed their programs in the summer of 2024, fall of 2024, or spring of 2025.

No; however, graduates who choose to participate in the commencement ceremony will be required to wear regalia (cap, gown, and tassel), which must be purchased online or in person through the campus bookstore.

Yes, you can participate in the ceremony; however, you will not receive your diploma or official transcripts until all outstanding balances have been paid in full. Once all outstanding balances have been paid in full, please contact your campus Registrar's Office to notify them that you would like your diploma to be released. You may also order your official transcript at Parchment.com.

If you did not attend the graduation party, you may visit the bookstore in person to purchase your regalia.

Veterans and service members may also opt to wear their dress uniform.

Honor cords are given to graduates who have earned cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude recognition based on cumulative grade point average. Honor cords will be distributed at rehearsal for Dover Campus and Georgetown Campus and at commencement for Stanton and Wilmington campuses.

Students earning a cumulative grade point average (GPA) between 3.25 and 3.49 will graduate cum laude. Those earning a cumulative GPA between 3.5 and 3.79 will graduate magna cum laude. Those earning a cumulative GPA between 3.8 and 4.0 will graduate summa cum laude.

Graduates who have verified with the academic counselor for veterans and service members that they served, or are currently serving, in the U.S. Armed Forces will receive a red, white, and blue honor cord in gratitude for their service. Veterans' cords will be distributed at rehearsal for Dover Campus and Georgetown Campus and at commencement for Stanton and Wilmington campuses.

Honor society members have approved regalia for commencement ceremonies:

Phi Theta Kappa students may purchase their PTK Honors Stole and/or Honors Cord from the PTK website.

Graduates who are members of Alpha Beta Gamma (business) or Lambda Epsilon Chi (legal studies) should contact their club advisor about purchasing their honor society regalia.

Graduates who have studied abroad should wear the stole representing the country they visited. Graduates may contact their campus international education coordinator for more information.

Presidential Student Leadership Academy participants may contact the International Education Director

Sigma Theta Tau students will receive cords at induction or may purchase from the Sigma Theta Tau website.

Commencement ceremonies are held in each county.

• Stanton/Wilmington: Bob Carpenter Center at the University of Delaware, 7 p.m., Thursday, May 15
• Dover: Terry Campus, 6 p.m., Monday, May 19
• Georgetown: Owens Campus, 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 20

• Dover: Students should arrive at the Del-One Conference Center on the Terry Campus by 5:15 p.m.
• Georgetown: Students should arrive at the Carter Partnership Center on the Owens Campus by 5 p.m.
• Stanton/Wilmington: TBD

Yes, each campus will conduct a rehearsal prior to the ceremony; it is highly recommended that you attend so that you will understand the flow of the ceremony.

• Dover: Friday, May 16, 10 a.m., in the Del-One Conference Center
• Georgetown: Tuesday, May 20, 10 a.m., under the Tent
• Stanton/Wilmington: TBD

Graduates earning multiple degrees will walk across the stage only one time, but their names will appear in the commencement booklet under all degrees earned/awarded.

Students must participate at their home campus commencement ceremony.

Upon your arrival, direction to appropriate parking will be provided at each location. Graduates and attendees park in general parking. Accessible parking is also available. Maps for the Dover and Georgetown ceremonies are provided below so attendees can identify the location and head in the right direction. Stanton and Wilmington graduates and attendees will be directed by UD staff upon arrival at the location below:

• Dover: campus map
• Georgetown: campus map
• Stanton/Wilmington: University of Delaware Bob Carpenter Center, 631 South College Ave, Newark, DE

Yes, tickets are required. To receive tickets, graduates must indicate on the graduation application that they are attending the ceremony. Tickets will be distributed with regalia at the campus graduation parties. The graduation party dates, times, and locations are as follows:

• Georgetown: TBD
• Wilmington: TBD
• Stanton: TBD
• Dover: TBD

Tickets that are not picked up at the graduation parties may be picked up at the student's home campus through the Admissions Office during regular hours.

Campus ticket details:

• Georgetown: Tickets are required for all those who wish to sit under the tent. Tickets are not required for seating around the exterior of the tent. Guests who select this area will need to provide their own chairs. Each graduate receives two (2) tickets. Children under 2 years old are not required to have a separate ticket if they sit on the lap of an adult ticket holder. Seating will begin at 4:30 p.m. All ticket holders must be seated by 5:30 p.m. Alternate viewing locations include Room 529 of the William A. Carter Partnership Center (Faucett Lecture Hall) or the Theater in the Arts and Sciences Center. Livestream is also available on the College website. 
• Dover: Tickets are required for all those who wish to sit under the tent. Tickets are not required for seating around the exterior of the tent. Guests who select this area will need to provide their own chairs. Each graduate receives three (3) tickets. Children under 2 years old are not required to have a separate ticket if they sit on the lap of an adult ticketholder. Seating will begin at 4:45 p.m. All ticket holders must be seated by 5:30 p.m. Alternate viewing locations include the Del-One Conference Center in the Education Technology Building. The livestream is also available on the College website. (Ticketholders are not guaranteed seats after 5:30 p.m.) Guests without tickets can view the ceremony via livestream available on the College’s website.
• Stanton/Wilmington: TBD

Please contact the campus disabilities support counselor to request accommodations for you or your guests. If the campus requires tickets for seating, all guests must have a ticket. To help us best meet your needs, please contact us 10 working days prior to the event.

• Dover: Dr. Matthew Zink, mzink1@paksel.net, (302) 857-1349
• Georgetown: Shannon Wright, shannon.wright@paksel.net, (302) 259-6049
• Stanton: Dr. Heather Statler, hstatler@paksel.net, (302) 454-3927
• Wilmington: Stephanie Spadaccini, stephanie.spadaccini@paksel.net, (302) 434-5553

Students will be notified via text and email if plans change due to severe inclement weather predictions.

Printed diplomas will be shipped approximately seven to eight weeks after the end of the semester in which you graduate.