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Commencement at The University of Rhode Island

Commencement Exercises

Graduate students - Saturday, May 16

Undergraduate students - Sunday, May 17

On Saturday, May 16, 2009

    Graduate Commencement Ceremony

    1 p.m. in the Ryan Center

    Other events on Saturday

    • President's Reception
      3 p.m., On the lawn of the President’s residence on Upper College Road honoring all graduates and their families. (Rain site: Memorial Union Ballroom)
    • Undergraduate Excellence Awards
      4 p.m., Edwards Auditorium

    On Sunday, May 17, 2009

      Main/Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony

      12:30 p.m. on the Quadrangle***
      Undergraduate and honorary degrees awarded. Graduate degree recipients are also welcome to participate.
      • 10 a.m. -- Families & guests may take seats on the Quad. Programs will be available at information booths and from student escorts.
      • Noon -- Degree candidates assemble in front of Memorial Union
      • 12:30 p.m.- Commencement ceremonies begin and will run approximately 90 minutes.

      Individual colleges will hold ceremonies immediately following the main commencement ceremony. Click here for the list of locations. The Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education Ceremonies will be held rain or shine at 10 a.m. in front of Roosevelt Hall.

***In the event of rain

The Undergraduate Commencement ceremony will be held in the Ryan Center and tickets are required. Bachelor's degree recipients are allowed two tickets to the Ryan Center. These tickets are required and will be given to graduates upon their purchase of academic regalia at the University Bookstore in the Memorial Union. While students may purchase regalia at University Spirit, rain site tickets must still be picked up at the University Bookstore.

In the event of rain, any guests in addition to the two permitted for each student should go directly to the indoor rain sites listed for each of the Colleges. Tickets are not required for the rain sites and the Main Commencement Ceremony will be simulcast to each of these indoor sites.

Commencement Book

Commencement Information (PDF)

Download a complete booklet of information to be prepared for the 2009 Commencement ceremonies.