2012 Commencement Information

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Mariucci Arena, 1901 4th Street SE, Minneapolis, on the East Bank of Campus.

The Ceremony begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. and lasts approximately 2 hours with a reception following the ceremony.

Students should plan to arrive at Mariucci by 8:30 a.m. Entrance to Mariucci Arena for all students is the Sundet operations lobby of Mariucci, 1901 4th Stree S.E., Minneapolis, MN, 55455. Follow the signage and directions from staff about where to assemble.

Your class picture will be taken at 8:45 a.m. Please make every effort to arrive by 8:30 a.m. to get lined up and robed properly.

A separate picture will be taken of the LL.M. students at 9 a.m. following the J.D. class.

Allow time for parking on the East Bank, as lines can be long. If you require handicapped parking, call 626-PARK for assistance.

All Guests are encouraged to park in one of the following lots:

• Maroon Lot (east of Mariucci)
• Lot 33 (north and east of main entrance)
• Lot 37 (north of Rider and Mariucci Arena)
• 4th Street Ramp (west of Mariucci 3 blocks)
• University Avenue Ramp (south of Mariucci 2 blocks)

For more information about parking, traffic, freeway access and maps, go to http://www.umn.edu/pts/maps.

Senator Al Franken

After the class picture and prior to entering Mariucci Arena as a class, you will line up alphabetically and receive a notecard with your name on it. Present this card to the faculty member announcing the graduates when you approach the stage. Once your name is announced, walk across the stage, shake hands with the Dean and return to your seat. Remember to take 1 second to look at the camera in the orchestra pit during the handshake.

Graduates will be led at 10:00 a.m. into the ceremony to their reserved seats, and will be directed when it is time to approach the stage.

Tickets are not necessary and there is no guest limit. The doors will open at 9:30 a.m. to the public. Entrance to Mariucci Arena for all guests is the East Main Lobby, 4 Oak Street S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55455. Early seating will be available for persons with disabilities and the elderly. Staff will be in the main lobby to direct those that need assistance.

Those with disabilities and the elderly are encouraged to arrive by 9:00 a.m. for both parking and early seating. Staff will be available in the main lobby for access to the elevator and early seating. There is marked seating around the perimeter of the arena for wheelchair and handicap seating. There are also movable chairs in these areas so family members can sit nearby.

Cameras and video camera are welcome, but aisles cannot be blocked and no one is allowed stage front.

A reception with light refreshments will immediately follow the ceremony.

The graduation ceremony will be videotaped, and a DVD will be available for purchase a couple weeks after the ceremony. Details about how to purchase the DVD will be printed in the commencement bulletin and are also available at http://www.wesvid.com. This year the ceremony will also be livestreamed. The URL for the livestream is: http://www.livestream.com/umntv.

Cap & Gown Orders

Order your academic regalia by calling Herff-Jones directly at 952-447-4449 to speak with a representative. All rented items (except tassel) are to be returned following the commencement reception. 

If you ordered by March 22, your order will be delivered to the Law School on Wednesday, April 25 and available for pick-up in Auerbach Commons from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. If you cannot pick up your packet on April 25, it will be left with the Career Center until Friday, May 11. Later orders will also be delivered to the Career Center before graduation.

Orders for announcements and frames are separate from your cap & gown order and not time sensitive.
To order announcements, click here.
To order custom diploma frames, click here.

You must return your cap & gown to Herff-Jones after the reception. A table will be set up in Mariucci.

If you are attending commencement and you, a family member, or friend require accommodations for a sign language interpreter at the Commencement ceremony, please contact Linda Lokensgard by Wednesday, April 25. Where there is a need, University Disability Services will work to secure interpreters.

If you think your name needs phonetic indicators to pronounce, please stop by the Information Desk and mark your namecard accordingly before Friday, May 11. The name on the card is the same name you have approved with Student Services to appear in the bulletin. If you do not need to indicate pronunciation, you do not need to do anything. LL.M. students should contact Khary Hornsby regarding their name cards.

To view your formal cap and gown portraits:
1. Go to www.eventpix.com
2. Search for events
3. At the line for Photographer's last name type in santos
4. Scroll down to U of M Commencement 2012
5. The password is UOFMLAW2012

Shortly following the ceremony, your class photo and handshake photo will be available to order online. Watch here for more instructions to come. If you have questions, please contact H. Larson Photography.

H. Larson Studio
Contact: Dave Santos
4359 Minnehaha Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55406
612-729-1375
hlarsonstudio@hotmail.com
www.hlarsonphoto.com

Student Graduation Party

Law School Reception for Graduates

On Friday, May 11, the Deans and the law faculty invite you and your family & friends to a reception in your honor. It will be held in Auerbauch Lounge from 4—6:00 p.m. Please RSVP to lawevent@umn.edu.

Student Awards Presentation