COMMENCEMENT
UW-Whitewater’s May 2024 commencement ceremonies will be held at the Williams Center on the UW-Whitewater campus on Saturday, May 11, 2024. Each ceremony will last approximately two hours long. The Williams Center doors open at 7:30 a.m. and the doors to Kachel Fieldhouse, where the ceremony will take place, open at 8:30 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 1:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony.
Are you wondering what to expect at the ceremony? View our brief December 2023 recap video.
A video live stream link will be available closer to commencement.
Commencement parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. All campus lots will be free of charge on commencement day. We suggest you arrive early. Note that you may wish to avoid Fremont Street, which may be closed or slower than usual due to ongoing construction.
University Police will direct those in need of accessible parking, which is limited, to lot #11. Only vehicles with state-issued disabled license plates, permits or placards will be permitted in this lot.
Guest access
The commencement ceremony will be fully accessible. Drop-off location and accessible seating will be available for individuals with disabilities or limited mobility. Seating will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to only those guests who require it. The seats will be for the person with accessible needs and for one companion. No pre-ticketing will occur for accessible seating. Wheelchair and wheelchair companion locations are scattered throughout the main level. Family members and guests are encouraged to provide their own mobility devices; UW-Whitewater does not provide wheelchairs or walkers.
Accommodations for deaf/hard of hearing guests
The seating area is served by assistive listening devices (ALD) on an FM system. Individuals may pick up headsets at the Recreation Sports and Facilities Office, located in room 100 of the Williams Center (near the north entrance doors of the fieldhouse), and must leave some form of collateral, such as a driver’s license or credit card while using the ALD. In addition, ASL interpreters will be on site in a designated area.
Accommodations for nursing mothers
Please feel free to feed your child anywhere you wish. If you would like a more comfortable area, please head to room 105 in the Williams Center (athletic training room).
Restroom changing stations
Changing stations are located in the following areas in the Williams Center: women's restrooms (rooms 163 and 207) and men's restrooms (rooms 159 and 204).
Restrooms
The public restrooms are accessible.
Accommodations for graduating students
Graduates who need hearing, mobility or other accommodations for either ceremony can make arrangements by contacting Sara Vogt at vogts@uww.edu.
10 a.m. ceremony
- Honoring the College of Arts and Communication and the College of Business and Economics (undergraduates and graduate students from related programs)
- Wristbands serve as tickets and are required for entry.
- Doors to the Kachel Fieldhouse open at 8:30 a.m. They will close for the processional at 9:45 a.m. and will reopen after the singing of the National Anthem.
- Guests are asked to exit the Kachel Fieldhouse by 12:30 p.m. so that staff can prepare for the afternoon ceremony.
3 p.m. ceremony
- Honoring the College of Education and Professional Studies and the College of Letters and Sciences (undergraduates and graduate students from related programs), and the College of Integrated Studies (BAAS students).
- Wristbands serve as tickets and are required for entry.
- Doors to the Kachel Fieldhouse open at 1:30 p.m. They will close for the processional at 2:45 p.m. and will reopen after the singing of the National Anthem.
View Whitewater Campus Commencement Program
Please note:
- Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Only water is permitted in the fieldhouse.
- Water and flowers will be available for purchase.
- Strollers, balloons and other large items must be checked; a free coat check is available.
- There are no restrictions on bags (size, clear vs. opaque, etc.).
- Professional photography will take place during the ceremonies, and students will have access to those photos by Tuesday, May 14.
- The lost and found is located in Room 100.
- Signage in the field house will indicate where students are seated according to college. Students will cross the stage from right to left as they receive their degree.
Tickets for the ceremony
Each graduating student will be issued seven tickets in the form of pre-printed wristbands.
- The wristbands can be picked up from the Registrar's Office between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. through May 10.
- Wristbands can also be picked up at the Will Call box office on the second floor of the Williams Center starting at 8 a.m. on the day of the ceremonies. Family members can pick up wristbands if the student has provided the Registrar’s Office with the family member’s name in advance.
- All guests must be wearing wristbands; for those without wristbands, remote viewing is available in Timmerman Auditorium in Hyland Hall.
Warhawk gear, food and tours
The following campus locations are open on Saturday, May 11, 2024:
- The University Bookstore is open 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Willie’s is open 9 a.m.-3 p.m. in the University Center for Colectivo coffee and snacks.
- A self-guided tour is available online. Printed versions of the tour can be picked up at the University Center Information Desk, the bookstore, and the Visitor’s Center.
The Rock County campus
The Rock County campus will hold its commencement ceremony in the gymnasium of the Wells Cultural Center at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2024. No tickets are required, and free parking is available.
Commencement Speakers
Scott Wrobbel
The commencement speaker for the morning ceremony on the Whitewater campus is Scott Wrobbel, who earned a BBA in accounting in 1980.
Crystal McClain
The commencement speaker for the afternoon ceremony on the Whitewater campus is Crystal McClain, who earned a B.A. in social work in 2003.
Dylan Riley
The student speaker for the morning ceremony is Dylan Riley, who is graduating in just three years with a BBA in finance and a minor in political science.
Ty Jahnke
The student speaker for the afternoon ceremony is Ty Jahnke, who first earned his B.S. in human performance in 2023 and is graduating with a Master of Science in Applied Kinesiology.
Hired Before Graduation social media campaign
If you are graduating in May 2024 and have landed a job, earned admission to graduate school or started a company before commencement, join us for Hired Before Graduation, a university tradition, to have your photo taken professionally and posted to UW-Whitewater's Facebook page.
Congratulations, class of 2024! GO WARHAWKS!
