About 4,800 University of Iowa students will receive their degrees at spring 2017 commencement ceremonies, which begin Thursday, May 11, with the College of Pharmacy and end on Friday, May 26, with the College of Dentistry. All other ceremonies will take place May 12–14.
Everyone is encouraged to use the hashtag #UIGrad17 to join the celebration on social media.
Two ceremonies will be held for College of Liberal Arts and Sciences undergraduates, accommodating more family members and guests. All commencement ceremonies will be streamed live via the Iowa Now website.
Dates, times, locations, and additional information for each ceremony are listed below, including live streaming video details. More commencement information can be found on the Office of the Registrar website.
Thursday, May 11
College of Pharmacy
10 a.m., Hancher Auditorium
Tim Franson will provide this year’s commencement address. Franson completed a residency in internal medicine at the UI in 1981. He is the chief medical officer of YourEncore, a life sciences consulting and staffing enterprise, and recently completed a five-year term as the president of the U.S. Pharmacopeial Convention. Graduate Phi Q. Trinh will be the student speaker. Graduates should arrive no later than 9:15 a.m.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-college-pharmacy-commencement-ceremony
Friday, May 12
Tippie College of Business MBA Commencement
9 a.m., Hancher Auditorium
The guest speaker will be Jerre Stead (BBA ’65), chairman and CEO of IHS Inc., a worldwide provider of critical information, insight, and analytics. He and his wife, Mary Joy, are longtime UI benefactors, and the new UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital was named in their honor. Graduate Husam Atari, of Amman, Jordan, will be the student speaker. Graduates should arrive no later than 8:15 a.m.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-tippie-mba-program-commencement-ceremony
College of Law
2 p.m., Hancher Auditorium
Participating university officials include Daniel Reed, vice president for research and economic development, and Gail Agrawal, dean of the College of Law. Michael Melloy, senior judge for the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals (JD ’74) will be the guest speaker. Graduates dressed in their caps and gowns should arrive at Hancher Auditorium no later than 1 p.m. for a class photo.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-college-law-commencement-ceremony
Teacher Education Convocation
3 p.m., Iowa Memorial Union Main Lounge
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences degree-seeking candidates who have completed the requirements for teacher licensure will be recognized. Shawn Datchuk will be the faculty speaker; the student speaker will be graduate Samantha Kaplan, of Naperville, Illinois. Vice President for Student Life Tom Rocklin will give the keynote address.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-teacher-education-convocation
Carver College of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine and Master’s in Medical Education degrees
6:30 p.m., Hancher Auditorium
Tickets required
Participating university officials include Jean Robillard, UI vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, and Christopher Cooper, senior associate dean for medical education. Guest speaker will be Nancy Rosenthal, assistant dean for student affairs at Wake Forest School of Medicine and former assistant dean for student affairs and curriculum at the Carver College of Medicine. Graduate Stephen Slade will lead the class in reciting the Oath of Hippocrates. Graduates should arrive no later than 6 p.m.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-carver-college-medicine-commencement-ceremony-doctoralmaster
Graduate College
7 p.m., Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Participating university officials include John Keller, associate provost for graduate and professional education and Graduate College dean; Sue Curry, interim executive vice president and provost; and UI President J. Bruce Harreld. Martin-José Sepulveda, corporate health and wellness innovator, will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science degree during the ceremony and will be the guest speaker. Doors open at 6 p.m., and graduates should arrive no later than 6:15 p.m.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-graduate-college-commencement-ceremony
Saturday, May 13
College of Nursing
9 a.m., Hancher Auditorium
Interim Executive Vice President and Provost Sue Curry will confer degrees. Graduate Emily Ford, of Geneseo, Illinois, will be the Pre-Licensure BSN class speaker. Graduate Shelly Klinkhammer, of Dubuque, Iowa, will be the RN–BSN class speaker. Graduates should arrive no later than 8:15 a.m.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-college-nursing-commencement-ceremony
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
9 a.m., Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Ceremony for graduates majoring in African American studies; American studies; sport studies; anthropology; art; art history; biochemistry; biology; biomedical sciences; chemistry; cinema; ancient civilization; classical languages; speech and hearing science; computer science; informatics; environmental sciences; geoscience; economics; elementary education; science education; English; gender, women’s and sexuality studies; environmental policy and planning; geography; athletic training; health and human physiology; human physiology; leisure studies; sport and recreation management; and therapeutic recreation.
Participating university officials include Dean Chaden Djalali and UI President J. Bruce Harreld, who will confer degrees. Associate Professor R. Tyler Priest, of History and Geographical and Sustainability Sciences, will be the faculty speaker. Graduate Samantha Kaplan, of Naperville, Illinois, will be the student speaker. Graduate William Callan, from Clinton, Iowa, will sing the national anthem. Doors open at 8 a.m.; graduates should arrive no later than 8:15 a.m.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-college-liberal-arts-and-sciences-commencement-ceremony-morning
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
1 p.m., Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Ceremony for graduates majoring in communication studies; history; enterprise leadership; global health studies; interdepartmental studies; international studies; journalism and mass communication; linguistics; mathematics; microbiology; dance; music; theatre arts; ethics and public policy; philosophy; applied physics; astronomy; physics; international relations; political science; psychology; religious studies; social work; criminology, law and justice; sociology; actuarial science; statistics; Bachelor of Applied Studies; Bachelor of Liberal Studies; Asian languages and literature; comparative literature; French; German; Italian; Portuguese; Russian; and Spanish.
Participating university officials include Associate Dean Meenakshi Gigi Durham and UI Vice President for Research and Economic Development Dan Reed, who will confer degrees. The faculty speaker will be Cornelia Lang, associate professor of physics and astronomy. Graduate Sofie Lenzen, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, will be the student speaker. Graduate Paige Boche will sing the national anthem. Doors open at noon, and graduates should arrive no later than 12:15 p.m.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-college-liberal-arts-and-sciences-commencement-ceremony-evening
Tippie College of Business
5 p.m., Carver-Hawkeye Arena
The guest speaker will be Ted Waitt, founder of the Gateway 2000 computer company and current chairman of the Waitt Foundation. Waitt, a native of Sioux City, Iowa, will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters during the ceremony. The student speaker will be Alexandra Pagano, of Los Angeles, California, who will receive a BBA in marketing management with a minor in aerospace studies. Graduates should arrive no later than 4:15 p.m.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-tippie-college-business-commencement-ceremony
Carver College of Medicine
Bachelor of Science degrees
(Nuclear medicine, radiation sciences, and clinical laboratory sciences)
6:30 p.m., Hancher Auditorium
David Asprey, assistant dean for student affairs and curriculum in the Carver College of Medicine and chair and DEO of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies and Services will preside over the ceremony. Jean Robillard, vice president for medical affairs and dean of the Carver College of Medicine, will confer degrees. Speakers include Colin Derdeyn, chair and DEO of the Department of Radiology; Matthew Krasowski, vice chair for clinical pathology and laboratory services in the Department of Pathology; Lorie Gillitzer, clinical coordinator and radiation sciences educator in the Radiologic Technology Program; graduate Hannah Fink, a student in Radiation Sciences Program; and Anthony Knight, administrative program director of the Radiation Sciences Programs and director of the Nuclear Medicine Technology Education Program. Graduates should arrive no later than 6 p.m.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-carver-college-medicine-commencement-ceremony-bachelor-science
Sunday, May 14
College of Engineering
Noon, Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Student speakers will be graduates Julie Nessler and her son, Aaron Nessler, of Iowa City. Both will be receiving degrees in biomechanical engineering. College of Engineering Dean Alec Scranton will induct college alumnus Ross Teggatz (BSEE ’85) into the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Academy. Teggatz, founder, CEO, and president of Triune Systems LLC, will deliver a speech. Graduates should arrive no later than 11 a.m.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-college-engineering-commencement-ceremony
Friday, May 26
College of Dentistry
3 p.m., Hancher Auditorium
Dean David C. Johnsen will give the welcome address. Tom Rocklin, vice president for student life, will confer degrees. Graduate Sean McGivern will be the student speaker. Graduates should arrive no later than 2:15 p.m.
Live video stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-college-dentistry-commencement-ceremony
Students with disabilities
Degree candidates with physical disabilities who plan to participate in the ceremony should report to Graduation Analysis at 2 Jessup Hall or contact at 319-335-0228 or registrar-degree-applications@uiowa.edu to make necessary arrangements.
Streaming and broadcast
See ceremony details above for live video stream links. Streaming pages will go live before the ceremonies, and archival videos will replace live streams on these pages shortly after the ceremonies conclude.
Graduate College, College of Law, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Tippie College of Business ceremonies also will be broadcast live on UITV, Mediacom cable channel 17 (118.5) in the Iowa City area. Please check your TV guide to confirm.
Social media
Social media users can join the celebration online by using the hashtag #UIGrad17 with UI graduation–related posts on your favorite platforms. Best posts will be shared via UI social media channels and on the Iowa Now website.
Related events
Other events also pay tribute to this year’s graduating students. (Most are by invitation—contact organizers for more info.)
- UI REACH will celebrate with a convocation for students at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 6, in the UI Macbride Hall Auditorium. Doors will open at 8 a.m. Live stream: now.uiowa.edu/2017/05/video-ui-reach-convocation-ceremony
- The Center for Student Involvement and Leadership, the Chief Diversity Office, and the LGBT Staff and Faculty Association will host the Rainbow Graduation Celebration at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, in the Senate Chamber at the Old Capitol Museum. Guests should RSVP at imu.uiowa.edu/rainbowgrad. For more information please contact meagan-schorr@uiowa.edu or roy-salcedo@uiowa.edu.
- The Center for Diversity and Enrichment hosts a graduation reception and awards presentation at 3 p.m. May 10 in the Iowa Memorial Union Main Lounge. Contact kate-miller@uiowa.edu for more information.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena
Entering the Arena: Guests should plan on using the south and west entrances. Doors to the arena will open one hour prior to the start of the ceremony.
Public Safety officials will search any purses or bags brought into the building. Everyone will be asked to open their coats or graduation gown for visual inspection. No backpacks, large bags (limited to 8.5-by-11 inches or smaller), packages, wrapped gifts, balloons, or outside food and beverage are allowed at Carver-Hawkeye Arena during this event. Neither air horns nor alcohol are permitted
Additional information about seating and evacuation procedures at Carver-Hawkeye Arena can be found on the links below.
registrar.uiowa.edu/seating-and-evacuation-carver-hawkeye-arena-ui-commencement-ceremonies
Information for guests with disabilities or limited mobility: Guests with physical disabilities who have a disabilities parking permit (plate, placard, or sticker) will be permitted to park in Lot 46 adjacent to Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Public Safety officers will be restricting entrance to this lot to only those guests with the above-mentioned state-issued permits. From Lot 46, guests should enter the arena via the west doors.
Seating for guests is accessible from the upper concourse, which is on the same level where you will enter the building. Guests with disabilities or limited mobility can find seating in the Feller Club Room. This room is equipped with large TV screens and commencement ceremonies can be viewed live from here. No food or beverage will be permitted in this room.
Guests with disabilities also are welcome to view the ceremony from the upper concourse level. Wheelchair and scooter spaces can be found in sections K–N on this level. Space is limited, and guests are asked to seat themselves and no more than two companions in this area. Guests should provide their own wheelchair if needed.
A sign language interpreter will be on stage to interpret the ceremony.
Hancher Auditorium
Doors at Hancher Auditorium open an hour before the designated ceremony’s start time.
Hancher Auditorium guests with disabilities or limited mobility who possess a state-issued disabled parking permit can park in the lot adjacent to the auditorium on the west side, with overflow lots southwest of the auditorium in Lot 55. Visit hancher.uiowa.edu/road-construction to view the location of these lots.
Guests with limited mobility can enter Hancher through either of the two west entrances. Guests needing seating accommodations should contact Hancher directly at 319-335-1158.
Hancher guests should note significant construction on Dubuque Street and Park Road that could delay travel, especially at peak times. Delays of at least 15 to 30 minutes are possible, and travelers should plan accordingly.
For the media
Photo/video guidelines for the IMU: No flashes or lights can be used inside the IMU, and no cords or cables can lie on the floor. Please bring your batteries and be prepared to shoot from the shoulder. Photographers can shoot from the back of the room. Please be in position before the start of the processional.
Carver-Hawkeye Arena commencement: Doors open one hour before each ceremony. Photographers and news media are permitted on the arena floor until 15 minutes before ceremonies begin, at which point they must return to the designated media area. Media and visitors on the arena concourse are asked to keep noise to a minimum while the ceremony is in progress. Interviews should be conducted outside the arena. Clean audio is available through the arena system.
Hancher Auditorium commencements: Doors open one hour before each ceremony. Media and visitors are asked to keep noise to a minimum while the ceremony is in progress. Interviews should be conducted outside the performance hall area.