Commencement
The in-person Class of 2022 Commencement event will take place Thursday, May 19, at 10 a.m. EDT in the Academy of Music, located at 240 S. Broad St, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Please read and share with your guests the Kimmel Center Vaccination Policy in advance of their arrival.
The event will also be livestreamed, available to anyone on any device that has access to Wi-Fi, and will include the Commencement traditions that make UArts’ graduation unique: Awards will be bestowed to students and faculty; student performances will take place; a valedictory address will be given by a graduating student speaker; exceptional alumni will be honored; and we will confer honorary degrees to illustrious artists who will address our graduates.
To get an idea of what to expect, watch the Class of 2019 Commencement video to see the full Commencement ceremony.
Frequently Asked Questions
Venue
Where is the event taking place?
The event will take place at the Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 19102.
Ceremony
Commencement will be held Thursday, May 19, 2022.
Doors open at 9 a.m., and the ceremony processional begins promptly at 10 a.m.
The ceremony begins promptly at 10:00 a.m. and lasts until approximately 12:45 or 1 p.m. EDT.
Yes. The Samba Band recessional will lead you and your guests directly to Solmssen Court in Hamilton Hall for a reception with light refreshments immediately following the event.
Yes, you can watch the ceremony on any device that has access to Wi-Fi.
You do not need to watch the ceremony live; you can view it on YouTube. Search “University of the Arts Commencement” and add your graduating year.
LifeTouch will send an email to your UArts account within two weeks of the ceremony so you can purchase your photos. You may also search its database on Lifetouch’s site two weeks after your ceremony for yours and other ceremony photos.
Yes, they will. We ask you to pronounce your name on audio when you come in to pick up your tickets, cap and gown. The announcer listens to all the names, studies them and knows how to repeat your name aloud, correctly.
Award Ceremonies & Graduate Hooding Ceremony
Your school will notify you via your UArts email account as to when, where and if you are an awardee. Check with your school directly for more information.
Your school will notify you via your UArts email account as to when and where that event will take place. Check with your school directly for more information.
May 2022 School Award Ceremonies
PhD & Graduate Student Hooding and Awards Ceremony
Wednesday May 18, 2022
4–6 p.m.
Gershman Hall, Levitt Auditorium
For more information, email gps@uarts.edu.
School of Music
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
12–1 p.m.
Terra Hall, 17th floor, Caplan Recital Hall
For more information, email Morgan Walbridge, senior administrative assistant, at mwalbridge@uarts.edu.
School of Dance
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
1–2:30 p.m.
Location TBD
For more information, email Sara Procopio, adjunct associate professor, at sprocopio@uarts.edu.
Ira Brind School of Theater Arts
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
10:30–11:30 a.m.
Terra Hall, 17th floor, Caplan Recital Hall
For more information, email Madison Claus, senior administrative assistant, at mclaus@uarts.edu.
School of Film
Senior Thesis Showcase and Award Ceremony
Saturday May 7, 2022
Showcase: 5 p.m.
Awards: 7 p.m.
Terra Hall, 17th floor, Caplan Recital Hall
For more information, email Hannah Burke, assistant dean, School of Film, at hburke@uarts.edu.
Cap & Gown
When you fill out your graduation application in Student Self Service, you will also fill in your cap and gown order by entering your height to assure the correct size gown is reserved for you.
Your cap and gown and tickets will be available on the third floor of Gershman Hall, May 9–13, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
No. We always have extra sizes available, too, in the event that a replacement is needed.
Sashes are for Latin honors with the following cumulative GPAs.
- Gold summa sash (summa cum laude): GPA of 3.90–4.00
- Silver magna sash (magna cum laude): GPA of 3.80–3.89
- Red honors sash (cum laude): GPA of 3.60–3.79
Cords are specific to participation in clubs, organizations and academic activities; National Scholars; peer tutoring or AAP, etc., and are ordered in advance by the group itself.
Stop by Gershman Hall, Room 311, and we will provide replacements. The day of graduation, you can visit our staff in CBS Auditorium for assistance, as we will have plenty of extras on hand for this exact situation.
We don’t mail out items, but we will certainly allow a friend or a family member to pick them up for you if you email us that information directly from your UArts email account to commencement@uarts.edu.
Prior to the conferral of your degree, it goes on the right side. After you receive your degree, it goes on the left side. There will be a moment during graduation when all graduates move their tassels together.
Tickets
Students may pick up their cap, gown and tickets all at the same time on the third floor of Gershman Hall, May 9–13, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
Three—the number of tickets we give each eligible graduating student is based on the amount of seats available in the venue versus the amount of graduates walking in the class.
Once tickets are picked up by graduates, we will see if anyone has returned tickets or given them back for other students to use. After 6 p.m. on the Friday of the week of distribution, commencement@uarts.edu will send out an email to graduating students stating that we are holding a lottery for any leftover tickets. Students can then reply via their UArts email with the amount of tickets they wish to apply for, and we run our lottery system. Again, it depends on tickets given back or not picked up by other students. Our office does our very best to accommodate everyone who needs additional tickets based on what has been turned back in.
Announcements, Frames, Area Hotels, Parking
Visit Signature Announcements.
Double Tree: Use account # 560032780 for 10% off your room.
Fairfield Inn: Use coupon code 12102.
Cambria Hotel: You will get 30% off the best available rate.
The Independent Hotel: You will get 15% off your room rate.
Four Seasons Philadelphia: Use promo code UNIART to receive 20% off the best available rate.
Club Quarters: Use the URL clubquartershotels.com/university-arts for 15% off room rates at any Club Quarters worldwide.
Visit Philly: Search local hotel packages with free parking.
Visit Philly: Use a parking locator or look for garages, kiosks and meterUp.
Spot Hero: Reserve Philadelphia parking in advance, online or through this free app.
Have more questions? Feel free to email commencement@uarts.edu.