Commencement Frequently Asked Questions

students and faculty membesr on graduation day

Click on each for answers to the questions listed. 

Is there more than one ceremony?
How will I be notified about the ceremony?
How long will the ceremony last?
How much are my robe and tassel going to cost?
Do I have to participate in the ceremony to get my degree?
What if I won’t have enough credits to get my diploma at the end of spring term? Can I still participate in the ceremony?
Which way does my tassel go?
How do I know if I’ve received Latin Honors?

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Is there more than one ceremony?

Yes! The University of Oregon Commencement Ceremony on Monday, June 17 at Autzen Stadium, is for all graduates university-wide and will begin at 9:00 am. For more information visit the UO Commencement website. The College of Education Departmental Ceremony will take place later in the day on Monday, June 17, 1:00 p.m. on the South Lawn behind Knight Library. RSVP for the ceremony.


How will I be notified about the ceremony?

You will receive emails from both the University of Oregon and the College of Education. All available information and updates will be also be available on the UO and COE commencement websites.


How long will the COE ceremony last?

The COE ceremony will last approximately two hours. Students are expected to remain seated until they are directed to cross the stage and then return to their seat until the ceremony is completed. Students should not leave in the middle of the ceremony.


How much are my robe and tassel going to cost? 

For the most updated regalia information, please visit the Duck Store website. You are not required to purchase a robe and may borrow one from someone else. Be aware that the UO uses a green robe for its ceremonies and not a black one, although both types of robes may be worn.


Do I have to participate in the ceremony to get my degree? 

The ceremony does not have any particular credit or degree requirements. In order to get your physical degree mailed to you, you just need to declare your intent to graduate through the UO Registrar’s office. The Registrar will mail you your diploma 4-6 weeks after the term in which you declared your intent to graduate. To get a diploma cover without purchasing regalia, visit the Duck Store website, type ‘diploma cover’ into the search box and follow the instructions. 

Deadlines to apply for 2024:—April 12 for graduate programs (if you miss this, contact your department to request a deadline override).—April 28 for undergraduate programs.

Undergraduates must apply for graduation through DuckWeb, and graduate students through the Division of Graduate Studies.


What if I won’t have enough credits to get my diploma at the end of spring term? Can I still walk in the ceremony? 

Yes!  There is no credit requirement to walk in the COE or UO ceremonies. See the eligibility policies below.

College of Education Commencement Eligibility

Which Doctoral students may participate (“walk”) in Spring Commencement?

  • Students who earned their degrees in any preceding quarter 
  • Students who have defended their dissertation or who have scheduled their dissertation defense and will earn their degree no later than the Summer directly following commencement.

Which Undergraduate and Masters students may participate (“walk”) in Spring Commencement?

It is customary to “walk” during the final quarter of your degree program. In some cases, however, academic programs are sequenced in such a way that graduation may only occur in the summer directly following the Spring ceremony. Undergraduate and Master’s students who will be applying to graduate in Summer or in Fall directly following the graduation ceremony, may choose to ‘walk’ during the Spring ceremony, or they may choose to ‘walk’ in the ceremony that takes place the following Spring.


Which way does my tassel go? 

Bachelor’s students wear their tassel on the right and will move their tassel to the left after shaking the dean’s hand and crossing the stage. Doctoral and Master’s candidates wear their tassel on the left. All degree candidates are encouraged to participate wearing regalia: gown, cap, tassel, and hood for doctoral and master’s degree candidates; gown, cap, and tassel for bachelor’s degree candidates. Regalia, including honor cords for students graduating with honors, are available at the UO Duck Store beginning in April. Online ordering will be available sometime in April.


How do I know if I’ve received Latin Honors? 

Graduating seniors who have earned at least 90 credits in residence at the University of Oregon and have successfully completed all other university degree requirements are eligible for graduation with Latin honors. The Office of the Registrar computes Latin honors upon graduation. The Latin honors cumulative GPA levels for each academic year are determined by rounding the previous five-year running average to the first decimal point. For students who will have degrees awarded this academic year (Fall 2023, Winter 2024, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024), the levels are as follows:

3.80 – 3.89 cum laude (white cord); 3.90 – 3.99, magna cum laude (silver cord); 4.0 and higher, summa cum laude (gold cord).

Postbaccalaureate and/or graduate students are not eligible for Latin honors. The College of Education will notify honors recipients by email sometime after May 2024. At that point, students will be able to purchase a honors cord at the Duck Store.


If you have any other questions, please contact Lisa Fortin at lfortin@uoregon.edu.