Undergraduate Honor Cord Distinction

Students participating in Commencement may wear pins, ribbons, cords and stoles from national honor societies recognized by the University. Students may not wear medallions, except for Honors Program Thesis Medallions and Student Marshal Medallions.

University honor cords are double ropes knotted at the back of the neck and worn over the robe. The cords come in three colors. . . gold, crimson, or white.

• Summa Cum Laude...with Highest Distinction ...3.80 - 4.00...gold cord

• Magna Cum Laude...with High Distinction...3.50 - 3.79...crimson cord

• Cum Laude...with Distinction...3.25 - 3.49...white cord

Undergraduate students who have achieved academic honors will receive their honor cord from the college faculty marshal on the day of the ceremony, and they will be seated according to the honor conferred.

Names listed in the program with the designations Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude are provided by the office of the Dean of the College and are based on grade point averages at the beginning of the term. Grades from this semester will not be included in honors calculations until certification for the diploma.

You may confirm your honor designation by checking the proof of the Commencement Program. If you think there is an error, you must talk with the College Graduation Analyst. If the honor is incorrect, have the analyst edit the program proof. After the yet to be announced date the analyst must write a statement to the Coordinator of commencement and Student Affairs Events.

Graduate Students do not have academic honors, but may wear cords awarded previously.

Each College will identify the undergraduate student with the highest GPA to act as its Student Marshal. Student Marshals are recognized by their Marshal's medallion and will lead the college across the stage.

In making your arrangements please allow for time to get to the FedExForum and find parking.  Long lines to enter the garage should be expected.

Be aware that you will have to pay to park in the FedExForum garage. The charge will be $5 per car for the event! Please have cash in hand. If you do not wish to park in the FedExForum garage, you may opt to park in another parking facility. Refer to the maps of the surrounding streets for other parking locations.

1. Meet all degree requirements to be certified for graduation.

2. Pay all University fees. Clear any indebtedness through the Bursar's Office, 678-5579. Transcripts and diplomas will be held until you are free of debt to the University.

3. Check your name on the program proofs on this website for correct degree, honor(s), and spelling of your name as you want it on your diploma. Also check to make sure the name listed matches the name that the Registrar has on record for you! They must match including middle name and any suffix (Jr, III etc). Please read the Registrar's Policy on name changes.

4. Submit your Diploma Mailing Card online with the appropriate address you wish to use 2 (two) months after graduation.

The diploma will be mailed to you after July 1 for May graduates and after October 1, 2009 for August 2009 graduates. Changes in honors or other printing corrections will be reordered automatically.

For additional copies of diplomas, see the Diploma Reorder Information tab.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Graduate Students who live in the immediate surrounding area of the University of Memphis, i.e. Brister, Highland, Mynders, Southern, Patterson, must pick their diplomas up in the Commencement Office located in Wilder Tower.

1. When will I receive my diploma?
Diplomas for December 2008 graduates will be mailed by the Commencement Office after February 1, 2008.

Diplomas for May 2009 graduates will be mailed by the Commencement Office after July 1, 2009.

Diplomas for August 2009 graduates will be mailed by the Commencement Office after October 1, 2009.

2. Who is my Graduation Analyst?
Please refer to the list of College Graduation Analysts and find the name listed for your College.

3. What is my "College?"
All academic fields of study are located within a college. The colleges are: Arts & Sciences, Business and Economics, Communication & Fine Arts, Education, Engineering, University College, Nursing, Audiology & Speech Language Pathology, Law, and Graduate School. All graduate students are in the Graduate School regardless of major. The commencement program will list graduate students with the undergraduate college of their major to correspond with the processional.

4. May I change my name on my diploma?
You may change your name in Spectrum by going to the Registrar's Office (Wilder Tower, Room 003, 678-3928). The name on your diploma must match the name on your file at the Registrar's office. Do not wait until the last minute to make a name change. For more details, refer to Registrar's Office Policy.

5. Where can I get a Diploma Mailing Card, or an Undergraduate Attendance Card?
Each of these cards is available on our website. Click on the appropriate link above for cards.

6. How many people may I bring to the graduation ceremony?
Commencement is open to the public. You may bring as many guests as you like. No ticket is necessary.

7. Where do I pick up my cap & gown?
Cap and Gown Distribution will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Friday, May 8, 2009 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in the Pan Hellenic Building Ballroom (PAN 115) . If you cannot make it to campus on either of these days, regalia/cap and gown will be available for pick up one hour before the ceremony in which you will participate.

8. May I keep my cap, gown, tassel, or honor cord?
You must return your cap and gown either after the ceremony at the FedEx Forum or the following week outside the Commencement Office in the large blue bin provided.  You may keep your tassel and honor cord only.

• No tickets or invitations are necessary.
• Unlimited seating for guests.  Early arrivals recommended.
• Doors will open 1 hour prior to the ceremony.  The FedExForum garage will open earlier.
• Mobility impaired guests: Please click here for the FedExForum special services to accommodate any special needs.
• Commencement guests can obtain Handicapped Services through the FedExForum Customer Service Department, located on the corner of the grand lobby next to the practice court.
• President Box Seating is not Handicapped Accessible.
• Seating for hearing impaired is reserved in seating section 115.
• Elevators are available. Contact a FedExForum Event Staff member for assistance.
• See diagram on the website for layout of the colleges on the floor of the arena to select seats near the graduates.
• There will be no food or beverage concessions open at the arena except for bottled water. If you have children or elderly guests, please provide for special needs accordingly.
• Seating for hearing impaired is reserved in section 115.
  

1. University Store (generic invitations only), (901) 678-2011;
2. Jostens, 1-800-353-5299; Or visit their website: www.shop.jostens.com
3. Balfour, 1-800-278-7644 or visit their website: www.balfour.com

You may choose from two styles, personalized or standard. Invitations need to be ordered 3 weeks in advance.

Class rings and other jewelry items are available from Balfour and Jostens. Balfour products are available at the University Store.  Look for notices around campus to find out when company representatives will be on campus.  Check their websites for further information.

Balfour: www.cbi-rings.com

Eglomise Designs: www.eglomisedesigns.com, Phone: 1-800-443-8987

• A contracted professional photographer takes photographs of you with the President as you cross the stage and one of you with your diploma cover as you leave the stage.
• Proofs will be emailed to you and order forms will be mailed to your home. You may purchase any of these photographs in different sizes.
• If you have questions concerning photographs, call Commencement Specialist, Inc. (866)-572-0199.
• No professional videotape is taken at the commencement ceremony.
• You may take your own photographs or videotape the ceremony, but you may not enter the arena floor.
  
  

Summer 2009: August 16, 2009 - will take place at the Cannon Center in two ceremonies, 1 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Further details will follow in the coming weeks.

Winter 2009: December 19, 2009

Spring 2010: May 8, 2010

Note: This website will be updated as soon as additional information about the upcoming commencement exercises are available.

Only the graduate may pick up the pronouncer card.

Selected faculty member(s) serve as pronouncers at the commencement and read each name of the graduate as he/she crosses the stage.  The "pronouncer card" is printed in the Commencement Office with each name from the program.  If you file an attendance card you will have a seat at the ceremony, and you will have a pronouncer card made for you. 

Prounouncer cards have two parts. One portion of the card is given to the photographer's assistant as you walk to the stage.  The other portion of the card is given to the Pronouncer to call your name.

You should note three points about the pronouncer cards:

1. You must pick up your pronouncer card When you pick up your cap and gown. Cap and gown will not be issued to a student without a pronouncer card.
2. You must pick up your pronouncer card prior to the commencement ceremony in order to participate in the exercises. You must  have this card in hand as you go to the stage.
3. In the event that you lose your card, or you are late in picking up your card, you should go to the commencement secretary at the FedExForum the day of Commencement. The secretary will have the original card or type a replacement card for you.

To clarify the pronunciation of your name, you may visit with your pronouncer on:
Friday, May 8, 2009, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the office of the appropriate Pronouncer. The colleges are listed on the left below with the pronouncers and office locations in the right-hand column:

• Questions & Answers about Academic Regalia
• An Academic Costume Code and An Academic Ceremony Guide