Graduation & Commencement

The SMTD Commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, May 2, 2025 at 2:00pm at Hill Auditorium.

Please note, all athletic (Crisler and Stadium) and University Productions venues (Hill, Rackham, Power, and Mendelssohn) will follow the Michigan Stadium prohibited items list for Commencement ceremonies. Be sure to check the permitted and prohibited items list before arriving at Hill Auditorium. 

The SMTD does not handle details on ceremonies at Crisler Center, Michigan Stadium, or those held by other units. For more information, please see the University of Michigan Commencement website.

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Information for Graduating Students

Graduation Application

Any SMTD student intending to complete all degree requirements must apply to graduate within the appropriate timeframe in order to be considered for degree approval. Students will apply to graduate on both Wolverine Access under Student Business, and through a form sent by the SMTD Student Affairs Office. Please note the following application deadlines:

  • December graduates must apply no later than September 30
    • Students graduating in December will be eligible to participate in the following Spring Commencement ceremonies.
  • April/May graduates must apply no later than January 31
  • June-August graduates must apply no later than January 31

Failure to apply by the listed deadlines may result in the delay of degree approval. In addition, students with late applications may not be permitted to participate in Commencement ceremonies.

Attire

Academic attire (cap and gown) is required for all graduates who plan to participate in Commencement ceremonies. More information on the purchase of attire can be found at the University of Michigan’s Academic Attire website.

Attire is typically available for purchase year-round from Barnes & Noble Campus Stores. Students should not wait until the last minute to purchase attire. Doctoral Degree Candidates–custom attire takes extra time to arrive, so please 6-8 weeks in advance to make sure your attire arrives in time.

Tassel and hood colors for SMTD students can be found here.

Honors are only awarded to undergraduate students with an overall, cumulative GPA of 3.60 or above. Students receiving Honors may purchase Honors cords with their graduation attire.

How to wear your Bachelors cap and gown
How to wear your Masters cap and gown
How to wear your Doctoral cap and gown

Photography

There will be a photographer present at the SMTD Commencement ceremony who will photograph each student crossing stage. Students will later be contacted via email with the option to purchase photos. Personally hired professional photographers or videographers are not allowed.

The SMTD does not handle photography for Commencement events at Michigan Stadium or Crisler Center. Please see the University of Michigan’s Commencement website for further details.

Announcements and Mementos

The SMTD does not handle formal announcements or graduation mementos. Please see the University of Michigan’s Commencement website for information on remembrances.

Information for Families and Guests

Families and guests of graduating students should be aware that Commencement weekend is among one of the busiest in Ann Arbor. There are several Commencement ceremonies happening around Michigan’s campus over the course of the weekend with many visitors in town. Hotels and restaurants in and around Ann Arbor book up far in advance of Commencement weekend, so please plan accordingly.

Ann Arbor and area Hotels and Restaurants

For a listing of area hotels and local restaurants, see Ann Arbor’s Visitor website.

Parking

University surface lots and parking structures are free and open to the public on Commencement weekend. Please note that parking is limited in Ann Arbor and visitors may need to walk from a structure to the designated venue. For more information, see the Campus Information Map or U-M Parking Services.

Ticketing and Venue Information

The SMTD ceremony is not open to the public; it is only open to graduating students, their family and registered guests, and students/faculty/staff from SMTD. Tickets ARE REQUIRED for entry to Hill Auditorium for anyone over the age of two.

All graduating students (that have RSVP’d for the ceremony), Platform Party members, and hooding faculty are guaranteed one ticket without a need for request. Those tickets will be available for pickup the week leading up to the ceremony and the day of the ceremony (see below for the pickup times). You must request tickets for any guests that you have invited.

Ticket Requests

Tickets can be requested through the following forms:

Your umich email account must be used to complete the forms. Once the form is completed, you will receive a copy of your response to your email. Responses can be updated up until Sunday, April 27th at 11:59pm. Any additional adjustments to ticket requests after that point must be communicated to Jonathan Mashburn at [email protected].

There is not a limit to how many family members or guests may be invited, so please bring all of your family and friends!

Ticket Pickup

Ticket pickup will be available the week before the ceremony from the Reception Desk in the Concerts & Events office, located in Room 1315a in the Moore Building (between Kevreson Rehearsal Hall and the Student Lounge). They can be picked up anytime starting at 10am on Monday, April 28th, and they will be available until 9pm on Thursday, May 1st. The desk will be staffed from 9am-9pm everyday that week. Any tickets remaining after the final deadline will be available for pickup at Hill Auditorium the day of the ceremony (times and location for pickup is TBD). Note that there will likely be a long line for ticket pickup onsite, so it is highly recommended to pick up the tickets in advance of the ceremony.

A photo-ID will be required to pick up the tickets. The student, faculty, or staff member who requested the tickets should pick up the tickets in advance and distribute them to their guests. Tickets picked up onsite must be picked up by the ticket holder. Other ticket pickup plans should be confirmed with Jonathan Mashburn at [email protected] prior to the point of pickup.

ADA Accommodations

Seating accommodations are available for guests with wheelchairs or those unable to use stairs. Special requests can be made through the ticket request forms. Closed captioning will also be present on stage throughout the ceremony. Additional accommodations may be made per request.

Arrival & Seating

Doors will open to guests 45 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. For parties with individuals in need of ADA seating or extra time to find a seat, you can enter the hall early through the doors on the west side of the building (near the box office, off S Thayer St.)

All tickets are General Admission, meaning there are no assigned seats or reserved sections other than for graduating students and faculty. It is suggested that parties arrive early to get adequate seats. Both the Main Floor and the Mezzanine will be open for guests.

Additional Questions?

Please reach out to Jonathan Mashburn at [email protected] with any questions about the information above.

Previous Ceremonies

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

2017

2016

Commencement Awards

Each year during Spring Commencement, awards are presented to the most outstanding members of the SMTD graduating class.

The Albert A. Stanley Medal

Awarded to a single graduating senior who, during the last two years of residence, has been most outstanding in his or her field, with special consideration given to scholarship and public performance.

2019:Thomas Laub, BFA (musical theatre)

2018: Martijn Appelo, BFA (theatre – design and production)

2017: Daniel Fendrick, BM (bassoon)

2016: Nicole Erin Patrick, BFA (jazz and contemporary improvisation)

The Earl V. Moore Awards

Given for outstanding achievement in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. Five awards are presented in four categories – Dance, Music (2 awards), Musical Theatre, and Theatre – and are open to undergraduate and graduate students.

2019

Julian J. Goods, BM (choral music education)
Berrit Keller, BFA (theatre – design & production)
Emilie Kouatchou, BFA (musical theatre)
Emily Soong, BFA (dance)
Maddy Wildman, BM (bassoon)

2018

Jesse Aaronson, BFA (theatre)
Yoshiko Iwai, BFA (dance)
Natalia Kazaryan, DMA (piano)
Emily Kirven, BM (instrumental music education)
Charles Patterson, BFA (musical theatre)

2017

Luna Lemus-Bromley, BFA (dance)
Eleanor Howell-Shryock, BFA (theatre – design and production)
Tzu-Yin Huang, DMA (piano)
Jordyn Norkey, BFA (musical theatre)
Jacob Warren, BM (double bass)

2016

Hidemi Minagawa, BM (piano)
Andreas Oeste, MM (oboe and chamber music)
Lena Frieda Oren, BFA (dance)
Nora Marie Schell, BFA (musical theatre)
Graham Ross Techler, BFA (theatre)

The Willis Patterson Diversity Award

Presented to a graduating student who has used his or her talents and/or scholarly abilities to enhance the development of and appreciation for a more culturally and ethnically diverse community within the School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

2019: Colleen Bernstein, MM (percussion), MM (chamber music)

2018: Anita Dumar, BM (violin)

2017: Rikki Morrow-Spitzer, BM (voice)

2016: Horacio Contreras Espinoza, DMA (cello); Theven Brice Smith, MM (flute and chamber music)

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