Instructions for students
The Department of Urban and Regional Planning’s Convocation and Student Recognition Ceremony, honoring 2025 graduates, begins with a procession at 2:20 pm. We ask that students arrive no later than 1:45 pm, dressed in cap and gown, to check-in and line up.
Please see the Commencement page (https://commencement.illinois.edu/) for full details on the University-wide ceremony along with more details about graduation.
Registration and Tickets
Registration and Tickets
All 2025 graduates must register for the Planning at Illinois Convocation and Student Recognition Ceremony and reserve tickets for their guests. The deadline for registration is Friday, April 11, 2025. Each graduate will receive eight tickets at no charge.
Registration and ticket reservations must be completed ONLINE by April 11 (form will be live by March 3).
All tickets will be available for pick up in Temple Buell Hall room 111 during normal office hours (8:30-4:30) on April 23 and 24.
Students should make hotel reservations for family members as early as possible. A directory of hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast establishments in Champaign-Urbana can be found at the Experience Champaign-Urbana website (https://experiencecu.org/).
If you will need accessibility-related accommodations in order to participate in this event, please contact Jennifer Kowalski. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your access needs.
Academic Attire
Academic Attire
It is our tradition that all degree candidates participating in the Planning at Illinois Convocation and University-wide Commencement ceremonies wear appropriate academic attire. Academic attire must be ordered through Herff-Jones at https://commencement.illinois.edu/caps-and-gowns/. Regalia will be mailed to you.
NOTE: Be sure to select attire for Urban and Regional Planning (towards the bottom of the drop-down menu). Check your regalia when you receive it to make sure that tassels for Planning undergraduates are Brown and hoods for master students are Brown.
University-wide Commencement Ceremony
University-wide Commencement Ceremony
The University-wide Commencement ceremony for all graduates is scheduled for 9:30 am Saturday, May 17, in Memorial Stadium. For more information go to commencement.illinois.edu.
Certifying your Degree
Certifying your Degree
The University establishes a degree certification date (https://registrar.illinois.edu/graduation/conferral-dates/) following the completion of each term. If you are on the graduation list you must complete all degree requirements, including adding your name to the pending degree list. It typically takes the college 2 months after the end of the semester to certify degrees and mail the diploma.
Instructions to students
Diplomas
All University of Illinois graduates with no outstanding University charges will receive one diploma per degree earned, free of charge. University of Illinois diplomas are 8.5 x 11 inches and sent by first-class mail to a student’s “Diploma Address” approximately nine weeks after the date of award. Please check and update this address in the University systems before leaving the University (student self-service). For more information about Diplomas, please see the Registrar’s website: https://registrar.illinois.edu/graduation/receiving-your-diploma/.