COMMENCEMENT
The December 2025 ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the Williams Center on Saturday, Dec. 13. The doors to the Williams Center open at 7:30 a.m., and the doors to Kachel Fieldhouse, where the ceremony will take place, open at 8:30 a.m.
Please note:
- Wristbands serve as tickets and are required for entry and must be worn.
- Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Only water is permitted in the fieldhouse.
- Water and flowers will be available for purchase.
- Strollers, balloons and other large items must be checked; a free coat check is available.
- There are no restrictions on bags (size, clear vs. opaque, etc.).
- Professional photography will take place during the ceremonies, and students will have access to those photos by Tuesday, Dec. 16.
- The lost and found is located in Room 100.
- Signage in the field house will indicate where students are seated according to college. Students will cross the stage from right to left as they receive their degree.
- Plan ahead: graduates will be recessed out of the south side of the fieldhouse, toward the tennis courts. Talk in advance with your student about where you’ll meet up after the ceremony.
Are you a graduating student participating in this December’s commencement ceremony? Visit the Graduation and Commencement Services page on the Registrar’s Office website.
This website will be updated as more details are forthcoming. Questions can be directed to commencement@uww.edu.
Each graduating student will be issued seven tickets in the form of pre-printed wristbands. The wristbands can be picked up from the One Stop in Room 129 of the University Center (inside the Warhawk Connection Center) between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. from Nov. 14 through Dec. 12. Wristbands can also be picked up at the Will Call box office on the second floor of the Williams Center starting at 8 a.m. on Dec. 13, the day of the ceremonies. All guests must be wearing their wristbands to enter the fieldhouse. For those without wristbands, remote viewing is available in Timmerman Auditorium in Hyland Hall.
The following campus locations are open on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025:
- The University Bookstore is open 8 a.m.-3 p.m.
- In Drumlin Dining Hall, Erbert & Gerbert's is open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for sub sandwiches and soups and Drumlin Market is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. for takeaway snacks and beverages. In Esker Dining Hall, The Roost and Prairie Street Market are open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. for breakfast all day, fried favorites and convenient snacks and beverages.
- A self-guided tour is available online. Printed versions of the tour can be picked up at the University Center Information Desk, the bookstore, and the Visitor’s Center.
Commencement parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. All campus lots will be free of charge on commencement day.
University Police will direct those in need of accessible parking, which is limited, to lot #11. Only vehicles with state-issued disabled license plates, permits or placards will be permitted in this lot.
Guest access
The commencement ceremony will be fully accessible. A drop-off location, accessible parking, and accessible seating will be available for individuals with disabilities or limited mobility. Seating will be determined on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited to only those guests who require it. One seat for each guest needing an accessible space is reserved for a companion. Entire groups can sit together if the rest of the row is available. No pre-ticketing will occur for accessible seating. Wheelchair and wheelchair companion locations are scattered throughout the main level. Family members and guests should provide their own mobility devices; UW-Whitewater does not provide wheelchairs or walkers.
Accommodations for deaf/hard of hearing guests
The seating area is served by assistive listening devices (ALD) on an FM system. Individuals may pick up headsets at the Recreation Sports and Facilities Office, located in room 100 of the Williams Center (near the north entrance doors of the fieldhouse), and must leave some form of collateral, such as a driver’s license or credit card, while using the ALD. In addition, the ceremony will be ASL interpreted and projected to the audience.
Accommodations for nursing mothers
Please feel free to feed your child anywhere you wish. If you would like a more comfortable area, please head to room 105 in the Williams Center (athletic training room).
Restroom changing stations
Changing stations are located in the following areas in the Williams Center: women's restrooms (rooms 163 and 207) and men's restrooms (rooms 159 and 204).
Restrooms
The public restrooms are accessible.
Accommodations for graduating students
Graduates who need accommodations to participate in the commencement ceremony can make arrangements by contacting Sara Vogt at vogts@uww.edu.
Every year, UW-Whitewater showcases the many students who have landed a job, earned a job promotion, been accepted to graduate school, or started a company before they’ve even hit the stage at graduation.
