Instructions for students
The Department of Urban and Regional Planning’s Convocation and Student Recognition Ceremony, honoring 2024 graduates and awardees, begins with a procession at 2:00 pm. We ask that students arrive at 1:30 pm, dressed in cap and gown, to check-in and line up. The Ceremony will be followed by a reception serving light desserts and beverages.
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
Due to limited seating and room capacity, all 2024 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 5, 2024. Each graduate may reserve up to three tickets at no charge. To ensure all graduates are able to include the maximum number of guests, please do not reserve more tickets than you intend to use.
After April 5, additional tickets MAY be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional tickets will be sold for $10 each. Payment must be made using cash or check made payable to “University of Illinois.” Payment for additional tickets must be received in the department office (111 TBH) no later than Thursday, April 18, 2024.
All tickets will be available for pick up during normal office hours (8:30-4:30) on April 17 and 18.
Registration and ticket reservations must be completed ONLINE by April 5. Before you complete this form, please make sure you know how many tickets you will require. This form can only be submitted once. Any changes will need to be made in person in 111 Temple Buell Hall or by emailing Jennifer Kowalski .
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 are a person with a disability who requires accommodation(s), please contact Jennifer Kowalski by April 5. Some accommodation requests (such as American Sign Language Interpreters) received after April 5 will be given due diligence to be filled but may not be guaranteed.
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/may-commencement/graduates/academic-attire/. 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 11, 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/.