Traditions & University Events

Commencement

Welcome to Commencement at the University of Montevallo!

Spring 2024 Commencement

Welcome to Commencement at the University of Montevallo! Commencement is our happiest occasion marked by personal and academic accomplishment, and we look forward to honoring the Class of 2024 on Flowerhill Lawn Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 9 a.m.

Graduates of the Class of 2024

Prior to rehearsal on Flowerhill Lawn at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 3, we will host Senior Day on the left lawn of Flowerhill. Although it is not mandatory to attend rehearsal, the Commencement Committee highly encourages you to participate so that you will feel more at ease on Saturday. There will also be an opportunity for you to review the pronunciation of your name before is called from the stage. Rehearsal will last no more than one hour.

Please report to Main Quad no later than 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, wearing your academic regalia.  The Montevallo Masters will be there to help you find the appropriate spot in the processional. You will begin your march to Flowerhill Lawn at 8:50 a.m. Once you arrive at Flowerhill, the Montevallo Masters will lead you by college (i.e.; the College of Arts and Sciences, the Michael E. Stephens College of Business, the College of Education and Human Development, and the College of Fine Arts) to your seats.

When it is time to receive your diploma, you will be guided by the Montevallo Masters to the stage. After you receive your diploma cover, a photographer will capture this special moment! Once you have exited the stage, the Registrar’s Office will give you a packet that contains your diploma, transcript and other important information.

The ceremony should last approximately one and a half hours. When it is time to recess, the Montevallo Masters will lead you from the lawn.

If the weather forecast indicates a high risk of storms or severe weather, we will move the ceremony to the McChesney Student Activity Center. In the event of light rain on the day of commencement, the ceremony will continue as planned on the lawn — bring an umbrella. Continue to monitor this page and UM social media for any weather updates affecting the ceremony.

If the ceremony is moved to the Student Activity Center, we will issue tickets via University Tickets and provide information on how to access them.  Due to space limitations, we will be able to offer between five and seven tickets for each graduate.

Family and Guests

We understand what a special day this is for you as well and share in your collective pride. We want to make your visit to UM for Commencement as worry-free as possible.

For guests that have mobility challenges, we advise that you access the lawn from its base off College Drive, or you may use the Flowerhill driveway until 8:30 a.m. Shuttles will be available from nearby parking lots to the lawn from 8 to 9 a.m. and at the conclusion of the ceremony.

To help ensure everyone’s safety, please do not move guest chairs from their positions or block the aisles. You are welcome to bring chairs and take advantage of the shady areas on the lawn.  There will be guest seating available in a more shaded location on the right side of the lawn for those who are not as heat tolerant or elderly — please give preference to those individuals.

Portable restrooms will be available on the left lawn. Signage will be provided and accessible restrooms will be provided.

Individuals needing disability-related accommodations during this event should contact the host department or Disability Support Services (205-665-6250, AAC@mblayst.com) as early as possible. Efforts will be made to accommodate all access requests regardless of timing, but the University cannot guarantee that requests made with less than one week’s notice can be met.

The University of Montevallo Mass Communication Program will livestream the ceremony and it will be available on UM’s Montevallo for You channel.

Information from the Registrar