Spring 2025 Convocation
May 2, 2025
Kingsbury Hall
We look forward to celebrating this momentous occasion with you and are so proud of all the hard work, creativity, and risk-taking you do in the University of Utah College of Fine Arts. We compile information about convocation here, so keep checking back for updates!
Please check your uMail regularly for other information/news from the University, the College, and your Unit.
Congratulations to the College of Fine Arts Class of 2024!
We were so happy to help celebrate your big day with you and your loved ones!
Did someone special to you miss the Convocation ceremony? Have them watch it now below.
Here is a slideshow of the big day to help remind you of the celebration:
University of Utah College of Fine Arts
Convocation Slideshow
College of Fine Arts Class of 2025!
Stay tuned to this website for more information about Commencement and Convocation in May 2025. This site will be updated as information becomes available. In the meantime, please see below for important information from the 2024 exercises that may help you tentatively plan for 2025.
College of Fine Arts Convocation Countdown
Important Security Updates for CFA Convocation
Kingsbury Hall has very recently updated their security protocols effective immediately. Please see their sign below:
*Please note that we were also told that flowers in vases and other items that may cause an obstruction in an emergency will not be allowed in the building. All that enter Kingsbury Hall are subject to a screening before entering the venue.
The College of Fine Arts Convocation Ceremony will take place on May 3 at 12pm. The ceremony will take place in Kingsbury Hall in President's Circle. Students that graduated in Summer or Fall 2023, or are planning to graduate in any semester in 2024 may participate. (Please note that this differs slightly from the University Commencement participation cutoffs)
Graduates should start to arrive at 11:15am in their regalia at their unit meeting places. These will be outdoors on the sidewalk between Kingsbury Hall and David Gardner Hall. Please follow signs and volunteer instructions.
Guests will be allowed to enter Kingsbury Hall at 11:30am. Please be seated no later than 11:55am. Those not seated by that time may have to wait until after the graduate processional to be seated.
The University Commencement Ceremony will take place on May 2 at 6pm. This ceremony will take place at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. More information can be found on the University Commencement page. This ceremony is for students who graduated in Summer or Fall 2023, and are planning on graduating in Spring 2024. A quick reference flyer about Commencement is here.
The CFA Convocation is a ticketed event. The number of tickets given is controlled by the venue and will determine the number of tickets offered to each graduate participating in the ceremony. Ticket RSVP for the 2024 Convocation has closed. Everyone that RSVP'd should have received an email to their uMail from the Dean's Office on April 3, 2024 with an update. Tickets will be distributed by your unit's Convocation Representative. (list below in Important Information)
If you missed RSVPing and need tickets, or if you need extra tickets past the ones you RSVP'd for, please contact your unit's Convocation Representative and make them aware of your need.
Get to Know Your Convocation Speaker--Michael Palmer
Get to Know Your 2024 CFA Outstanding Seniors
Important Information
NEW: Convocation Checklist
Before you leave for the ceremony ask yourself if you’ve done the following:
- I checked the CFA Convocation Website and my uMail for any last minute instructions.
- We are leaving early! With enough time to fight potential traffic, park, walk to the venue/shuttle bus, and still be on time.
- I have my regalia and all the accessories for it. Please arrive with it on. (The areas you will corral prior to the ceremony are outdoors. There will not be anywhere private to change clothes.)
- I have tickets for ALL of my guests to enter Kingsbury Hall. (this includes babes-in-arms). There will be NO exceptions to this rule.
- Graduates: I have left my large personal items at home or safely in my vehicle to include purses, bags, extra shoes, sunglasses, etc. You won’t have anywhere to store them during the ceremony to include your seat. (After you walk across stage there is a good chance you will not end up in the same seat.)
- Guests: Don’t forget a portable camera!
- I know my group’s post-convocation meet-up plan. (There will be another convocation ceremony immediately after ours, and we will not be able to hang out in front of Kingsbury Hall. Graduates please plan to meet your guests in the field due South of Kingsbury Hall or at another part of Presidents Circle.)
Ticketing & Department/School Contacts
Convocation is a ticketed event.As a reminder, all guests that enter Kingsbury Hall for the ceremony MUST have a ticket to include babes-in-arms. There are no exceptions to this rule.
If you missed RSVPing and need tickets, or if you need extra tickets past the ones you RSVP'd for, please contact your unit's Convocation Representative and make them aware of your need.
Questions may be answered through your unit ticketing rep.
Academic Unit Ticketing Reps
- Art & Art History:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Dance:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Film & Media Arts:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Music:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Theatre:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. - Master of Art Teaching:
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Please keep in mind that overflow seating for non-ticketed guests will be available next door to Kingsbury Hall at David Gardner Hall.
Student Regalia
All students must have degree appropriate regalia to wear at the Commencement and Convocation ceremonies. Students may pre-order regalia through the Campus Store website now. Regalia will be available to pick up in-store beginning April 2. The store's Grad Fair is scheduled for April 4-6, 2024. The Grad Fair is an excellent opportunity to purchase or pick-up regalia, purchase other graduation items from various vendors and other surprises.
The Campus Store's Graduation Information page is a great resource for all of their graduation related services and products.
Students who qualify for Honors at Graduation (Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude, etc) have been notified by the College of Fine Arts Dean's Office directly via uMail. They may pick up their cord during normal Dean's Office opening hours. More information about how Honors at Graduation are calculated you may visit this University Registrar's site.
Graduate Student Regalia--Doctoral and Master Degree Candidates
During the Convocation ceremony,Doctoral and MFA candidates (terminal degrees) will be hooded on stage after their name is called. Please remove your hood from the plastic and have it ready to go. Staff volunteers will show you how to prep your hood when you are waiting to line up to enter the auditorium.
All other Masters candidates will wear their full regalia including hood throughout the ceremony. Please follow the directions that come with your regalia.Staff volunteers will double check your attire when you are waiting to line up to enter the auditorium.
Faculty Regalia
The Campus Store Faculty Graduation Details page is the best resource for faculty looking to purchase or rent regalia for Commencement and Convocation.
Faculty wishing to purchase fine quality regalia should contact Thomas Warren at (801) 581-4733 or email
What is the difference between Commencement and Convocation?
University of Utah Commencement 2024-Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 6:00 pm-Jon M. Huntsman Center
The University of Utah celebrate all of its graduates at the University Commencement ceremony on May 2, 2024. This gathering honors graduating students from our colleges and schools across campus during this university-wide event. Graduate degrees are conferred on colleges and schools as a whole when students stand as one. Individual students do not walk across stage in this ceremony, and their names are not read aloud. For more information please visit the University Commencement website.
CFA Spring Convocation 2024-Friday, May 3, 2024 at 12:00 pm -Kingsbury Hall
Each college and school at the University of Utah recognizes the achievements of its own graduating students in a smaller, more intimate Convocation ceremony. The College of Fine Arts Convocation is the ceremony where students are recognized for their work, listen to college and student speakers, walk across stage, hear their names, and receive their diploma covers. Convocation is a ticketed event in the College of Fine Arts and is held in Kingsbury Hall. There will be overflow seating provided in David Gardner Hall, in the Thomson Chamber Music Hall.
Who may participate in Commencement and Convocation Ceremonies?
Commencement and Convocation ceremonies are held at the end of each Spring semester. Since they are only held once a year, all candidates/graduates from that commencement year and the following Summer are allowed to participate (i.e. for the May 2024 Commencement/Convocation, candidates/graduates for Summer 2023, Fall 2023, Spring 2024 may participate and will be in the program if they apply for graduation by March 1). Anybody outside of the allowed semesters are referred to their school/department for approval to participate, but their names will not appear in the program until they have successfully applied for graduation with the University.
Note: Summer candidates are allowed to participate in the ceremonies either the Spring before or the following Spring with their graduating class. Summer candidates who participate before they graduate will not be recognized for honors that may be designated once they have graduated.
Parking UPDATED: April 25, 2024
The parking map for 2024 Convocations has been published, you can find it here. Please note: The Stadium Parking Lot will NOT be available for parking on May 3, 2024. It is suggested that you use the Merrill Engineering Parking Lot northeast of Kingsbury Hall. Direct shuttles to Kingsbury Hall will be available to those that park in that lot.
Most other campus parking lots will be open for Commencement and Convocation ceremonies. Regular shuttles will be available from most major parking lots and TRAX stations. TRAX use is FREE between on campus stops (Stadium-University Medical)
For Commencement ADA drop-off will be available at the South entrance of the Jon M. Huntsman Center. For Convocation, please make sure that let your unit's Convocation Representative know of any ADA needs for yourself or your guests if you didn't let us know via the RSVP survey.
Photography
Island Photography is the CFA's official Commencement Photographer for 2024.They will be providing professional photo coverage for every graduate as they are recognized during the ceremony.
They ask that you register to receive proofs of your photos via a QR code. This code will be available at your gathering spots as you meet before the processional. It will also be on the name card that you hand the reader before walking across the stage. Please get this registration done prior to arriving at the ceremony. Note that the site will ask for a selfie for better photo recognition, so you don’t get someone else’s proofs. Even though photos may not be important to you, they may be important to your loved ones.
Proofs will be delivered via email within 48-72 hours after the ceremony.
Please contact their customer service team if you have any concerns or questions.
Where can I purchase items to help celebrate my graduation?
There are a couple of resources on campus for you to purchase graduation regalia, memorabilia and other things. Please follow the links below: