The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center
8270 Alumni Drive
College Park, MD 20742
United States
The University of Maryland campus-wide Spring 2024 Commencement will take place on Monday, May 20, 2024, at 6 p.m. at Maryland Football Stadium.
Details are found on the Commencement website.
Protests, Demonstrations and Other Such Expressive Activities at Commencement
Freedom of thought and expression are the lifeblood of our academic community. Our values regarding free speech and an open marketplace of ideas can be found in our policy on expressive activities.
The University also recognizes that a healthy and thriving academic community depends on mutual respect and civility. Appropriate behavior, as described in our university policies, is an essential component of what we stand for as a university.
Commencement marks a celebratory occasion and the culmination of academic pursuits for thousands of Terrapins. We kindly ask that all in attendance stay focused and true to the purpose and spirit of today’s event.
Our policies do not allow for the obstruction, disruption, interruption, or attempt to force the cancellation of any university event, including commencement. If you wish to engage in protests, demonstrations or other such expressive activity, we ask that you abide by university policy and do so in the designated areas outside of the ceremony venues. Failure to uphold a respectful atmosphere in accordance with our policies will result in being asked to leave, and potentially disciplinary or other such action.
Thank you for your shared commitment to observe and protect our principles of free expression.
The School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation will have two commencement ceremonies this year, one for graduate students and the other for undergraduate students.
The ceremonies will be live streamed on:
GRADUATE STUDENTS
The Graduate Student Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 22 at 9 a.m. at the Dekelboum Concert Hall in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
The MAPP Graduate Commencement will not be ticketed, but we ask you to limit your guests to 8. Registration by April 17th is required to attend the event. Please register through the Commencement Information Form.
Graduate Commencement Speaker:
Dr. Arnab Chakraborty (Ph.D. ‘07)
Dean, College of Architecture and Planning, The University of Utah
Arnab Chakraborty is the Dean of the College of Architecture and Planning at The University of Utah. Chakraborty received his Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning and Design from the University of Maryland; he was a professor of planning at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for 16 years before moving to Utah. Chakraborty also has a Bachelor of Architecture from Indian Institute of Technology-Kharagpur and a Master of Urban Planning and Policy from University of Illinois at Chicago. Chakraborty researches land use planning and sustainability, and as a university leader, is interested in advancing the recognition and positive impact of planning and design disciplines in our communities.
UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
The Undergraduate Student Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 22 at 12 p.m. noon at the Dekelboum Concert Hall in the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
The MAPP Undergraduate Commencement will be ticketed for all guests. Students will be issued 4 tickets each for up to 4 guests. If you do not need all 4 tickets, please feel free to share the tickets you do not need with other students as there were many who wanted to invite more than 4 guests. Registration by April 17th is required to attend the event. Please register through the Commencement Information Form.
Undergraduate Commencement Speaker:
Yiselle Santos Rivera, AIA, NOMA, SHRM‑SCP, LSSYB, LEED AP BD+C, WELL AP
Principal & Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, HKS
Yiselle Santos Rivera is a medical planner, principal and global director of justice, equity, diversity & inclusion at HKS. She thrives on building equitable practices, empowering the next generation of leaders and creating inclusive platforms for engagement. The founder of the award-winning “Women Inspiring Emerging Leaders in Design” (WIELD) event, Yiselle received a 2022 AIA Young Architects Award and served on the 2020 AIA National Board and the 2023-24 NAAB Board.
There will be a reception for commencement participants and up to 4 guests from 10 -11:30 a.m. in Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center. Light snacks will be served.
Information:
Accommodations: If you or your guests will need specific accomodations at the ceremony, please note that in the Commencement Information Form, and reply to this email with details as soon as possible. More information on accessibility can be found here.
Regalia: Academic regalia are the traditional dress for degree candidates participating in college, school and department convocations, as well as the university-wide commencement ceremony.
MAPP Graduate Regalia Colors
Master of Architecture = Lavender
Community Planning = Peacock Blue
Historic Preservation = Lavender
Real Estate Development = Lavender
PhD = Red & Dark Blue
Additional information about regalia and how to purchase can be found on the University Book Center website.
Bag Policy: Graduating students, please do not bring any purses or bags with you during procession. Bags are searched entering the theater and you will not be allowed to process with any bags.
Parking: With the exception of fire lanes and accessible parking locations, all campus parking is free on the days of commencement. Stadium Drive Garage and Lot 1b/Z are the closest lots to the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center and the Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center. You can view these locations on the campus map. The campus also provides free accessible shuttle buses for graduates and their guests.
The ceremony will also be livestreamed. More information can be found on our website closer to the event.
Questions? Contact mapp.commencement@umd.edu