AGNR Commencement

Students should arrive in the Armory basement no earlier than 12:00 p.m. and no later than 12:30 p.m.  Graduating students must wear the appropriate regalia in order to participate in the ceremony -- it is our preference that you arrive already dressed but we understand if the weather impacts this. AGNR staff will be on hand to answer any questions you might have and assist with regalia checks. The procession of graduates will begin moving upstairs at 12:55 p.m. and the ceremony can begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. It is crucial that you arrive on time so as to prevent any undue stress; additionally, since there will be no rehearsal for graduates, you will want to be in the basement by 12:30 p.m. so that your faculty marshals can provide you with proper instruction. 

Guests with AGNR Ceremony tickets/wristbands may begin entering as early as 12:15pm. Any guest without a ticket/wristband will be asked to wait and will only be permitted to enter the venue if there is space available (in accordance with the Fire Marshal's posted venue capacity). Should you find yourself waiting in line to enter, there will be graduation gifts and bottled water for sale outside of the main entrance. Graduates will be in position to begin at 12:55 p.m.; we ask that all guests try to be seated by that time so that the ceremony can begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. 

IMPORTANT: While we fully promote the celebration of our graduates and all their achievements, all commencement venues have a strict No Balloons policy in place so please leave those in your vehicle or at home. Additionally, there will be a BAG CHECK upon entrance to The Armory. Seeing how these checks can be time-consuming, we encourage all guests and graduates to leave bags at home. We understand that this may come as an inconvenience but our aim is to minimize wait times at the door and ensure that guests are seated before the ceremony begins. 

Campus-wide Ceremony: Tickets will be required for the Spring 2023 campus-wide ceremony. Each graduate will receive one student ticket and up to six guest tickets. More information will be made available here.

AGNR Ceremony:  Tickets will be required for the College of AGNR ceremony. Each graduate will receive five* guest tickets. Ticket distribution will take place in Symons Hall, Room 0107 on the following dates (graduating students, please check your email for more information):

• April 17th; 11am - 5pm
• April 19th; 12pm - 5pm
• April 20th; 10am - 4pm
• April 21st; 12pm - 4pm

*For students in need of additional tickets, we will have a waitlist available during ticket pick-up. Those students on the list will be contacted in the event that we have extra tickets available. Please do not contact the AGNR Academic Programs Office to request additional tickets until the initial ticket distribution has taken place. 

To SECU Stadium (Campus-wide Ceremony):

Digital signage will be posted just outside of campus to help direct guests. More details to follow...

The Reckord Armory (AGNR College Ceremony):

It is recommended that guests and graduates park in Regents Garage which is ADA accessible and will have a shuttle running to/from the Armory (adjacent to The Clarice). Parking will also be available in Lots C1 and C2 but space is very limited. The lots closest to the Armory (Lots L & QQ) will be completely restricted except for passengers in need of drop-off (see Accessibility Services below for more details).

All parking is first come, first served. Graduates will receive more information about parking and guest access closer to the event date.

*All campus parking is FREE on commencement dates (meters will be turned off). Parking is available on a first come, first served basis. Please see map for lot numbers and locations http://maps.umd.edu/map/

Guests attending the Campus-wide Ceremony who need accessibility accommodations or have questions regarding the accommodations for those accomodations may contact the Office of Special Events at events@ur.umd.edu or 301.405.4638. 

Guests attending the AGNR Ceremony who need accomodations should speak with their graduating student. All graduating AGNR students will be asked to fill out an RSVP for the ceremony at which time they will have the opportunity to request those accomodations.

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS are available upon request. Please contact the Disability Support Service at 301.314.7209 or dhhs@umd.edu to make arrangements.

ADA PARKING:  Those with handicap parking permits may park in any available handicap parking space on campus. There are spaces available in Lots L & QQ next to the Armory but space is very limited. Regents Drive Garage is ADA accessible with elevators located at each corner of the structure elevator; shuttles will also be available. 

DROPPING GUESTS OFF:  Guests will be able to pull directly up to rear of The Armory (Lot QQ) to drop off any individuals who require additional assistance. 

The College of AGNR is proud to offer a fully live-streamed ceremony for guests who cannot attend in-person. The stream will be hosted on the AGNR YouTube Channel (no account or login required). 

• Closed Captioning (text only) - English
• Closed Captioning (text only) - Spanish

ALL GRADUATES, regardless of degree/certificate level, are required to wear regalia in order to participate in the commencement ceremony.

BACHELOR'S & MASTER'S DEGREE STUDENTS will need to obtain their cap, gown, departmental hood (optional for bachelor's students), Stole of Gratitude (the red UMD sash), and tassel with the official UMD medallion. The Undergraduate package will cost $91.75 (w/o departmental hood) and the Master's package will cost $134.25. The deadline to purchase Bachelor's and Master's regalia from the University Book Center is May 4th, 2023 -- alternatively, students may choose to borrow regalia from UMD alumni or friends whose ceremony is at a different time.

DOCTORAL STUDENTS may rent or buy their regalia from the University Book Center. The deadline to purchase PhD regalia from the University Book Center is March 12th; those choosing to rent their regalia have until April 8th to submit their order. The cost to rent regalia is $243.50 (+ $500 rental deposit) and the cost to purchase regalia is $1,097. 

Click here for more information about regalia, purchase/rental options, etc.

Further information will be sent directly to graduating students via e-mail throughout March and April. Day-of details will be distributed to graduates during ticket pick-up and updated here at a later date.

Commencement Address
Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh
14th United States Deputy Secretary of Agriculture

Student Commencement Address
Niraj Arichandran Suresh
Bachelor of Science, Animal Sciences

Expression of Gratitude
Janna Kamilah Chapman
Bachelor of Science, Environmental Science and Technology