Gov. Gretchen Whitmer will deliver the University of Michigan’s Spring Commencement address for the Ann Arbor campus at 10 a.m. Saturday at Michigan Stadium.
Whitmer will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.
Also receiving honorary degrees at Saturday’s commencement ceremony are:
- Randy W. Schekman, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, Doctor of Science.
- Mark di Suvero, internationally renowned sculptor and peace activist, Doctor of Fine Arts.
- Leslie Uggams, actress and singer, Doctor of Fine Arts.
Schekman also is delivering the commencement address for the Rackham Graduate Exercises ceremony, at 10 a.m. Friday in Hill Auditorium.
Venue
Michigan Stadium opens for Spring Commencement seating at 8 a.m. All family members and guests attending the ceremony, including children older than 2, must have a ticket to enter the stadium.
Security guidelines prohibit purses, bags, wristlets, cases of any size, water bottles and other select items. Cell phones, pagers and small cameras are allowed at commencement.
Permitted items that will not fit in pockets, including medicine, medical equipment and diapers for small children, should be placed in a clear plastic bag, quart- or gallon-size only. Exceptions to some prohibited items will be granted for medical reasons only.
See a complete list of prohibited and permitted items at myumi.ch/LPbp4.
Spring Commencement will have a live webcast on the day of the ceremony and will also be broadcast on Comcast Channel 22 in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area. The live broadcast will be available at umich.edu/watch.
Transportation
Michigan Stadium is located at 1201 S. Main St. in Ann Arbor. Parking for vehicles with state-issued “handicap plates or tags” is available on the north side of the stadium.
There are a number of campus parking lots at a walkable distance from the stadium, but they are expected to fill up quickly. Additional parking is available at Pioneer High School for a $10 fee, as assessed by the Ann Arbor Public Schools.
On Thursday, U-M parking structures at Fletcher, Hill and Thayer streets and the blue area of the Palmer structure will be open at 9 a.m. for commencement guests.
From Friday to Sunday, all U-M parking lots and structures will be open to the public beginning at 9 a.m.
Due to limited parking near Michigan Stadium, Spring Commencement guests are encouraged to use the complimentary shuttle service to and from area hotels and parking lots. Service will begin at 7:45 a.m. and will run approximately every 20 minutes until 9:45 a.m. Buses will resume operation at the end of the ceremony. All shuttle buses are wheelchair-accessible.
To find more details about travel, parking and shuttle buses, visit myumi.ch/Jd4Bn.
Inclement weather plan
Spring Commencement is scheduled to take place in Michigan Stadium rain or shine. If severe weather occurs, the ceremony may be shortened, suspended or concluded.
If a schedule adjustment is determined necessary, instructions will be given to guests via public address announcements and video screen messages. Graduates and guests are asked to listen for announcements and remain seated until instructed otherwise.
Umbrellas are not permitted in Michigan Stadium, but raincoats and ponchos are allowed.
Rackham Graduate Exercises
The Rackham Graduate Exercises ceremony is at 10 a.m. Friday in Hill Auditorium. Randy W. Schekman, Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Berkeley, will deliver the keynote address.
The event is for those receiving master’s or doctoral degrees through the Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies.
For more information, contact the Office of University and Development Events at rackhamgraduateexercises@umich.edu or 734-647-6037.
More graduation ceremonies and contact information
April 29
College of Pharmacy, 1 p.m., Rackham Auditorium, Hilda McDonald at hildiris@umich.edu and 734-764-7144
Asian/Pacific Islander Graduation, 2 p.m., Ross School of Business Robertson Auditorium
First-Generation Student Graduation Ceremony, 5:30 p.m., Michigan League Ballroom, firstgeneboard@umich.edu
May 2
School of Kinesiology, 4:30 p.m., Hill Auditorium, annjtrav@umich.edu or 734-764-7280
School of Public Health, 12:30 p.m., Hill Auditorium, whitdix@umich.edu or 734-763-9743
Lavender Graduation, 4:30 p.m., Trotter Multicultural Center at 428 S. State St., markckf@umich.edu or 734-763-4186
May 3
Stephen M. Ross School of Business, 3:30 p.m., Crisler Center, rosscommencement@umich.edu or 734-763-8698
School of Music, Theatre & Dance, 4 p.m., Hill Auditorium, dianals@umich.edu or 734-764-0592
La Celebracion Latina, 6 p.m., Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, hgalvan@umich.edu or 734-936-1753
May 4
Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design, 2 p.m., Art & Architecture Building Courtyard, bbscott@umich.edu or 734-647-9886
School of Education, 5:30 p.m., Hill Auditorium, jsteppe@umich.edu or 734-214-6430
College of Engineering, 3 p.m., Crisler Center, Emily Dickman at 734-764-8261
School for Environment and Sustainability, 1 p.m., Rackham Auditorium, hbstreit@umich.edu
School of Nursing, 1:30 p.m., Hill Auditorium, umsn-studentevents@med.umich.edu
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, 4:30 p.m., Rackham Auditorium, erinren@umich.edu or storkc@umich.edu
School of Social Work, 1:30 p.m., Power Center, mtgorton@umich.edu or 734-936-0961
Native Student Graduation Celebration, 7 p.m., Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Black Celebratory, 7 p.m., Power Center, gothomas@umich.edu or gtz@umich.edu
May 5
A. Alfred Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning, 11 a.m., Hill Auditorium, kateej@umich.edu or 734-763-6518
School of Information, 4 p.m., Hill Auditorium, wachtera@umich.edu or 734-647-3110
May 9
Medical School, 3 p.m., Hill Auditorium, Bradley Densen at bdensen@umich.edu or 734-615-4856, or Nani Hunter at sypher@umich.edu or 734-615-4856
May 10
School of Dentistry, noon, Hill Auditorium, yokia@umich.edu or 734-647-4026
Law School, 4 p.m., Hill Auditorium, rickardj@umich.edu or 734-764-4705
