The Ceremony

Due to the renovation of Husky Stadium, the 2012 Commencement Ceremony will be held at the amazing CenturyLink (former "Qwest") Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks and the Seattle Sounders.  The field is located just south of downtown Seattle, 10-15 minutes from campus.

It will be a day to remember!   An estimated 4,500 - 5,000 graduates will take the field, surrounded by 40,000 cheering family members and friends, and make that once-in-a-lifetime walk across the mammoth Commencement stage, where the President of the University, members of the Board of Regents, the deans of the University's 16 Schools and Colleges, and members of the University faculty will be gathered to honor the Class of 2012.  Making the occasion even more special, this will be the final academic ceremony celebrating the University's 150 year anniversary.

Graduate line-up begins at 12:00 p.m. in the CenturyLink Event Center, just south of the stadium.  Graduates will enter the Center from the west side (Occidental Avenue).  Please stay tuned to this website, where we will publish regular updates and feel free to contact our office if you have any questions.

Congratulations to the Class of 2012 and we'll see you at CenturyLink Field!

What - no balloons?

Yes, we're afraid so!  Due to CenturyLink Field rules, no balloons will be permitted in either the stadium or the Event Center where students will line up.

UWTV Broadcast & Simulcast

The 2012 Commencement Ceremony will be broadcast and simulcast live by UWTV, channel 27 in the Puget Sound area.  The ceremony will be webcast live and will also be available for viewing at uwtv.org.  However, it will not be viewable on an iphone or ipad.  The ceremony will be rebroadcast following Commencement on selected dates.  Please visit uwtv.org for a complete schedule of air times.  DVDs of the ceremony can be pre-ordered through the University Book Store.

Come Rain or Shine

GradsinrainSpring in the Northwest may bring us 90 degree sunshine or cold rain. But Commencement will take place either way - so be prepared for whatever gifts Mother Nature may choose to bestow upon the graduating class! (If she's really upset, the ceremony will be abbreviated and degrees will be conferred en masse.)  Plastic ponchos will be available under the graduates' seats if it looks like it will rain.

Disability Accommodations

Assistive listening devices for guests can be requested when students fill out the online registration/order form (May 1 - 20).  For information about additional disability accommodations please visit the parking and tickets pages of this website

Food

Consession stands will be open at CenturyLink Field.  Please note that students are not allowed into the stands during the ceremony and passing anything from the stands to graduates on the field is prohibited.