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School of Public Health Graduation Information Spring 2024

SPH Ceremony

May 20, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. at the Xfinity Center

student commencement speaker

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!

We look forward to celebrating our Summer 2023, Winter 2024 and Spring 2024 graduates at our Spring 2024 in-person commencement ceremony taking place on May 20, 2024 at 3:00 p.m. at Xfinity Center. Both undergraduate and graduate students will be honored at this event. This is not a ticketed ceremony.

For any further questions or information not found on this page, please contact sphcommencement@umd.edu. Please include your full name, your question, and indicate whether you are a graduate or family member.

Pre-Graduation 

It is never too early to start planning for graduation. However there are many dates, deadlines and requirements you must meet in order to attend commencement and receive your degree. 

To earn a Bachelor's degree from the School of Public Health, students must:

  • Fulfill the requirements for the chosen major;
  • Complete major required courses with a grade of C- or better;
  • Earn a minimum of 120 unduplicated credit hours (or 150 for double degree) with at least a 2.0 GPA for all UMD coursework attempted;
  • Earn at least 12 credits of major required coursework during their last 30 credits;
  • Earn at least 15 credits of upper-level (300 or 400) coursework in their last 30 credits;
  • Fulfill General Education or CORE requirements.

To earn a Graduate degree from the School of Public Health, students must:

Doctoral Degree Completion Checklist

Master's Degree Completion Checklist

It is important to understand that applying for graduation does not guarantee that you will earn your degree. As a candidate for graduation, your record will be reviewed by your department prior to commencement, as well as after commencement, once grades have posted for the current semester. Once you have been cleared by your department your degree will be posted to your record and your diploma sent. Students MUST BE on track to completing all degree requirements in that given semester in order to remain on the graduation list and walk in the commencement ceremony. If a student is finishing a final course over summer or winter, that student should apply for graduation in the following term. Students will not be permitted to walk early in a commencement ceremony.  

Apply for graduation through Testudo

  • Be sure you have met with your department advisor to confirm all University requirements have been met;
  • Settle your student account (financial holds or administrative holds) with student financial services & cashiering;
  • Update your address and email address on Testudo;
  • Purchase your regalia from the University Book Center. Detailed information is on the Commencement page;
  • Conduct an exit interview with the Office of Financial Aid.

Congratulations SPH Graduates!

Graduates, please join us for a celebration breakfast in your honor from 8:30 to 11:00am on Tuesday, May 7th, 2024 in the Friedgen Seminar Room, SPH 2236. 

This event is for Summer 2023, Winter 2024 and Spring 2024 graduates, faculty, and staff.

Please SAVE the DATE if you plan to attend.  The faculty and staff of the School of Public Health look forward to seeing you and celebrating you!

To deliver the student commencement address is a great honor and a true challenge. A great commencement speaker shares something about themselves and their journey in the school; engages with students and parents; reflects on opportunities and inspires us for the future; and helps us understand what a career in public health means to them.

To be considered you must be an undergraduate student in the School of Public Health who is graduating in the current semester. A committee will review all applications and invite select applicants to deliver a three minute speech before making a final selection. The selected student speaker will be asked to attend commencement rehearsal. 

Apply to be the SPH Student Commencement Speaker.

Day of Graduation Information for Students

  • Arrival Time: 2:00 p.m. 
    • Students participating in the SPH Commencement Ceremony should report to the Xfinity Center Small Gym (Pavilion) by 2:00 p.m. to line up.
    • The processional into the Xfinity Center begins at 2:45pm sharp. Students participating in commencement must be checked in at the Pavilion and lined up to process by 2:30pm. The program will include welcoming remarks, the SPH Student Speaker, and reading the names of all of our graduates as they cross the stage.  The ceremony will conclude by 5pm.

  • Security
    • IT IS IMPORTANT THAT ALL GRADUATES ARRIVE ON TIME! Security measures, such as wanding or bag checks, will be in place for entrance into the Xfinity Center. Students should leave all coats, purses, etc. with a friend or family member, as no personal items will be permitted on the arena floor.
    • All backpacks and bags larger than 8"x11"x12" are prohibited. Any student who chooses to bring personal items through security will be required to go through a security check. Please be sure to allow enough time for this potential delay.
    • Visit the Items Allowed and Security Procedures link for additional information about security in the Xfinity Center.
  • Personal Items
    • Students should leave all coats, purses, etc. with a friend or family member as personal items are not permitted on the arena floor. There will be no place to lock up personal belongings; neither SPH nor Xfinity Center will be responsible for lost items.
  • All Graduates
    • Be sure to arrive by 2:00 p.m. to line up for the processional. Upon entering the Pavilion (room 0601/Auxiliary Gym) at the Xfinity Center look for the Check-In and Registration tables.
    • Each graduate should:
      • Obtain an announcement card from the Check-In and Registration tables in the Pavilion Room
      • Under your printed name, handwrite the pronunciation of your name.
      • Complete the survey on the back of the card;
      • Find the sign with your degree/major and line up accordingly;
      • Hold the announcement card and give it to the person reading your name on stage.

    Graduates participating in the campus-wide commencement ceremony will receive color proofs by mail approximately two weeks after commencement. You are not obligated to purchase prints. For more information, contact GradImages at 800.628.4509 or visit www.gradimages.com.

    Information for Guest

    • Accessibility & Directions
      • Parking will be available in any campus parking space. Please follow the directions of any parking attendant. Meters will not require payment. While no special permits are needed, ADA credentials are still required in marked ADA spaces
      • The ceremony will have designated seating areas for persons using wheelchairs, in sections 2, 9, 28, 200, 300, at SECU Stadium. Seating is available for individuals with disabilities on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests using wheelchairs and their companions can enter through any gate. Guests seated in a wheelchair can have up to three companions sit near them.

    • View Directions to parking. Handicap parking is in Terrapin trail.
    • See more Xfinity Center Accessibility Information here.

    • Sign Language Interpretation

      An ASL interpreter will be provided during the entire ceremony. Guests needing ASL interpretation services should be seated in section 114.

    • The ceremony will have designated seating areas for persons using wheelchairs, in sections 2, 9, 28, 200, 300, at SECU Stadium. Seating is available for individuals with disabilities on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests using wheelchairs and their companions can enter through any gate. Guests seated in a wheelchair can have up to three companions sit near them.

      Commencement volunteers, wearing red shirts, will be available to assist guests in finding a seat.

      For guests with limited mobility issues who can access stairs, it is strongly recommended that you arrive early to ensure you are able to find a seat that meets your needs. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and all entrances to the stadium are accessible. Should you need assistance, please see a commencement volunteer wearing a red shirt. All guests are asked to be seated by 5:30 p.m.

    Regarding family coming from overseas: if family members are applying for a B2 tourist visa, they should be provided with a copy of the student's passport and a copy of the student's enrollment verification form. This should be sufficient, and no additional letter would be considered in their application.

    Enrollment verification can be requested through Testudo. For additional information please visit the registrar website.

    • The event will be live streamed via the SPH YouTube channel @healthyturtle.  Guests will be able to follow along via the LIVE tab.
    • There are no tickets for this event as we have plenty of room for you and your guests!
    • Flower bouquets, teddy bears, and bottles of water will be available for purchase on site.

    Campus Wide Ceremony

    Monday, May 20, 2024 at 7:00pm

    President Pines and Testudo celebrating

    The University of Maryland will host its Spring 2024 Commencement on Monday, May 20, 2024 for Winter 2024 and Spring 2024 graduates. The ceremony start time is 7pm. and the processional will begin at 6:00 p.m. at SECU Stadium. Gates at SECU Stadium will open at 5:00 p.m.

    For additional information regarding the campus-wide ceremony, tickets and safety measures, please see commencement.umd.edu .