Up-to-date information regarding Commencement is available on the Commencement website.
Graduates will receive several emails from the Commencement Office throughout the spring semester. Topics will include: cap and gown information, ticket information, schedule updates, and various other information.
If you have questions that are not addressed on the website, please contact University events at commencement@up.edu.
Students should apply for graduation on the registrar's website.
If students have questions about their application or they are unsure if they are graduating, please call the registrar's office at 503.943.7321.
We encourage graduates and their guests to take part in as many of the weekend activities as possible. These events provide the opportunity for graduates, faculty, staff, and guests to interact in these celebratory activities.
For a full schedule, see the Schedule of Events.
International students needing a Visa support letter for their parents and family to travel to the U.S. for Commencement should contact international student services directly at iss@up.edu or 503.943.7367.
Yes – you can watch a live stream of the Commencement ceremonies.
Please visit our Schedule page for more information.
The live stream will have live captions of the ceremony to assist hard of hearing or deaf viewers.
Your cap and gown are required for the Baccalaureate Mass and all Commencement ceremonies.
Students often ask what should I wear under my cap and gown? We ask that you dress comfortably. For women, this typically means a dress or a blouse and skirt that is shorter than the gown so it does not hang below the gown. Men generally choose to wear dress pants and shirt (tie optional).
On stage, you will receive an empty diploma jacket.
Diplomas will be mailed to students after Commencement.
*The diploma will list your name, degree, and any applicable Latin honors. University of Portland diplomas do not list the major. Please contact the Office of the Registrar with any questions.
The UP-guest wireless internet is open to visitors on the University of Portland campus during Commencement Weekend.
To access this service, just select "UPGuest" in your WiFi settings. The UPGuest wireless service is offered for casual personal use on an "as is" basis with no guarantee of availability and no warranty of any kind.
Graduate Portrait Photography
Professional photographers will capture a series of posed photos of each graduate as part of the diploma process. This includes photos taken while graduates prepare to receive their diploma, a ceremony portrait before stepping forward, a handshake photo while receiving the diploma jacket, and a photo taken after exiting the stage. These images will be available for purchase following the ceremony.
Ceremony & Guest Photography
University photographers will also capture key moments and candid photos throughout the ceremony. These images will be available for free download approximately two weeks after Commencement on the up.edu/commencement website.
Guests are welcome to take photos and videos from their seats. For the safety of graduates and guests, and to ensure clear sightlines for everyone, guests may not approach the stage, enter aisles, or block walkways at any time during the ceremony.
Thank you for helping us create a safe, respectful, and celebratory experience for all.
For more information about graduation photos, please visit the Graduation Photos page.
You can purchase a diploma frame at the UP bookstore.
Commencement begins at 11:00 a.m., and graduates must be present in the Chiles Center no later than 9:30 a.m.
Students should enter the Chiles Center through the north doors, off Portsmouth Avenue.
Guests are encouraged to be on campus at least 90 minutes before the ceremony to find parking and make their way to the Chiles Center and their seats.
Doors will open 90 minutes before the Ceremony starts.
The undergraduate commencement ceremony will last approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Graduates are seated by college/school in alphabetic order.
Marshals and Commencement staff will be available in your designated assembly area to assist with lining up and answer any questions.
Yes – you can watch a live stream of all the Commencement Ceremonies. Visit the schedule page for live stream page for links.
Commencement will last approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Graduates often take photos and walk around campus for 60 - 90 minutes following the ceremony.
Also consider increased travel times to/from campus due to heavy traffic as well as additional time needed to find parking.
When placing your announcements order through Jostens, there will be a dropdown menu to add a line for your level of honors.
Honors at graduation are determined one semester prior to graduation by computing the GPA in all courses applicable toward graduation. Transfer students who have not completed 30 semester hours in residence by one semester prior to graduation will be evaluated at the conclusion of all work. Summer semester graduates' honors are determined according to the criteria used with the previous spring semester graduates. Honors are based on the following formula: within a given college or school,
Caps and gowns are ordered online through the Commencement checklist.
Bachelor Unit – (gown, cap, and tassel) - $50.00
Master Unit – (gown, hood, cap, and tassel) - $75.00
Doctoral Rental Unit – (gown, hood, tam and tassel) - $55.00
Doctoral Purchase Unit – Purchase here. Order VERY early, takes many weeks to ship.
Jostens will be at the Grad Fair to answer questions.
Pick up is in the Bauccio Commons.
You can visit the AfterUP page for more details.
Undergraduates and Master Students may keep their gowns.
Doctoral students must return their cap, gown, and hood after Commencement.
Tassel colors indicate your affiliation with a college and discipline.
See Commencement Traditions for a list of tassel colors.The stole is available for purchase on the Commencement Checklist or when you pick up your cap & gown.
For more information about the Stole of Gratitude, please visit the page.
Honors at graduation are determined one semester prior to graduation by computing the GPA in all courses applicable toward graduation. Transfer students who have not completed 30 semester hours in residence by one semester prior to graduation will be evaluated at the conclusion of all work. Summer semester graduates' honors are determined according to the criteria used with the previous spring semester graduates. Honors are based on the following formula: within a given college or school,
Tickets are required for admittance to the undergraduate commencement ceremony.
All seats are assigned and will be assigned at random.
The University anticipates that additional tickets may become available at a later date. To request additional tickets, please tap the appropriate box on the Commencement Checklist. Note that additional tickets are not guaranteed, and the process for distributing additional tickets (should they be offered) will be outlined in a future communication. The earliest that we will communicate additional tickets will be Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Within your six (6) ticket limit, we offer special accommodations tickets. You will indicate on your order form in the Commencement checklist if you need special accommodation tickets:
When ordering, please include both a ticket for the special accommodations guest as well as the companion sitting next to them. Due to high demand, we are only able to accommodate one companion with your special accommodations guest.
For example, if a wheelchair-using parent will be attending the ceremony, two special accommodations tickets should be requested, one for the parent and one for the companion.
All tickets will be emailed to the student’s email to be printed at home the last week of April.
If you cannot print your tickets, please email commencement@up.edu.
The Chiles Center box office opens 90 minutes prior to ticketed events, to assist with ticketing concerns.
Our learned experience is that it is best that children who are 2 years of age and older get a ticket for Commencement. However any children who will sit on a lap the entire time do not need a ticket.
A detailed map of the Commencement venue is available here. The map highlights entrances, seating sections, accessibility seating, restrooms, and other key locations to help you plan your arrival.
Your tickets include assigned seating information, including the specific section, row, and seat number. Ushers and event staff will be available throughout the venue to help guests locate their assigned seats, shown on their tickets.
All guests are welcome to Baccalaureate Mass and tickets are not required.
No. All guests are welcome to Baccalaureate Mass regardless of their faith background.
Yes – graduates should wear their cap and gown.
Students should be at the Chiles Center no later than 3:15 p.m.
Students should enter the Chiles Center through the north doors, off Portsmouth Avenue.
The Academic Procession begins promptly at 4:15 p.m.
Yes. There is no specific order for the academic procession for Baccalaureate Mass so you are welcome to sit with your friends.
When you arrive, marshals and Commencement staff will be available to assist with the procession and can answer your questions.
The Chiles Center will open for guest seating at 3:15 p.m.
The Academic Procession begins at 4:15, and we ask that guests be in their seats prior to the start of the Academic Procession.
The Baccalaureate Mass begins at 4:30 p.m. and should last approximately one hour.
Yes, guests seated in these designated accessible areas must have a special accommodations ticket. Ushers will be available to assist guests in these areas
Please see an usher once you have entered the Chiles Center and they will assist with storing your item.
Please consider marking such items with the name of the guest for easier recovery at the conclusion of the ceremony.
Please note: This storage area is not attended.
Within the wheelchair-access seating areas extra folding chairs are available for companion seating.
Please note that a wheelchair-access ticket is needed to sit in these folding chairs
Ushers will be available to assist guests with elevators, ramps, or stairs.
One special accommodation area is positioned for maximum viewing of an ASL interpreter to assist hearing impaired guests.
The ceremony will be live captioned and shown on the video board and live stream. Guests are welcome to bring their own devices to view live stream captions.
Tickets are not required for the Baccalaureate Mass, but the immense popularity of the event makes arriving early a good idea.
Please see an usher upon arrival, and they will help you find seating that accommodates your special accommodation.
Please contact us by April 6, 2026, if you require an ASL interpreter for the Baccalaureate Mass. All ceremonies in the Chiles Center will be live captioned. You can contact us by using this help request form:
There are a limited number of wheelchairs available for checkout during Commencement weekend.
Wheelchairs will be free of charge, and available for check-out at the Guest Services tent in front of the Chiles Center.
You will be required to leave your driver’s license to check out a wheel chair.
We ask you return the wheel chair within one hour of checking it out so that other guests may use them.
To get closest to the Chiles Center please go to the main parking lot. At the end of the main parking lot, next to the baseball field along the curb is the best location to drop off your guests.
State issued permits and license plates authorizing use of accessible spaces for people with disabilities are honored on campus.
Please ensure it is displayed properly.
Spaces are available on a first come, first served basis.
Have a question not addressed on this website? Please submit all Commencement questions using using this help request form:
If you have an immediate need, please call Campus Safety at 503.943.7161. Campus Safety is open 24/7/365.
The majority of our parking is available in the main parking lot. There are other lots around campus that you are welcome to park in.
There is overflow parking available on the River Campus parking lot. Please visit our transit page for directions to the River Campus parking lot. A shuttle will be available to bring you to/from the upper campus.
Please refer to the transit and parking page.
State issued permits and license plates authorizing use of accessible spaces for people with disabilities are honored on campus.
Please ensure it is displayed properly.
Spaces are available on a first come, first served basis.
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203-5798
503.943.8000
