Going to University of Tennessee graduations? Avoiding campus? Schedule, parking, bag info
It's one of the busiest times of year for the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, as students prepare to graduate after final exams under a new commencement schedule that consolidates ceremonies and shortens the weekend.
This big change to graduations, happening May 15-17, was implemented to accommodate growing enrollment and retention, as well as the addition of new colleges over the past five years. Additionally, UT's two biggest colleges − the College of Arts and Sciences and the Haslam College of Business – continue to award a majority of the degrees UT bestows to students each year.
This is the first year UT has changed commencement to a format that will see multiple colleges graduating together instead of individual events, while the two biggest colleges are splitting up students into different ceremonies.
'While predicting exact numbers isn't possible, (the university's special events team) used historical data to project similar ceremony sizes, aiming to balance across all ceremonies the experience for graduates and their guests," UT spokesperson Tyra Haag told Knox News. "After this year, the events team will evaluate whether this reimagined model supports continued growth while preserving the quality of the celebrations.'
So, don your best business casual and learn what you should know about spring 2025 commencement ceremonies at UT.
Number of ceremonies: Eight
Location: Unless otherwise noted, Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center, 1600 Phillip Fulmer Drive.
Capacity: Around 14,000 seats for guests.
Doors open: One hour before each ceremony.
Projected length: Two to two-and-a-half hours for each ceremony. The times for speakers will be shortened to keep the focus on students, Haag said.
Student check-in: No later than 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony.
Number of graduates: Three of the ceremonies are projected to have more than 1,400 students attending. UT calculates each student invites about eight guests.
Access: Tickets are not required, and there's limit on how many guests can attend.
Seating: First-come, first-served.
Thursday, May 15
10 a.m. - College of Law graduating Doctor of Jurisprudence and Master of Legal Studies students (Student Union Auditorium)
4 p.m. - Doctoral Hooding for all Ph.D. programs. Doctor of Education, Doctor of Engineering, Doctor of Nursing Practice and Doctor of Social Work degrees
Friday, May 16
9:30 a.m. - Comparative and Experimental Medicine graduates, the Herbert College of Agriculture and several concentrations in the Haslam College of Business (Accounting, Finance, Heath Integrated Business and Engineering Programs, Supply Chain Management, Master of Business Administration and Smith Global Leadership Scholars)
1:30 p.m. - College of Communication and Information, with several concentrations in the Haslam College of Business (Business Analytics, Economics, Human Resource Management, Management, Marketing, Public Administration and Statistics)
Saturday, May 17
9:30 a.m. - The College of Nursing and two divisions of the College of Arts and Sciences (the Division of Arts and Humanities and the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics)
11:30 a.m. - College of Veterinary Medicine (Cox Auditorium in the Alumni Memorial Building)
1:30 p.m. - Baker School for Public Policy and Public Affairs; Bredesen Center; College of Architecture and Design; College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences; College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies; College of Social Work; Life Sciences; and the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music.
5:30 p.m. - The Tickle College of Engineering and the Division of Social Services in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Parking is free for graduating students and guests in non-commuter and commuter core parking lots, as well as in garages across campus. UT recommends carpooling and leaving early to avoid traffic delays.
UT recommends four main parking areas near the arena:
G-10 garage: Located near the arena and Neyland Stadium, G-10 can be accessed via the Neyland Drive entrance. The top level is reserved for accessible and mobility-limited guests.
Commuter Core 6 parking lot: Use Lake Loudoun Boulevard to enter this lot, just across from the arena.
G-5 garage: Located below the Commuter Core 6 lot, this garage also connects to the arena.
G-16 garage: This garage, located on Volunteer Boulevard near the Rock, can be accessed via Pat Head Summitt Street.
For guests of the College of Veterinary Medicine graduation, UT recommends parking in the Volunteer Hall garage or in Staff Lot 9 across from Neyland Stadium. The Commuter Core 4 parking lot on the agriculture portion of campus has additional accessible parking and a free shuttle to the arena.
If parking is full on campus, the Knoxville Civic Coliseum parking garage also will provide parking and a shuttle running 7 a.m.-5 p.m., dropping off guests off at the intersection of Chamique Holdsclaw Drive and Lake Loudoun Boulevard.
Campus employees will be working on Thursday and Friday, so be mindful and avoid parking in staff lots. Construction also will be happening on campus, primarily on Phillip Fulmer Way.
Students and guests should bring as little as possible for quick entry into the area. Security screenings will be in place at each entrance on the concourse level.
A clear bag policy will be in effect, meaning guests can bring one clear plastic bag no larger than 12x6x12 inches. Guests can also bring a small clutch purse 4.5x6.5 inches or smaller, which applies to wallets too.
No other bags are allowed, and all items are subject to a search. Medically necessary items also will be searched, and diaper bags do not count as a medically necessary item.
What about cameras? Guests are allowed to bring personal cameras with detachable lenses smaller than 5 inches. Professional cameras and lenses longer than five inches are not allowed.
What about gifts? Guests can bring flowers and unwrapped gifts. Wrapped gifts, signs and balloons are not allowed inside. UT sells flowers in the arena for graduates.
What about alcohol and tobacco? Alcohol won't be sold or allowed inside the arena. Smoking, including e-cigarettes, is not allowed inside UT buildings, outside on campus or in private cars parked on UT property.
Can't make graduation? UT provides livestreams of each graduation, which also can be viewed after ceremonies conclude at commencement.utk.edu.
Keenan Thomas reports for the Knox News business growth and development team. You can reach him by email at keenan.thomas@knoxnews.com.
Support strong local journalism and unlock premium perks at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Going to University of Tennessee graduation? Times, parking, bag info
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