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Commencement at The University of Rhode Island

Class of 2012

Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony
Sunday, May 20, 2012, 12 - noon

It is estimated that about 3,000 undergraduate and four honorary degrees will be awarded.

Graduate degree recipients are also welcome to participate. No tickets are required if the Main Ceremony is held on the Quadrangle.

Seating for families and guests on the open air Quadrangle is limited and offered on a first come, first served basis and cannot be guaranteed. Folding chairs are allowed.

Disability assistance services are provided.
Certified service animals are always welcome; we ask that family pets be left at home.

Commencement programs will be available at information booths and from student ushers.

  • 12 noon – Bachelor's degree recipients assemble in academic attire on Lower College Road in areas desginated for the various colleges. Faculty and those graduate students who choose to participate in this ceremony assemble east of Quinn Hall between Ranger and Quinn Halls. Official guests assemble in the Multicultural Center on Lower College Road.

  • 12:30 p.m.– Commencement exercises begin and run approximately 90 minutes.
The Main Commencement ceremonies will be streamed on URI Live! and accessible through a link from the University Commencement home page. The ceremonies will also be simulcast (online and on air) on WRIU radio, 90.3 FM.
Immediately following the main ceremony, individual colleges will hold ceremonies at the locations below. 

Prior to University-wide ceremonies:

  • ROTC Commissioning—In front of Keaney Gym at 9 a.m. prior to main ceremony. (Rain site: Ryan Center Concourse.)
  • The Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education—In front of Roosevelt Hall prior to the main ceremony, 10 a.m. (rain or shine)

College ceremonies continue at the following locations:

  • College of Arts and Sciences—Quadrangle (Rain site: Ryan Center)
  • College of Business Administration—Mackal Field House
  • College of Engineering—Engineering Quadrangle (Rain site: Will Theatre in Fine Arts Center)
  • College of the Environment and Life Sciences—The Ryan Center
  • College of Human Science and Services—Keaney Gym
  • College of Nursing—Botanical Gardens (Rain site: Fine Arts Center Recital Hall)
  • College of Pharmacy—Edwards Auditorium

Please view the map for these locations.

In the event of rain

In the event of rain, the main commencement ceremony will be held at the Ryan Center.

Bachelor's degree recipients will each be allowed two guest tickets.

Tickets to the Ryan Center are required and will be given to graduates with the purchase of their academic regalia at the University Bookstore in the Memorial Union.

Additional guests should go to the individual college rain sites where tickets are not required or to the Memorial Union Ram's Den to view the ceremony.

The main ceremony will be simulcast to these college and University rainsites.

If the rain plan is to be implemented, the decision will be made in the early morning. Notices will be posted online and in recorded messages at 401-874-1234, 401-874-7669, 401-874-1000. Signs will be posted at all campus entrances.

Commencement Information

Commencement BookLink here to browse and download a booklet of information about the 2012 Commencement ceremonies.Direct download (PDF).


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Commencement on URI Live!


URI Live

On May 19-20, watch the University's 126th Commencement Ceremonies streaming on URI Live!