students in graduation attire

Commencement 2024

Please join School Administration, Faculty, and Staff in celebration of the academic successes of our Architecture & Design graduates as they complete one of the most important milestones of their lives and prepare to begin their professional careers. The School of Architecture and Design will be hosting three public events in our graduates' honor.

May 2024 Graduation Events

School of Architecture & Design Academic Achievement Award Ceremony

Friday, May 10, 2024, 1:00 pm

The Forum at Marvin Hall, 1465 Jayhawk Boulevard, Lawrence, KS 66045

Students who will be receiving School Academic Achievement Awards will be notified by email.

School of Architecture & Design Graduation Open House Reception

Friday, May 10, 2024, 2:30 - 4:30 pm 

Chalmers Café and Gallery Spaces, 1467 Jayhawk Boulevard, Lawrence, KS 66045

School of Architecture & Design Recognition Ceremony

Friday, May 10, 2024, 6:00 - 7:30 pm

The Lied Center of Kansas, 1600 Stewart Dr., Lawrence, KS 66045

The School of Architecture and Design graduation recognition ceremony is a formal event that honors graduating undergraduates, masters, and doctoral students who have or will finish their degree completion requirements in the Fall 2023, Spring 2024, and Summer 2024 terms.

A live stream of the ceremony will be provided by the Lied Center of Kansas. The link to the live stream will be provided here when it is available. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend University of Kansas sponsored events. The Lied Center of Kansas is features barrier-free entrances and accessible seating. You can view Lied Center's accessibility information on their website. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Whitney Juneau by April 30 at wjuneau@ku.edu.

Students should arrive no later than one hour before the ceremony begins. 

  • For the Spring 2024 Ceremony: Student check-in begins at 5:00 p.m. at the Pavilion of the Lied Center (NE Entry).

Doors will open at 5:15 pm. Guests should be seated 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. No tickets are required for guests to attend the School of Architecture & Design recognition ceremony.

Wheelchair-accessible seating is available in the Orchestra Left first row. 

All graduates who are attending the Recognition Ceremony are required to don full regalia. 

Graduation regalia and announcements can be found at the KU Bookstore, 785-864-4640. Undergraduates should have light purple tassels, and master's and doctoral students should have black tassels and light purple hoods. The KU Bookstore will hold a graduation fair on March 20 and 21 in the Ballroom of the Kansas Union.

Honors: Students in the University Honors Program may wear honor cords. 

Degree information in announcements should read: 

  • Bachelor of Fine Arts in Design
  • Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies
  • Bachelor of Science in Interior Architecture
  • Master of Arts in Architecture
  • Master of Arts in Interaction Design
  • Master of Arts in Design Management
  • Master of Architecture
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture

Degrees will be officially conferred after the conclusion of the Spring 2024 semester. 

Diplomas for students on all KU campuses will be mailed and related fees waived until Sept. 1. Deliveries will take place mid-August. To receive a diploma within this timeframe, a graduate must complete the “Diploma Delivery Request” function within Enroll & Pay and ensure that the mailing address on file is up to date. 

Lawrence students who do not complete this step may retrieve their diplomas after Sept. 1 from the KU Visitors Center, 1502 Iowa St., or pay the fee to have their diplomas mailed. Note: Diplomas will not be provided for graduates with obligations, financial or otherwise, to the University of Kansas.

No formal printed invitations will be mailed. Students who have applied for graduation and meet their program requirements will receive an email from Director of Co-Curricular Affairs, Whitney Juneau regarding the School ceremony. 

Students who will be recognized at the School's Academic Achievement Award Ceremony will receive notification in April 2024. 

The Grad Team is the official vendor that has been hired to take photographs at recognition events on the Lawrence campus on Commencement weekend. 

Photos taken at the Awards Ceremony and the Open House Red Carpet will be available on our School Facebook Page this summer. 

The program will last 1 hour and 30 minutes. There is another event following the School of Architecture & Design Recognition Ceremony. Graduates will process out of the auditorium and family and friends can meet them in the parking lot.

Although we will be committed to being time conscious, we encourage families to give themselves plenty of time when making dinner reservations.

School of Architecture & Design guests will not need to present tickets for entry to the Recognition Ceremony. 

Seating is by choice, but will be several areas that are reserved for our Graduates, Staff and Honored Guests. Ushers will be available to assist you in finding an open seat. 

The University of Kansas Commencement is a less formal, no ticket required, all-university graduation event for several thousand students held outdoors in Memorial Stadium each May. The KU Commencement Ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 12 at 10:30 am. The “Walk Down the Hill” is a fun tradition where students often bring balloons or decorate caps and gowns. 

Per University Messaging:

IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT 2024 COMMENCEMENT

Commencement will be held at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Seating and amenities will be reduced due to ongoing construction at the stadium, and we encourage participants to limit attendance to six guests per graduate to keep the event comfortable for everyone. Family and friends who prefer not to enter the stadium can watch the ceremony via livestream at the Kansas Memorial Union or the Jayhawk Welcome Center, or from their personal devices. More details to come in 2024.

The University event site will have more information about their event, how to participate, and where to go. 


May 2023 School of Architecture & Design Recognition Ceremony