Frequently Asked Questions

You can download the email in a PDF format to view all the information.

All in-person ceremonies will be held at Bartow Arena.

• Graduate Ceremony: Friday, August 12 – 6:00 p.m.
• Undergraduate Ceremony: Saturday, August 13 – 9:30 a.m.

All lots within proximity to Bartow Arena will be open for parking.

Handicap parking (placard or tag required) is also available in the lot behind Campbell Hall (off University Blvd. and 13th Street). Parking is free.

Masks will not be required for commencement. Please refer to the https://www.uab.edu/uabunited/faculty-staff/health-safety#personal-safety-practices regarding the current masking policy on campus.

There is no limit on family, friends, and guests.

While Bartow Arena does not have a bag policy; strollers must be left in the concourse area and umbrellas must be kept under your seat or in the concourse area. No balloons are allowed as they impede other guests' view of graduates crossing the stage.

Concessions will be available. The UAB Bookstore will, also, have it's kiosk open so the guests may purchase items.

We expect these ceremonies to last approximately two hours.

Graduates should arrive at Bartow Arena at least one hour prior to their ceremony start time. You will enter on the lower level of Bartow Arena from 13th Street South. You will then go upstairs to the concourse area and find your school line for the processional.

Enter Bartow Arena through the 13th Street South entrance. You will be directed to the area for your school.

This semester we are implementing a digital name card system, so please make sure you bring a charged cell phone with you, which will be used to display your name card to the card scanner. You will receive text alerts about this new system from a company called Full Measure. Do not ignore it, it is not a spam text.

Find your school and line up approximately 3 feet away from the person in front of you. You will then be led onto the arena floor by faculty school marshals, where you will be seated. As the ceremony progresses, you will process across the stage when your school is called.

There will be no handshake with the president or dean, but graduates will still have their photo taken. We will have 2 opportunities for photos: While crossing the stage -- The spot where graduates will stand will be marked with an “X”. After exiting the stage, there will be another photo opportunity at a designated portrait backdrop.

After the photo, graduates will return to their seats. Because this is a formal ceremony, we ask that you do not leave until the ceremony has concluded.

There is not a formal processional for the graduates. Once the ceremony is over and the platform party has recessed, graduates, guests, family, and friends must immediately exit Bartow Arena.

Yes, we will livestream on our Facebook and YouTube channels.

You will always receive an email from the UAB Commencement account. Also, once you have registered to walk, you will receive a text message from a company called Full Measure with information on how to access the program, take the First Destination survey, and share photos to social media.

Assuming you have no financial holds on your student account, you will receive your diploma in the mail, to the address on file in Blazernet, within 6-8 weeks after final grades are posted.

Proofs will be sent in 1-2 business days. If you have not received please call Customer Service Department at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Please direct all questions regarding regalia (cap and gown) to the UAB Bookstore: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (205) 996-2665.

You can pick up your cords for Latin Honors from the UAB Bookstore. The Bookstore has a list of those who should receive various cords for their Latin Honors.

Yes. You may access the closed captioning online.

You will receive emails from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. about a QR code. This code will be used as your digital name card during the ceremony and is how your name will be read and displayed on the Jumbotron. IT IS NOT SPAM. Please save this e-mail!

No, you only need to purchase either your bachelor’s regalia or your master’s regalia.