Graduation

Apply for Graduation

Apply for graduation (AFG) in Enroll & Pay. (Note: Completing the AFG does not mean course requirements are complete and your graduation is approved.)

• By March 1:
  • If you would like to be listed in the University Commencement program and/or the School of Social Welfare's Graduation Ceremony program as well as receive your diploma in July, you must apply by March 1.
  • The School of Social Welfare Recognition Ceremony held in May will recognize those students who are graduates from the previous fall and anticipated graduates in spring and summer. For May 2025, we will recognize graduates from December 2024, May 2025, and August 2025. Graduates’ names will be printed in the School of Social Welfare Recognition Program if the Apply for Degree has been completed in Enroll & Pay by the March 1 deadline.
  • The KU Commencement Program will include names of graduates from the previous summer and fall, and anticipated graduates in spring. For May 2025, the program will include graduates from August 2024, December 2024, and May 2025. Graduates’ names will be printed in the Program if the Apply for Degree has been completed in Enroll & Pay by the March 1 deadline.
  • Students who graduate in the upcoming summer or fall are welcome to walk down the Hill in May and participate in KU’s Commencement Ceremony; however, their names will not appear in the program until the next year.
• By May 1:
  • If you missed the March 1 deadline you will not be listed in the programs; however, you still need to apply for graduation in Enroll & Pay or your degree cannot be certified and you will not officially graduate this year.

Regalia Rental or Purchase

To participate in the ceremonies at KU the proper regalia is required. All items can be ordered at the KU Bookstores.

• BSW regalia includes cap, gown and tassel. Your cap and gown should be black. The tassel will be citron, the color for the academic discipline of social work.
• MSW regalia includes cap, gown, tassel and hood. Your cap, tassel and gown should be black. The hood will be citron, the color for the academic discipline of social work.
• PhD and DSW regalia includes a doctoral gown, doctoral hood and an eight-sided velvet tam with black stubby tassel. The hood will be crimson and blue, the official colors of the University of Kansas.

Regalia Closet

The School has started a Regalia Closet and has various regalia items that you may borrow if needed. Please contact Kristin Trendel at katrendel@ku.edu to inquire further.

Also, should you wish, you may donate your gown and/or cap following the Recognition Ceremony. The regalia collected will be placed in the Regalia Closet and made available in future years for graduates to borrow.

Military and Veteran Honor Cords

KU recognizes student veterans, military students and ROTC students who have met certain academic thresholds with Military and Veteran Honor Cords to wear at graduation.

To learn more and apply for cords, visit the Military and Veteran Honor Cords webpage.

Accessibility Accommodations

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend University of Kansas-sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Margaret Hair, KU School of Social Welfare Marketing & Communications Director, by May 1, 2025, at mhair@ku.edu or 785-864-4720 (TTY: 711).

• Graduate recognition events for the School of Social Welfare will be held at the Lied Center on Friday, May 16, 2025.
• Check in inside the Pavilion entrance (east side of the building) of the Lied Center (1600 Stewart Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66045). Parking is free.
  • MSW, DSW and PhD candidates arrive by noon on Friday, May 16.
  • BSW graduates arrive by 2:45 p.m. on Friday, May 16.
  • Please be wearing your regalia when you arrive. KU Bookstores at the Kansas Union in Lawrence and the KU Medical Center are the official suppliers of regalia. Visit the KU Bookstores website for more details.
  • BSW: wear your cap, gown and tassel.
  • MSW: wear your cap, gown and tassel and carry hood.
  • PhD and DSW: candidates wear your doctoral gown, an eight-sided velvet tam with black stubby tassel and carry doctoral hood.
• When you check in, you will pick up your name card. The name cards are used to announce your name as you cross the stage and identify you in your graduation photo. Specific instructions for the ceremony will be given prior to the start of the event.
• PhD and DSW candidates participating in the School of Social Welfare Recognition Ceremony will be hooded during the ceremony. They will process with faculty carrying their hoods into the Lied Center. At the designated time, doctoral candidates will come forward to the stage and be hooded. They will then remain on stage sitting with the platform party. 
• Doctoral candidates may also participate in the Graduate Studies Hooding Ceremony and must register for the event.
• Professional photographers will take your picture on stage and photos will be available for you to purchase.
• At the end of the program, there will be a faculty recessional, followed by a student recessional.

• Tickets are NOT required.
• Your guests will enter through the main entrance of the Lied Center. Once the previous ceremony guests have departed, the Lied Center ushers will open the doors for your guests to be seated.
• About the Lied Center
  • Located at 1600 Stewart Drive, Lawrence, Kansas 66045
  • Indoor facility that accommodates 1500 people
  • Parking is free.
  • The building is completely accessible. See a Lied Center usher for the following:
    • Wheelchair accessible seating areas
    • Aisle seating for guests who require assistance in walking
    • Listening aid equipment and seating
    • Seating closer to the stage for guests who are visually impaired when arriving at the facility. 
    • Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend University of Kansas-sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Margaret Hair, KU School of Social Welfare marketing director, by May 1 at mhair@ku.edu or 785-864-4720 (TTY: 711).

There will be an online live-stream of both School of Social Welfare graduation ceremonies.

Visit the Lied Center Livestream Events webpage to watch the ceremonies live.

The Lied Center's recordings of the events will be posted to this page following the ceremonies.