AGNR Commencement

Tues. May 21, 2024

3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Reckord Armory, Gymnasium

4490 Rossborough Ln,

College Park, MD 20742

Graduates should arrive in the Armory basement no earlier than 2:30 p.m. and no later than 2:45 p.m.  Graduating students must wear the appropriate regalia in order to participate in the ceremony -- it is our preference that you arrive already dressed. AGNR staff will be on hand to answer any questions you might have and assist with regalia checks while department faculty marshals will take this time to go over the procession details with you. The procession of graduates will begin moving upstairs at 3:25 p.m. and the ceremony can begin promptly at 3:30 p.m. It is critical that you arrive on time so as to prevent any undue stress for yourself or our staff. 

Guests with AGNR Ceremony tickets/wristbands may begin entering as early as 2:30pm. Any guest without a ticket/wristband will be asked to wait and will only be permitted to enter the venue if there is space available (in accordance with the Fire Marshal's posted venue capacity). Should you find yourself waiting in line to enter, there will be graduation gifts and bottled water for sale outside of the main entrance. The procession of graduates will begin promptly at 3:30 p.m.; any guests not seated by that time will be held at the entrance until the procession has moved into the gymnasium.

IMPORTANT: While we fully promote the celebration of our graduates and all their achievements, all commencement venues have a strict No Balloons & No Noisemakers policy in place so please leave those in your vehicle or at home. Additionally, there will be a BAG CHECK upon entrance to The Armory. Seeing how these checks can be time-consuming, we encourage all guests to leave bags at home. We understand that this may come as an inconvenience but our aim is to minimize wait times at the door and ensure that guests are seated before the ceremony begins. 

Tickets will also be required for the College of AGNR's ceremony. Each graduate will receive five* guest tickets (graduates will not need their own ticket for the ceremony). Ticket distribution will take place at our Graduation Celebration Series on May 2nd, 3rd, 6th, & 7th. Students eligible to attend the ceremony have received emails containing ticket distribution details in their @terpmail accounts.

*For students in need of additional tickets, we will have a waitlist available during ticket pick-up. Those students on the list will be contacted as soon as unclaimed tickets have been made available. Please do not contact the AGNR Academic Programs Office to request additional tickets until the initial ticket distribution has taken place. 

The Reckord Armory:

It is recommended that guests and graduates park in Regents Garage which is ADA accessible and will have a shuttle running to/from the Armory (adjacent to The Clarice). Parking will also be available in Lots C1 & C2 but space is limited. The lots closest to the Armory (Lots L & QQ) will be completely restricted except for passengers in need of drop-off (see Accessibility Services below for more details).

All campus parking is FREE on commencement dates (meters will be turned off). Parking is available on a first come, first served basis. Please see map for lot numbers and locations http://maps.umd.edu/map/. Graduates will receive more information about parking and guest access closer to the event date. 

IMPORTANT: With construction of the WMATA Purple Line currently underway, there is a chance that sidewalks and/or surface lots will be temporarily unavailable at times. We recommend that you arrive to campus early so as to avoid any unexpected delays.

All graduating AGNR students will be asked to fill out an RSVP for the ceremony at which time they will have the opportunity to request accomodations for themselves and/or their guests. For more immediate information, please see below:

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS are available upon request. Please contact the Disability Support Service at 301.314.7209 or dhhs@umd.edu to make arrangements.

ADA PARKING:  Those with handicap parking permits may park in any available handicap parking space on campus. There are spaces available in Lots L & QQ next to the Armory but space is very limited. Regents Drive Garage is ADA accessible with elevators located at each corner of the structure elevator; shuttles will also be available. 

DROPPING GUESTS OFF:  Guests will be able to pull directly up to rear of The Armory (Lot QQ) to drop off any individuals who require additional assistance. 

The College of AGNR is proud to offer a fully live-streamed ceremony for guests who cannot attend in-person. The stream will be hosted on the AGNR YouTube Channel -- no account or login required. 

• Closed Captioning (text only) - English (link coming soon)
• Closed Captioning (text only) - Spanish (link coming soon)

ALL GRADUATES regardless of degree/certificate level, are required to wear regalia in order to participate in the commencement ceremony.

BACHELOR'S & MASTER'S DEGREE CANDIDATES will need to obtain their cap, gown, departmental hood (optional for bachelor's students), Stole of Gratitude (the red UMD sash), and tassel with the official UMD medallion. The Undergraduate package will cost $93.98 and the Master's package will cost $134.98. The deadline to purchase Bachelor's and Master's regalia from the University Book Center is April 17, 2024. Alternatively, students may choose to borrow regalia from a recent UMD alumni or a friend/fellow graduate whose college ceremony is at a different time.

DOCTORAL DEGREE CANDIDATES may rent or buy their regalia from the University Book Center. The deadline to purchase PhD regalia from the University Book Center is March 12, 2024; the current price for purchase is $1,264. Those choosing to rent their PhD regalia have until April 1, 2024 to submit their request; the current price for rental is $248.75. 

Click here for more information about regalia, purchase/rental options, etc.

Further information will be sent directly to graduating students via e-mail throughout March and April.

Day-of details will be distributed to graduates during ticket pick-up and updated here in early-May.

Student Commencement Address
Meghana Kotraiah, Agricultural & Resource Economics 

Expression of Gratitude
Gabriel Acevedo, Environmental Science & Technology

Freedom of thought and expression are the lifeblood of our academic community. Our values regarding free speech and an open marketplace of ideas can be found in our policy on expressive activities.

The University also recognizes that a healthy and thriving academic community depends on mutual respect and civility. Appropriate behavior, as described in our university policies, is an essential component of what we stand for as a university.

Commencement marks a celebratory occasion and the culmination of academic pursuits for thousands of Terrapins. We kindly ask that all in attendance stay focused and true to the purpose and spirit of today’s event.

Our policies do not allow for the obstruction, disruption, interruption, or attempt to force the cancellation of any university event, including commencement. If you wish to engage in protests, demonstrations or other such expressive activity, we ask that you abide by university policy and do so in the designated areas outside of the ceremony. Failure to uphold a respectful atmosphere in accordance with our policies will result in being asked to leave, and potentially disciplinary or other such action.

Thank you for your shared commitment to observe and protect our principles of free expression.

University of Maryland will hold the 2024 main commencement ceremony on Monday, May 20, 2024, in SECU Stadium. The student processional will begin at 6pm. 

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