AGNR Commencement

Thursday, May 21, 2026

2:00 p.m. ~ 4:00 p.m.*

Reckord Armory, Gymnasium

4490 Rossborough Ln,

College Park, MD 20742

*Estimated length: 90 minutes; Maximum length: 2 hours

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, the first week of May**. Students eligible to attend the ceremony will continue to receive ticket distribution details via their terpmail accounts.

*For students in need of additional tickets, we will have a waitlist available during the Graduation Celebration. 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.

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 (Master's only), Stole of Gratitude (the red UMD sash), and tassel with the official UMD medallion. The Undergraduate package will cost $99 and the Master's package will cost $145. The deadline to purchase Bachelor's and Master's regalia from the University Book Center is April 18, 2026. Alternatively, students may choose to borrow regalia from a recent UMD alumnus 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, 2026; the current price for purchase is $1,370. Those choosing to rent their PhD regalia have until April 12, 2026 to submit their request; the current price for rental is $306.50. 

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

Graduates should arrive at the Armory no earlier than 1:00 p.m. and no later than 1:20 p.m. Should you need the use of an accessible entrance, please indicate that on your graduate RSVP form (sent via terpmail).

Security and event staff will greet you at the entrances where metal detectors will be in use and bags will be checked. Seeing that bag checks can be time-consuming and we will be on a tight schedule, we strongly suggest that you leave all unnecessary items and bags at home. Note: any personal items you bring must stay with you -- storage will not be provided during the event.

Official regalia is required to participate in the ceremony; there are no exceptions. Please arrive fully dressed (or mostly dressed with caps/cords/etc in hand). Should you need assistance with your regalia, AGNR staff and faculty will be happy to help. 

Don't be late! Doors will open to guests and graduates at exactly 1:00 p.m. -- late arrivals make for longer lines and wait times. Arriving on time will allow you to enter the building quickly, get through security, check-in with your faculty marshal, and make any last-minute adjustments to your name card and/or regalia. The graduates, faculty marshals, and staff will go through final checks at 1:45 p.m. before moving upstairs -- the procession and ceremony will begin promptly at 2:00 p.m. 

IMPORTANT: All commencement venues have a strict No Balloons & No Noisemakers policy in place. Please leave those in your vehicle or at home, otherwise they may be confiscated at the door.

Guests with AGNR Ceremony tickets/wristbands may begin entering the venue as early as 1:00 p.m. Any guest without a ticket/wristband will be asked to wait outside and will only be permitted to enter if venue capacity allows - this decision will be made after all ticketed guests have entered and the ceremony has begun.

Security and event staff will greet you at the entrance, where metal detectors will be in use and all bags will be checked. Seeing how these checks can be time-consuming and there is limited time, we strongly suggest you leave unnecessary items and bags at home or secured inside your vehicle. 

Lines are expected, given the number of attendees and the security checks in place. Should you arrive before the doors open and/or find yourself waiting in line to enter, there will be graduation gifts and bottled water for sale outside of the main entrance.

The procession and ceremony will begin promptly at 2:00 p.m. Guests inside will be asked to find their seats at that time. Guests who have not yet entered the venue will be held at the entrance until the procession has moved through the lobby and 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. 

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. The lots closest to the Armory (Lots L & QQ) will be entirely reserved for passengers in need of ADA parking/drop-off (see Accessibility below for more details). The next closest lot (C1) is due to be closed for Purple Line construction and/or restricted to staff-only that week. 

Otherwise, campus parking will be unrestricted, and pay-stations will be turned off on commencement days. 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 have been asked to fill out an RSVP for the ceremony at which time they have the opportunity to request accommodations for themselves and/or their guests. For more immediate information, please see below:

ADA PARKING:  Those with handicap parking permits may park in any available handicap parking space on campus. There will be spaces available in Lot L next to the Armory, but space is very limited. Regents Drive Garage is ADA accessible with elevators located at each corner of the structure. Shuttles will also be available to transport guests to/from the garage and Armory.

ADA ENTRANCE & GUEST DROP OFF:  Guests in need of a step-free entrance should enter the Armory by way of Lot QQ (located between Main Admin & Reckord Armory). Passengers in need of a step-free entrance can be dropped off in Lot QQ (drivers must then park their vehicles elsewhere). Ushers and security will be available to assist guests at this entrance.

SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS are available upon request. Students should indicate this need via their RSVP form and/or notify agnrstudentservices@umd.edu as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made.

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 is required. 

Captioning will be available on screens in the gymnasium and on the livestream.

Student Commencement Address
Coming Soon!

Student Expression of Gratitude
Coming Soon!

Guest Speaker
Coming Soon!

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.

Students eligible to participate in the ceremony should check their terpmail accounts for details. Bachelor's Degree candidates began receiving emails in February; all other candidates should begin receiving emails around the end of March. 

Day-of details will be distributed to graduates during AGNR's ticket pick-up event during the first week of May. Additional day-of details will be shared (via terpmail) leading up to the event.

University of Maryland will hold the 2026 Main Commencement Ceremony on May 20, 2026, in SECU Stadium. Gates will open at 5:00 p.m. and the student processional will begin at 6:00 p.m. 

More Information