University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Commencement 2024
Commencement 2023 was recorded via LiveStream, and is available here.
Livestream & Photography
GradImages provides official Commencement photography, and students can view photos for purchase at https://www.gradimages.com/ using the search options provided.
When and Where
UAMS Commencement 2024 will be held Saturday, May 18, 2024 at Barton Coliseum on the Arkansas State Fairgrounds in Little Rock. The ceremony begins promptly at 3pm, and doors open to the general public at 1:00pm. Graduates must arrive no later than 1:00pm. The ceremony lasts approximately two hours (3-5p.m.). Faculty Marshals must arrive no later than 12:30pm, and general faculty and VIPs must arrive no later than 2pm. See Directions and Parking for additional information about arrival and parking.
Security
Barton Coliseum requires security screening for all visitors—including graduates, faculty, staff, stage participants, VIPs and vendors. Backpacks, computer bags, briefcases, presents, balloons and flowers, posters or signs, air horns or bullhorns and other noisemakers are not permitted inside the coliseum. Exceptions to certain restricted items are allowed for those with medical or accessibility needs, who will enter through east security checkpoint.
Phones, keys, cameras, bags, coins, wallets, belts, watches and jewelry are generally allowed, but must be placed on the inspection table and not carried through the screening device. All bags and items brought to the arena are subject to search. Any items not allowed in the arena will be confiscated and cannot be retrieved. NOTE: After passing through the security checkpoint, you may not exit at any time (e.g., to return to your automobile) without returning through the security checkpoint.
The Arkansas State Fairgrounds is private property and reserves the right to remove any persons from the premises for violating Fairgrounds/Barton Coliseum security policies or otherwise disrupting events in any way. Barton Coliseum provides security officers, screening officers, and other staff to assist with parking, entry screening, and security during the event. UAMS Police Officers will also be onsite during UAMS Commencement.
Graduates: Graduating students will proceed to security checkpoints located on the east ends of Farm & Ranch and Arts & Crafts. Graduates of the College of Medicine and Graduate School will proceed to Farm & Ranch Building, and graduates of the Colleges of Pharmacy, Public Health, Nursing and Health Professions will proceed to Arts & Crafts Building
Faculty, Staff, Stage Participants, Vendors and VIPs: Security screening will take place at the South Barton security checkpoint immediately outside the south entrance to Barton Coliseum.
Accessible and Special Needs Entry: Guests and family members requiring accessible or special needs entry to Barton will enter the coliseum through the east security checkpoint. Limited accessible parking is available outside the east entry.
Family and Guests: Guest and family parking is located on the west side of the Fairgrounds, and entry to Barton Coliseum is through the west security checkpoint. Guests and family members are not allowed in the student assembly buildings adjacent to Barton.
Guests & Seating
There is no limit to the number of guests graduates may invite to the campus-wide ceremony. The arena is open-seating for family and friends through the west entrance of the facility. Guests requiring accessible seating may enter through the student/accessible entrance on the east side of the facility and contact an usher for assistance. Concessions will be available for purchase within the arena.
Don’t forget your regalia! All graduates are required to wear official UAMS graduation regalia, and graduates cannot participate in the event without it. Graduates are encouraged to wear comfortable, stable shoes suitable for standing, navigating ramps and uneven walkways, and walking across the stage. High-heeled shoes are acceptable, but narrow, “spike-type” heels are highly discouraged, as the arena floor is not suitable for this type of footwear. No regalia adornments of any kind (e.g., cap decorations) are allowed except for official, University-approved honor cords and stoles. NOTE: There is no place to securely store personal items, including purses. Graduates may carry keys and phones, but please ensure phones are silenced throughout the ceremony.
Procession, Line-Up & Recessional
Line-up is coordinated within the Farm & Ranch Building (Medicine and Graduate School) and the Arts & Crafts Building (Health Professions, Public Health, Nursing and Pharmacy). At the appropriate time (typically 20-30 minutes prior to the event procession), students will proceed in their lines, guided by faculty marshals. Students are given name cards to present on stage, and lined up by college and according to academic program. When instructed, students will follow their respective faculty marshals to the Coliseum floor in two lines determined by academic college. Faculty marshals will guide students to the appropriate floor seating rows.
At the conclusion of the ceremony, students will process out of the arena, guided by faculty marshals. Students may not leave the arena floor during the ceremony. We ask that students process completely out of the coliseum rather than entering the hallways to greet guests; students may meet their families outside the coliseum. NOTE: Please do not leave personal items in the assembly buildings; the buildings are closed following the procession, and you may not retrieve them following the ceremony. If it doesn’t fit in your pockets or on your person, don’t bring it!
Name Cards
Name cards are used to allow the announcer to correctly pronounce names as each graduate walks across the stage. These cards also provide information to our Commencement Photographer, GradImages, so graduates can later choose to purchase a portrait of the achievement. During the assembly and line-up process, graduates will be given a name card. Please verify that the information is correct, and if desired, add a phonetic spelling to assist the announcer with correct pronunciation. Pens will be available in the assembly area. Do not lose your card; carry it with you and give to the announcer before you proceed across the stage.
Diplomas
UAMS has partnered with Parchment for the distribution of official diplomas. Diplomas will not be distributed during Commencement or in-person at the Office of the University Registrar. Printed diplomas will be released and mailed directly to students following Commencement. In addition, graduates will have access to a secure, electronic version of the diploma that can be used to verify credentials with employers, residency programs, etc. Additional instructions will be provided by email to your UAMS and post-graduation email address as listed in GUS. Remember:
- Diplomas are not released to students with account holds in GUS (e.g., past-due balances). Check GUS regularly to determine the status of any pending holds.
- Diplomas are not released to students with missing or incomplete grades.
- Diplomas are not released to students whose degree conferral has not been posted in GUS for any reason.
- When diplomas have been generated and printed, graduates will receive an email to log into the Parchment account and confirm the mailing address within three business days following diploma printing. After that time, the diploma will be mailed to the post-graduation mailing address on file in GUS.
- Please log into GUS to verify that your post-graduation contact information is accurate.
COVID Information
UAMS Commencement will be held at Barton Coliseum, which follows all current city (Little Rock) and county (Pulaski) requirements. Guests will have room to spread out within the arena seating areas, and graduates and faculty will be seated next to each other on the floor. Per UAMS policy, masks are required for unvaccinated faculty and students seated on the floor. Graduates wearing a mask may momentarily remove the mask for the graduation photo when walking across the stage. To help ensure as healthy/safe an environment as possible for our graduates and guests, those with COVID-like symptoms (cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, chills, new onset muscle ache, loss of taste and/or smell, or fever greater than 100.4 in the last 24 hours) or those meeting criteria for quarantine should not attend in person.