Engineering Recognition Ceremonies
Overview
KU Engineering hosts two graduate recognition ceremonies each year. If you intend to participate or “walk,” please make appropriate arrangements for your regalia as it is required in all graduation ceremonies. During the ceremony, engineering administration, engineering department leadership, and faculty will be present to congratulate students.
Special seating is available for guests with limited mobility. For the spring ceremony, to ensure all guests with mobility concerns are accommodated, we ask that parties limit their use of reserved seating to those who need it and one additional companion.
The recognition ceremony is also a time to honor outstanding master's and doctoral students, seniors in each major, as well as the Locke Award for Outstanding Senior, which is selected from that group. The School recognizes several faculty award winners, including the Gould Award winners for Outstanding Faculty Adviser and Outstanding Faculty Educator. Engineering students are encouraged to nominate faculty for the two Gould awards.
Each ceremony is livestreamed with a link available on the School of Engineering homepage, posted the day of the ceremony. All recognition ceremonies at the university are planned from the KU Academic Calendar. The fall engineering ceremony is usually held the Saturday before finals week in December, and the spring engineering ceremony is held the Saturday after finals week in May. Engineering graduate students and undergraduates must complete all degree requirements to earn their degree. Review information below for specific requirements outlined for graduate students and undergraduates.
Spring 2026 School of Engineering Recognition Ceremony
8 a.m. Saturday, May 16, 2026
Allen Fieldhouse
1651 Naismith Drive
Lawrence, KS 66045
The Spring Engineering Recognition Ceremony is set for 8 a.m. Saturday, May 16, 2026 in Allen Fieldhouse. A reception will follow in the Engineering Complex. A livestream link will be posted on the Engineering homepage the day of the ceremony. Engineering does not ticket nor limit the number of guests that graduates may bring to the ceremony.
Student RSVPs are now closed for the Spring 2026 School of Engineering Recognition Ceremony. If you are a graduating student, contact Alex Pang for further assistance with registration.
Day-Of Details
Graduates and guests should dress comfortably. It will be warm in Allen Fieldhouse. Engineering graduates are required to wear the appropriate cap and gown for their degree level to participate. Concession stands will be open for purchasing snacks and beverages.
Arrival
Students are encouraged to pick up their name card early, during the week of May 11. On Saturday, May 16, students must arrive by 7:15 a.m. to Anschutz Sports Pavilion for staging with in the student line-up.
Guests: Doors at Allen Fieldhouse will open 1 hour before the ceremony. Guests should be seated 15 minutes before the ceremony starts. Guests may use Allen Fieldhouse Gates 11, 10, 6, 21, 22, and 23 to enter the venue.
The program is expected to last approximately 1.5 hours. All guests and graduates are welcome to attend the reception at the engineering complex, immediately following the ceremony. The reception at engineering complex will be open until 11 a.m.
Parking
Parking is free in many lots and all garages starting from 1 p.m. on Friday to noon on Monday during Commencement weekend. This includes the Allen Fieldhouse and Central District parking garages. Many KU lots will be open and free on a first-come, first-serve basis.
A Parking Map (PDF) is available near Allen Fieldhouse and the engineering complex. Guests are encouraged to use Lots 54, 72 and the parking garage to the north of Allen Fieldhouse. For the spring ceremony, a limited number of additional parking spaces will be available in Lot 112 and Lot 127 to the south of Hoglund Ballpark. Handicap parking spaces are available in Lot 70 and Lot 71 immediately south of Allen Fieldhouse. Overflow parking is available in Lot 90 to the south of Allen Fieldhouse, though this lot is farther from the post-ceremony reception at the engineering complex. Additionally, Allen Fieldhouse Drive will be open to allow drop-off of friends and family with limited mobility.
Accommodations
Wheelchair-accessible seating and limited-mobility seating will be available at Allen Fieldhouse. Guests can find an usher for: (a) the elevator, (b) the wheelchair-accessible seating area, or (c) seating for guests who require assistance in walking. Guests needing accommodations should arrive one hour early before the ceremony.
To ensure all guests with mobility concerns are accommodated, we ask that parties limit their use of reserved seating to those who need it and one additional companion.
University Commencement
The University of Kansas holds one university-wide Commencement ceremony each spring and several school-level recognition events that same weekend. All students who have graduated in that academic year (includes summer, fall, and spring graduates) are invited to attend the university’s official ceremony, which takes place the Sunday after finals in the spring semester. The "walk down the Hill" is a fun tradition where students often bring balloons or decorate caps and gowns.
When a student applies for graduation in Enroll & Pay, this indicates to university officials of your potential participation in University Commencement. There is not a separate RSVP form for University Commencement.
Doctoral students are also invited to attend the annual Doctoral Hooding Ceremony hosted by the KU Office of Graduate Studies in the spring.