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University of Nebraska Medical Center

Commencement and Diplomas

woman in cap and gown holding a diploma

Whether you are picking up your commencement attire, looking for details about the commencement ceremony, or have questions about receiving your physical or digital diploma, the Office of Academic Records is here to help.

Information about upcoming Commencement activities is provided below, including details about receiving your physical diploma that day.

If you are a graduate, additional diploma services are available. Refer to the digital and duplicate diploma information for details. 

December 2024 Commencement


Campus Time Date Location
Omaha 7 p.m. Friday, December 20 Baxter Arena

Attire Pickup

Omaha students can pick up their attire on the second floor of Williams Science Hall on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. End time may be extended, if needed.

Diploma Distribution

As long as there are no HOLDS on your records, your diploma will be distributed immediately after the ceremony. If you will not be participating in the ceremony, your diploma will be mailed to the address provided on the graduation application approximately 3-4 weeks after the end of the semester.

Commencement FAQs

How will I receive the academic attire that I ordered?

Beginning with December 2024 Commencement in Omaha, students have the option to choose to have their attire shipped directly to them, at an extra charge, or to pick it up in person at the time/date is listed above. Information will come from the Academic Records office, not the location coordinator.

For spring commencement, Omaha participants can pick up their attire on Wednesday, April 30 from 1 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Thursday, May 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pickup is in Williams Science Hall, 2nd floor.

For spring commencement, Lincoln, Norfolk, Kearney and Scottsbluff participants will receive information from their location coordinators.

How long will the ceremony be?

Commencement ceremonies last approximately two hours.

What if I don't feel comfortable coming to the ceremony in-person?

Students are not required to participate in the ceremony if they don’t feel comfortable. The ceremony will be live-streamed so you are able to watch and see your fellow graduates walk across the stage.

What if COVID-19 numbers increase?

UNMC has been closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation both locally and nationally. If at any point between now and the scheduled ceremony COVID-19 trends present an increased risk for safety, we will modify our planning and update our graduates and campus community. 

We remain committed to the health and safety of the campus and community as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Will masks be required?

Per Dr. Meza and the Chancellor’s office, masks are not required.

Will graduates and their guests be permitted to gather outside before and following the ceremonies?

We strongly encourage gathering outside of the arena pre- and post-ceremony. At the end of the ceremony, graduates will be directed to the robing area outside the arena to pick up their diploma. We ask that guests not congregate by the robing area, and they should meet graduates in a location outside the building.

Is there is limit to the number of guests that I can invite to the ceremony?

There will be no COVID-related restrictions on the number of guests allowed per graduate and tickets will not be issued.

How will my family and friends who can’t come to the ceremony be able to watch me graduate?

The in-person ceremony will be live-streamed for any guests to view remotely. Access to the live-stream will be made available to graduating students a few days prior to the ceremony.

How do I know if I have a HOLD on my student account?

All HOLD information can be found in MyRecords. You must clear the HOLD with the appropriate department/person/college.

When will my degree be posted on my transcript?

All degrees are expected to be posted by the end of the month after Commencement, contingent upon completion of all UNMC and degree requirements.

How do I access photos from commencement?

A professional photographer will take photos of each student.

For the Omaha, GradImages is the professional photographer for the ceremony.  Proofs will be sent to your email or you can access the photos at https://www.gradimages.com/Home/SearchAll questions regarding photos should be addressed directly to GradImages.

For other campuses, contact the location coordinator for details about photos.

What do I do with my UNMC Badge Photo ID?

All graduating students will need to mail their photo id (no clip or additional card) to:

Photo ID Card Office
984290 Nebraska Medical Center
Omaha NE  68198-4290

Students in Omaha will also have the option to turn in their UNMC badge during attire pick up.  

What if I have additional questions?

Students can contact the Academic Records office at academicrecords@unmc.edu.

Background of a parent taking a photo of graduates. Text reads: #UNMCGrad. How to Celebrate Online: Search "UNMC to see our graduation giphy stickers in Instagram stories. Use #UNMCGrad when posting photos online. Use our Snapchat filter at the Baxter Arena (Omaha Campus.) Share our "UNMC Grad" graphics on your social media.