Middle Eastern/North African Graduation Celebration

Thursday, May 1, 2025

6:00 - 8:00 PM
Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre

Event Information

The Middle Eastern and North African Graduation Planning Committee is excited to honor this year’s graduation class during the 2025 MENA Graduation.

Graduation Ceremony

The graduation ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 1st, 2025, from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at Mendelssohn Theatre in the Michigan League, located at 911 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Reception

A reception will be held in the Michigan Union Ballroom from 8:00 - 9:30 PM. Light refreshments will be served during the reception. 530 S State St, Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Order of Program (approximate)

5:30 - Student Registration Begins, and Doors Open for guests

6:00 - Ceremony Begins

6:45 - Keynote Speaker

6:55 - Student Speaker

7:00 - Presentation of Graduates

8:00 - Ceremony Concludes

8:00 - Reception

9:30 - Reception Concludes

Information for Students

Attire

Students, please come dressed in your cap and gown. You will receive a stole during the graduation ceremony that will only be given out during the ceremony. Doctoral students will be hooded on stage and collectively honored.

Timing & Location

Students must arrive at the Mendelssohn Theatre between 5:30-5:50 p.m. The program will start promptly at 6:00 PM.

Procession Order

Graduates will line up to enter the theater. The platform party (faculty and staff) will lead the students into the theater. The order in which you should line up is undergraduate students 1st (BA, BS), professional degrees 2nd (MA, MBA) , and terminal degrees last (PhD, JD, MD). Terminal degree students do not walk in wearing your hoods. You will be hooded on stage and collectively recognized.

Information for Guests

Live Streaming and CART Information

CART services (Communication Access real-time translation) will be provided. This real-time captioning service will be located on a screen next to the podium.

Seating

Students will occupy the front rows of the center section of the theater. Guests can sit anywhere in the theater outside of the reserved seating for graduating students. Accessible seating is available within the theater.

Parking

Free Parking: There is a University of Michigan parking structure (Catherine Street Parking Structure) located at 1054-1090 Catherine St, Ann Arbor, MI 48104. It is free and open during the commencement season.

Permitted and Prohibited Items

Guests and Graduates are encouraged to bring ONLY necessary items to the graduation celebrations. All items are subject to search.

Changes in local, regional, and national security levels may affect security procedures at Graduation Celebrations. Exceptions for guests with medical or childcare needs (e.g., medical prescriptions, diapers for a baby, etc.) requiring larger bags than permitted will be addressed individually at the doors. All subjects and items are subject to search.

We appreciate your cooperation with these security measures. Enjoy the celebration!

Permitted Items

Bags, wallets, and clutches no larger than 4” X 6” X 1.5” are permitted
Binoculars -- CASES are not permitted
Cell phones and pagers
Cloth flags that are not on poles or sticks
Small cameras (those with a lens shorter than 6 inches)
Blankets and rain apparel -- UMBRELLAS are not permitted
Walking canes/Walkers
Strollers

Prohibited Items

All bottles (including all types of water bottles)
Alcoholic beverages
Aerosol and spray cans
Animals (except service animals for persons with a disability)
Apparel displaying profane or abusive language
All signage/posters
Bags, purses, and clutches larger than 4" x 6" x 1.5"
Containers of any kind (including coolers, thermoses, cups, cans, flasks)
Flags and flagpoles
Food of any kind
Irritants
Projectiles of any kind
Seat cushions of any kind
Video cameras, tripods, and selfie sticks
Umbrellas
Weapons
Any other item that may obstruct or impair the view or enjoyment of another attendee

History

The celebration is key in bringing together several communities, both made up of different ethnic and cultural identities and from across student-staff-faculty areas of the University of Michigan campus.