The University of Wisconsin–Madison will hold its 2022 winter commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18 at the Kohl Center, 601 W. Dayton St.
The university anticipates conferring degrees to 1,758 doctoral, master’s and bachelor’s students. Of these students, 1,258 have indicated they plan to attend Sunday’s ceremony in person. The ceremony is expected to conclude around 12:30 p.m.
Keynote speaker Charlie Berens, a UW–Madison alum and creator of the popular “Manitowoc Minute” comedy videos, will deliver the charge to graduates. Student speaker Kirstan Gimse will share her remarkable journey from high school dropout to PhD. Other speakers include Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, who will be participating in her first UW–Madison commencement ceremony. Check out this roundup of some of our notable winter graduates. Please let us know if you’d like to talk to any of them.
Charlie Berens press availability
Berens will be available to answer press questions for 20 minutes just prior to the ceremony, from 9:20-9:40 a.m. Reporters wishing to take part must be at the Kohl Center media entrance off Frances Street by 9 a.m. (As you approach the front doors of the Kohl Center, the media entrance is to your left and down a flight of stairs. You’ll see a series of grey doors by the street with “Media Gate” over them.)
Media credentials
Credentials are required. Requests should be made by noon Friday, Dec. 16 to Kelly Tyrrell at kelly.tyrrell@wisc.edu. Please specify whether you plan to attend the ceremony, the press event or both. Regardless, all media should enter through the media entrance off Frances Street, ideally between 8-9 a.m. Credentials will be provided at the door.
The mult box location will be at the bottom of Section 108 on the floor of the Kohl Center.
Media parking
No designated media parking will be available. However, many campus parking lots will be free Saturday and Sunday, with additional lots free on Sunday. View the parking and shuttle map for 2022 Winter Commencement.
Additional ceremony details
There is no ticketing for attendance. Seating is general admission, first come, first served. Doors for the public open at 8 a.m.
Sunday’s ceremony will be held as scheduled regardless of weather. In the event of snow, the university will have extra crews clearing nearby sidewalks and parking lots.
Those planning to attend should review the Kohl Center’s carry-in policy and allow extra time for metal detector procedures. As noted above, many campus parking lots will be free both Saturday and Sunday, with additional lots free on Sunday. School bus shuttles running every 10 minutes will be available on Sunday, Dec. 18 along University Avenue and Dayton Street between cross streets Frances Street and Randall Avenue from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. The shuttle will stop at blue metro bus stops and in front of the Kohl Center. View the parking and shuttle map for 2022 Winter Commencement.
Social media
Graduates, family and friends are encouraged to share their commencement experience through social media using the hashtag #UWGrad.
Livestream
For those unable to attend in person, the ceremonies will be streamed live at www.wisc.edu/commencement and on the UW–Madison Facebook page.
