MCW Spring Graduation 2025

Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. The guest entrance is at 400 W. Kilbourn Avenue.

The UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena is fully handicap accessible, with an elevator in the guest entrance (at 400 W. Kilbourn Ave) that can bring them up to the concourse to access the seating.

There is ADA accessible seating that will be available in sections 200, 205, 210, 222 and 226. Doors will open at 12:30 PM, and seating areas will be first come, first serve.

There is plenty of accessible seating, and the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena staff would be happy to help locate that seating for your family members when they arrive.

View the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena accessibility page

Guests attending public ticketed events are permitted to bring a 12″ x 6″ x 12″ or smaller clear stadium bag, gallon-sized clear zip bag, a wristlet measuring 4″ x 6″ x 1″, or a diaper bag or medical bag, which will be searched.

View the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena 'Before You Go' page

No. The Commencement Ceremonies are on a first-come, first-serve basis and tickets are not required. The UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena can accommodate over 8,000 guests.

Depending on traffic, it is approximately a 12-minute drive to get from the main MCW campus to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.

Directions from MCW campus to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena

Plan ahead and reserve parking downtown through SpotHero near the Commencement Venue (400 W. Kilbourn Avenue, Milwaukee, WI). This will guarantee you a nearby parking spot and will be less expensive than paying for parking on the day of the ceremony. There is metered parking available nearby, but it is not guaranteed to be available.

Other parking options

Reserve parking on SpotHero

We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Joseph J. Fins as our 2025 MCW-Milwaukee Keynote Speaker! Joseph J. Fins, MD, MACP, FRCP is The E. William Davis, Jr. M.D. Professor of Medical Ethics and Chief of the Division of Medical Ethics at Weill Cornell Medical College where he is a Tenured Professor of Medicine, Professor of Medicine in Psychiatry, Professor of Medical Ethics in Neurology, Professor of Medical Ethics in Rehabilitation Medicine, and Professor of Health Care Policy and Research.

Dr. Fins co-directs the Consortium for the Advanced Study of Brain Injury (CASBI) at Weill Cornell Medicine and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine, and a great speaker who is a widely published scholar, humanist as well as a scientist.

The entire MCW community is invited to lend its support to graduating students by attending the Ceremony in person, or virtually via MCW’s YouTube channel.

Watch the event live on YouTube on May 16

Students should report to the UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena no later than 12:30 p.m. and should check in with their school leads immediately.

Student regalia should have been ordered through the Jostens Portal prior to March 28. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please reach out to mcwevents@mcw.edu.

Please view the informative regalia video that was created to help show the proper way to wear regalia, and the process of Hooding.

View the Commencement Regalia Guide

No. Graduating students may not alter or decorate their caps, tassels, gowns or hoods, or add other adornments not approved by the Commencement Committee and issued by an MCW school or administrative office.

Review the MCW Academic Regalia Policy (PDF)

Students should return to their robing room location to receive their official diploma following the ceremony and prior to meeting up with family and friends.

The UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena concession stands will be open selling non-alcoholic beverages during the MCW Milwaukee commencement ceremony. 

Face masks will not be required. Students and guests wishing to wear masks may do so at their discretion.

Visit the Milwaukee Visitors Bureau website

Please visit the MCW Registrars webpage and contact acadreg@mcw.edu.

View the Registrar Office page for details

There will be photos of the students crossing the stage and robing before the ceremony and group shots throughout the event. These photos will be available to purchase following the event from Empire Photography.

Visit the Empire Photography website for details

The commencement ceremony will last approximately two (2) hours.

Visit the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center Patient & Visitor Resources website