Commencement and AAP Convocation 2022

In May, all students who are earning degrees in the Associate in Arts Program (Associate in Arts and Elementary Teacher Education Associate in Arts) are invited to participate in both AAP Convocation and the Newark Commencement ceremonies. We look forward to celebrating your achievements at our annual Wilmington and Southern Delaware AAP convocations!

Georgetown and Dover students will attend the Southern Delaware Convocation ceremony at the Del-One Conference Center in Dover on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, at 7:00 p.m. Students in northern Delaware will attend the Wilmington Convocation ceremony at the Community Education Building in Wilmington on Wednesday, May 25, at 6:30 p.m. For more information about the University-wide Commencement ceremony on May 28, visit the Comme​ncement 2022 website.

Tickets for Commencement and AAP Convocation ceremonies will be required for both graduates and guests; each graduating AAP student may reserve six guest tickets. Students may reserve ceremony tickets for guests beginning April 11, 2022

The Del-One Conference Center, 700 Campus Drive, Dover, is on the DTCC Terry Campus. The Community Education Building is located at 1200 N. French St., Wilmington, and complimentary parking will be available at the 12th and Orange Street Parking Garage. Guests who require ADA accommodations at the Wilmington or Southern Delaware ceremonies should contact the Associate in Arts Program at associateinarts@udel.edu or call (302) 571-5661.

All students planning to walk in these ceremonies must wear academic regalia, or cap and gown. (Keep in mind that you can wear this regalia again when you graduate with your four-year degree in Newark!) Regalia is $88 and can be purchased at the Barnes & Noble UD Bookstore, 83 E. Main St., Newark, from April 6–May 11, Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m. You may also order your regalia by calling Lindsay Collings at (302) 831-2424 from April 11–May 11. We recommend that you have your order shipped to your UD campus for pickup; AAP office staff will contact you when it arrives.

We look forward to celebrating your success with you at AAP Convocation 2022!​

Students: If you are planning to walk in the Southern Delaware and Wilmington Convocation ceremonies, please review this impor​tant information for graduating AAP students that includes arrival times and parking details. We look forward to celebrating your success with you at AAP Convocation 2022!​​

​Are you wondering what the difference is between these two ceremonies? Commencement is the larger event held at Delaware Stadium in Newark; this is the only event where all graduating UD students — including AAP students receiving associate's degrees who want to attend — are brought together. This event features the traditional processional of students onto the field at the stadium, remarks by University officials and other speakers, and the conferral of degrees.

Convocation, however, is a smaller ceremony where graduates are recognized individually. This is the ceremony in which each graduating student walks across the stage to receive his or her graduation certificate (actual diplomas are mailed to students approximately six weeks after all course work is completed). Convocation ceremonies also include announcements of scholarships, grants, academic awards, and individual student achievements. There are two separate convocation events for AAP grads: the Wilmington Convocation, which is held for students in northern Delaware, and the Southern Delaware Convocation, which is held for Dover and Georgetown students. If you have any questions about AAP convocation or the UD Commencement ceremony in Newark, contact the AAP at associateinarts@udel.edu. ​