Spring 2026 Commencement
SPH Commencement Celebration - Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
Spring 2026 graduates are cordially invited to attend the SPH Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony. The ceremony will take place at the Isadore and Sadie Dorin Forum on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Commencement will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. and the ceremony will conclude by approximately 9:30 p.m. All graduates are required to arrive no later than 6:30 p.m. Upon arrival, graduates will check-in to obtain their name card and seat assignment. Graduates must proceed to the event floor and be seated immediately.
Where: Isadore and Sadie Dorin Forum, 725 W Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL
When: Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 7:30 p.m.
In addition to our in-person event, the ceremony will be webcast live with a recording available on the commencement website.
Guest Seating: Tickets will be required for all guests. Please stay tuned for more information.
Accommodations: Graduates with special needs must contact the Isadore and Sadie Dorin Forum at (312) 413-9875 at least 2 days prior to the College Commencement ceremony to arrange for a seat location and assistance to enable them to participate in the ceremony. Guests with special needs or those hearing-impaired may request seating assistance from the staff on duty. A sign language interpreter will be present on the stage for the benefit of students and guests who are hearing impaired.
Regalia: Student regalia is available now from the UIC Bookstore. Students can purchase in store or online.
Parking: Parking will be available at UIC lots near the Forum.
Faculty participation: Faculty who plan to attend the ceremony need to RSVP using the link that will be sent out over the faculty listserv. Faculty will need to have RSVP'd by 3/14 and plan to arrive no later than 6:30 pm.
More Information: Graduates are directed to commencement.uic.edu for the most up-to-date and accurate information about the commencement ceremony, including information on safety requirements and parking options.
How to Participate
How to Participate
In mid-March , you will receive an email from Clari Gomez titled “Invitation to register for the SPH Commencement Ceremony.” This will give you directions to register in the system. If you plan to attend the ceremony and did not receive this email, please contact your academic program staff (see contact information below) to request to be added to the system. You will then need to register your RSVP once you receive the follow up email from the system/Clari Gomez.
If you require a letter to support family members traveling on a visa to attend commencement, please reach out to Clari at cgomez20@uic.edu
Eligibility to Participate
Eligibility
Eligibility to Participate in the 2026 SPH Spring Commencement
You are eligible to participate if you are a Spring 2026 graduate who:
•Filed an intent to graduate for the Spring 2026 term and
•RSVP’d for the ceremony
You are not eligible to participate if:
•You graduated before the Spring 2026 academic term
•You are planning to graduate after the Spring 2026 academic term
Summer 2026 graduates’ eligibility to participate: Students who will graduate in the summer term following a commencement ceremony may participate in that year’s commencement under the following conditions:
1.The student must be in good academic standing.
2.The student must notify their academic coordinator of their request to participate in commencement by April 1, 2026. If permission is received, the student must RSVP to participate.
3.The student must be able to complete their coursework and all other degree requirements by the end of the summer term. This must be evidenced by the academic division’s documentation of student progress based on the program proposal, course history, and current registration.
4.If the student’s degree requires a thesis or dissertation, the student must receive written approval from their committee chair, stating that the student is on target and scheduled to defend by June 1 of the year.
5.Summer graduate names will not appear in the ceremony program’s list of graduates until the Spring Commencement Ceremony following their official term of graduation. Students may request a copy of the following year’s program through the Office of Student Affairs, while supplies last.
Please note: Participation in commencement ceremonies does not imply that a student has graduated and earned the degree. Students are not awarded a degree until all degree requirements are met and certified by SPH administration.
Keynote Speaker
Ayesha Jaco, MAM - Executive Director, West Side United
Ayesha Jaco is a lifelong resident of Chicago’s West Side who has dedicated her career to improving the health and economic vitality of the community where she grew up. As Executive Director of West Side United (WSU)—founded by Ascension, Cook County Health, Lurie Children’s, RUSH University Medical Center, Sinai Chicago, and UI Health—she leads programs and partnerships with additional anchor institutions, including nonprofits and churches, working collaboratively to eliminate the 20-year life expectancy gap between Black and Brown residents on Chicago’s West Side and those living in Chicago’s Loop.
Under Ayesha’s leadership, WSU has co-created strategies that address social drivers of health. These efforts include a small business grant program that has awarded $2.5 million to more than 175 West Side businesses. Her team has also coordinated $10 million in pooled social impact investing funds from WSU hospitals, the American Medical Association, Illinois Medical District, and Northern Trust. Through Community Development Financial Institution partners, these funds support low-interest loans for affordable housing, community projects, and other economic development initiatives across West Side neighborhoods.
As a member of the Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative, WSU was an instrumental partner in securing the 2022 Pritzker Traubert Foundation $10 million Chicago Prize for the development of Sankofa Wellness Village. The Village will enhance economic vitality and quality of life in West Garfield Park through a Federally Qualified Health Center, arts center, business incubator, and community grocer.
Ayesha serves on the Board of Directors of Choose Chicago, the city’s convention and tourism bureau, and the Chicago Chronic Condition Equity Network Community Advisory Board.
Assistance with missing invitations or determining eligibility to participate
Stuart Robinson
Phone:
Email:
Sophie Naji
Phone:
Email:
Ed Zordani
Phone:
Email:
Liliana Aceves
Phone:
Email:
Aimee Wiebel
Phone:
Email:
Melissa Tag
Phone:
Email:
UIC in-person graduate experience
Graduates are directed to commencement.uic.edu for the most up-to-date and accurate information about these experiences, including information on guest limitations and safety requirements. Questions about the in-person experiences should be directed to: commencement@uic.edu