Graduate Commencement 2009
IMPORTANT COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION
- Graduating Students Must Arrive by 2:30pm in the Mesa Parking Structure for Line-Up.
- Graduates should arrive dressed in their regalia and be ready to check in with your school at the designated tables. Once you have checked in, you will receive a name card and be lined up for the procession.
LATE arrivals will NOT be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony!!!
- Graduation Eligibility
- Registration
- Keynote Speaker - 2009
- National Anthem Singer
- Academic Regalia
- Programs
- Tickets
- Volunteers
- Directions and Parking
- Hotel Reservations
- Announcements, Invitations and Thank You Notes
- Special Accommodations
- On The Day of Commencement
- Faculty and Platform Party
- Graduation Receptions
- Contact Information
Saturday, June 6
3:30 p.m.
Bren Events Center
Graduation Eligibility
All Ph.D., Ed.D., and Master's Degree candidates (with the exception of M.B.A. students) who have earned degrees for the 2008-2009 academic year or who expect to complete a degree by the end of Fall Quarter of 2009 are invited to participate in the ceremony.
Registration
Students must register with their Schools in order to participate in the ceremony. To access a list of School registration contacts, please click here. If a student will graduate in Summer or Fall of 2009 they must fill out a Commencement Release Form. Please click here to see a list of information that will be requested by your school's registration contact.
To be included in the commencement program, graduate students must register by April 3, 2009. Students may still register after the April 3rd deadline, but their names will not appear in the printed program.
The Graduate Division office will use the information students provide to print "stage passes" used to announce each student’s name and major at the ceremony. Students will receive their stage passes when they check in at the Bren Events Center on commencement day.
Keynote Speaker - 2009
This year’s keynote speaker is UC Regent Sherry Lansing.
National Anthem Singer
Interested in singing the national anthem at this year’s commencement ceremony? This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase your vocal talent and to highlight the finale of your graduate career at UC Irvine. Try-outs for the Graduate Commencement national anthem singer will be held on Wednesday, April 22nd at 4pm – 6pm in the Student Center, Balboa Room “B”.
To register for the national anthem singer try-outs for the Graduate Commencement, please go to: http://www.commencement.uci.edu/anthem_singer.php and select "Graduate Division" for the ceremony.
Academic Regalia
To participate in the ceremonies, all graduating students must wear appropriate academic regalia. Regalia must be ordered through the Alumni Association by April 10, 2009. Order early, from February 3 to February 6, 2009, at a special rate!
- Regalia Ordering: Cap with tassel, gown, and hood are purchased through the UCI Alumni Association. To order online and for other information please visit the UCI Alumni Association website. Online orders will be accepted until April 10, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.
- Regalia Pick up: Regalia pick up will take place at the Alumni House, June 1-5. For more information regarding regalia, call (949) 824-ALUM.
Programs
Students will be able to pick up a copy from the Graduate Division office (120 Aldrich Hall) starting Tuesday, May 26.
Please note: The Programs only list the names of students who registered to walk in the commencement ceremony by April 3, 2009. A complete listing of graduates for this academic year will be available to download from our website later this summer.
Complimentary programs will be provided only to students who have registered to walk. Additional programs will be available for purchase at the ceremony and in the Graduate Division office for $5 (cash only please).
Please see Richard Nguyen in the Graduate Division office to pick up programs starting May 26.
Tickets
Tickets are not required. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. The ceremony will last a little over two hours.
Volunteers
Volunteers are needed to help make commencement run smoothly. If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering please email GradComm@uci.edu.
Directions and Parking
Maps and directions to UC Irvine are available at campus maps. Parking is complimentary.
Hotel Reservations
Information on accommodations can be found at the Commencement website.
Announcements, Invitations and Thank You Notes
Announcements, invitations and other items related to your graduation are available for purchase at the UCI Bookstore.
Special Accommodations
Students with disabilities who may need special assistance must include that information when registering to walk. There will also be accommodations for family and visitors who need special assistance at the entrance of the Bren Center parking structure. Please be sure to bring a disabled parking permit as this will assist parking attendants in identifying those in need of special assistance.
On the Day of Commencement
- Plan to arrive with your regalia at the Bren Events Center between 2:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. The processional starts promptly at 3:30 p.m.; students and professors should arrive early to allow time to use the restrooms, take care of regalia, line up, etc.
- Tell family and friends to arrive at UC Irvine between 2:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. in order to find parking and get to the Bren Events Center in time to be seated by 3:00 p.m.
- Wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
- Staff will help students and professors with their regalia and with the line-up.
- The ceremony will last approximately 2 hours and will be followed by a reception.
- Students should plan to leave their personal belongings with family or friends, or in their cars.
- Students are asked to stay for the duration of the ceremony.
Faculty & Platform Party
- What time do I arrive? One hour before the ceremony time. Ceremony begins at 3:30pm.
- Where do I park?
- Platform Party: Lot “6A”
- Distinguished Faculty: Mesa Parking Structure.
- Where do I go?
- Platform Party: Robing Room, located in the Koll Room on the lower level of the Bren Events Center.
- Distinguished Faculty: Berry Terrace
- Will there be refreshments? Food and beverages will be available in the Koll Room (platform party) and Berry Terrace (distinguished faculty).
- How do I order my cap and gown? Your cap and gown should be ordered through your School.
- If I have a disability, what should I do? Contact Rachel Kaufman in the Graduate Division. (949) 824-9031
Graduation Receptions
The Graduate Division will be holding champagne receptions for graduates, faculty, and guests following the ceremony. There will be light appetizers and refreshments. The receptions have been divided by school into 3 areas at the Bren:
Ticket Terrace:
Claire Trevor School of the Arts
Department of Education
School of Humanities
School of Social Sciences
Koll Lawn:
Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences
Henry Samueli School of Engineering
Berry Terrace:
School of Physical Sciences
School of Social Ecology
School of Biological Sciences
School of Medicine
There will be staff, volunteers, and signs to help direct people to the appropriate receptions.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Graduate Commencement Committee
Graduate Division
Tel.: (949) 824-9031
Fax: (949) 824-9096
E-Mail: GradComm@uci.edu
