Schedule

What do graduating students need to do to participate in the commencement ceremony?

• Graduating students will receive an invitation towards the end of the quarter to fill out an online form to submit their required materials to the commencement committee.
  
  You will also be required to wear academic regalia. See below for instructions to rent or buy your regalia.

What time should I arrive for the ceremony?

• On the day of Commencement, all students must arrive on site by 3:15 p.m. Undergraduate and graduate students will meet on the grassy area in Dickson Court South across from Murphy Hall. 
  
  Look for the appropriate department signage and check-in with your counselors at designated tables as soon as you arrive.
  
  Candidates for Doctoral degrees will gown with the faculty in UCLA School of Law Room 1326 between 3:00 p.m - 3:15 p.m. and process into the venue with the faculty and sit on stage.
  
  All students: please DO NOT bring a purse or valuables with you. There will be no place to check such items.

What happens when I arrive for the ceremony and how does commencement work? 

• After you have checked-in and received a colored card with your name on it, candidates for undergraduate and graduate degrees will be directed by volunteers to stand in rows according to their department and degree. You will be led by Chancellor’s Marshals to Dickson Court North (near Perloff Hall), up the center aisle, where the ushers will direct you to your seats. Please wait for direction before sitting. 
  
  When degrees are about to be conferred an usher will indicate that your row should stand and line up next to the stage. You will give your colored card to your department Chair at the podium, who will read your name. Proceed across the stage to the Dean to receive a certificate and then back to your seat.

Do I need a cap and gown and where do I get them?

• Academic regalia is required for participation in the ceremony. Caps and gowns can be ordered at Graduation Etc. on the A level of Ackerman Union. For questions regarding cap and gown rentals/sale—including prices and policies—visit the Graduation Etc. website or call (310) 825-2587.
• Graduation Etc.

What color tassel do I get?

• When you rent or purchase your cap and gown, you will have the opportunity to select the School of the Arts and Architecture and your degree (B.A., M.A., M.F.A., or Ph.D). The correct tassel color will be selected by Graduation Etc. and included in your order. 
  
  Bachelor of Arts: brown tassel; Master of Architecture: lilac tassel with lilac hood trim; Master of Arts: black tassel with white hood trim; Master of Fine Arts: brown tassel with brown hood trim; Doctor of Philosophy: old gold tassel with royal blue hood trim.

Do Latin Honors students wear different regalia?

• For undergraduates, the fourragère is a braided cord worn over the left shoulder signifying that the wearer has been awarded or is a candidate for Latin Honors. Graduation Etc. will have a list of those students who graduated in the Fall and Winter with honors, as well as a list of Spring and Summer candidates who, as of the end of Winter Quarter, have met the criteria as a candidate for Latin Honors.

Will the Commencement Ceremony be photographed or recorded?

• There will be an official photographer from Grad Images who will photograph each student as they come on stage. Your name card, which will be given to you at check-in, will be used to request proofs of your photo. There is no obligation to purchase any photos when you request a proof.
  
  During the commencement ceremony, there will be a designated area from which photos and videos can be taken by family and friends. 

What happens if it rains or there is inclement weather?

• Since the ceremony is outdoors and the weather can be variable, please encourage your family and friends to dress accordingly. The ceremony will take place in the venue, rain or shine!

How can I ensure that my name appears in the program and on the Class of 2023 website?

• If you have a degree expected term of Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Spring 2023, or Summer 2023 you will automatically be part of our list of candidates on the Commencement program and website.
  
  If there is a privacy restriction on your name, it will not appear in the Commencement program or on the Commencement website. If you wish to remove this restriction, you may do so through MyUCLA under “privacy options ” or consult with a counselor in the Office of Student Services.
  
  If you have not placed a privacy restriction on your name, your name will appear in the program according to how your name appears with the Registrar, including those with a verified preferred name. 

Will there be a printed commencement program this year?

• Yes. There will be a printed commencement program, which all graduating students will receive. 

How do I submit work to the Grad Gallery on the Class of 2023 Commencement Website?

• Graduating students should fill out the online form to submit their required materials to the commencement committee.
• Submission Form

When will I get my diploma?

• Diplomas are available approximately three months after the end of the term. Approximately six weeks after your final term, you will receive email notification from the Registrar about the availability of your diploma and options for in-person pick up or for delivery by mail. For more detailed information regarding diplomas, visit the Registrar's website.
• Registrar

Does UCLA offer formal graduation portraits?

• Formal and candid portraits can be scheduled at the Campus Photo Studio on the A level of Ackerman Union. Visit the Campus Photo Studio website for more information—including fees, cap and gown rentals, and scheduling.
• Campus Photo Studio

How do I order a class ring?

• Class rings are custom made and vary in price. Visit the Jostens website for more information.
• Jostens

Is there a Senior Survey?

• If you have not already completed the 2023 Senior Survey, please do so. We greatly value your feedback and encourage you to use this survey as a means to provide your input toward the continued improvement of the undergraduate experience of future UCLA students.
• 2023 Senior Survey

Parking for guests with disabilities will be available in Lot A and in the parking spaces around Dickson Court and Portola Plaza. To arrange special parking, wheelchair rentals, and more, contact Linda Holmes at linda.holmes@arts.ucla.edu. 

The recommended parking area for School of the Arts and Architecture students and visitors is Lots 2. Parking for the persons with disabilities will be in Lot A and in spaces around Dickson Court and Portola Plaza. 

Parking permits can be purchased in advance and through the day of the ceremony for $14 per day. Log on to the Bruin ePermit System to reserve your parking permit.

Bruin ePermit

Hourly parking will be available in visitor parking lots for $3 per hour by using the self-service pay station machines or through the ParkMobile app.

Find more information about parking permits and visitor parking on the UCLA Transportation website.

UCLA Transportation

Following the ceremony, everyone is invited to join the graduates, their families, friends, faculty, and staff at a reception at Dickson Court South, located near Schoenberg Music Building.

Since the ceremony is outdoors and the weather can be variable, please dress accordingly. The ceremony will take place in the venue, rain or shine!

All COVID-19 requirements and policies are subject to change. If new protocols are announced, we will update this FAQ document with the most up-to-date information available at the time.

As of today: Proof of vaccination is not required for outdoor events. Masks are not required, but are recommended.

Visit the UCLA COVID-19 Resources website for additional information about campus policies and resources.

UCLA COVID-19 Resources