Commencement
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get information on the College of Letters and Science Commencement Ceremony?
The College of Letters and Science ("College") Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, June 13, 2008, at 5:00 p.m. in Pauley Pavilion. For more information, visit the College's website at: http://www.college.ucla.edu/commencement/.
The College Ceremony has different regulations from the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology departmental Commencement celebration regarding eligibility and the number of guests who can attend. For more information about the Friday, June 13, 2008, College Commencement Ceremony, visit the College Commencement Office located in 1312 Murphy Hall. Office hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00-11:00 a.m. and 1:30-3:30 p.m. Call the Commencement Hotline at (310) 206-1232 for updated information. To leave a message regarding Commencement, please call (310) 206-3535.
When and where is the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Commencement Celebration?
The Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Commencement Celebration will be held on Sunday, June 15, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. at Wilson Plaza on the UCLA campus. Students should arrive no later than 8:00 a.m. to allow ample time for check-in and to receive any instructions.
Where can I get information about parking for graduation?
Guests visiting UCLA during Commencement Weekend who do not have a UCLA parking permit will be required to pay $ 8.00 per day per vehicle.
Pre-paid parking permits for a given day of Commencement Weekend will be available for order via MyUCLA by students with the cost automatically billed to each student's BAR account. No refunds are permitted once the order has been placed via MyUCLA. The permits will be distributed beginning Thursday, May 22, 2008, at the Central Ticket Office.
Students wishing to purchase additional pre-paid parking permits for family members/guests and who did not order them through MyUCLA may do so at either the Central Ticket Office or at the UCLA Parking Service office at Westwood/Strathmore, beginning May 8, 2008. Please note that payment is by credit card or cash only; no checks will be accepted.
Information about directions to UCLA and which parking structures to use will be included in your Commencement Weekend ticket/guest information packet which will be distributed with your tickets at the Central Ticket Office. Information will also be posted on the official UCLA Commencement website, www.commencement.ucla.edu.
What's the difference between "graduating" and "walking" at commencement?
Students can graduate (that is, have completed all requirements for their degree and have stopped taking classes) during any quarter of the year. Then, a few months after the end of the Degree Expected Term (DET) that they have declared through URSA, they will be issued a diploma from UCLA. Commencement ceremonies, however, occur only once per year (Spring Quarter). You are invited to participate in these ceremonies even if your degree expected quarter is Summer 2008. This is the time for you to be publicly recognized by the University and your friends and family for your scholastic achievements. Participating in any Commencement activities does NOT guarantee that you will actually earn a degree. You should consult a UCLA College and/or departmental counselor for detailed information on satisfying degree requirements.
When will I receive information about the celebration?
You will receive an early email notification regarding the departmental celebration within the first two weeks of Spring Quarter. Thereafter all eligible students should continue to check the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Commencement website for further updates. Be sure to declare your Degree Expected Term (DET) on URSA!
What will I do after arriving at Wilson Plaza?
When you first arrive at Wilson Plaza, you will need to check in at the Registration Table, which will be located in the area located between Kaufman Hall and the Fowler Museum. Here you will be able to modify your reply (name) card, which you will need to have fully completed if you have not already done so prior to the day of Commencement. This is a two-sided card containing the phonetic spelling of your name as well as photography information. After you made sure to complete this card, you will proceed to the area indicated to line up with the other graduates (students will be grouped by major/minor). At that time, your family members and friends should find seats for themselves. All guests must have a ticket in order to view the ceremony. PLEASE NOTE THAT NO BOTTLES, BEACH BALLS, HELIUM BALLOONS, SILLY STRING, ETC., WILL BE ALLOWED.
What will happen during the celebration?
You will process to the seating area to "Pomp and Circumstance" and be seated in chairs at the front. After a few brief introductory comments, you will be directed to walk across the stage and give your reply (name) card to the announcer to have your name read. You will then walk across the stage, receive a congratulatory certificate from Ecology & Evolutionary Biology and have your picture taken.
Can pictures be taken at the Commencement Celebration?
Family members and guests will NOT be allowed in the front seating area at any point during the Commencement Celebration, but they will be able to take photos from their seats. Please ask your family and guests to consider those seated around them, and NOT stand or block the view of others in any way! You will be able to have pictures taken after the ceremony.
Should I wear my cap and gown to the Commencement Celebration?
Yes! Please make sure to wear your cap and gown to the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Commencement Celebration. Your cap and gown may be purchased from Campus Photo Studio/Graduation Etc., in person on "A" level of Ackerman Union (Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) or online. In addition, you can buy graduation portrait packages, graduation announcements, frames, plaques and covers for your diploma, graduation cards, gifts and a variety of UCLA merchandise there as well. For more information, call Graduation Etc. at (310) 825-2587.
Will there be a rehearsal for the Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Commencement Celebration?
No rehearsal will be held. Therefore, it is extremely important that you arrive no later than 8:00 a.m. on that day so that you can check in, complete your reply (name) card, and be directed to line up in the proper area.
Will provisions be made for my physical disabilities or those of my guests?
If either you or one of your family members or guests has a disability or needs special assistance to attend Commencement, please call the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) at (310) 825-1501 (voice), or (310) 206-6083 (TDD), as soon as possible to receive information about parking and other assistance at the Commencement. Sign language interpreters are available upon request.
Where can I find other Commencement information, such as directions to UCLA, campus maps, hotels, etc.?
Visit the official UCLA Commencement website (www.commencement.ucla.edu), or call the Commencement Hotline at (310) 206-1232 for updated information. To leave a message regarding Commencement; please call (310) 206-3535.
updated 4-2-2008