Graduate Studies Commencement 2023
Graduate Studies, together with the Graduate Council and the Graduate Student Association, will hold the Graduate Studies commencement ceremony on Thursday, June 15, 2023, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the University Credit Union Center (formerly The ARC Pavilion). The Graduate Studies commencement will also be shown live via a webcast for friends and family members unable to attend the ceremony. This is a wonderful feature that allows them to experience the event. The webcast will also stay online for several months following the ceremony. Please see the UC Davis Commencement Webcasts website.
Guest Tickets
All registered students will receive up to (4) guest tickets to attend the in-person ceremony. Guest tickets are managed by the Aggie Ticket Box Office. Ticket registration information was sent in the student confirmation email.
Ceremony Details
The ceremony will take place in the University Credit Union Center (formerly The ARC Pavilion). Please allow for extra time as traffic is particularly heavy during commencement.
The University Credit Union Center opens at 2 p.m. on the day of the ceremony, please arrive early. Graduates will need to be in the line-up area at 2 p.m. (only graduates are permitted in the line-up area), this will be a good time to find a seat in the University Credit Union Center. Seating for guests is on the upper levels of the University Credit Union Center. The ceremony is three hours in length. Other than bottled water, no food or drink is permitted inside the University Credit Union Center. However, due to the length of the ceremony, snacks can be brought in for children and elderly guests.
Family members and friends are welcome to take photographs of candidates before or after commencement. During commencement family or friends will be permitted to take photos from their seats or from the designated photo areas in the stands above the arena floor. Please be aware that only graduates are permitted on the floor of the arena and tripods are not allowed in the University Credit Union Center. ProPics will be taking individual photographs for each graduate after they walk off the stage.
- Ph.D. students are arranged by faculty presenter's last name. This organizational arrangement allows all graduating students to be presented and walk the stage with their chosen faculty member, who may be presenting several students. Please ask your graduate the name of their faculty presenter prior to the ceremony.
- Master’s students are arranged alphabetically by graduate program name.
Please understand that there may be unforeseen circumstances that may require last-minute changes on the day of the ceremony.
Parking
Guests may park in unrestricted A or C zone permit spaces in Lot 25 and the Pavilion Parking Structure at no charge. Vehicles displaying a DMV-issued disabled placard or license plate may also park in time zones with no limit, or in any disabled space. There are elevators and stairwells at each corner of the parking structure. Complimentary Mobility Assistance Shuttle services are offered between the west side of the structure and the South West (SW) entrance at the University Credit Union Center.
Mobility and Accessibility Assistance
For guests attending commencement ceremonies at the University Credit Union Center and who need mobility assistance, UC Davis offers a complimentary Mobility Assistance Shuttle (MAS) service to/from the Pavilion Parking Structure ONLY. Guests will be picked up/dropped off at the designated shuttle stops at the tent on Hutchison Field (outside the west entrance of the Pavilion Parking Structure, on the N. Dairy Rd bike path) and the SW entrance of the University Credit Union Center. MAS services are not available to/from Lot 25 due to pedestrian safety concerns with golf carts using the same bike/pedestrian path.
For guests who will be arriving with wheelchairs or walkers that cannot be accommodated by the shuttle service, you and your accompanying adult may move along the bike/pedestrian path and use the South East (SE) Concourse entrance. Please note that entrances have ramps that must be traversed. Please note that UC Davis does not provide wheelchairs or walkers, nor personnel to assist with wheelchair movement. Service Animals are allowed at commencement ceremonies.
Doors open to the University Credit Union Center one hour before the ceremony start time. Special accommodation seating sections are available for guests with limited mobility or who use a wheelchair (who may also be accompanied by one other member of their party). The University Credit Union Center staff can direct you to these sections. The limited mobility seating sections are located in Rows E & F in sections 207, 213, 220 and 226 for all ceremonies. The wheelchair-accessible sections are located on all four Concourse corners. The building elevator is located on the Concourse Level in the SW corner. Please plan to arrive at least one hour before the ceremony start time as mobility assistance and wheelchair-accessible seating are on a first-come-first-serve basis and no special ticket is needed other than a regular commencement ticket.
For guests with limited/no hearing attending commencements in the University Credit Union Center, assisted listening devices may be requested at the University Credit Union Center Guest Services Desk (located near the NE Lobby corner of the building) and/or sign language interpretation can be arranged if requested prior to the ceremony.
Overnight Accommodations, Restaurants, and Fun
Make reservations early, especially if you prefer to stay in Davis, as local hotels will fill up fast. The same goes for some of the more upscale restaurants; save yourself the wait and make a reservation in advance. It is recommended that you celebrate with an early lunch before 2:00 p.m. or a late dinner after 6:00 p.m. Davis is located in Yolo County. Please see the Yolo County Visitors Bureau for a listing of hotels, restaurants, and more. Sacramento is the capital of California and is located twenty miles from Davis. Please see their visitors' guide for more information.