Commencement Information for Guests

Graduate Studies Commencement 2024

Graduate Studies, together with the Graduate Council and the Graduate Student Association, will hold two Graduate Studies commencement ceremonies on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Master's Ceremony, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and MFA and Doctoral Ceremony from 3:00-5:00 p.m. in the University Credit Union Center. 

Guest Tickets

All registered students will receive up to (8) guest tickets to attend the in-person ceremony. Guest tickets are managed by the Aggie Ticket Box Office. Ticket registration information is sent in the student confirmation email.

Ceremony Details

 

Master’s Degree Ceremony

Date: Thursday, June 13

Time: 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Location: University Credit Union Center

University Credit Union Center Doors Open: 9:00 a.m.

Please allow for extra time as traffic is particularly heavy during commencement. Seating for guests is on the upper levels of the University Credit Union Center.

Student Line-Up: Students must assemble in Hutchison Field South by 9:00 a.m. in full regalia.

Please note, 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.

 

MFA and Doctoral Degree Ceremony

Date: Thursday, June 13

Time: 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Location: University Credit Union Center.

University Credit Union Center Doors Open: 2:00 p.m.

Please allow for extra time as traffic is particularly heavy during commencement. Seating for guests is on the upper levels of the University Credit Union Center.

Student Line-Up: Students must assemble in Hutchison Field South by 2:00 p.m. in full regalia.

Please note, 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.

 

Each ceremony is scheduled to be two 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.

  • MFA and 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 

Parking is complimentary with registration for all graduates and commencement guests in designated lots. For instructions on how to register for complimentary parking watch this video or follow the instructions below.


Step 1:  Navigate to parking.ucdavis.edu
Step 2: Click on Special Event Parking
Step 3: Select Commencement Ceremonies under Event Type
Step 4: Select the ceremony you will be attending
Step 5: Enter the coupon code provided and click Apply Voucher. Note, the coupon 
voucher code the for Graduate Studies ceremonies will be distributed directly to all 
registered students only
Step 6: Select Commencement Parking Permit ($0.00) under Permit Type
Step 7: Select the date of the event
Step 8: Add your vehicle information
Step 9: Review the Permission to Park Agreement and select I agree at the bottom 
then click Continue
Step 10: Enter your email address and checkout for the $0 amount
 

Designated Parking Locations
Permits are valid in unrestricted C Zone Spaces in the Pavilion Parking Structure and Lot 25 from 7 am – midnight.
 

For more information, please visit the TAPS Commencement website which includes directions, instructions, and a how-to video on how to claim complimentary parking for Commencement on campus.

Mobility and Accessibility Assistance

For guests who are attending commencement ceremonies in the University Credit Union Center and who need mobility assistance, UC Davis offers mobility assistance golf carts for passenger pick up and drop off near the Pavilion Parking Structure ONLY. Guests will be picked up/dropped off at the tent situated on Hutchinson Field just to the west of the bike path. Golf carts will take guests across Hutchinson Field to and from the SW entrance of the University Credit Union Center. There is no mobility assistance pick up and drop off in Lot 25 due to pedestrian safety concerns with golf carts utilizing the same bike/pedestrian path.

For guests who will be arriving with walkers or wheelchairs, you and your accompanying adult may move along the bike/pedestrian path and use the SE University Credit Union Center 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). 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 and Special Assistance Seating 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 prior to the ceremony start time as mobility assistance and wheelchair-accessible seating are on a first-come-first-serve basis.

For those guests with limited/no hearing attending commencement in the University Credit Union Center, assisted listening devices may be picked up in the University Credit Union Center Guest Services Center (located at the NE Lobby corner in the University Credit Union Center) and/or sign language interpretation can be arranged if requested prior 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.  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.