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. Details for reserving tickets will be provided as soon as the information becomes available.
COVID-19 Policy
Graduate Studies plans all events in accordance with the Campus Ready guidance. The Graduate Studies Commencement Ceremony will follow all university, county, and state public health guidelines, which are subject to change.
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.
Mobility and Accessibility Assistance
Details to be announced.
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.