The College of Science Spring 2023 Convocation ceremony will be:

Date: Friday, May 12, 2023

Time: 2:00pm

Location: McKale Memorial Center

Please refer to the Commencement website for any additional updates

McKale Center has ample seating, so tickets are not used for the Spring ceremony.  There is no limit to the number of guests. Attendance is free for everyone.

Guests may enter McKale at Gates A, B, C and D. Click here for a map of the four McKale entrances.

Applied Physics, Astronomy, Audiology, Biochemistry, Bioinformatics, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences, Biology, Geosciences, Integrated Science, Mathematics, Molecular & Cellular Biology, Natural Science for Teachers, Neuroscience & Cognitive Science, Physics, Planetary Sciences, Psychological Science, Psychology, Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences, Statistics & Data Science and other GIDP degrees as well.

You will receive an email invite to RSVP in mid-March. You must RSVP by Thursday, April 27 by 11:59pm to ensure that you are listed in the program. Immediately after submitting your RSVP, you will receive a confirmation email message. If you do not get an email confirmation, your RSVP did not go through.

Yes, you may still participate, but you will not have a personalized slide as you cross the stage and may not have your name listed in the event program.

The University of Arizona hosts a Commencement ceremony during the spring semester only. You are encouraged to participate in both your College Convocation ceremony and the University Graduation ceremony. Visit the Commencement web page for specific details at http://commencement.arizona.edu.

Please arrive by 12:30 pm. The ceremony begins at 2:00 pm. 

Graduating students must enter McKale via the East side entrance. Students are required to check-in at the registration tables before entering the arena.

*CLICK HERE FOR MCKALE STUDENT ENTRANCE MAP*

Follow the signs outside of McKale to the Registration tables, where you will receive your name card and be directed to seating with your department.

All graduates will be ushered to sit with their departments. If you have more than one major in the College of Science, you choose which department to sit with.

You will be seated with your department. An usher will signal your department to line up at the right of the stage. Undergraduates will line up first, followed by Master's students, then by PhD's. You will hand your card to the person wearing the headphones at the top of the ramp leading to the stage. They will hand it back to you, and then you move forward and hand it to the name reader. Don't worry - it's very easy and goes very fast once you see it done the first time.

The doors to McKale Center will open at 1:00 pm.  The ceremony begins at 2:00 pm.  Seating is on a first come, first serve basis but there is plenty of seating for everyone.

Free parking is available at Cherry Street Garage, adjacent to McKale Center.

We encourage you to wear cap and gown, but you can also wear business dress. Cap and gowns are available for sale through the UA Bookstore. On the UA Bookstore website, under the Graduation tab (top of the page) you can select either Undergrad cap & gowns or Graduate caps & gowns to order your graduation attire.

Please review the full McKale Center Clear Bag and stadium policies.  The policy limits the size and type of bags that may be brought into our venues. The following is a list of bags that will be accepted for entry:

• Bags that are clear plastic or vinyl and do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”
• One-gallon clear plastic freezer bags (Ziploc bag or similar)
• Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, after being searched
• Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection, including but not limited to oxygen tanks, diabetes kits, allergy pens, etc.

We reserve seats near the stage for mentors. When your department is called, your mentor will follow you onto the stage and hood you. Graduate students being hooded must wear their cap & gown. Please send your mentor to this website if they have questions.

When you RSVP, you will indicate if you want to be contacted by the photographer or you can go to www.gradimages.com to order your prints.

Cheri Blauwet, MD

Cheri is a physician and Paralympic wheelchair racer. She is Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) and Sports Medicine, is assistant professor of PM&R at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital. She is a proud Wildcat and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology from the University of Arizona in 2002.

The ceremony will be livestreamed - https://commencement.arizona.edu/mckale-convocations-2023

On average, the College of Science recognizes ~800 students on stage.  The ceremony runs between 2-2.5 hours.  Students and guests are expected to stay for the duration of the ceremony to fully honor every graduate.

The stage for the College of Science Convocation is wheelchair accessible.

Parking & Access

The university is committed to creating an inclusive and universal experience for commencement and convocation ceremonies. Please review the information for Commencement - Disability Access for Students and Guests in addition to the Commencement's Parking and Access information. 

Wheelchair Rentals

Please contact the following company to discuss options for wheelchair rentals. 

• Mobility Plus - (520) 225-0415 - Reservations/Rentals 

McKale Center - Arena Entry/Seating
The following entrances are accessible:

• South Entry (main entry): Gates A and B. Upon entering, take the elevator up to reach top concourse accessible seating. To access middle concourse accessible seating, enter on the south side adjacent to Gate 8.
• West Entry: Gate C, accessible by crossing the bridge at the second floor of the Cherry Garage.  This takes you directly to upper concourse seating.
• North Entry: Gate D  
• East Entry: Gate E Leads to the middle concourse and scholarship row.