Graduation and Convocation

Graduation &
Convocation

College of Science
Winter 2023 Convocation

Friday, December 15, 2023
Ceremony:
2:00pm
Doors Open: 1:00pm

Location: Centennial Hall & Livestream

Graduation and Convocation

Winter 2023 Graduation Ceremony

The College of Science Winter 2023 Convocation will be Friday, December 15, 2023, at 2:00pm inside Centennial Hall. We will livestream and record the event for anyone unable to attend.


The College of Science Spring 2024 Convocation will be Friday, May 10, 2024, at 2:00pm inside McKale Center. Additional information to be announced soon.

Applying for Graduation or Filing for Degree Candidacy

Important: For undergraduate students, graduation from the University of Arizona requires a degree audit (also known as a degree check) in order to award a diploma, and there is a $50 candidacy fee involved. Students are strongly urged to begin this process and file for degree candidacy before registering for the last semester of course work, but not more than 1 year before the planned graduation date. Visit the UA Office of the Registrar website for more information.

  • Students graduating in December (fall) or January (winter) must file for degree candidacy by September 1st.
  • Students graduating in May (spring) for August (summer) must file for degree candidacy by February 1st. 

To file for degree candidacy, students in the College of Science must begin the process with their major advisor. MATH majors should email the Math Center to get started with their degree candidacy process at mathcenter@math.arizona.edu.

Late fees of $50 will also apply to students who file after the deadline.


FAQ

Take a moment to thoroughly review the Frequently Asked Questions section below. If you still have questions, please contact us at uascigraduates@arizona.edu.

The College of Science Winter 2023 Convocation ceremony will be:

Friday, December 15, 2023
2:00pm
Centennial Hall & Livestream

Please refer to the Commencement website for any additional updates

Tickets are free and each guest will need a ticket to enter Centennial Hall. Each student is allowed up to 10 tickets for guests. After you RSVP online, you pick-up your complimentary tickets at a time and location TBD.

YOU MUST RSVP FOR THE CEREMONY BEFORE WE WILL DISTRIBUTE YOUR TICKETS. Please only request the actual number of tickets that you need (up to 10).

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 invitation in late October to RSVP. Visit the link in your email and follow the instructions.

You must RSVP by Wednesday, November 29, to ensure that you are listed in the program. Immediately after submitting your RSVP, you will receive a confirmation message. If you do not get a 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. Students graduating in winter 2023 may participate in the spring 2024 ceremony, if they choose. Visit the Commencement web page for specific details at http://commencement.arizona.edu.

Please arrive by 1:00pm, one hour before the ceremony begins at 2:00pm. Graduating students will need to check-in at the tables in front of the box office. You will receive our name card, which will be read as you are recognized on stage.

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 Centennial Hall 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 for students and guests attending the ceremony. The nearest parking to Centennial Hall is in the Tyndall Ave. Garage or Main Gate Garage. Visit the UA Campus Map for locations. For students or guests that have difficulty or are unable to walk, we suggest you have a plan to drop them off nearby Centennial Hall, prior to parking.

We encourage you to wear cap and gown, but you can also wear business dress. Graduation regalia (undergrad & grad students) is 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 or graduate cap & gowns to order your graduation attire.

Please review the full Centennial Hall Security Policy - https://centhall.org/visit-us/security-policy/

Bags larger than 12” x 6” x 12” are not permitted. Anyone entering premises is subject to a search of personal belongings, including but not limited to inspection of bags, purses, strollers, coats, hats, and wheelchairs.

Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection, including but not limited to oxygen tanks, diabetes kits, allergy pens, etc. Centennial Hall will not safeguard any personal belongings or items of any type.

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 review/order your prints.

Announcement for this year's keynote speaker coming soon.

Yes, the ceremony will be livestreamed. We will share the link as we get closer to December. The ceremony recording will reside on YouTube and this webpage.

On average, the College of Science recognizes ~300 students on stage during the Winter Convocation.  The ceremony runs between 1.5-2 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. 

 

Watch the College of Science Spring 2023 Convocation Ceremony