Commencement Checklist
Congratulations Class of 2024!
Commencement will take place on the East Upper Field from Friday, June 14 to Monday, June 17.
The commencement checklist provides a rough outline of the actions a student must take, in advance, to participate.
1. CONFIRM YOUR GRADUATION STATUS
Commencement is different from graduation. Commencement is the celebration that graduation has, or will soon occur. Graduation is the official acknowledgment that a student’s course of study is complete and, with that, a degree conferred.
For undergraduates, you will apply to graduate with The Office of the Registrar.
For graduate students, connect with The Division of Graduate Studies regarding your graduation requirements.
Information regarding eligibility for commencement is located in the FAQ.
2. ORDER YOUR CAP AND GOWN (REGALIA)
If you wish to wear a cap and gown, please order using the link below:
The deadline to order is Monday, May 13, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
Regalia is not required to participate in commencement.
The ceremonies will take place outdoors. Please exercise caution when selecting attire and footwear - high heels are not recommended.
Graduates are welcome to decorate their caps as long as they adhere to the Student Conduct & Community Standards and do not obstruct anyone's view. Graduates are welcome to wear cords, stoles, flower leis, and kukui necklaces.
3. ATTEND UPCOMING EVENTS
Graduation & Commencement Virtual Information Session
March 6, 2024, at 3:30 pm PT
Commencement Pop-Up | Cowell Apartment Community Room
May 1, 2024, 10 am to 6 pm
Did you miss the Grad Fair? Here is your last opportunity to purchase your regalia in person or take a senior portrait!
A link will be available to schedule your senior portrait session soon!
4. REGISTER FOR COMMENCEMENT
Commencement consists of ten residential college ceremonies, the Graduate Division ceremony, and two celebrations - Baskin School of Engineering and Chicanx/Latinx.
All eligible graduates received an email via their @ucsc.edu address on April 1, 2024, to register in Marching Order. Commencement registration closes May 13, at 11:59 p.m. PT.
COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION
Visit the TAPS Commencement website for detailed parking & transportation information.
PARKING: The only designated parking for Commencement is located at East Remote Parking (Lot 104). A commencement permit is required.
All graduates will be eligible to collect one free parking permit per ceremony/celebration. Participating graduates will have the opportunity to purchase ONE additional permit for $25* for each ceremony/celebration. Additional permits are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis beginning on May 20, 2024. Additional permits must be purchased in advance online.
Graduates will be able to pick up their parking permits in the weeks before commencement at the Barn Theater Parking Lot (122) at the base of campus between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Pick-up dates are designated by event:
Crown, Merrill, College Nine, and John R. Lewis: May 28th & 29th
Porter, Cowell, Stevenson: May 30th & 31st
Rachel Carson, Oakes, & Kresge: June 3rd & 4th
Graduate Division, Chicanx/Latinx, & Baskin Engineering: June 5th & 6th
All graduates are encouraged to make every effort to pick up their permits on their designated dates above. However, anyone unable to pick up their permit on the date assigned to their ceremony/celebration will have the opportunity to pick it up on June 7th via a limited number of appointments. Visit the TAPS Commencement website to make an appointment.
*Proceeds from additional permit sales will be used to off-set commencement operation costs
PLEASE NOTE: Permits will be collected at the event and displayed on the vehicle dashboard. You or your guests MUST have a valid physical permit in possession in order to park at the ceremony/celebration.PROHIBITED ITEMS: Pets (ADA service animals are allowed), Drones, Confetti, Noise-Makers, Balloons, Alcohol, Smoking, or Other Drugs.
ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: UC Santa Cruz is committed to making all of its programs and services accessible to students, campus employees, and members of the public. If students or guests need accommodations, the student must include this information when registering to participate.
SUSTAINABILITY: UC Santa Cruz is deeply committed to sustainability and strives to reduce the amount of waste we generate and compost and recycle materials instead of sending them to landfills. For Commencement 2024, we're guiding to help support campus sustainability and zero waste goals.
5. TAKE THE FIRST DESTINATION SURVEY
6. REDUCE YOUR UCSC GOOGLE ACCOUNT STORAGE BY JULY 1, 2024
Your UCSC Google account will remain active for one year after you leave UC Santa Cruz, however, the storage limits are changing. Take the following action before July 1, 2024:
- Check storage: If over 10 GB, proceed to the next step.
- Reduce storage: Remove files in Drive and emails/attachments in Gmail.
- Move Google content to a personal Google account.
- Safely Delete Unneeded content in Google Photos.
Keep an eye on your UCSC email inbox because 3 months before your Google account expires, you'll receive detailed instructions explaining how to request to keep your UCSC Gmail account active beyond one year.
Visit the Slug G Suite services webpage for more information.
ONCE A SLUG, ALWAYS A SLUG
Your connection to UC Santa Cruz does not end after graduation. You are now part of the Alumni Network which is over 140,000 strong. As an alumnus, you have access to events, benefits, services, and connections for life. Stay connected by updating your personal information if you move or use another primary email address. Join our alumni LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram channels, or find a way to give back and volunteer. No matter where you are, you’re always a Banana Slug.
