Show up at RIMAC Field 1 hour before the start of the ceremony - that means being at Spanos Track at 4 p.m.! Remember to leave enough time to shuttle from the east parking lots to RIMAC, arrive at east parking lots by 3:30pm.

• Bring your cap and gown with you (if you are not already wearing it), along with the Muir College graduation ticket, and proceed to the North Campus Recreational Field (also known as RIMAC Field). Go to the Spanos Track at the far north end of the field. Note: your family and friends need to proceed directly onto the RIMAC Field.
  ONLY GRADUATES WITH TICKETS WILL BE ALLOWED AT SPANOS TRACK.
• When you arrive, you will be reminded to completely and clearly fill in the requested information on the graduation ticket. Please be advised that inappropriate nicknames will be screened prior to your crossing of the stage. Those who write inappropriate nicknames or have illegible handwriting will be asked to rewrite the information on the card.
• PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, listen for and comply with instructions of the commencement staff that will be there to assist you.
• You will be escorted in line to the field where you will process into the seating area. Please stay in your designated line. DO NOT STOP FOR FAMILY PHOTOS AS THIS DELAYS THE PROCESSION.
• The Provost will proceed with the ceremony: speeches (by the Chancellor and others), recognition of students and faculty receiving awards, and then the reading of graduates' names and crossing the stage.
• The ceremony will conclude with the traditional turning of the tassel (from right to left) and then a recessional of the platform party.
• The ceremony is scheduled to take two hours, from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm We suggest making your post-Commencement plans after 8pm. This will allow everyone ample time to take pictures after the ceremony and safely exit our parking areas.
• Guests should plan on arriving to RIMAC field to find seating 1-1.5 hours prior to Commencement ceremony start time. Please allow at least one hour to park and arrive at RIMAC field.

How exactly will graduates be recognized?

Glad you asked! Muir College staff will direct graduates to form two lines, one on the left of the stage and another on the right side of the stage. Graduates will be arranged in the order in which they are seated.

When you get to the stage you will hand in a card (which is not crunched) on which you will have neatly printed your name - and have also spelled it out fo-net-ick-lee . If you are still worried your name will be mangled (a legitimate concern) just whisper the proper pronunciation in the Dean's ear as you hand in your card. If you are really worried, just visit the Student Affairs Dean in the office prior to graduation (H&SS 2126).

Provost Susan Smith will confer the degrees after everyone has crossed the stage. It may sound chaotic, but rest assured, it works out!

After the graduate's name is announced, the graduate will proceed across the stage to receive a congratulatory handshake from the Provost while being photographed by a professional photographer.

After crossing the stage, Muir College Commencement Staff will direct graduates back to their seat. Once seated, graduates are expected to stay in their seats for the duration of the ceremony out of respect for all graduates

Any student wishing to participate in the June 2013 commencement ceremony must have completed 135 units by the end of Winter 2013.

Click here for additional information about filing for graduation. Participation in the commencement ceremony does not constitute official graduation from the university.

Can my parents run to the stage and snap a picture or film me crossing the stage?

Absolutely NOT!  PLEASE encourage your guests to use a powerful zoom lens to memorialize your special day. But even better, let your guests know that there are professional photographers present who will be taking pictures of each graduate walking up to and crossing the stage and shaking Provost Smith's hand. You will receive a proof photo in a few weeks, and you may decide then whether or not to order prints and enlargements. You may also elect to have a professional Senior Portrait snapped in advance at the Bookstore.

Please note that there are no tickets required for guests at the Muir College Commencement.

Only graduates are required to have tickets to for the ceremony.

Please do not approach the stage to take a picture or film your graduates as they cross the stage.

Guests must stay within the designated guest area and only graduates are permitted in the graduate seating section. We encourage you to use a powerful zoom lens to memorialize this special day. Also, please be aware that professional photographers from California Candids will be taking two photos of each graduate – one as they cross the stage after their name is read and the second as they exit the stage. Graduates will receive a proof photo about a month following Commencement, at which time you may decide whether to order prints and enlargements. Graduates may also elect to have a professional Senior Portrait taken in advance at the Bookstore. (Contact the Bookstore for specific dates and times.)

Please follow the advice and instructions of the event staff

This includes parking attendants, event staff, and security guards. We are all there working to ensure that the ceremony proceeds in a timely manner, so please comply with all of our requests.

Please do not bring air horns, large balloon bouquets, or other potentially irksome items to the ceremony.

Large balloon bouquets block the view of other guests and the use of air horns can interfere with everyone’s ability to hear the ceremony – and many people find them aurally disturbing. Please be mindful that we will have more than 9,000 guests in attendance at our ceremony and respect those around you.

Please do not encourage your graduate to leave the ceremony until its completion.

The ceremony officially ends following the tassel ceremony and recessional of the distinguished guests, faculty and staff on stage. Be respectful of the graduates who cross the stage last – they deserve as much attention and recognition as those who cross first.

Outstanding Muir College undergraduates are highlighted at our annual Student Leadership Brunch and the commencement ceremony. Nomination information will be available in Spring 2013.

Please visit the UC San Diego bookstore website for commencement package options.

Graduates may pick-up their Cap and Gown & Ticket at the Bookstore beginning June 3, 2013.

Please keep your tassel in a safe location as we will not have any extra tassels on commencement day.

After the ceremony, boxes for gown drop off will be available at RIMAC field. Remember to take your cap and tassel; they are your souvenirs of the day!

How do I get my name in the Commencement Program?

Students finishing their graduation requirements by Fall 2013 should go online to http://degree.ucsd.edu by May 1, 2013 to submit a Degree and Diploma Application (DDA). There will be an option to add your name to the Commencement Program. Students who want their name in the program but are not finishing their graduation requirements by Fall 2013 should contact Muir Advising via the Virtual Advisor for instructions. To complete a Degree and Diploma Application, please follow these instructions: here.

One Commencement program will be provided to each graduate at the ceremony.

Guests are not allowed to cross any barricade or disrupt the flow of the ceremony to take pictures. Only our professional photographers are allowed on stage to take pictures. Please remember to bring a powerful zoom lens to use in memorializing this special day.

Professional photographers will be present at the ceremony taking pictures of the graduate and before they step onto the stage and as they cross the stage. The graduate will receive photo proofs via email. Be sure to write your e-mail address clearly on the back of the commencement ticket to ensure your proofs arrive.

Senior Portraits

Graduates may also elect to have a professional Senior Portrait taken in advance at the UCSD Bookstore during Grad Night, April 23 from 6:30 - 9:30pm and at the Grad Fair April 24-25 from 10am – 3pm. Contact the UCSD Bookstore for more information at (858) 534-7323.

UCSD Grad Night: April 23 from 6:30-9:30pm

• Graduation announcements can be ordered online here.
• Class rings can be ordered online here.
• Additional graduation items are available for purchase at the
  UCSD Bookstore Graduation Shop

You may also order rings at the UC San Diego Bookstore on April 24-25, 2013 from 10:00a.m. to 3:00p.m.

UC San Diego has a long tradition of holding separate commencement ceremonies for each of the undergraduate colleges. UC San Diego’s six undergraduate college ceremonies provide students with a setting where graduating seniors may invite family and friends to celebrate their accomplishments. College ceremonies allow individual recognition of each senior.

Ticketing Background and Information

To continue with this tradition and to ensure that students attend their own college ceremony, students participating in the 2013 undergraduate commencement ceremonies will be required to have a ticket of admission to their college’s ceremony. Ticketing will enable colleges to limit the ceremony to participants in that college. This will help to provide adequate parking, traffic control and facilities resources to ensure a happy, memorable occasion for all graduates. A college ticket will be distributed to students at the time of their cap and gown rental at the Bookstore in June. Student ID will be required for verification of college enrollment. Students should place this ticket in a safe location as it will be required for admittance to their college commencement ceremony on the day of graduation. No replacement tickets will be issued.

Clearly and completely fill out the requested information on the back of the college ticket in advance. Be advised that the information that graduates write on these cards will be screened by event staff before each student crosses the stage. If inappropriate or illegible names are submitted, graduates will be asked to rewrite the information on the ticket.

Traffic will be extremely heavy, so be sure to arrive early, especially if you want the best view of the stage. Parking for the Muir ceremony will be in the East & Regents lots, #P702, P703, P704, & P705, arrive early to get onto the shuttles to RIMAC field. Parking will be free on Saturday for the Commencement ceremony. Please follow the directions of parking attendants; they are here to help you and ensure that traffic is moving safely.

Parking attendants will direct all Muir College Commencement ceremony traffic to the east parking lots P702, P703, P704 & P705. As each lot fills, attendants will systematically re-direct traffic to other campus parking lots.

As each lot fills, attendants will systematically re-direct traffic to other campus parking lots. Shuttles will transport guests from parking lots to the Commencement Ceremony site. We are anticipating more than 9,000 people in attendance, so we strongly encourage you to carpool and bring your party in as few cars as possible.

Those with accessible parking needs attending the ceremony should enter via North Point Drive and follow the directions of parking attendants. Please make sure you have your disabled placard visible so you may be directed appropriately.

Directions to the east campus lots, coming from north of La Jolla: (follow the signs on the freeway off-ramps)

• Take Interstate 5 SOUTH.
• EXIT on GENESEE AVENUE and TURN LEFT
  at the end of the exit ramp (eastbound).
• Proceed about a half a mile to Campus Point Drive. Turn right.
• Follow signage.

Directions to the east campus parking lots, coming from south of La Jolla: (follow the signs on the freeway off-ramps)

• Take Interstate 5 NORTH.
• EXIT on LA JOLLA VILLAGE DRIVE and TURN RIGHT
  at the end of the exit ramp (eastbound).
• Proceed about one mile to Genesee Ave. Turn left (northbound.)
• Proceed about a half a mile to Campus Point Drive. Turn left.
• Follow signage.

For more information call the Parking Office (858) 534-4223
or visit this website.

Tickets are not required in the guest general seating area. There is no limit to the number of guests that a graduate may invite to attend the ceremony. Remember that seating is on a first-come, first-served basis

Commencement is an exciting day for our graduates to share with their families and friends. We hope that the following information will help guests with special needs to enjoy the day with their graduate.

• Disabled parking for those with handicap placards will be available in the Hopkins parking lot. Please follow the parking attendants' directions and have your placard easily viewable.
• The commencement site is approximately 1/4 mile from the parking lot. Shuttle service will be available only to those guests with mobility restrictions from Hopkins parking Structure to RIMAC field level. We regret the university is not able to provide wheelchairs for guests. The first/last chair of each row may be removed to accommodate wheelchairs.
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• ASL interpreters will be on stage throughout the ceremony. A limited number of assisted listening devices are also available. If you require listening assistance, please contact the Muir College Student Affairs office at 858-534-3587 IN ADVANCE.
• There is limited shaded seating available on a first-come, first-served basis. This seating is available to those in need and one additional guest.

Please contact our office at 858-534-3583 for any other special arrangements to accommodate your guests' needs.

The UC San Diego Bookstore and Alumni Association are offering Triton Pride Packs for the Class of 2013! For more information on Senior Spring events and opportunities, visit their website.