Undergraduates
Attendance at commencement is optional. There is no rehearsal, so please refer to this information and share it with your guests.
CLAS Undergraduate Ceremonies
When you arrive at the O'Connell Center on Saturday, May 1, signs will be posted listing where each major/department should line up.
You must arrive at the O'Connell Center an hour before your ceremony, and the processional starts 30 minutes before the ceremony's official start time. We estimate that each ceremony will last about an hour and a half. Your guests do not need tickets and there is no limit to the number of guests you have at the ceremony. Photography is allowed. The group taking photos as students cross the stage will mail proofs to graduates within 10 days of the cermony. There is no obligation to purchase.
The college will hold two undergraduate ceremonies again this year at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center on Saturday, May 1, 2009.
12:30 pm CLAS Departments/Majors
Anthropology; Asian Studies; Astronomy; Biology (including Botany and Zoology majors); Chemistry (including Biochemistry majors); Classical Studies; Communication Sciences and Disorders; Computer Science; Economics; English; Geography; Geology; History; Interdisciplinary Studies; Jewish Studies; Languages, Literatures and Cultures (including East Asian Languages and Literatures, French, German, and Russian); Linguistics
Assembly Details
- Plan to arrive at 11:00 am to line up by major.
- Processional begins at 12:00 pm promptly.
- Ceremony begins at 12:30 pm
4:00 pm CLAS Departments/Majors
Mathematics; Microbiology and Cell Science; Philosophy; Physics; Political Science; Psychology; Religion; Sociology and Criminology & Law; Spanish and Portuguese Studies; Statistics; Women's Studies and Gender Research.
Assembly Details
- Plan to arrive at 2:30 pm to line up by major.
- Processional begins at 3:30 pm promptly.
- Ceremony begins at 4:00 pm
Please arrive at the time specified for assembly and be wearing your cap and gown. There will be a "help desk" set up at Gate 2 in case you need a tassel, bobbie pin, safety pin, name card, etc. You will line up by major. Late candidates will march at the end of the procession. Once the procession has begun, there is no opportunity to join your specific major.
In the processional, marshals will lead candidates into the main arena. You should sit down when you get to your seat and remain seated until the marshal asks you to stand, and then face the center aisle. Remain standing until the platform party passes your row, then turn and face the stage.
Protocols for Conferring Degrees
Announcing and Pronouncing Your Name
Each candidates' name is read aloud as he/she crosses the stage. When you pick up your regalia, you will receive a name card that you must complete and bring with you to the ceremony. Print or type your name with a phonetic spelling to ensure correct pronunciation. (Again, if you lose this card, there will be extras at the O'Connell Center).
Bachelor's Degrees
All candidates for bachelor's degrees will be presented as a group. When instructed, please move your tassel from right to left. Watch for the marshal's signal to indicate when your row is to stand and proceed single file to the stage. Give your name card to the marshal when you reach the top of the steps and you will be recognized individually.
Conduct Appropriate to the Ceremony
- Candidates are expected to remain seated during the ceremony.
- Cell phones and pagers should be turned off.
- Men should wear dark trousers and dark shoes. Women should wear dark clothing and dark shoes. Coats and jackets are not recommended.
- Please do not bring backpacks, purses or helmets, as there is no place to store them.
- Students and guests are asked to remain for the entire ceremony as a sign of respect for all university graduates.
Regalia
Ordering Regalia
Participants in the commencement ceremony must wear a university-approved cap and gown, which should be ordered at the UF Bookstore. One complimentary tassel is included in the cap and gown rental price. All caps and gowns are black, and candidates for advanced degrees also wear hoods. Students receiving a specialist, engineer or master’s degree will receive their hoods with their regalia at the bookstore. Doctoral degree candidates do not pick up their hoods at the bookstore. These hoods are delivered by the bookstore to the commencement location so that doctoral candidates can be hooded during the ceremony when they cross the stage. The bookstore cannot process your reservation for regalia if you do not provide your height, weight and gender. The rental fee for regalia is due when placing your order.
Tassels
Tassel colors are specific to the college conferring the degree. Candidates for a baccalaureate degree should place their tassel on the right side of the mortarboard until the degree is conferred. Tassels may be moved to the left upon conferral. All other candidates should place their tassel on the left side at all times.
Graduation with Honors/Honors Cords
Undergraduate degree candidates may purchase honors cords to recognize their graduation with the distinction of cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude. The cords are optional and can be purchased at the UF Bookstore, at these prices: cum laude (honors) - $13.81; magna cum laude (high honors) - $27.63; summa cum laude (highest honors) - $41.44. Honors information is provided electronically to the bookstore, and students can purchase cords only for the level of honors the college recommended at preliminary certification in March. If a student’s honors status changes to a higher level at final certification, the student can return to the bookstore, beginning May 6, to purchase additional cords.
Program listings for students graduating with cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude recognition are unofficial. The official honors designation will be indicated on the transcript and diploma.
Academic Caps
The academic mortarboard must be worn during the processional and when standing; you may remove it while you are seated. Men should remove their caps during the university’s alma mater.
Returning Regalia
Academic regalia must be returned to the University Bookstore after the ceremony.
Diplomas
Diplomas will be mailed approximately 10 weeks after commencement to your permanent home address. Please verify your permananet mailing address through the my.ufl portal. For more information, please visit the Registar's Spring Commencement instrcutions.
Photographs
Photographs are taken as graduates process across the stage. The company taking these photographs will send proofs to the graduates approximately 10 days following the ceremony. There is no obligation for you to purchase these.
Video
We are pleased to announce that our ceremonies will be be available in streaming video! Links will be available prior to the ceremony.
The ceremonies will also be archived online for a few months. Please share this information with your family members and friends who are unable to attend the ceremonies!
