Celebrate UCR's 68th Commencement
COVID-19 Guidelines for Commencement
Please check back regularly for the most up to date information about COVID-19 requirements. (Last updated 5/27/2022)
As announced on May 27, UC Riverside is reinstating indoor masking starting Monday, May 30 through Monday, June 13, 2022. Face coverings will be required in indoor spaces on campus and in university owned or operated venues.
All Commencement attendees must wear masks indoors, including volunteers and guests. Commencement speakers may remove their masks to deliver their remarks. Graduates may remove their masks while walking across the stage and while being photographed on or adjacent to the stage.
The health and safety of our graduates, guests, faculty, and staff is our top priority. All participating graduates have self-attested to comply with the participation requirements. To ensure a safe experience for all, please consider the following:
- Do not come to campus if you feel unwell or have recently tested positive for COVID-19.
- All participants, regardless of age should be fully vaccinated (two doses plus booster) or have had a negative COVID-19 test result within 48 hours (PCR test) or 24 hours (antigen test) prior to the ceremony. Providing proof of vaccination or test results is not required at this time.
- For indoor ceremonies, face coverings will be required for all in attendance, regardless of vaccination status. Free masks will be made readily available at the event.
- For outdoor ceremonies, face coverings are strongly recommended for all in attendance, regardless of vaccination status. Free masks will be made readily available at the event.
2022 Commencement Ceremony Livestream Links
All Commencement 2022 Ceremonies are being livestreamed for friends, family, and loved ones to tune into from home! Please see the links below and click on your graduate's respective ceremony link to be directed to the livestream on YouTube.
Friday, June 3, 2022
6:00 P.M. School of Medicine Hippocratic Oath/Commencement Ceremony Livestream
Saturday, June 4, 2022
9:00 A.M. Graduate Division Hooding Ceremony Livestream
Friday, June 10, 2022
6:00 P.M. School of Business Ceremony Livestream
Saturday, June 11, 2022
8:00 A.M. College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Group 1 Ceremony Livestream
6:00 P.M. College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Group 2 Ceremony Livestream
Sunday, June 12, 2022
8:00 A.M. College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Group 1 Ceremony Livestream
9:00 A.M. School of Education Ceremony Livestream
2:00 P.M. School of Public Policy Ceremony Livestream
6:00 P.M. College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Group 2 Ceremony Livestream
Monday, June 13, 2022
8:00 A.M. College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences Group 3 Ceremony Livestream
9:00 A.M. Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering Group 1 Ceremony Livestream
2:00 P.M. Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering Group 2 Ceremony Livestream
Commencement 2022
Welcome to the official Website for UC Riverside's 68th Commencement.
If you are a graduating student, congratulations on your achievement! You have worked hard to get to this point in your life and UC Riverside is honored to have been part of your journey.
Making this day a memorable occasion for you and your proud family members and friends is very important to UC Riverside, so we have developed this website for everything Commencement.
Please see everything you need to know for the day of your ceremony below!
Pierce Lawn Ceremonies Graduate Arrival and Check-In:
School of Business, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, and College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences: Please plan to arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to your ceremony to check-in at the Highlander Union Building, third floor lobby in front of HUB 302.
IMPORTANT! Please have your printed or electronic GRAD PASS with you as it is required to check-in and enter the candidate line-up room. Your GRAD PASS will also be scanned before you cross the stage, so please keep it with you until you cross the stage.
Student Recreation Center Ceremonies Graduate Arrival and Check-In:
School of Education, School of Public Policy, and Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering: Please plan to arrive 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to your ceremony to check-in at the Mac Gym in Student Recreation Center (SRC) South. You will be given further instructions on candidate line-up once you have checked in.
IMPORTANT! Please have your printed or electronic GRAD PASS with you as it is required to check-in and enter the candidate line-up room. Your GRAD PASS will also be scanned before you cross the stage, so please keep it with you until you cross the stage.
Parking: Please visit the Commencement Parking website for complimentary general guest parking and accessible parking information. Please share this information with your guests.
Gates Open for Guest Seating: Gates will open for guest seating 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to your ceremony. To ensure everyone’s safety, security staff will be performing bag checks at each venue entrance. All bags are subject to search.
Guest Tickets and Seating: Tickets are required for entrance to all UCR Commencement ceremonies. Seating for all ceremonies is on a first-come, first-served basis. Saving seats is not allowed, so please have your guests plan accordingly. Children 2 and under do not need a ticket but will need to remain on a parent’s lap for the duration of the ceremony.
Please print or e-mail your e-tickets to your guests through Marching Order. Both printed and electronic e-tickets on a smartphone can be scanned at the entrance. Each ticket has a unique barcode and may only be scanned once for admittance. Duplicate tickets will be denied entrance.
COVID Guidelines: All participating graduates have self-attested to comply with participation requirements of either being fully vaccinated or receiving a negative PCR-based coronavirus test within 48 hours (PCR test) or 24 hours (antigen test) of coming onto campus for the ceremony. All graduates and guests are expected to comply with these guidelines. Consistent with California Department of Public Heath guidance anyone who tests positive, is feeling ill, has symptoms of COVID-19, or has potentially been exposed to someone with confirmed or suspected COVID-19, may not attend the ceremony and should follow public health recommendations.
For indoor ceremonies, mask wearing is required for all in attendance, regardless of vaccination status. Graduates may remove their mask while walking across the stage and while being photographed on or adjacent to the stage.
For outdoor ceremonies, mask wearing is strongly recommended for all in attendance, regardless of vaccination status. Graduates may remove their mask before crossing the stage.
Prohibited items: Please note that balloons, food, and drink are not permitted inside the Commencement venue, so please leave those items at home or in your car.
The following items are prohibited on campus: animals except for service dogs, alcohol, tobacco products, illegal drugs/paraphernalia, and weapons of any kind including firearms and knives. Smoking is not permitted on university property including parking lots.
Water Station: We will be providing a water station for all guests in attendance (all graduates will be provided with one water bottle at their seats). Please pass along to your guests that they can bring empty containers to fill up with water. We are trying to minimize the usage of cups.
2022 Graduation Exit Survey: You’ve made it to graduation but what’s your next destination? Please complete a brief survey to help UC Riverside identify your next steps regarding your career or academic plans here.
You are invited to FREE Highlander Welcomes! You are invited to meet and network with fellow graduates and other alumni at the FREE Highlander Welcomes listed below:
- June 15: Black Alumni
- June 22: Inland Empire
- June 29: Los Angeles
- July 13: Orange County
- July 20: San Diego
- July 27: Bay Area
- August 3: Chicano Latino Alumni
The first 30 attendees at each event receive a free UCR pint glass. For more information and to register online for any of these happy hour receptions, visit: alumni.ucr.edu/highlanderwelcomes.
Please review the above information carefully so that you are prepared to participate in your ceremony! You will be instructed and guided by Commencement Staff from Graduate Check-In to crossing the stage.
We look forward to seeing you on your big day!
Getting Started
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Step 1: Apply to Graduate
If you are a UC Riverside student who graduated Fall 2021 or are expected to graduate in Winter 2022 or Spring 2022, you are eligible to participate in the Class of 2022 Commencement. If you expect to graduate Summer 2022, you may be approved to participate if you submit your Summer graduation application by the early deadline of April 11, 2022.
In order to graduate from UCR, all students must submit a graduation application via R'Web. In addition to this, Bachelor's degree students in CHASS and School of Business must also complete your College graduation application.
For Advanced degree candidates and Teaching Credential candidates, please complete the appropriate paperwork on time and receive approval from the Graduate Division and Teacher Education Program office.
For instructions on how to file your graduation application, please visit the Registrar's Guide to Graduation Website.
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Step 2: Check out our Class of 2022 Commencement checklist to stay on track with the various requirements and deadlines relating to your participation
Review your respective Class of 2022 Commencement checklist for deadlines relating to the Intent to Participate form, and other important information regarding Commencement participation.
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Step 3: Submit your Intent to Participate form starting April 19
The Intent to Participate form confirms that you will be participating in the Class of 2022 Commencement. The form will open on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, and login and instructions will be e-mailed to eligible students that afternoon.
It is important to submit your Intent to Participate by Friday, May 13 at 5:00 p.m. to ensure that you can order the maximum number of tickets for your ceremony.
Please check your respective Class of 2022 Commencement checklist for important deadlines relating to the Intent to Participate form.
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Step 4: Order your guest tickets starting May 17
Starting May 17, you can log in to Marching Order with the same login information as the Intent to Participate form to order your guest tickets. Please note that the maximum number of tickets available vary by ceremony and ticket ordering is not on a first-come, first-served basis.
Eligible graduates who submit their Intent to Participate form by Friday, May 13 at 5:00 p.m. are guaranteed the maximum number of tickets for their specific ceremony. Please note, if your Intent to Participate form is submitted after the deadline, you may not be able to order the maximum number of tickets for your specific ceremony and your legal first and last name will be pre-recorded and displayed as you cross the stage.
The exact number of maximum tickets for each ceremony will be announced in early May prior to the ticketing portion of the Intent to Participate form opens.
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Step 5: Let us know your plans after graduation!
You've made it to graduation, but what's your next destination? Tell us your next step now!
Schedule of Ceremonies
Friday, June 3, 2022
6:00 p.m. School of Medicine - Commencement / Hippocratic Oath Ceremony
M.D. degree recipients
Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium
Saturday, June 4, 2022
9:00 a.m. Graduate Division Hooding Ceremony
All Ph.D. degree and M.F.A. degree candidates
Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium
Friday, June 10, 2022
6:00 p.m. School of Business
Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates
Location: Pierce Lawn
For the School of Business FAQ, please click here.
Saturday, June 11, 2022
8:00 a.m. College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Group 1
Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates in the departments of Biochemistry and Biology
Location: Pierce Lawn
6:00 p.m. College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Group 2
Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates in the departments of Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, Chemistry, Data Science, Earth Sciences, Entomology, Environmental Sciences, Geology, Geophysics, Mathematics, Mathematics for Secondary Teachers, Microbiology, Neuroscience, Physics, Plant Biology, and Statistics
Location: Pierce Lawn
Sunday, June 12, 2022
8:00 a.m. College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS) Group 1
Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates to select preferred ceremony date/time on a first-come, first-served basis through the Intent to Participate form
Location: Pierce Lawn
9:00 a.m. School of Education
Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates and Teacher Credential candidates
Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium
2:00 p.m. School of Public Policy
Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates
Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium
6:00 p.m. College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS) Group 2
Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates to select preferred ceremony date/time on a first-come, first-served basis through the Intent to Participate form
Location: Pierce Lawn
Monday, June 13, 2022
8:00 a.m. College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS) Group 3
Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates to select preferred ceremony date/time on a first-come, first-served basis through the Intent to Participate form
Location: Pierce Lawn
9:00 a.m. Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering Group 1
Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates in the departments of Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Sciences with Business Applications, and Data Science
Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium
2:00 p.m. Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering Group 2
Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates in the departments of Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering
Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium
Tradition & Symbols
The UCR Pipe Band
The UCR Pipe Band performs on the campus and surrounding community at formal and informal events, including parades, memorials, highland games, athletic events, alumni events, Chancellor's events and Commencement. The band encompasses a diverse group of musicians and performers offering a wide variety of Celtic music played on bagpipes and drums. Visit their website to find out more about the UCR Pipe Band.
The Regalia
In 1895, American Universities adopted a code for uniformity in academic dress. These codes, handed down from European academic ceremonies, represent different degree levels, field of study, and the institution from which the degree was earned. Each color, worn on tassels, hoods, velvet and satin trimmings, represents a specific educational discipline:
- Arts, Letters, Humanities: white
- Commerce, Accountancy, Business: drab
- Economics: copper
- Education: light blue
- Engineering: orange
- Music: pink
- Philosophy: dark blue
- Public Administration: peacock blue
- Medicine: green
- Science: golden yellow
- Theology: scarlet
- Social Work: citron
The Seal of the University of California
The present seal, designed by Tiffany and Company, has been used since 1910. The seal incorporates symbolic icons and phrases that represent the image of the University. Symbols used include:
- The open book, which symbolized the accumulation and dissemination of knowledge.
- The letter "A", representing the beginning of wisdom.
- The five-pointed star above the book represents the discovery and sharing of knowledge.
- The University motto, "Fiat Lux", or "Let There be Light", displayed on a scroll, represents the coming of light and knowledge in to the world.
The Chancellor's Medal
The Chancellor's Medal is worn at ceremonial observances as a part of the chancellor's regalia. At the center is the University of California seal. The back of the medal displays the names of the campus' chancellors and year he or she was inaugurated.
The UC Riverside Mace
The academic mace, first used in the 14th century, is descended from the club of Hercules. The scepter on the mace stands for lawful power and regal authority, and was carried by Zeus, the Greek God of moral law and order.
Most academic maces take the same general shape. At the top is an ornament placed on a bulbous head; ring-shaped enlargements are found on the shaft; and the base is a round, foliated ornament.
The UC Riverside Mace was first suggested by Ramon J. Rhine, Chair of the Academic Senate, to represent the dignity and history of the campus. Professor Emeritus George Helmkamp designed and constructed the ceremonial mace, with Eugene L. Ethridge of the Chemistry Department contributing metal work.
The UC Riverside mace was hand crafted with inlaid woods, with the head and shaft made out of Hawaiian Koa wood. The light inlaid wood is Yellow Fir from Canada, and the dark inlays are Desert Ironwood collected by Professor Helmkamp throughout Southern California. The mace has ornaments at the top and the base. The base is in the shape of a citrus fruit, representing UCR's Citrus Experiment Station. The top ornament is the bear of the State of California. Seals of California and the University are mounted on opposite sides of the mace's head. Below the seals are the mottos of California and the University, respectively, along with the years 1850 (the year California was admitted in to the Union), and 1868 (the year the University of California was founded).
UC Riverside Alma Mater
Professor of Music Byron Adams joined the UCR faculty in 1987 and was dismayed to discover that the university did not have a school song. To promote school spirit and engender institutional pride, Adams held an informal competition for the text of the song and selected the verses written by the late Bob Wild, a beloved physics professor. He then set forth to create "Hail Fair UCR".
"I sat down one beautiful winter afternoon and, inspired by the hills surrounding the university, the bell tower and the orange groves, composed Hail Fair UCR," he said. "It is meant to be sung in full - every word and every note - at Commencement and other solemn, and not so solemn, university events."
A Look Back
Relive the pageantry and excitement of UCR’s Commencement ceremonies. Watch videos of the keynote and student speakers from each of the ceremonies as well as the remarks from our Chancellor and Deans of the Colleges.
Commencement 2020 Online Celebrations
Advanced Degree Graduates and Teacher Credential Online Celebration
Bachelor's Degree Graduates Online Celebration
2019
Watch the ceremonies from UCR's 65th Commencement exercises, May 31-June 1 and June 14-17, 2019.
2018
Watch the ceremonies from UCR's 64th Commencement exercises, June 1 and June 15 - 19, 2018.
2017
Watch the ceremonies from UCR's 63rd Commencement exercises, June 9 and June 16–19, 2017.
2016
Watch the ceremonies from UCR's 62nd Commencement exercises, June 10–13, 2016.
2015
Watch the ceremonies from UCR's 61st Commencement exercises, June 12–15, 2015.
2014
Watch the ceremonies from UCR's 60th Commencement exercises, June 13–16, 2014.
2013
Watch the ceremonies from UCR's 59th Commencement exercises, June 14–17, 2013.
2012
Watch the ceremonies and view photos from UCR's 58th Commencement exercises, June 15–18, 2012.
2011
Watch the ceremonies and view photos from UCR's 57th Commencement exercises, June 10–13, 2011.
2010
Watch the ceremonies from UCR's 56th Commencement exercises, June 11-14, 2010
Post a Message for the Class of 2022!
As we close out another great academic year at UC Riverside, it's time to say congrats and farewell to the graduating students who have completed their Highlander journey. We invite you to take a moment to share your memories, appreciation, and shout outs on this Kudoboard, which will be shared with all Highlanders. You can address your messages to a superstar graduate, memorable group, special class, school/college - or to the entire graduating class of 2022!
Participant Information
CANDIDATES FOR GRADUATION
Includes Commencement participation information, and candidate checklists to ensure that all requirements and deadlines are met to participate in Commencement.
