Commencement Checklist for Bachelor's Degree Candidates

Step 1: Apply to Graduate

In order to graduate from UCR, undergraduate students must submit a graduation application in R'Web. In addition to this, Bachelor's degree students in CHASS and School of Business must also complete a College graduation application. 

Your graduation application must be submitted by the following deadlines to participate in 2023 Commencement:

4:00 p.m., December, 1, 2022 - deadline to apply to graduate Winter 2023

4:00 p.m., March 6, 2023 - deadline to apply to graduate Spring 2023

4:00 p.m., April 10, 2023 - early deadline to apply to graduate Summer 2023 and participate at Commencement. If you apply after the deadline, you may still be approved to participate, but you may receive the Intent to Participate form after Monday, April 17, 2023. The summer graduation application will be available on Monday, April 3, 2023. 

For more information regarding filing your graduation application, please visit the Registrar's Guide to Graduation website.  

Step 2: Review and Update your Personal Information in R'Web

Preferred/Lived Name and Mailing Address

If you would like to update your Preferred/Lived First Name and Middle Name for Commencement purposes, you are required to update your information in R'Web.

Monday, April 3:  Deadline to update your preferred first and middle names, and your mailing address in R'Web for Commencement. Please note, if your Intent to Participate form is not submitted by the deadline, your Preferred/Lived First Name and Last Name will be pre-recorded and displayed as you cross the stage. 

For more information on how to update your preferred names, please visit the Registrar's website here.

Legal Name Change

If you would like to update your Last Name, you are required to submit a "Change or Correction of Name Form" accompanied by required legal documentation.

Monday, March 27: Deadline to have your Legal (or Last) Name changed in Banner in time for Commencement. Because this process can take several weeks, please begin this process early so that your record is updated in time. For more information on how to update your legal name and required legal documentation, please visit the Registrar's website here. 

Degree Information

If you need to have your degree information updated, please contact your department’s Student Affairs Officer as soon as possible.

Monday, April 3: Deadline for any changes or corrections to your degree information to be listed correctly on your Intent to Participate form. Please allow the Registrar’s Office sufficient time to process your request.

Step 3: Submit your Intent to Participate Form and Order Your Guest Tickets when the link is e-mailed to eligible students starting Monday, April 17, 2023

The Intent to Participate form confirms that you will be participating in the Class of 2023 Commencement. The form will open on Monday, April 17, 2023, and login and instructions will be e-mailed to eligible students that afternoon.

Not everyone who graduates chooses to participate at Commencement. If you are planning to attend, you must register to walk in Commencement through the Intent to Participate form by the important deadline below:

Friday, May 26 at 5:00 p.m.: Deadline to submit your Intent to Participate form to:

• Select and submit your "Name to Be Displayed" as you cross the stage. Please note, if you register after this deadline your Preferred/Lived First Name and Last name will be displayed and cannot be changed.
• Select and submit your "Name to Be Read" and pre-recorded for stage crossing. Please note, if you register after this deadline your Preferred/Lived First Name and Last name will be pre-recorded and cannot be changed.
• Ensure that you are able to order the maximum number of tickets for your specific ceremony.

Step 4: Purchase your Cap and Gown

Bachelor's degree cap, gown and tassel packages may be purchased at Grad Fair starting Monday, April 17 - Wednesday, April 19 at the UCR Campus Bookstore. The price for a bachelor’s gown, cap, and tassel package is $62.98. Regalia purchased during Grad Fair will be available at a 10% discounted price.

Regalia packages will be available for purchase after Grad Fair at the UCR Campus Bookstore through Commencement week at full price.

Step 5: Give $23 In Honor of Your Graduation and Receive an Exclusive Philanthropy Cord

The UCR Philanthropy Cord is a blue and gold cord for graduates to wear as they walk across the Commencement stage. The cord is a physical symbol of your commitment to UCR, but more importantly, it supports future students to cross the finish line just like you! Get your Philanthropy Cord today.

Step 6: Attend Grad Fair from April 17 - April 19 at the UCR Campus Bookstore

Grad Fair is your one-stop Commencement shop for everything Commencement! Grad Fair will be held in-person from Monday, April 17 through Wednesday, April 19 at the UCR Campus Bookstore. 

Grad Fair Hours: 

• Monday, April 17, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 18, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 19, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Step 7: Pick Up Your Guest Tickets and Student Parking Pass for Toyota Arena at Senior Send-Off and Additional Ticket Distribution Dates!

Physical Ticketmaster guest tickets and Student Parking Passes will be distributed to graduates registered to participate in Commencement in late May/early June. Please note, the exact number of tickets for each ceremony will be announced the week of April 10. 

Senior Sendoff will be your first opportunity to pick-up your Toyota Arena Commencement Ceremony guest tickets on Thursday, May 25 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Rivera Lawn! Pick up commencement tickets, become a member of the Alumni Association, grab your free UCR Alumni swag item (while supplies last), and network with Highlander alumni! Click here to register to attend Senior Sendoff.

If you're not able to make it to Senior Sendoff, there will be two additional ticket distribution dates:

• Friday, May 26 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at HUB 355
• Wednesday, June 7 from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. at HUB 355

Information with specific dates, times, and locations for guest ticket and student parking pass distribution will be sent via e-mail to eligible graduates the week of May 1. Once graduates have picked up their Commencement tickets, the physical tickets are the sole responsibility of the graduate and lost tickets CANNOT be replaced.

UCR Commencement tickets are the property of the University and are issued to participating graduates at no charge. The sale, purchase, or duplication of Commencement tickets is strictly prohibited.

Each ticket will have a unique barcode and may only be scanned once for admittance. Duplicate tickets will be denied entry. 

Step 8: Tell Us your Plans After Graduation

You've made it to graduation, but what's your next destination? Tell us your next step now! 

Please note, the link will only be live to graduating students within their final quarter before graduation and 6 months after graduation. 

Step 9: Attend Commencement Ceremonies from Tuesday, June 20 - Thursday June 22, 2023 at Toyota Arena

Please refer to your ceremony webpage for additional details regarding your specific ceremony, including when and where to check-in. The ceremony webpage will be added to the Commencement website in April and you will also receive e-mail communications with everything you need to know for your participation!

Step 10: Join the UCR Alumni Association

Stay Connected! We take great pride in our graduates and want to ensure your further success. Join the UCR Alumni Association to stay connected, meet fellow alumni and build a beneficial network.

Step 11: Diplomas

Diplomas are not distributed at Commencement. For information regarding the distribution of diplomas, please visit the Registrar's Website.