Graduation Ceremonies
The College of Natural Sciences holds graduation ceremonies each May to honor candidates of the entire academic year (past Fall, current Spring, and future Summer). May 2025 participants in events at the Moody Center include undergraduate degree candidates in the following cohorts: December 2024 graduates and May 2025 and August 2025 potential graduates.
Candidates earning their master’s or doctoral degree participate in Graduate School ceremonies.
Attendance at the graduation ceremonies is optional; however, if you are completing an undergraduate degree, you must complete the application to graduate. To participate in the ceremony, and after approval to graduate, graduates must RSVP through Tassel, the college's RSVP, ticketing and graduation communications portal.
Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
Location: Moody Center
Undergraduate Ceremony Schedule:
-
12:00 P.M.: Biochemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, Marine Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Neuroscience
-
4:00 P.M.: Astronomy, Chemistry, Computer Science, Human Development and Family Sciences, Human Ecology, Mathematics, Nutrition, Physics, Public Health, Statistics & Data Science, Textiles and Apparel
The college anticipates that each ceremony will last approximately 2.5 hours. Out of respect for all graduates, please plan to be present until the end of the ceremony.
Attending Graduation
What to Expect
At the College of Natural Sciences undergraduate convocation ceremonies, graduates and guests can expect a formal program with remarks from Dean David Vanden Bout, an alumni speaker and a graduate speaker. Following remarks, graduates will cross the stage with name and University Honors designation announcements while professional photos are taken.
-
Beginning in late February, approved graduates and walkers will receive an email to RSVP and claim tickets for their guests through Tassel, the college's RSVP, ticketing and communications portal. Graduates do not need a ticket for themselves to participate, as long as they have applied to graduate or walk, have been approved and have RSVP’d that they will attend the ceremony. Graduates are responsible for securing tickets for their guests.
-
Arrival at the Moody Center:
10:30 a.m. OR 2:30 p.m.: Graduates check-in at the Moody Center loading dock. Graduates must be checked in at least 30 minutes prior to the start of their ceremony.
(Moody Center Map)11:00 a.m. OR 3:00 p.m.: Doors open for friends & family at the Moody Center West Plaza.
(Moody Center Map) -
Please plan for road closures and heavy traffic on graduation day. There will be multiple graduation ceremonies happening across the Forty Acres. For the latest updates to campus parking, please visit the university commencement page.
-
Regalia must be carried into the Moody Center, not worn. Do not bring your regalia on a hanger. During check in and security scanning, regalia must be shaken to demonstrate no prohibited items on person.
-
Graduation candidates cannot bring personal items such as water bottles, backpacks, purses, umbrellas or coats to the Moody Ceremony. There is no secure area in which to leave them. We recommended carrying cell phones and keys on wrist bands or clothing with pockets underneath regalia. Water will be available in the grad check-in area
-
Comfortable shoes are recommended for all graduates: There are steep ramps and stairs along the graduate path.
-
Moody Center concessions will be open for guests.
-
The college convocation ceremonies will be livestreamed to allow the moment to be shared with extended family and friends. Separate links are available for each ceremony. Ceremony recordings will be archived on the Graduation YouTube playlist.
-
Graduate drop-off: There are two approved graduate drop-off locations. However, due to the number of CNS graduates and traffic congestion in the area, if you are able, we suggest you drop off at an alternative location and walk to the Moody Center.
-
Regalia is required: Academic regalia is required for all ceremony participants. Bachelor and master’s regalia may be purchased from the University Co-op. The tassel color for B.A., B.S.A. and B.S. graduates in the College of Natural Sciences is gold/yellow. Regalia should be ordered by the published deadline on the University Co-Op site.
Formal invitations to send to family and friends may also be purchased from the University Co-op. -
The University coordinates professional photos of each graduation candidate as he or she walks across the stage to be congratulated during CNS ceremonies. Graduates and families have the option of purchasing photographs. There is no obligation to do so. Flash Photography provides free color proofs to each graduate. Proofs are mailed to the permanent address within two weeks of graduation. If you do not receive your proof, or if you wish to place your order by phone or email, please contact Flash Photography at 1-800-410-8070 or at flashphotography.com
After the Ceremony
Procedures for each ceremony’s guests and graduates after the event are as follows.
12:00 p.m. Ceremony
Exit the east exit and graduates will re-join friends/family on the Moody Center east plaza (marshals and ushers will be on hand to direct crowds). Guests and graduates for the 4:00 p.m. ceremony will be arriving and queuing up for entry and check-in as the 12:00 p.m. ceremony is letting out. We request that all graduates and guests avoid the west side of the Moody Center when exiting. You may want to consult the Moody Center Map and come up with a strategic meetup location away from the west side of the venue.
4:00 p.m. Ceremony
If you are attending the university-wide ceremony, plan to head to D.K.R. Texas Memorial Stadium as soon as the 4:00 p.m. ceremony concludes. Concessions will be open at the stadium.
Tickets
- Graduates do not need a ticket to participate in the College of Natural Sciences ceremonies, as long as they have applied to graduate or walk, been approved and RSVP’d that they will attend.
- Tickets are required for all family and guests (over the age of two years) attending a College of Natural Sciences ceremony.
- Graduates claim and email the tickets to their guests. Guests may not secure a ticket directly.
- After approval to graduate or walk, graduates will receive an email to RSVP to attend the CNS ceremony. Tickets may be claimed when RSVP’ing.
- Each approved graduate is allocated up to 6 guest tickets. We ask that graduates only claim the number of tickets needed.
- Additional tickets over 6 may be requested when submitting an RSVP and will be confirmed based on availability. Graduates will receive an email when additional tickets are approved. If you ran into challenges requesting additional tickets, please contact Natural Sciences Student records. Requests may be emailed to: ns.student.records@austin.utexas.edu
- Graduates may log into Tassel, the RSVP and ticketing portal, at any time and claim tickets or cancel/return unneeded tickets they have already claimed. Additional ticket requests must be submitted by May 8 at noon.
- Graduates can only attend and claim tickets for one ceremony.
- Guest tickets are general admission and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Saving of seats is not permitted.
- Tickets are free of charge. Any graduate caught selling tickets will face penalties, up to and including exclusion from participating in the ceremony.
- Tickets are only available electronically. Guests will present tickets, preferably electronically, at the Moody Center.
- Separate graduate tickets are required for the university-wide ceremony for graduates who wish to attend and sit on the field. There are no guest tickets required for the university-wide ceremony. For university ceremony ticketing information, please visit the University Commencement website.
Venue Safety & Security Procedures
An updated Security and Attendee Protocol is in place for all graduation events. Please follow the safety procedures to ensure a seamless graduation experience.
Accommodations & ADA
Requesting Accommodations
Accommodation requests for graduates or their guests should be made at least five business days prior to graduation activities. While every effort will be made, we may be unable to fulfill last-minute requests. Please send accommodation requests to: ns.student.records@austin.utexas.edu
Accessibility
Parking & Shuttles
All open campus parking garages have ADA parking spaces (open to guests with appropriate placard or license plate) and elevators. An ADA shuttle will run from the Health Center Garage to the Moody Center beginning at 7:00 a.m.
Drop-Off
An ADA and mobility impaired passenger drop-off point is available in the roundabout on the northeast side of the Moody Center. From the I-35 frontage road, head west on Clyde Littlefield Dr., then south on Red River. Please notify personnel that passengers are ADA or mobility impaired. Please note, it is still a lengthy walk to access the Moody Center entrance. Wheelchairs or walkers are highly recommended.
Rideshare
Set your location as “Clyde Littlefield Rd. & Red River St.” Message the driver to inform police they are picking up for Moody Center’s “Member/ADA Drop Off”.
Wheelchairs
Mobility-impaired candidates or guests who cannot walk comfortably more than 5 feet are strongly encouraged to bring a wheelchair to the event. Local health supply rental companies can provide rental wheelchairs.
The Moody Center has a very limited number of wheelchairs on hand at entry doors. Guests who require additional assistance because of a limitation in mobility can request a wheelchair transport from the entry doors of the arena to their seating location. A Guest Services member will escort guests to their seat and arrange a pick-up time to escort them for their departure if desired. This service is available on a first come, first served basis and may be requested from any team member at the entry doors. Please note that arena wheelchairs cannot be left with guests during the event.
Elevators are available to guests with disabilities. Check with a Moody Center Guest Services member for assistance.
Seating
There are many options for wheelchair-accessible and low-mobility seating. These sections are
compatible: 106, 107, 110, 115, 117, 118, 207, 210, 215. As tickets are unassigned, these sections are also on a first-come, first served. Please reference this map for location specifics. Upon arrival at the Moody Center, ushers can assist with accessible seating.
Assistive Listening Devices
Assistive Listening Devices are available and complimentary to guests for all arena events. Headsets and receivers can be checked out at the Guest Services booth on the Main Concourse.
Captioning
Open captions will be displayed on the screen at both ceremonies. Graduates' names, degrees and honors will be displayed on the screen as they walk across the stage.
Accessibility at the University Ceremony
Information and accessibility FAQs for the 7:00 p.m. university commencement ceremony can be found on the Accessibility Information for Guests page.
Parking & Drop-Off
Most campus garages are free on graduation day (except East Campus Garage, AT&T Hotel and Conference Center Garage, Guadalupe Garage and Nueces Garage). Manor and Trinity Garages are the suggested parking for College of Natural Sciences ceremonies.
All campus parking garages have ADA parking spaces (open to guests with appropriate placard or license plate) and elevators.
More information including daily shuttle/parking maps and an interactive parking calculator may be found on the Commencement Weekend Parking page.
UT Ceremony
The University-wide ceremony will be held Saturday, May 10, 2025 in Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. Separate procession tickets are required for degree candidates to participate in the university-wide ceremony.
Graduates who are approved to participate in the College of Naturals Sciences ceremonies are automatically eligible to attend in the University-Wide ceremony – no additional registration is needed. Graduates who plan to attend the University-Wide ceremony will need to secure a graduate ticket to access graduate seating on the field. Tickets will be available in late April. Graduates will be notified via email when the ticketing window is open and of the process to secure a ticket.
More information about tickets may be found here.
Prior to entering the stadium, undergraduate College of Natural Sciences degree candidates will gather near Bass Concert Hall, near Robert Dedman Drive and DeLoss Dodds Way. Graduate School candidates from all programs will process in with the Graduate School.
The University-wide commencement ceremony takes place following the college ceremonies and is the culmination of graduation weekend. The ceremony includes a distinguished speaker, conferring of degrees by the president and the traditional lighting of the Tower in orange to honor graduates. The celebration concludes with a fireworks display.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my name be read out loud?
Yes, during the ceremony, the names of attending graduates will be read aloud.
May I participate in the ceremony if I do not complete all requirements for my degree during the spring semester?
Potential graduates who have 15 hours or less to complete may submit the Walk Application. After approval of the Walk Application, they will receive an email to RSVP and participate in the ceremony.
I am approved to graduate but have not seen an email to RSVP for the ceremony.
RSVP emails will come from Tassel. Tassel communications will be sent to official my.utexas.edu email accounts linked to your EID.
RSVP emails will be sent starting in late February.
Approved graduates will be uploaded to the Tassel system on Fridays. If you are approved to graduate early in the week, you may see a few days delay before receiving an email.
May I participate in graduation if I completed all my degree requirements in a previous semester?
Yes, graduates who have completed all degree requirements in the previous fall semester are welcome to participate in graduation and should submit the Walk Application.
Do I need a ticket to participate in graduation?
As a graduate, you do not need a ticket for the College of Natural Sciences ceremony (only your guests do). However, tickets are required for graduates to participate in the University-wide ceremony at DKR Texas Memorial Stadium. Approved graduates will receive an email to claim UT ceremony tickets beginning in late April. Please refer to the ticketing section for more details.
How many guest tickets am I guaranteed?
Graduates are guaranteed 6 guest tickets. Please refer to the ticketing section.
Are extra tickets available?
Additional tickets over 6 may be requested when submitting an RSVP and will be confirmed based on availability. Beginning in late April, graduates will receive an email when additional tickets are approved. In years past, our ceremonies have had room in the Moody Center to accommodate graduates and their requested guests; we expect this year to be similar. Please follow the process as outlined, and understand that we will confirm in late April after all grads have had the chance to secure their initial 6 tickets. Please refer to the ticketing section.
Will I receive my diploma at the ceremony?
No, diplomas will not be distributed at the ceremony. Approximately six weeks after the graduation date, your diploma will be mailed to the permanent address listed in your University of Texas at Austin directory information. If you prefer to pick up your diploma in person, please contact the Texas One Stop at (512) 232-6988 to make arrangements or visit their office in Room 1 of the Main Building. Verify or update your address through Texas One Stop.
Additional questions should be directed to Diploma Services.
What should I bring to the ceremony?
Personal items such as backpacks, purses or coats cannot be brought into the venue, and there is no secure area available for storage. To ensure convenience, we recommend carrying cell phones and keys on wristbands or utilizing clothing with pockets beneath the regalia.
Do I have to wear regalia?
Academic regalia is required for all ceremony participants. Bachelor’s and master’s regalia may be purchased from the University Co-op. The deadline to purchase is April 18.
Which colors should I choose for my academic tassel?
The tassel color for B.A., B.S.A. and B.S. graduates in the College of Natural Sciences is gold/yellow and can be purchased at the University Co-op.
What is the difference between commencement and convocation?
Commencement is the larger, University-Wide event that recognizes all graduates from the University. Convocation is the college-specific event where a student is called by name and crosses the stage.
My family can’t make it to the ceremony. Can they watch it online?
Yes, ceremonies will be live-streamed, allowing your family to participate remotely.
How can I find hotels for my guests?
The Austin area offers an abundance of lodging options for visitors. Visit Austin has information to help you plan your trip. Note that Commencement brings thousands of visitors to the city; we recommend making lodging plans sooner rather than later.
Where can I get graduation announcements?
Invitations and announcements may be ordered from the University Co-op.
I am an international student and I need a letter signed by the college to assist my family in obtaining a visa to attend my graduation ceremony. How do I get this?
To obtain official visa letters, please complete the visa letter form and email NS Student Records with your request.
What time should graduates arrive at the Moody Center?
Graduate check-in begins 1.5 hours before the ceremony start time (10:30 a.m. OR 2:30 p.m.). Graduates check in at the Moody Center loading dock and must be checked in at least 30 minutes prior to the start of their ceremony.
What time should guests arrive at the Moody Center?
Doors open for guests one-hour before the ceremony (11 am or 3 pm).
How do I order my graduation photos?
Flash Photography provides free color proofs to each graduate. Proofs are mailed to the permanent address within two weeks of graduation. If you do not receive your proof, or if you wish to place your order by phone or email, please contact Flash Photography at 1-800-410-8070 or at flashphotography.com.
How do I request an accommodation for my guest?
Accommodations requests may be submitted for both graduates and guests when submitting an RSVP. Graduates can log back into the Tassel portal at any time and submit a request by editing their RSVP. Find complete details for accommodations and ADA.
My guest has limited mobility. What is the best way to accommodate them?
An ADA and mobility-impaired passenger drop-off point is available in the roundabout on the northeast side of the Moody Center. It is still an extended distance from the drop-off to the guest entrance.
All open campus parking garages have ADA parking spaces (open to guests with appropriate placard or license plate) and elevators. An ADA shuttle will run from the Health Center Garage to the Moody Center beginning at 7:00 a.m. Guests who cannot walk comfortably more than 5 feet are strongly encouraged to bring a wheelchair to the event. Local health supply rental companies can provide rental wheelchairs. Upon arrival at the Moody Center, ushers can assist with accessible seating. Find complete details for accommodations and ADA.