Graduation

Spring Commencement

The college commencement ceremonies honor graduating undergraduates and candidates of the entire academic year (past Fall, current Spring, and future Summer). Candidates earning their masters or doctoral degree will participate in the Graduate School ceremony. Attendance at the graduation ceremonies is optional. Undergraduate ceremonies are organized by degree/major field of study.

Students, already applied to graduate or walk?  Find Graduation / Walk Application Results 

Undergraduate Ceremonies

Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023

Location: Moody Center*

^{*2023 marks the first year the college will host its graduation ceremonies at the Moody Center. This page will be continually updated as details about the ceremony become finalized.}

Schedule:

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.

Ticket Information

Tickets are required for all family and guests (over the age of two years) attending the ceremony. Each approved graduate will be allocated 8 guests tickets. Guest tickets are general admission and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The tickets are free of charge and distribution information will be available in April. Graduates do not need a ticket for themselves to participate, as long as they have applied to graduate or walk and have been approved, but they are responsible for securing tickets for their guests.

If you plan to also attend the university-wide ceremony, this event has separate ticketing. Learn more about ticketing for the evening university-wide ceremony on the UT event site.

Participating in Graduation

Applying to Graduate

The Spring 2023 Graduation Application opened in January.

Approval of your graduation application constitutes approval to participate in the May graduation ceremony. There is no need to apply to walk or notify us of your participation. If you have not yet applied to graduate, please do so now.

August 2023 candidates are defined as students who will lack 15 hours or less after completing their spring coursework.

Students: Check the result of your graduation application

Applying to Walk

The Spring 2023 Walk Application opened in January.  

You may apply to "walk" in the May graduation ceremony if:

• You received a degree from CNS in the previous fall semester, OR
• You currently have fifteen (15) hours or fewer needed to complete your degree requirements

Do not submit a Walk Application if spring 2023 is when you graduate. Complete the graduation application instead.

Students: Check the result of a walk application

Preparations & Expectations 

Regalia is Required

Academic regalia is required for all ceremony participants. Bachelor 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. Bachelor's regalia should be ordered by the published deadline on the University Co-Op site.

Invitations

Formal invitations to send to family and friends may also be purchased from the University Co-op.

Parking

For the latest updates to campus parking, please visit the university Commencement Weekend Parking page.

Accommodation Requests

Accommodation requests for graduates or their guests should be made at least five business days prior to commencement activities. While every effort will be made, we may be unable to fulfill last-minute requests. Please address accommodation requests to ns.student.records@austin.utexas.edu.

More about accessibility is below.

Personal Items

Graduates should not bring personal items such as purses or coats to the ceremony. There is no secure area in which to leave them. We recommend carrying cell phones and keys on wrist bands or in clothing with pockets.

Photography

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.

What to Expect at the Moody Center

Accessibility

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 Drive, then south on Red River. Please notify personnel attending the entrance that passengers are ADA or mobility impaired. Note that this is also the ride-share drop-off area.

Seating

Moody Center offers wheelchair accessible and low mobility seating on each level of the venue. In the wheelchair accessible areas, there will be removable folding chairs so wherever a wheelchair or scooter is needed the folding chair will be removed. Upon arrival, guests should identify themselves to a Moody Guest Services team member who can escort them to accessible seating.

Elevators are available to guests with disabilities. Check with a Moody Center Guest Services member for assistance.

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.

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. 

Safety & Security Procedures

Bags

For the health and safety of all guests, and to expedite the entry process, Moody Center requests that guests do not bring a bag to the arena. We strongly urge all graduates and guests not to bring bags to any ceremony unless they are absolutely necessary. A Clear Bag Policy is in effect to enhance existing security measures and expedite venue entry at Moody Center.

Approved Bags Include:  

• Bags that are clear plastic and do not exceed 14" x 14" x 6"
• One-gallon clear resealable plastic storage bags
• Non-clear clutch bags or wallets must not exceed 5" x 9" x 1.5"

Prohibited bags include: 

• Any and all bags that do not meet the criteria above including back packs, grocery totes, mesh or straw bags, duffle bags, diaper bags*, camera/binocular cases, and any other bags that arena staff deem to not meet the clear bag policy.
• *Items normally carried in a diaper bag must be placed into a clear plastic bag for entry.

Metal Detectors 

Walk-through metal detectors are located at every arena entrance. In order to increase the efficiency of this process, guests should minimize the number of personal items they bring and remove any items that may trigger the alarm before walking through the detectors. If an alarm sounds, the guest will be subject to a secondary screening. 

Prohibited items and activities 

Items include artificial noisemakers, large bags (see clear bag policy above), banners, flags, selfie sticks, umbrellas, cameras with detachable lenses greater than 10", GoPros, video cameras, camera tripods, drones, balloons, flowers vases (flower bouquets are ok), outside food and beverages, coolers, pets (except service dogs), strollers, wagons, explosive and flammable materials, and any and all weapons (see Weapons Policy – SEC-E-513), tobacco products, alcohol, and bottles or cans of any kind, shape, or size, regardless of material and regardless of empty or full.

Suspicious activity, disruptive patrons and guest-related problems should be reported to an usher or police officer immediately. After the event, please email info@moodycenteratx.com with all event day-related questions or concerns.