Graduation Ceremonies
The College of Natural Sciences holds graduation ceremonies each May to honor the undergraduates and candidates of the entire academic year (past Fall, current Spring, and future Summer). May 2024 participants include December 2023 graduates and May 2024 and August 2024 potential graduates.
Candidates earning their masters or doctoral degree will participate in the Graduate School ceremony .
Attendance at the graduation ceremonies is optional - however if you are completing an undergraduate degree, you must complete the application to graduate.
Tentative Date: Saturday, May 11, 2024
Location: Moody Center
Tentative Schedule:
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11:30 A.M.: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Neuroscience
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3:30 P.M.: Astronomy, Computer Science, Human Development and Family Sciences, Human Ecology, Mathematics, Nutrition, Physics, Public Health, 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 Commencement ceremonies, graduates and guests can expect a formal program with remarks from Dean David Vanden Bout, and 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.
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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 graduates 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.
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Tickets are required for all family and guests (over the age of two years) attending the ceremony. Each approved graduate is allocated 7-8 guest tickets. Guest tickets are general admission and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The tickets are free of charge. Further ticket information and distribution details are released in April.
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Arrival at the Moody Center:
10:00 a.m. OR 2:00 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)10:30 a.m. OR 2:30 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.
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Graduation candidates cannot bring personal items such as backpacks, purses 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.
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Comfortable shoes are recommended for all graduates: There are steep ramps and stairs along the graduate path.
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Moody Center concessions will be open for guests.
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Commencement will be livestreamed to allow the moment to be shared with extended family and friends. Separate links are available for the 11:30 a.m. ceremony and the link for the 3:30 ceremony.
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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.
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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.
Formal invitations to send to family and friends may also be purchased from the University Co-op.
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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.
11:30 a.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 3:30 p.m. ceremony will be arriving and queuing up for entry and check-in as the 11:30 a.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.
3:30 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 3:30 p.m. ceremony concludes. Concessions will be open at the stadium.
Venue 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 in 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.
Accommodations & ADA
Requesting Accommodations
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 send accommodation requests to: ns.student.records@austin.utexas.edu
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. Please notify personnel attending the entrance that passengers are ADA or mobility impaired. Note that this is also the ride-share drop-off area.
Parking
All campus parking garages have ADA parking spaces (open to guests with appropriate placard or license plate) and elevators.
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.
Parking & Drop-Off
Most campus garages (Except CCG at the AT&T Conference Center, Guadalupe Garage and Nueces Garage) are free on graduation day.
Surface parking is available at Lots 37, 38 and 39 located at the LBJ Presidential Library will also be available for Commencement parking. Note that Lot 40 at the Thompson Conference Center is NOT AVAILABLE during Commencement weekend.
All campus parking garages have ADA parking spaces (open to guests with appropriate placard or license plate) and elevators.
For information about UT Austin parking garages and surface lots available for parking, please refer to the map available here, and be sure to visit the university Commencement Weekend Parking page.
UT Ceremony
The university-wide ceremony will be held May 11, 2024 at Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium. Separate procession tickets are required for degree candidates to participate and for guests attending the university-wide ceremony. More information about tickets may be found here.
Prior to entering the stadium, College of Natural Sciences degree candidates will gather near Bass Concert Hall, near Robert Dedman Drive and DeLoss Dodds Way.
The university-wide commencement ceremony takes place following the college ceremonies and is the culmination of Commencement 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.