The College of Natural Sciences holds commencement ceremonies each May to honor the graduates and candidates of the entire academic year (past Fall, current Spring, and future Summer). May 2020 participants will be December 2019 graduates, and May 2020 and August 2020 potential graduates. Attendance at the graduation ceremonies is optional.

The deadline to apply is in April 2020. The ceremonies are organized by degree/major field of study:

Date:         Saturday, May 23, 2020

Location:  Frank Erwin Center

Participation in a college ceremony is not mandatory. You do not need to inform us as to whether you plan to attend or not.

Students earning multiple degrees from Natural Sciences will have each degree acknowledged at the ceremony they choose to attend.

The college anticipates that the ceremony will last approximately 2 to 2.5 hours. Out of respect for all graduates, please plan to be present until the end of the ceremony.

Do I Need a Ticket?

The Frank Erwin Center is sufficiently large that graduation candidates and audience members do not need tickets. You may invite as many friends and family as you wish.

Procedures at the frank erwin center

Doors will open one hour prior to the start of each ceremony:

• There are lane closures and construction in the area, please allow plenty of time to park, and walk to the Frank Erwin Center.  
• Graduation candidates may enter the Frank Erwin Center at the Red River Street entrance. Candidates must be checked in no later than 40 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
• Guests with mobility impairments may enter at the Arena C and D entrances, or at the Red River Street entrance. Arena C and D entrances are closest to the drop off location in Lot 118 (see Mobility impaired Drop Off for more information).
• Other guests may enter any arena-level entrance on the north and south sides of the Erwin Center.

Students are lined up backstage by degree. However, neither the degrees, nor the candidates, are in alpha order. This is due to the variance in the number of students graduating by major and the need to seat graduation candidates in sections without running out of seats. The college appreciates your patience with this process.

The university has safety procedures in place for all commencement ceremonies and venues. Backpacks, tote bags, or any bags larger than 12 inches in any dimension will not be allowed into the venue. In addition, all other bags, including purses, camerca cases, and diaper bags, may be searched by security officers before visitors are permitted to enter the venue. Walk-through metal detectors are now 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. 

We strongly urge all graduates and guests not to bring bags to any ceremony unless they are absolutely necessary. Those visitors bringing small bags should expect delays in order to enter the venue, and those with prohibited large bags will be turned away. Please plan accordingly. Do not bring any packages that cannot be opened or inspected.

Bachelor Graduation Candidates (students who have not yet earned their diplomas)

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

Bachelor Walker Applicants (alumni who received their diplomas in Fall 2018 or students who expect to earn their diplomas in August 2019)

August 2019 candidates are defined as students who will lack 15 hours or less after completing their spring coursework.

Required Regalia and optional invitations

Academic regalia is required for all ceremony participants.  Bachelor regalia may be purchased from the University Co-op. The tassel color for BA and BS graduates in the College of Natural Sciences is gold/yellow. Bachelor's regalia should be ordered by the published deadline, May 2020.

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

what will be announced during the ceremony

As participants walk across the stage, the college will announce student first and last names, additional degrees if earned from Natural Sciences, preliminary university honors, and preliminary departmental honors.

Preliminary university honors announcements will be based upon grade point average ranges determined for the Spring 2019 graduating class, using grade point averages that do not include Spring 2020 grades.

After the ceremony, the May 2020 university honors ranges will be recalculated and newly calculated grade point averages including Spring 2020 grades will be used to award university honors to students who are certified for graduation by the Dean's Office. University honors is included on official diplomas issued by the Office of the Registrar.

In the interest of ensuring that the ceremonies average approximately 2 hours, the college does not announce certificates, minors, or degrees earned from other UT colleges.

Parking

Parking options around the Erwin Center

With the exception of spaces marked "All Times," the following university parking garages and most surface lots are available:  TRG (Trinity Garage), BRG (Brazos Garage), SJG (San Jacinto Garage), and MAG (Manor Garage). The parking garages and surface lots are available free of charge.

Mobility impaired drop off and seating at ceremony

Lot 118: Drop-off at the north end of the building near the flag poles, accessible from either the I-35 feeder road. Proceed to the Arena Entrance C (near the North Box Office).

Mobility impaired candidates or guests who cannot walk comfortably more than 5 feet are advised to bring wheelchairs to the event. Erwin Center staff will have wheelchairs on hand at Arena entrances C and D, and the Red River entrance, to assist guests to seating.  Red River is closed between Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and 15th Street; alert traffic control officers that you are dropping off a mobility impaired guest for access to the Red River entrance.

The Erwin Center staff requests that only a few family members accompany mobility impaired guests who are dropped off at the Red River entrance. This is the same entrance used by graduation candidates, and can get quite congested. Family members can meet with each other on the concourse level. 

Only graduation candidates and families of the Dean's Honored Graduates are seated on the arena floor. Mobility impaired seating is at the top of the first balcony and the bottom of the second balcony. There is seating for family members below on the first balcony and above on the second balcony. Most mobility impaired guests choose to sit at the top of the first balcony (off the concourse) rather than the highest level.

accommodation at the ceremony

Accomodation 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 .

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.

Professional Photographs

Flash Photography will take professional photos of each graduation candidate as he or she walks across the stage to be congratulated. You will have the option of purchasing photographs. There is no obligation to do so. After the ceremony, graduates will receive proofs via mail or email. A Department Code (F17) and unique ID Number will be included with the proofs and is required to purchase photos online.

UNIVERSITy-wide ceremony information

The University-wide ceremony will be held May 23, 2020. Seating begins at 5 pm, and the ceremony itself begins at 8 pm.  Procession tickets are required for degree candidates to participate.  Tickets are not required for guests attending the University wide ceremony.