Commencement Information

Summer and fall semester commencement ceremonies are hosted by the university. Visit commencement.ufl.edu for commencement information regarding these semesters.

Spring has multiple commencement and student recognition ceremonies. Students can participate in two ceremonies for this semester.

• The university-wide ceremony (Friday, May 2, 7 p.m.), held in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, is for all graduates. This ceremony is where degrees will be conferred (i.e., turning of the tassel), but students will not be individually recognized or cross the stage.
• The doctoral commencement ceremony (Thursday, May 1, 9 a.m.), held in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, is for all graduates earning a doctorate (e.g., Ph.D. or DPM). Students will be individually recognized on stage and hooded by their graduate committee chair.
• The CALS Student Recognition Ceremony (Sunday, May 4, 2 p.m.), held in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center, is for all CALS graduates earning a bachelor's or master's degree. Each student individually crosses the stage as their name is read. 

This web page is for information regarding the CALS Student Recognition Ceremony only. For information regarding the other two ceremonies, please visit commencement.ufl.edu.

CALS Ceremony Information for Graduates

Sunday, May 4  |  2 p.m. to 4 p.m.  |  Stephen C. O'Connell Center  |  Processional begins at 1:30 p.m.

Each student will have their name called, cross the stage and shake hands with their department chair and dean at this ceremony for CALS graduates.

Academic regalia is required for any commencement ceremony. Information about ordering regalia can be found at commencement.ufl.edu. If you have not received your regalia, you will need to contact the Cap & Gown office directly.

Order of Events

• 12:30 p.m. - Doors will open for graduates at Gate 4. Graduates should arrive no later than 1 p.m. Normal facility security procedures will be in place. 
• 1:30 p.m. - The processional begins. All graduates will process onto the floor together prior to the start of the ceremony.
• 2:00 p.m. - The National Anthem will be played and the ceremony will commence.
• There will be a recessional of all graduates after the ceremony ends; you will not be permitted to leave early.

CALS Ceremony Information for Guests

The CALS Student Recognition Ceremony is not a ticketed event. We welcome the attendance of any guests for the graduates.

Gates 1 and 3 will open at 12:30 p.m. for guests. We encourage everyone to be seated by 1:30 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served.

If you are unable to attend in person, but would like to watch the ceremony, live stream links will be posted prior to the ceremony at commencement.ufl.edu.