Congratulations, graduates! You’ve done the work, created lifelong memories and built enduring connections. Now reflect back, look forward and celebrate your success! We look forward to celebrating your achievements and welcoming you as the newest members of the CALES Alumni family.
Contact Leslie Grignon, lgrignon@arizona.edu or by phone at 520-626-3091.
CALES Student Sendoff
Friday, May 10, 2024
Open to all graduates & four guests
10 - 11:30 a.m. | Old Main Lawn
CALES Undergraduate Graduation Convocation
Saturday, May 11, 2024
2 - 4 p.m. | McKale Center
University Commencement & Departmental Celebrations
Celebrate your accomplishments with the whole University and your home department! Note: not all departments host a graduation celebration. Those that do are listed below. Departmental celebrations are reserved for graduating students within that department only.
Commencement is the university-wide celebration held in Arizona Stadium. Read more about it here: https://commencement.arizona.edu/may2024.
The Guerrero Student Center Graduation Convocation is a special celebration of the achievements of our Latinx students.
Date: Wednesday, May 8th, 2024
Time: 7:00pm
Location: University of Arizona Centennial Hall
Register by April 16th to guarantee that your name and information will appear in the program and slideshow. You can still register to participate after this date.
At the Norton School of Human Ecology, our goal is to ensure that every student thrives - and graduating is no simple feat! We are honored to celebrate the Class of 2024 at this year's Grad Celebration!
Friday, May 10 | 11:45 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Shantz Building breezeway *RSVP required; no tickets required*
The 17th Annual LGBTQ2S & Allied Graduation Celebration hosted by LGBTQ+ Resource Center
Friday, May 10, 2024, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Happening in person, at the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre!
This festive end-of-the-year celebration will provide personal recognition for the achievements of LGBTQ2S (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Two-spirit) at UArizona. Rainbow Graduation is open to all 2024 graduating undergraduates, graduates, or professional school students to show their fabulous wildcat pride!
Please fill out the form by April 29th by 5pm (or sooner if you can)! Please make sure to include all of the requested information!
Friday, May 10 *Please email acbs-advising@email.arizona.edu to receive information to RSVP*
Saturday, May 11 | 4 - 5:30 p.m. | ENR2 Café & Commons *Please email your advisor for RSVP information*
5/17/24, TBD
Veterans Memorial Stadium
Event lead: Julia Sanchez, jls10@arizona.edu, (928) 782 - 1914
Frequently asked questions
- For the safety of all the attendees, masks are encouraged, but not required.
- COVID-19 Guidelines: All guests will be required to follow campus health and safety protocols in place at the time of this event, as well as adhere to any existing state and local guidelines. In addition, this event may be canceled or changed on short notice due to public health circumstances. For updates and information, please visit https://covid19.arizona.edu/updates.
- Please review the McKale Memorial Center's security policy here.
- With questions about access or to request any disability-related accommodations for this event, such as ASL interpreting, closed-captioning, wheelchair access or electronic text, etc., please contact Leslie Grignon: lgrignon@arizona.edu
- On the RSVP for to attend, graduating students will be asked to list the accessibility accommodations needed
- Accessible seating is ample in the McKale Center. Wheelchair users should enter through Gates A, B, or C, which are all accessible entrances.
Each student who participates in the in-person convocation ceremony will:
- have their name read
- cross the stage
- receive a medallion as a graduation memento
- be hooded (master's and doctoral students only)
- have a professional photograph taken after crossing the stage (Photography provided by GradImages. All students will receive an email to their UA email account once photos are available. Photos can be purchased at that time.)
Additionally, all guests will receive a print program listing the names of all graduating students.
Yes. All events will require a formal RSVP completed by the graduating student to attend. Expect RSVP forms to go live on Monday, March 11, 2024. Please pay attention to deadlines.
- Tickets are required for graduations held in Centennial Hall. Students can have as many tickets as they need for their guests and are required to come pick-up their tickets a couple of weeks before the ceremony. Seating is not reserved and is first come, first served.
- Tickets are required for graduations held in Crowder Hall. Students can have as many tickets as they need for their guests and are required to come pick-up their tickets a couple of weeks before the ceremony. Seating is not reserved and is first come, first served.
- Tickets are not required for graduations held in the McKale Center; there is no limit on how many guests can attend per student. Seating is not reserved and is first come, first served.
- Cap and gown are required; purchase these items at the UA BookStores. A stole, tassel and cords are optional.
- GradFest makes getting ready for graduation easy and convenient, bringing all grad and post-grad needs into one event. Encourage students to stop by the Bookstore between March 12th through March 14th to pick up their cap and gown and other graduation items.
- Comfortable shoes are recommended, but there is no required or excluded footwear – wedges, sneakers and heels are allowable. Please note: Comfortable shoes are also encouraged for the University Commencement Ceremony – no high heels.
- Diplomas are mailed by the Registrar's Office after all grades post; view more information here. Diplomas are not handed out at the College Graduation Convocation nor University Commencement. All students who participate in the CALES Graduation Convocation receive a college medallion.
- Read more about Diploma Mailing here.
- Yes! All graduating students have the option to submit a photo and a thank-you message or quote. We'll use that information to create a personalized graduation slide. The graduation slides will be displayed in the Forbes Lobby and also before the CALES Graduation Convocation ceremony.
- Submit your personalized slide content when you register for the ceremony.
- Approximately 2 hours
- CALES distributes cords to students who have received Academic Distinction and who are part of AgriLife Council/club involvement.
- If you feel like you are missing cords, or have questions about cords, please get in touch with Leslie Grignon at lgrignon@arizona.edu.
Please reference the UAZ Parking Map.
For ceremonies in Centennial Hall, we recommend Tyndall Ave. Garage or Main Gate Garage.
For ceremonies in McKale, we recommend Cherry Ave. Garage or South Stadium Garage.
For ceremonies in Crowder Hall, we recommend Park Ave Garage or Tyndall Ave Garage.
We recommend using the Sun Link Streetcar to easily get around University Blvd & 4th Ave. Tucson!
Convocations are ceremonies in which students are acknowledged in a smaller setting. Convocations are held each fall and spring and are coordinated by individual schools or colleges. At the CALES Graduation Convocation, all graduating students:
- Can apply to be a graduation speaker (application available closer to graduation date)
- Have their name read
- Cross the stage
- Receive a medallion
- Are hooded (master's and doctoral students only)
Commencement is the university-wide ceremony in honor of the completion of your academic requirements. Commencement is held once a year only, in May. The ceremony ends with a celebration of all Wildcats. Learn more about the University of Arizona's Commencement.
- There are three graduation colors associated with CALES:
- What does this mean for students? When purchasing regalia, select the appropriate combination based on your academic level and major/program:
- Undergraduate/Bachelor's Students: Based on your major, you have the option of purchasing a Maize, Maroon or Orange stole and also a Maize, Maroon or Orange tassel from the UA BookStores.
- Master's Students: Based on your program, purchase the Maize or Maroon regalia hood. The master's tassel is black and is included with your cap and gown.
- Doctoral Students: Purchase the Royal Blue regalia hood (all CALES doctoral students purchase the Royal Blue hood, regardless of program). The doctoral hood is in addition to purchasing your gown and tam.
Tickets are only required for guests attending the CALES graduate student convocation held at Crowder Hall on May 13, 2024. Tickets are required for guests only, not graduating students.
Please complete this form if you are not local to Tucson (e.g., ONLN or DIST student) that requires their tickets to be mailed to them prior to the ceremony. Mailing requests within the city of Tucson will not be fulfilled.
Local students (students living in Tucson) are required to pick-up their tickets in-person at the Forbes Building in early May. An email communication will be sent to all eligible graduates when we have obtained the tickets from the venue.
We will have extra tickets available at the entrance of the venue. We will have enough for all.
Both ceremonies will be livestreamed for graduates and families near and far to enjoy! Please scroll to the top of this page to access the link to livestream each event. (These links usually go live a few days prior to the ceremony).
Are you an Online or Distance student who doesn't plan to join us in Tucson for your Graduation Convocation? Fill out this form so we can mail you your graduation mementos!
Congratulations!