Commencement FAQs

• Do I need to apply for graduation to participate in the Commencement ceremony?

  Yes.

  If you are a UC Riverside student who graduated Fall 2022 or are expected to graduate in Winter 2023 or Spring 2023, you are eligible to participate in the Class of 2023 Commencement. If you expect to graduate Summer 2023, you may be approved to participate if you submit your Summer graduation application by April 17, 2023 (deadline has passed).

  You must submit your graduation application via R’Web. In addition to this, bachelor's degree students of the School of Business must also complete their college graduation application.

  Master's degree students must also complete the Advance to Candidacy application under R’Grad.

  For instructions on how to file your graduation application, please visit the Registrar's Guide to Graduation Website.

  

   

• Where do I order my cap and gown?

  You can purchase your cap and gown at the Grad Fair April 17-19 at the UCR Campus Bookstore.

  Regalia packages will be available for purchase after Grad Fair at the UCR Campus Bookstore through Commencement weekend at full price.

• How should I dress for Commencement?

  Graduating students are required to wear graduation regalia, i.e. cap and gown. Master’s students must also wear their master level hood. Business casual clothing is recommended for attendees/guests and under graduation regalia.

• Where is the Toyota Arena in Ontario?

  Toyota Arena, Ontario

  More information

  
  

  
  Parking map:

  

   

• Tickets and parking passes for the Toyota Arena

  Physical Ticketmaster tickets and graduate parking passes will be distributed to all Business graduates participating in Toyota Arena ceremonies May 25 at Senior Sendoff and May 26 and June 7 at HUB 355 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. If you would like to attend Senior Sendoff and pick up your Toyota Arena tickets, please register to attend here.

  Tickets that are not picked up during these ticket distribution dates will be delivered to the School of Business for late distribution between June 8 and June 15 (at the front desk in the Dean's office at Anderson Hall from 8 am - 5 pm on weekdays -- please arrange ticket pick-up in advance with Miztly Hernandez). Remaining tickets can be picked up at Will Call at the Toyota Arena on June 22.

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  Eight (8) tickets will be provided per graduate for the School of Business ceremony so please plan accordingly. Graduates do NOT need a ticket for entry. Children under the age of 2 do NOT need a ticket to attend.

  UCR Commencement tickets are the property of the University and are issued to participating graduates at no charge. The sale, purchase, or duplication of Commencement tickets is strictly prohibited.

  Once graduates have picked up their Commencement tickets, the physical tickets are the sole responsibility of the graduate and lost tickets CANNOT be replaced.

  Please note, ticket ordering is not on a first-come, first-served basis. All graduates who are registered through the Intent to Participate form by Friday, May 26, 2023 are guaranteed the maximum number of tickets for their ceremony.

  Graduates who register after Friday, May 26, 2023 are not guaranteed the maximum number of tickets.

  Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

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  Please visit the Toyota Arena website here for details on directions and parking at the venue. 

  Complimentary parking will be provided to registered graduates participating in Commencement. Registered graduates will be assigned a specific lot for complimentary parking. Additional parking information and instructions will be posted here and e-mailed to graduates in June.

  The parking fee for guests is $10 per vehicle so please consider carpooling. Please note, Toyota Arena parking attendants accept major credit cards; MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Discover. Cash will not be accepted.

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  Graduate/Candidate Arrival and Check in

  Graduates should plan to arrive and park at Toyota Arena 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to their ceremony start time. 

  Graduates must check-in at the Graduate Check-In area at Toyota arena by 11:45 a.m. Additional parking and Graduate Check-In information and instructions will be posted here and e-mailed to graduates in June.

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  Gates Open for Guest Seating

  12:00 p.m. (1 hour prior to ceremony start time)

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  Toyota Arena Policies & Prohibited Items

  Please visit the Toyota Arena website for the complete list of prohibited items and further details on Arena policies.

  ENTRY INSPECTIONS

  All guests entering the arena are subject to a metal – detector screening by way of walk-thru Magnetometer and/or Wand, visual inspection, and bag inspection conducted by Toyota Arena Security personnel. The purpose of the inspection is to detect prohibited items and is for the safety of our guests and our staff.

  We ask that you please…

  • Arrive early and be prepared for additional security measures.
  • Limit items brought to the building.
  • Be prepared to pass through the screening process. This will consist of a bag check as well as passing through the magnetometers. Be prepared to empty pockets BEFOREHAND.

  BAG POLICY: In an effort to enhance safety and security, Toyota Arena prohibits all bags larger than 12 x 12 in size, all backpacks and multi pocket bags from being brought into the Arena with the following exceptions (in each case, after proper inspection):

  • Purses or bags that are 12" x 12" with a single zipper closure/flap or smaller
  • Clear bags (plastic or vinyl) with no obscured interior pockets that do not exceed 12.75" x 6.5" x 12.75"
  • Medically necessary items, including diaper bags that accompany an infant.

  Other than the above-noted exceptions, all other bags must be returned to the patron's vehicle.

  PROHIBITED ITEMS

  For safety reasons, guests are refused entry if they are in possession of prohibited items. All entry constitutes consent to search. Illegal items will be confiscated and turned over to the police. If a guest is found inside the venue with a prohibited item, the item will be confiscated and the guest may be ejected from the facility.

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  Toyota Arena Disabled Services for Guests

  Toyota Arena strive to provide excellent service to all of our guests, including those with disabilities and special needs. Toyota Arena recognizes the needs of persons with disabilities and has met or exceeded the requirements of compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and California accessibility mandates. Toyota Arena provides a full range of accommodations for guests with disabilities to ensure their safety, comfort and enjoyment of our events and facilities.

  Please visit the Toyota Arena website here for more information.

   

• Do I need to RSVP for the reception held at The Barn on June 21?

  Yes. Registration for the reception is open and invitations to register have gone out via email. A reservation is required to attend the event, also for your guests.

  

   

   

   

• I have guests who want to watch online. How can they do that?

  The UCR Business Commencement was streamed live. Campus made the recording available on their YouTube channel in the 2023 Commencement playlist. We added the recording as well to the UCR School of Business Commencement playlist on YouTube. The live stream started at 12:30 pm local time on June 22, 2023.

  
  

• Can I have my preferred/lived name read during graduation? How will my name appear on the Commencement program?

  If you would like to update your preferred/lived first name and middle name for Commencement purposes, you are required to update your information in R'Web.

  Graduates names will NOT be printed in an official program. Graduates must check the correct spelling of their names on the Intent to Graduate application.

  For more information on how to update your preferred/lived names, please visit the Registrar's website here.

• How can I sign the Class of 2023 Yearbook?

  Sign the Class of 2023 Yearbook

  • Who can post? Everyone is invited to submit a message — students (continuing/graduating), faculty, staff, friends, and family.
  • What should I post? Students can share their UCR journey or say thanks to their support systems, and everyone can say congrats to graduating students.
  • Why should I post? Document this milestone and share your thoughts with the Highlander family! Select messages will be featured on the jumbotron at the 2023 Toyota Arena Commencement ceremonies.
  • When should I post? Only messages submitted by May 26, 2023, will be considered for the jumbotron but the digital yearbook will be open indefinitely.

  SIGN HERE! ›

• Are we required to show our vaccination card?

  No proof of vaccination will be required at the ceremony. We ask that you observe safe health practices and respect the safety of your fellow participants and their guests.

• How can I stay connected after I graduate?

  Please stay in touch! We take great pride in our graduates and want to ensure your further success. Join the UCR Alumni Association to stay connected, meet fellow alumni and build a beneficial network.

• Congratulations on graduating! We want to hear what’s next!

  Graduate Students: If you are an AGSM graduate (MBA, PMBA, MPAc, MFin, or MSBA) please update us on your current employment status. Please know that this information will remain confidential.

  Undergraduate Students: If you are a business undergraduate, please update us here.

   

  

  
  Please note, the link will only be live to graduating students within their final quarter before graduation and 6 months after graduation.