Commencement 2009
2009 Commencement:
When: Saturday, May 23, 2009 at 9:00AM
Where: Zellerbach Auditorium, reception to follow.
Who: Legal Studies students who will officially complete their B.A. degrees Fall 2008, Spring 2009, Summer 2009 or Fall 2009 are eligible to participate.
Commencement Updates
Updates will be sent to the LSundergrads listserve, so be sure that you are subscribed with a current e-mail address that you check regularly. Write to Lauri if you would like to be subscribed or would like to change your e-mail address. Lauri@berkeley.edu
Tickets
Each graduating senior will receive 2 complimentary tickets which will be distributed from Lauri’s office in 2240 Piedmont, the week of April 20-24 during office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-Noon & 1:30pm-4pm. Additional tickets are $5 each; payment must be made by check only, payable to “UC Regents”. The ticket purchase limit is 10 tickets per student. Beginning April 27th, all tickets (including any unclaimed complimentary tickets) will then be available for purchase until sold out, no limit. There is no fee for children ages 5 and under, but a ticket is still required for admission.
You MUST BE SIGNED UP FOR COMMENCEMENT by Friday, April 17th in order to receive your 2 free tickets and to have your name printed in the Commencement program.
Please note: There will be no tickets available at the door.
Instructions for Graduating Seniors
Please arrive in cap and gown by 8:15am. The auditorium will open will open at 8:00am for your guests. If they would like to sit close, have them arrive early. There will be volunteers outside the auditorium by the golden bear statue where you will sign in and pick up your name card. You will receive additional instructions at that time. Additional tickets will be on sale through Friday 5/22 in Lauri’s office 8:30-12 & 1:30-4pm. Please note: There will be no tickets available at the door. Buy your extras early.
Ceremony
The ceremony will run approximately two hours in length. Please turn off your cell phones and refrain from using them for the duration of the ceremony.
Keynote Speaker
TBA
Reception
The reception will follow the ceremony at approximately 11am in the lobby upstairs as well as downstairs. We will serve champagne, sparkling punch, strawberries and assorted Austrian pastries.
Ceremony Photography
Graduates interested in purchasing photos taken during the ceremony may contact the photographer brightroom, Inc: schools@brightroom.com or 888.595.7707.Your contact information will be on the back of your namecard (used during the ceremony) so the photographer will know how to contact you.
Regalia
Cap and gown rental is available at the Cal Student Store for approximately $40. Gowns will be wrinkled. Be sure to unfold and hang your gown a few days before the ceremony. If you are particularly tall or petite, rent your gown early! The Grad Fair will be held April 8-11 for you to rent your regalia on Lower Sproul. If you miss the Grad Fair, you can always go to the Cal Student Store for rentals.
Your Diploma
Your diploma is not available until approximately four months after you officially graduate. You must pick up your diploma in person at the Office of the Registrar, 120 Sproul, or for a fee, arrange to have it sent to you. Your diploma is not automatically sent to you. You can provide a diploma mailing address on Telebears. You will be billed for postage directly through CARS. The deadline for this method is March 28th while you still have access. If your degree hastn’t been posted to your transcript yet, you may request a Letter of Intent from the College of Letters & Science. If you need proof of graduation prior to your diploma being available and the degrees have been posted to the transcript, you can request a Certificate of Completion from the College of Letters & Science.
Special Accommodations
Guests who wish to request disability-related accommodations including sign language interpreters, should contact Lauri. Please request accommodations by April 24th to ensure the best possible arrangements. For guests in need of assistance or special accommodations for seating: Zellerbach Auditorium provides 16 wheelchair spaces. There is also an ample amount of aisle seats, and seats that can be accessed without having to utilize stairs. Parties with someone either in a wheelchair or with a disability should plan to arrive as close to the opening time of the auditorium as possible (8:00am), so as to have the best selection of seating. Wheelchair accessibility to Zellerbach is available via the ramp on the south side of the building; an elevator can take guests up to the Mezzanine level for wheelchair or special seating. There is no wheelchair or special seating on the Balcony level. Wheelchair accessible restrooms are on the Main (Orchestra) level.
For a basic map of Zellerbach Auditorium: http://tickets.berkeley.edu/ticket_office/seating_map.php
If you are a graduate in need of assistance or special accommodations for seating, please contact Lauri by Friday, April 24th to arrange seating.
Visitor Information and Parking
Visitors from outside the Bay Area may wish to contact the UC Berkeley Visitors Services http://www.berkeley.edu/visitors/ or call (510)642-5215.
Information regarding local accommodations can be found at the Berkeley Visitors Bureau http://www.berkeleycvb.com/
Information regarding campus Disability Access Services can be found here: http://accommodations.berkeley.edu/
Visitor parking information for the day of the ceremony can be found here: http://pt.berkeley.edu/park/special/commencement#zellerbach
To find Zellerbach Auditorium on a campus map: http://www.berkeley.edu/map/maps/DE34.html
For a basic map of Zellerbach Auditorium: http://tickets.berkeley.edu/ticket_office/seating_map.php
Additional information for graduates:
Alumni Advantage (access to Career Center resources after graduation)
For all kinds of good info regarding being a graduating Senior:
University-wide Commencement Convocation
Friday, May 22, 2009, 2 p.m. at the William Randolph Hearst Greek Theatre. The Commencement Convocation is the only University-wide event where graduating seniors from all academic disciplines are given a time to come together and celebrate their achievements at UC Berkeley. The event traditionally opens with the senior procession into the Greek Theater. For more info: http://seniors.berkeley.edu/faq.cfm