Yes! All Liberal Arts and Sciences graduates in attendance will be recognized by name as they cross the stage.
No, tickets are not required to attend the Liberal Arts and Sciences Recognition Ceremonies or the University-wide commencement. We kindly ask that each graduate limit their guests to 10 people.
The ceremonies are optional. Your diploma will be mailed to the address entered on your degree application up to eight weeks after graduation. Be sure to verify your name and permanent address on your degree application at least one week prior to Commencement.
If you are interested in walking out-of-term you must submit a WOOT application to CLAS Advising – CLASgraduation@advising.ufl.edu. Approval to walk out-of-term is at the discretion of the college and subject to venue seating capacities.
While no tickets are required for each of the ceremonies, we kindly ask that each graduate limit their guests to 10 people so that there will be seating available for all in the arena.
If you are a graduate in need of accommodations, please contact the Disability Resource Center so we can appropriately serve you. The Disability Resource Center will notify the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences who will work with you to find a solution that is right for your need.
For guests, ADA parking spots are available in the Stephen C. O’Connell Center parking lot, closest to the building. There is limited seating for those with accommodation needs and are available on a first come, first served basis. For full ADA information for the Stephen C. O’Connell Center please click here.
The Liberal Arts and Sciences Recognition Ceremonies are college-specific ceremonies, where we will only recognize and celebrate Liberal Arts and Sciences bachelor’s and master’s candidates. These ceremonies will feature various speakers and graduates will be individually recognized as they cross the stage.
The University-wide Commencement is a ceremony that will be open to all graduating UF students. This ceremony will feature a speaker and degrees will be conferred by college in alphabetical order.
If you are graduating with more than one major in the same College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremony, please pick one and line up with that major. You will only be recognized once under that major.
If you are graduating with majors in two different College of Liberal Arts and Sciences ceremonies, you may choose to attend both or just one of the ceremonies. You will only be recognized at the ceremony(ies) you attend.
If you are graduating with a major in CLAS and another college you may choose to attend both college’s recognition ceremonies or just one.
Gate 1 will open for guests 90 minutes before the ceremony. Guest seating is first-come, first-seated. No guests will be permitted in the graduates’ seating area.
A complete list of prohibited items can be found here.
Refreshments will be available for purchase at the concession stand inside the O’Connell Center. Additional Gainesville dining information can be found here.
Please direct ALL questions about caps, gowns, and tassels to the UF Bookstore at (352) 392-0194 or cap-gown@ufl.edu. For the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, candidates in the Arts will receive a white tassel and candidates in the Sciences will receive a golden yellow tassel.
Name cards are required at the CLAS Recognition Ceremonies. They are for the name readers and photographers. You will receive information via email about how to pick up your name card closer to the ceremony. Please note that you must come to the ceremony with your name card filled out.
Escorts are for doctoral students only. All master’s and bachelor’s students should leave this part blank.
A live streaming link will be sent to graduates’ emails just prior to the Ceremony and will be available from the front page of this webpage just prior to the ceremony.
Only graduates’ names are announced as they walk across the stage during the Recognition Ceremonies. Honors statuses will be indicated the in the Commencement Program, provided the graduate applied by the application deadline.