CALES Graduation Convocation

CALES Undergraduate Graduation Convocation

Date: Saturday, May 16  

Time: 2-4 PM

Location: McKale Center at ALKEME Arena (1721 E. Enke Dr.)

Student check-in opens: 12:30 PM

Student Check-In Location: Gate E (east side of the McKale, facing Campbell Ave)

Student Check-in closes: 1:45 PM 

• Please arrive with your regalia off until after you pass through security

Security Guidelines: Please review McKale’s Security Policy

Processional Line-Up: 1:50 PM  

Ceremony Start: 2:00 PM  

Ceremony End: 4:00 PM or before 

CALES Graduate Student Convocation
Date: Thursday, May 14 
Time: 7:00–9:00 PM (ceremony expected to last 2 hours or less)
Location: Crowder Hall (1017 N. Olive Rd.)

Student Check-In Opens: 6:00 PM

Student Check-In Closes: 6:45 PM
Check-In Location: Main entrance of Crowder Hall (Fred Fox School of Music) 
Recommended Parking: Park Ave Garage, Tyndall Garage, or Main Gate Garage
Processional Line-Up: 6:50 PM
Ceremony Start: 7:00 PM

Ceremony End: 9:00 PM or before 

Doors open for guests: 6:00 PM (tickets required) 

• We start promptly at 7 PM and the aisles must be clear for the processional. 

Faculty are an important aspect of our graduation ceremonies. We ask that you please register here to let the event coordinators know which events you plan to attend. More information will be sent out to those who register. 

Yes. All events will require a formal RSVP completed by the graduating student to attend. All times listed are in MST. Please pay attention to deadlines. Spring 2026 convocation registration will open in late March. 

Guests do not need to RSVP to attend. Students must RSVP for themselves and on behalf of their guests. Please check-in with your student to ensure they have correctly RSVP'd for their respective ceremony.

It depends on the venue where the convocation is held.

• McKale Center convocations do not require tickets, and there is no limit to the number of guests each student may invite.
• Crowder Hall convocations do require tickets and are limited to four guests per graduate.
• Centennial Hall convocations do require tickets and typically allow up to 10 guests per graduate.

Graduating students never need a ticket for themselves. However, they are responsible for completing their own registration and managing ticket requests for their guests. All ticketing details and instructions will be clearly communicated to students during the registration process.

• 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.
• Please review Centennial Hall's security policy here.

Please review the Graduation Disability Access for Students and Guests website. 

• On the RSVP for to attend, graduating students will be asked to list the accessibility accommodations needed for students & guests.
• Accessible seating is ample in the McKale Center. Wheelchair users should enter through Gates A, B, C or E, which are all accessible entrances.
• All ceremonies will have live cart captioning available for all guests via their smartphones.
• ASL interpretation needs to be requested via the student's RSVP page (for a graduate or a guest).
• Accessible seating is available in both Crowder Hall & Centennial Hall. 

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
 

Each student who participates in the in-person convocation ceremony will:

• have their name read
• cross the stage
• 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.

Each guest who participates in the in-person convocation ceremony will:

• cheer on their graduate from the audience
• be able to take photography and video

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.

Student Sendoff is an optional, celebratory lunch CALES hosts for graduating students and their guests the day prior to Convocation. 

Convocation is an optional ceremony where graduates and their guests gather to each students move across the stage and be recognized by name individually. 

Regalia is required for all students to participate in the ceremony. The college does not have rental regalia for students. 

• 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. 

• 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.

• No. 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.
• If you do not complete your RSVP on time, we may not be able to accommodate your personalized slide. 

• Two hours or less. 

CALES distributes cords to students who have received Dean’s Scholar (formerly called Academic Distinction) and who are part of AgriLife Council/club involvement.

• Dean’s List is awarded per semester based on GPA & units, CALES distributes digital certificates
• Dean’s Scholar (formerly called Academic Distinction) is awarded per year based on GPA & units, CALES distributes cords 
• Latin Honors (e.g., Cum Laude) is awarded via the Registrar and appears only on your transcript and diploma

If you have questions about academic honors or mementos, please get in touch with Leslie Grignon at lgrignon@arizona.edu.

Please reference the UAZ Parking Map. Please review the accessibility map for parking on campus.

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!

• There are three graduation colors associated with CALES:
  • Maize for all Agriculture/Life Sciences majors (all majors outside of the Norton School of Ecology)
  • Maroon for all majors in the Norton School of Human Ecology
  • Orange for shared majors between CALES and the College of Engineering
• 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.

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 48 hours days prior to the ceremony).

Congratulations! 

No. We do not do an event rehearsal. Day-of event details will be delivered to the graduating student's inbox the week-of the event.

Yes! The ceremony 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 48 hours days prior to the ceremony).