Commencement 2013 Information Sheet
General Information
When & where is TFT's Commencement Ceremony?
Friday, June 14, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., in Dickson Court North in front of Perloff Hall (see map below).
Tickets
There are no tickets needed for the 2013 TFT Commencement
Who is eligible to participate in Commencement?
Graduate Students
Masters and Ph.D. graduates from Fall 2012 and Winter 2013; Master's and Ph.D. candidates for Spring or Summer 2013.
Undergraduates
B.A. graduates from Fall 2012 and Winter 2013, B.A. candidates for Spring 2013 who have completed 160 units by the end of Winter 2013, and B.A. candidates for Summer 2013 who have completed 150 units by the end of Winter 2013.
How Do I Sign Up for the TFT Commencement?
If you plan to walk at the 2013 Commencement ceremony and/or want to make sure your name is listed on the TFT Commencement Program, you MUST register online to participate in the TFT commencement ceremony and be assured of your place in our celebration. To register, starting on February 14, 2013, go to the TFT Intranet (http://intranet.www.tft.ucla.edu), choose myTFT and then choose Commencement Registration. Then, complete the brief questionnaire and submit your information. The deadline to register is April 13, 2013 at 4:00 PM.
Note: by registering for Commencement, you have not completed the steps to get your degree. Undergraduates still need to make sure that you have declared your degree candidacy and performed any other steps you need to graduate. See your counselor if you have questions on this.
How do I Declare and Check your Degree Candidacy
Undergraduate candidates must identify the term they expect to complete degree requirements through URSA. This should be done before you complete 160 units and the identified term must fall within the academic year (4 quarters) subsequent to the term in which you reach or expect to reach 160 units.
- Once you have completed 160 or more units, a fee will be assessed each time you change your "degree expected term" though URSA. If you are a current-term or past-term candidate over the unit limit, you can only change your "degree expected term." You must use the declaration of candidacy form at http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/forms for this purpose.
- Check your "Degree Expected Term" through URSA.
- If you do not complete all degree requirements in your degree expected term, you must declare a new degree term.
Preparing for Commencement (Attire and Awards)
Who is eligible to receive recognition for honors at Commencement?
Undergraduates only may receive recognition of Honors at Graduation (Latin Honors) in the Commencement program based upon their cumulative UC GPA at the end of Winter 2013. Undergraduate students graduating with honors will be designated in the program as follows: summa cum laude (3.923 GPA); magna cum laude (3.880 GPA); or cum laude (3.816 GPA). For recognition in the program, the total number of UC graded units is not considered. However, to receive recognition for Latin Honors on your diploma and final transcript, you must have met the cumulative GPA requirement and have completed at least 90 graded UC units by the end of your final quarter. If you are currently not eligible for honors but believe you will be upon completion of your program, please see your academic advisor in 103 East Melnitz.
Where do I get my cap and gown?
Caps and gowns may be purchased on-line only from the Graduation Etc. shop. For more information and to order on-line visit: http://www.uclastore.com, then go to Graduation Etc.
What color tassel and/or hood will I be wearing?
You can find the color of tassel and hood you should wear at: http://www.commencement.ucla.edu/faq.cfm#tassel. TFT BA recipients wear a brown tassel. TFT MFA recipients wear a black tassel and a brown hood. TFT MA recipients wear a black tassel and a white hood. TFT Ph.D. recipients wear an old gold tassel and a royal blue hood.
Rehearsal
There is no rehearsal for the TFT Commencement. Students will be told what to do when they arrive on Commencement day.
Parking
All appropriate parking lots will be open during Commencement weekend. UCLA Parking Services will staff lots according to ceremony times and locations. Parking Lot 2 is the closest parking to the TFT Ceremony. Pre-paid Commencement Parking Permits are now available for purchase ($11 per permit) in the UCLA Transportation lobby. Lobby hours are 7:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday-Friday. The UCLA Central Ticket Office will sell Pre-paid Commencement Parking Permits starting May 22 ($11 per permit). The UCLA Central Ticket Office3 is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Accessible parking is available for disabled and elderly persons near most venues in many parking structures and lots.
Traffic Tips
UCLA wants your Commencement experience to be perfect from beginning to end. Depending upon the day and time of the event, the streets surrounding the campus can be congested. To help you avoid traffic congestion in the busy Westwood area following the conclusion of the Commencement ceremony you are attending, here are suggestions:
- 405 (San Diego) Freeway: Avoid taking Sunset Boulevard to the 405 (San Diego) Freeway. Instead, travel south from the campus using Westwood Boulevard, Hilgard Avenue (to Westwood Boulevard), Gayley Avenue or Veteran Avenue. Turn right Santa Monica Boulevard (westbound) and enter the 405 from Santa Monica Boulevard.
- 10 (Santa Monica) Freeway: Take Sunset or Wilshire Boulevard EAST from the campus, turn right (southbound) on Beverly Glen, right again (westbound) at Olympic Boulevard, then left (southbound) on Overland Avenue. Enter the 10 Freeway from Overland Avenue.
How is the student speaker and Chancellor's Marshals for Commencement selected?
The School selects two undergraduate students with the highest GPAs from each department. The valedictorian of each Department has the opportunity to give the commencement address. All four students serve as Chancellor's Marshals for the ceremony and the School pays for their distinctive blue and gold fourrageres.
Who may wear the fourragere at Commencement?
The fourragere, a braided gold cord, is worn over the left arm at the shoulder and indicates that the wearer has been awarded or is a candidate for Latin Honors. In late May, the Registrar will supply Graduation Etc. with a list of those Spring 2013 and Summer 2013 candidates who, as of the end of Winter 2013, are determined to have met the criteria for graduation honors. The fourragere requires a deposit and may be picked up the last two weeks prior to the ceremony.
Commencement Day Events
What happens on the day of Commencement?
Only students in appropriate academic attire will be allowed to participate in the ceremony. Graduates must check in by 3:15 p.m. in front of Schoenberg Hall. The processional will begin at 4:00 p.m. The program is expected to end around 6:00 p.m. NOTE: Please arrange to meet your guests in a specific location near Perloff Hall after the ceremony is over.
What about photography during the ceremony?
Designated photo areas have been provided on either side of the stage for family and friends who wish to take pictures. Access aisles must be kept clear for safety purposes.
Will there be a reception following the ceremony?
Immediately following the ceremony, the School of Theater, Film, and Television will host a reception for our graduates and their guests on Coral Tree Walk in front of Macgowan Hall.
Are there provisions for people with disabilities?
If you or a person you are inviting has a disability and needs assistance to attend Commencement, please call the Office for Students with Disabilities at (310) 825-1501 or (310) 206-6083 (TDD) to receive information about parking and other assistance.
Other tasks for completing your UCLA degree
After I complete the requirements for my degree, when will my final transcript be available?
Official transcripts with graduation date included will be available, for a fee per copy, within seven weeks after the end of your final term. You can order your transcripts though URSA.
When and how will I get my diploma?
Diplomas will be available three to four months after the degree award date. The Registrar's Office will send you information about obtaining your diploma in person (no fee) or by mail (with fee) approximately seven weeks after the end of your final term. You may change your mailing address through URSA. For diploma availability information, call the Diploma Hotline at (310) 825-8883. For more faqs about diplomas, go to: http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/faq/diplomafaq.htm
For more information:
Go to http://www.commencement.ucla.edu or see your departmental counselor.