Commencement About Date: Friday, May 9, 2025 at 11:30 a.m. Location: Bass Concert Hall Contact: cofaevents@austin.utexas.edu Program Our ceremony program, list of graduates, and other details can be found on our event landing page. Eligibility Fine Arts undergraduate students who completed a degree in the fall of 2024, who have had their graduation application approved for the spring of 2025, or who are on track to graduate in the summer of 2025 are eligible to participate in Fine Arts Commencement. More below. Fine Arts masters and doctoral candidates will participate in the Graduate School convocation, instead. Fall graduates: Indicate that you have earned a ‘Previous Degree’ in the graduation application. The application must be submitted by March 25 in order to participate in the ceremony. Spring graduates: Apply to graduate by March 25. Missed the deadline? Please write to cofadegrees@austin.utexas.edu right away. Though we accept late graduation applications, we cannot guarantee that any guest tickets for commencement will be available to late applicants. Summer prospective graduates: Students who lack no more than 12 credit hours for degree completion are eligible to participate in spring commencement. To do so, please indicate that you are a ‘Future Graduate’ in the graduation application by March 25. Be sure to apply to graduate in the summer semester, as well, as commencement participation does not signify degree conferral. Tickets Guest tickets are required for this event. Each graduate will be provided with 6 guest tickets, depending upon the total number of graduates who indicate that they intend to participate. (Tickets are not required for the student graduates; all tickets can be given to guests.) Ticketing information will be shared with graduates via email on April 10th, after the graduation application deadline has passed. The Fine Arts Commencement will also be livestreamed. University-Wide Commencement The University-Wide Commencement Ceremony will be held on May 10 at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Guest tickets are not required for the University-Wide Ceremony; tickets are required for graduates attending the ceremony, however. The Fine Arts Commencement ceremony provides an occasion for recognizing degree candidates individually, including the traditional crossing of the stage and shaking of hands. The university-wide ceremony takes place following the college ceremonies and is the culmination of commencement weekend. At this ceremony, students are recognized with others from their college as a group, rather than individually. The ceremony includes a distinguished speaker, the lighting of the Tower, and a concluding fireworks display. Participation in these commencement events is optional. Parking Campus parking garages will be open for free parking on commencement days. Recommended parking is in Lots 37-39 or San Jacinto Garage (SJG). Lots 37-39 and San Jacinto Garage are a short walking distance from Bass Concert Hall, which is in the southernmost section of the Performing Arts Center (PAC). A limited amount of ADA parking spots are available at both locations. Guests are strongly encouraged to review the main commencement parking website, which includes specific parking recommendations and an event map with road closure and ADA information. As a general reminder, please allow extra time for parking due to campus congestion. Accessibility Graduates, please contact cofaevents@austin.utexas.edu by April 14 if you or one of your guests need additional assistance beyond what is covered below. A small number of ADA parking spots are available in Lots 37-39 and in the San Jacinto Garage. Guests with limited mobility are encouraged to park at at Health Center Garage and ride the free, ADA-accessible shuttle, which stops at Bass Concert Hall. A map with the shuttle route and ADA drop-off locations is available here. Wheelchair Seating: Please visit Guest Services, just to the left of the Bass Concert Hall entrance, upon arrival. From there, Ushers and House Managers will escort guests to the wheelchair seating area. They can also assist mobility impaired guests seeking temporary wheelchair use to navigate the venue. Security All graduates and guests should review the main commencement security information website, which includes clear bag policy, prohibited items, and conduct guidelines for all commencement ceremonies. Graduate FAQ In addition to securing tickets for my guests, what else should I tell them? Please ask your guests to review the most recent commencement Parking and Security information. Is academic regalia required? Absolutely. All Fine Arts graduates are expected to wear a traditional black cap and gown with tassel and stole. Our stoles are dark brown (which is really more of a cinnamon color). Fine Arts tassels are pink for Music students and dark brown for other majors. Though you are not required to purchase regalia through the University Co-Op, many graduates start their regalia search at their graduation shop. You must wear your regalia from check-in through the end of the ceremony; your gown must be zipped, rather than worn as a jacket. Regalia cannot be worn when entering the venue for security purposes. When and where do I check in? Check-in for graduates begins at 10:30 a.m. at the south doors of the McCullough Theatre. This area is for graduates only; you should plan to remain with your fellow graduates once checked in. Be sure to account for commencement traffic and parking as you make your plans, as you must be in line for check-in no later than 10:50 a.m. Expect traffic delays! What can I bring with me? Bass has no area for storing backpacks, purses, or other personal belongings. Please leave any valuables that cannot be carried in your pockets at home or with your family/friends prior to checking in. Cell phones must be silenced during the ceremony. How long will the ceremony last? That is difficult to predict, though we aim for around an hour and 45 minutes to two hours. Can I get a picture? FLASH Photography will take a photo of you as you cross the stage, as well as an individual posed photo shortly thereafter. FLASH will e-mail you proofs of your photos directly; if you choose to purchase photos, you will do so directly through FLASH. Anything else? Congratulations! We look forward to seeing you on the 9th!
