We are excited to announce the Spring 2012 College of Engineering Commencement will consist of two ceremonies, one for graduate degree recipients and one for baccalaureates. Two ceremonies will better serve our graduates by giving them access to more guest tickets and a shorter ceremony for the enjoyment of our graduates and guests.

Ph.D., M.S. and M.Eng. Commencement
9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. | Saturday, May 12

Greek Theatre, UC Berkeley

Doors open at 8:00 a.m.

Baccalaureate Commencement
2:30 p.m.* – 4:30 p.m. | Saturday, May 12

Greek Theatre, UC Berkeley  

Doors open at 1:30 p.m.

*Guests should plan to arrive well ahead of time to ensure comfortable seating. We will adjust the starting time as needed to accommodate any of our students and families taking part in the campus-wide commencement ceremony, which is scheduled to conclude at 2:00 p.m.

Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!

Spring 2012 Graduates: College of Engineering undergraduate and graduate students completing degree requirements during the Summer 2011, Fall 2011, Spring 2012, Summer 2012 and Fall 2012 semesters are welcome to participate in the Spring 2012 College of Engineering Commencement ceremonies. Registration will be available online February 15, 2012. 

Spring 2012 UC Berkeley Commencement Convocation: All Engineering graduating seniors have the opportunity to also participate in the UC Berkeley Commencement Convocation ceremony. Separate from the Engineering baccalaureate commencement ceremony, Commencement Convocation is a University-wide celebration, open to graduating seniors from all academic disciplines. The 2012 UC Berkeley Commencement Convocation will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2012, at Edwards Stadium at 10:00 a.m. Ticket information and details can be found here.

Ticket Information for the Engineering Commencement Ceremonies

• Graduates must complete the online registration forms to reserve tickets. Registration will be available on February 15, 2012. The registration deadline is April 11, 2012. Graduates registering after the deadline are not guaranteed the ticket maximum.
• Graduates registered to participate in commencement by the registration deadline, April 11, 2012, may reserve a maximum of 10 tickets; 1 for the graduate, 9 for guests. The first 5 tickets (1 for the graduate, 4 for guests) are free; additional tickets, (5 maximum), may be purchased at $5 per ticket, for a total of 10 tickets. All commencement ticket sales are final. No refunds, no exceptions. 
• All graduates and guests (age 2 and older) must have a ticket to gain admittance to Commencement. Graduates and guests will not be admitted without a ticket. Please note: seating is general admission, not reserved, on a first-come, first-served basis, and it is possible that guests may have to climb the steep steps to sit on the grassy hillside above the concrete bleacher seating. Once the concrete bleacher seating area has reached capacity, guests will be directed to the lawn by Greek Theatre staff.
• Tickets will be distributed Monday, April 16 through Friday, April 20 from 10am-4pm in front of the Engineering Student Services office at 230 Bechtel Engineering Center.
  

Important Note Regarding the Ticket Maximum and Seating at the Greek Theatre

Seating is first-come, first-served for guests who are already present (i.e. saving seats will not work), and your guests may have to climb the steep steps to sit on the grassy hillside above the concrete bleacher seating. The Greek Theatre is open to the elements and you and your guests should be prepared for any kind of weather and a wide range of temperatures. There are no indoor, temperature controlled areas at the Greek Theatre. It may be very cold on a foggy morning, becoming very hot if the sun comes out. Sunscreen is highly recommended, as are blankets and/or layered clothing. Guests and students should dress accordingly. Commencement will take place rain or shine.

Letter of Invitation to Commencement for International Family Members

Send an email to Dawn Kramer at dkramer@berkeley.edu with the following information:

1. Your full name
2. Your student ID number
3. Your email address
4. Your current home address
5. The degree(s) you will receive and major(s)
6. The names and relationships of each person that you would like to invite to attend graduation (Mr. John Smith, father; Mrs. Joan Smith, mother; Mr. Joe Smith, brother, etc.)

You will receive your letter by email within 2 business days of your request.

Disability Accommodations

If you or any of your guests require accommodations for disabilities (e.g. wheelchair seating, sign language interpreter, etc.) please fill out the special seating request form as soon as possible. If you have any questions please contact Dawn Kramer at dkramer@berkeley.edu.

Caps and Gowns

Students are responsible for providing their own regalia, including hoods for Ph.D. candidates. Caps and gowns may be purchased from the Cal Student Store. For more information regarding caps and gowns, graduation announcements and ordering yearbooks please contact the Cal Student Store at (510) 642-7028. Store hours are: Mon. thru Fri. 10am - 6pm, Sat. 10am - 5pm, Sun. Noon - 4pm. You may also download a pdf with rental and purchase information here.

Parking

During Commencement at UC Berkeley, student 'S' permit areas will be open to the public for an $8 fee. Drivers without an 'S' permit must purchase an $8 ticket from the dispensing machine in the 'S' lot and display it on their dashboard. Please read parking signs carefully. For Commencement, Parking & Transportation will sell parking spaces for $10 at the following 'F' permit lot locations:

Foothill Lot (Hearst at Highland Ave.)
Upper Hearst Structure (Hearst at Gayley Rd.)

Disabled Parking: All designated disabled spaces and non-reserved spaces will be available at $10 to disabled patrons with certified disabled placards or license plates on a first-come, first-served basis. Disabled parking is available at the Upper Hearst structure at the corner of Hearst Ave and Gayley Road (there are two DP spaces on the lowest level entering from Hearst Ave, and several more DP spaces on the third level entering from Gayley Road). Upper Hearst parking garage has the best path of travel (one relatively level block) from the parking area to the Greek Theater. Please note there is a curbside drop-off area on Gayley Road just north of the Greek Theater entrance for passengers with mobility disabilities who prefer to minimize the travel distance to the Greek Theater.

For more information about parking, see the Parking and Transportation website.

Post-Commencement Receptions

Ph.D., M.S., M.Eng. Graduates
Each College of Engineering department will host a complimentary post-commencement reception for graduate degree recipients and their guests. No RSVP is necessary. Reception details will be posted in April 2012.

Baccalaureates
The College of Engineering will host a complimentary post-commencement reception for baccalaureates and their guests. No RSVP is necessary. The baccalaureate reception location will be posted in April 2012.

Diplomas

Commemorative scrolls, not diplomas, are given out at Commencement. Diplomas for undergraduate and graduate students will be automatically mailed free of charge approximately 4 months after the end of the term to the diploma address supplied by you on Bear Facts. If you have any questions or need more information visit the Office of the Registar's website.

Pictures

The College of Engineering has made arrangements with Grad Images Photo to photograph every graduate at the moment the scroll is given. For more information about ordering photos visit the Grad Images website.

2011 Commencement Video

The 2011 College of Engineering commencement ceremony was webcast live. Watch the commencement ceremony in its entirety here.

Blue & Gold Yearbook

To purchase your copy of the Blue & Gold Yearbook, UC Berkeley's official historical record, click here.

Senior Gift

As a graduating senior, you have an opportunity to join a group of your peers and make a big impact on your College through the Senior Gift Campaign! Your support is critical to maintaining Berkeley’s position as one of the top engineering schools in the world. Visit our Senior Gift page for more information.

Commencement Program for Summer and Fall '12 Graduates

If you participate in the Spring 2012 Commencement ceremony but do not graduate until Summer or Fall 2012, your name will not be included in the Spring 2012 program. Your name will be included in the 2013 Commencement program. After June 1, 2013, if you would like to receive a copy of the Spring 2013 Commencement program, e-mail your name, address, and the number of copies you are requesting to Dawn Kramer, bears@berkeley.edu.