The College of Natural Sciences holds graduation ceremonies each May to honor the undergraduates and candidates of the entire academic year (past Fall, current Spring, and future Summer). May 2023 participants include December 2022 graduates and May 2023 and August 2023 potential graduates. Candidates earning their masters or doctoral degree will participate in the Graduate School ceremony. Attendance at the graduation ceremonies is optional. Ceremonies are organized by degree/major field of study:
UNDERGRADUATE CEREMONIES:
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2023
Location: Moody Center*
Tentative Schedule:
- 11:30 A.M.: Biochemistry, Biology, Chemistry**, Environmental Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Neuroscience
- 3:30 P.M.: Astronomy, Computer Science, Human Development and Family Sciences, Human Ecology, Mathematics, Nutrition, Physics, Public Health, Textiles and Apparel
The college anticipates that each ceremony will last approximately 3 hours. Out of respect for all graduates, please plan to be present until the end of the ceremony.
Participation in a college ceremony is not mandatory. If approved to graduate in May, graduates do not need to inform us as to whether they plan to attend the ceremony or not.
*2023 marks the first year the college will host its graduation ceremonies at the Moody Center. This page will be continually updated as details about the ceremony become finalized.
**Chemistry graduats have been moved from the 3:30 p.m. to the 11:30 a.m. ceremony.
Do I Need a Ticket?
Graduates do not need a ticket to participate, as long as they have applied to graduate and have been approved.
Tickets are required for all family and guests (over the age of two years) attending the ceremony. Each approved graduate will be allocated 8 guests tickets.
Guest tickets are general admission and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The tickets are free of charge and distribution information will be available in April.
If you plan to attend the university-wide ceremony, learn more about ticketing on the University Commencement site.
BACHELOR GRADUATION CANDIDATES
The Spring 2023 Graduation Application is open from January 9, 2023 and will close on March 21, 2023.
Approval of your graduation application constitutes approval to participate in the May graduation ceremony. There is no need to apply to walk or notify us of your participation. If you have not yet applied to graduate, please do so now.
BACHELOR WALKER APPLICANTS (ALUMNI WHO RECEIVED THEIR DIPLOMAS IN FALL 2022 OR STUDENTS WHO EXPECT TO EARN THEIR DIPLOMAS IN AUGUST 2023)
The Spring 2023 Walk Application is open from January 9, 2023 and will close on March 21, 2023.
You may apply to "walk" in the May graduation ceremony if:
- You received a degree from CNS in the previous fall semester, OR
- You currently have fifteen (15) hours or fewer needed to complete your degree requirements
Do not submit a Walk Application if you intend to graduate in the spring. Complete the graduation application instead.
REQUIRED REGALIA AND OPTIONAL INVITATIONS
Academic regalia is required for all ceremony participants. Bachelor regalia may be purchased from the University Co-op. The tassel color for BA and BS graduates in the College of Natural Sciences is gold/yellow. Bachelor's regalia should be ordered by the published deadline on the University Co-Op site. Formal invitations to send to family and friends may also be purchased from the University Co-op.
WHAT WILL BE ANNOUNCED DURING THE CEREMONY
As participants walk across the stage, the college will announce student first and last names, additional degrees if earned from Natural Sciences, preliminary university honors, and preliminary departmental honors.
Preliminary university honors announcements will be based upon grade point average ranges determined for the Spring 2023 graduating class, using grade point averages that do not include Spring 2023 grades.
After the ceremony, the May 2023 university honors ranges will be recalculated and newly calculated grade point averages including Spring 2023 grades will be used to award university honors to students who are certified for graduation by the Dean's Office. University honors is included on official diplomas issued by the Office of the Registrar.
In the interest of ensuring that the ceremonies last no more than 3 hours, the college does not announce certificates, minors, or degrees earned from other UT colleges.
PARKING
The majority of the university’s parking garages and some surface lots will be available for guests attending Commencement celebrations, free of charge. As always, please pay attention to garage and lot signage and park accordingly.
For the latest updates to campus parking and specific details about parking near the Moody Center, please visit the Commencement Parking page.
accessibility
Drop Off: An ADA and mobility impaired passenger drop off point is available in the roundabout on the northeast side of the Moody Center. From the I-35 frontage road, head west on Clyde Littlefield Drive, then south on Red River. Please notify personnel attending the entrance that passengers are ADA or mobility impaired.
Seating: Moody Center offers wheelchair accessible and low mobility seating on each level of the venue. In the wheelchair accessible areas, there will be removable folding chairs so wherever a wheelchair or scooter is needed the folding chair will be removed.
Elevators are available to guests with disabilities. Check with a Moody Center Guest Services member for assistance.
Wheelchairs: Mobility impaired candidates or guests who cannot walk comfortably more than 5 feet are strongly encouraged to bring a wheelchair to the event. Local health supply rental companies can provide rental wheelchairs.
The Moody Center has a very limited number of wheelchairs on hand at entry doors. Guests who require additional assistance because of a limitation in mobility can request a wheelchair transport from the entry doors of the arena to their seating location. A Guest Services member will escort guests to their seat and arrange a pick-up time to escort them for their departure if desired. This service is available on a first come, first served basis and may be requested from any team member at the entry doors. Please note that arena wheelchairs cannot be left with guests during the event.
Assistive Listening Devices: Assistive Listening Devices are available and complimentary to guests for all arena events. Headsets and receivers can be checked out at the Guest Services booth on the Main Concourse.
ACCOMMODATION AT THE CEREMONY
Accommodation requests for graduates or their guests should be made at least eight business days prior to commencement activities. While every effort will be made, we may be unable to fulfill last-minute requests. Please address accommodation requests to ns.student.records@austin.utexas.edu.
PERSONAL ITEMS
Graduates should not bring personal items such as purses or coats to the ceremony. There is no secure area in which to leave them. We recommend carrying cell phones and keys on wrist bands or in clothing with pockets.
safety & security procedures
Bags: For the health and safety of all guests, and to expedite the entry process, Moody Center requests that guests do not bring a bag to the arena. We strongly urge all graduates and guests not to bring bags to any ceremony unless they are absolutely necessary. A Clear Bag Policy is in effect to enhance existing security measures and expedite venue entry at Moody Center.
Approved Bags Include:
- Bags that are clear plastic and do not exceed 14" x 14" x 6"
- One-gallon clear resealable plastic storage bags
- Non-clear clutch bags or wallets must not exceed 5" x 9" x 1.5"
Prohibited bags include:
- Any and all bags that do not meet the criteria above including back packs, grocery totes, mesh or straw bags, duffle bags, diaper bags*, camera/binocular cases, and any other bags that arena staff deem to not meet the clear bag policy.
- *Items normally carried in a diaper bag must be placed into a clear plastic bag for entry.
Metal Detectors: Walk-through metal detectors are located at every arena entrance. In order to increase the efficiency of this process, guests should minimize the number of personal items they bring and remove any items that may trigger the alarm before walking through the detectors. If an alarm sounds, the guest will be subject to a secondary screening.
Prohibited items: Items include artificial noisemakers, large bags (see clear bag policy above), banners, flags, selfie sticks, umbrellas, cameras with detachable lenses greater than 10", GoPros, video cameras, camera tripods, drones, balloons, flowers vases (flower bouquets are ok), outside food and beverages, coolers, pets (except service dogs), strollers, wagons, explosive and flamable materials, and any and all weapons (see Weapons Policy – SEC-E-513), tobacco products, alcohol, and bottles or cans of any kind, shape, or size, regardless of material and regardless of empty or full.
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS
The University coordinates professional photos of each graduation candidate as he or she walks across the stage to be congratulated during CNS ceremonies. Graduates and families have the option of purchasing photographs. There is no obligation to do so. Flash Photography provides free color proofs to each graduate. Proofs are mailed to the permanent address within two weeks of graduation. If you do not receive your proof, or if you wish to place your order by phone or email, please contact Flash Photography at 1-800-410-8070 or at http://www.flashphotography.com/.
UNIVERSITY-WIDE CEREMONY INFORMATION
The University-wide ceremony will be held May 6, 2023 at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Procession tickets are required for degree candidates to participate and for guests attending the University wide ceremony. More information about tickets may be found here.
The college graduation ceremonies provide an occasion for recognizing degree candidates individually as they cross the stage while their name is announced.
The university-wide commencement ceremony takes place following the college ceremonies and is the culmination of Commencement weekend. Degree candidates from every college and school are eligible to participate. At this ceremony, students are recognized with others from their college as a group rather than individually. The ceremony includes a distinguished speaker, conferring of degrees by the president and the traditional lighting of the Tower in orange to honor graduates. The celebration concludes with a fireworks display.
