Graduation and Commencement (2024)

Overview

UCLA commencement ceremonies are held in June during finals week of spring quarter. Commencement ceremonies are optional and attendance is not required to obtain your diploma. Degree candidates of the B.A. in Public Affairs are invited to participate in the Luskin School of Public Affairs Commencement ceremony.

Because departments and student organizations host ceremonies for their respective student populations, a UCLA undergraduate student pursuing the B.A. in Public Affairs may have the option to participate in several ceremonies during commencement weekend. Students who are completing a double/triple major may participate in additional School/College, departmental, and student celebrations. You can view more information about departmental ceremonies at www.commencement.ucla.edu.

To participate in commencement ceremonies, students are required to complete the ticket ordering process for each ceremony. Information about ticket ordering, including dates/deadlines, number of tickets, and process for ordering tickets, typically becomes available in early spring quarter.

The Public Affairs Undergraduate Program will notify students when ticket ordering information for the Luskin School of Public Affairs Commencement ceremony becomes available.

Which commencement ceremony do I attend?

Students pursuing the Public Affairs major may be eligible to participate in multiple commencement ceremonies. Use the chart below to determine which ceremonies you can attend. If you have questions about your eligibility to participate in a ceremony, contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program via MyUCLA Message Center.

Questions?

Questions about the Luskin School of Public Affairs Commencement ceremony should be submitted to the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program via MyUCLA Message Center. Questions about commencement ceremonies hosted by other Schools/College, departments, and campus programs should be directed to the respective department or campus program.

Overview

The 2024 UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement ceremony is schedule on Friday, June 14, 2024 at 3:00pm. To participate in the Luskin Commencement ceremony students and guests must present a valid guest ticket.

• Date: Friday, June 14, 2024
• Time: 3:00pm
• Duration: Approximately 2 hours
• Location: UCLA Ackerman Grand Ballroom (see campus map here)
• Livestream: The ceremony will be livestreamed. You can access the livestream on the Luskin website homepage at www.luskin.ucla.edu.

Keynote Speaker

The keynote speaker for the Luskin School of Public Affairs commencement ceremonies will be announced in late May 2024.

Commencement Programs

Click the links below to view and download the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Commencement bulletin and the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Awards bulletin.

• UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs 2024 Commencement program
• UCLA Public Affairs Undergraduate Program 2024 Awards program

Commencement Ceremony Schedule

Below is a overview of the commencement ceremony schedule:

• 1:45 pm: B.A. Candidates meet at the Kerckhoff Hall north steps (facing Bruin Walk) to line up and receive instructions
• 2:00 pm: Class Photos
• 2:00pm: Doors open to guests
• 3:00 pm: Processional
• 4:30 pm: Reception at Ackerman Wescom Terrace

Guest Check-in

All guests must present a valid guest ticket to enter the commencement venue. Graduating students are responsible for distributing tickets to their guests.

Guest can begin lining up at 1:00pm. Doors open to guests at 2:00pm. Guests should plan to arrive at least an hour in advance of the ceremony to allow ample time for parking, check-in, and bag checks.

Guests can access the ceremony check-in station from Bruin Walk (see map here) or the Math Science Building via Portola Plaza Road (see map here). Guests who need mobility access and/or who need to be dropped-off/picked-up near the Ackerman guest check-in line, can be dropped-off/picked-up at the Math Science Building via Portola Plaza Road (see map here).

Ackerman Union offers elevator access to the Wescom Terrace (exit on level 1) and the Ackerman Grand Ballroom (exit on level 2). Guests who need accessible seating should let staff know when they enter the commencement venue. Staff will direct you to the accessible seating area.

Commencement venues will enforce a clear bag policy. Guest who bring bags that do not comply with the clear bag policy will be asked to leave their bag in their car. All bags may be subject to search. Large balloon displays, noisemakers, and confetti poppers will be confiscated.

Luskin will be enforcing UCLA COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Accessibility

All UCLA commencement venues are accessible. Please click here for more accessibility details.

Guests who need mobility access and/or who need to be dropped-off/picked-up near the Ackerman guest check-in line, can be dropped-off/picked-up at the Math Science Building via Portola Plaza Road (see map here). Ackerman Union offers elevator access to the Wescom Terrace (exit on level 1) and the Ackerman Grand Ballroom (exit on level 2).

Guests who need accessible seating should let staff know when they enter the commencement venue. Staff will direct you to the accessible seating area.

Overview

There will be a sign language interpreter at the Luskin Commencement ceremony.

Accommodations will be made for students with disabilities to participate in the celebration experience. There will be accessible routes at all commencement venues. As part of the student registration process (including registering with the UCLA Center for Accessible Education), accommodations will be made if an attendant or support animal is needed. If an attendant is needed, the attendant must adhere to the commencement ceremony protocols.

Ackerman Union offers elevator access to the Wescom Terrace (exit on level 1) and the Ackerman Grand Ballroom (exit on level 2).

Please notify the Public Affairs Undergraduate Programandevents@luskin.ucla.eduif accommodations are needed.

Accessing the Commencement Venue

Guests can access the ceremony check-in station from Bruin Walk (see map here) or the Math Science Building via Portola Plaza Road (see map here).

Guests who need mobility access and/or who need to be dropped-off/picked-up near the Ackerman guest check-in line, can be dropped-off/picked-up at the Math Science Building via Portola Plaza Road (see map here).

Ackerman Union offers elevator access to the Wescom Terrace (exit on level 1) and the Ackerman Grand Ballroom (exit on level 2).

Guests who need accessible seating should let staff know when they enter the commencement venue. Staff will direct you to the accessible seating area.

Accessible Seating

Guests who need accessible seating should inform event staff at the time of check-in. Staff will direct you to the accessible seating area.

Signers will be available to interpret the ceremony for those who are hearing impaired. They will be stationed on the “audience right” (as you face the stage.) Guests who would like an interpreter will be directed to sit toward the front on the right-hand side of the audience (as you face the stage).

Accessible Parking

All UCLA parking structures have accessible parking. For questions about parking accessibility, contact the UCLA Transportation Office atTransportation@ts.ucla.edu or call (310) 794-7433.

Service Animals

Service animals are allowed in the commencement venues. Pets are not allowed inside the commencement venue.

Overview

You are automatically eligible to participate in the 2024 Commencement ceremonies if you:

• Have graduated Fall 2023 or Winter 2024, or
• Have completed 148 units by the end of Winter 2024 and are declared to graduate Spring 2024 or Summer 2024.

Fall2024 degree candidates are NOT automatically included in the June 2024 commencement ceremonies. Fall 2024 degree candidates who would like to participate in the June 2024 commencement ceremonies must submit a Special Inclusion Petition.

Luskin Commencement Ceremony

The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Program commencement ceremony is open only to undergraduate students who are graduating with a B.A. in Public Affairs and meet the eligibility criteria above.

Students who do not meet the commencement eligibility criteria for this year’s commencement ceremonies must submit a Special Inclusion Petition (linked here) to participate in the Commencement ceremonies. For example, a Fall 2024 candidate who want to participate in the June 2024 commencement ceremonies must submit a Special Inclusion Petition. If a Fall 2024 candidate does not submit a Special Inclusion Petition for the 2024 commencement ceremonies, they will automatically be included in the 2025 commencement ceremonies.

Students who do not meet the commencement eligibility criteria (linked here) for the 2024 commencement ceremonies and who would like to participate in the 2024 commencement ceremonies, must submit a Special Inclusion Petition beginning March 27, 2024 (Spring Break) and no later than April 9, 2024 (Spring quarter, week 2).

Note: Summer 2024 candidates are not required to submit a Special Inclusion Petition.

Graduating seniors are invited to participate in several surveys to share information about their experience at UCLA, their experience in the public affairs major, and their post-baccalaureate plans. Only the Luskin Senior Exit Survey is required in order access ticket ordering for the Luskin Commencement ceremony.

Luskin Senior Exit Survey

Graduating students are invited to complete the Luskin Senior Exit Survey to share their feedback about their experience in the Public Affairs major. The Luskin Senior Exit Survey opens annually in early Spring quarter. To access to the Luskin Commencement ticket ordering process, Public Affairs majors must opt-in or opt-out of completing the Luskin Senior Exit Survey. Students who do not select to opt-in or opt-out of the survey will not have access to order tickets to the Luskin Commencement ceremony.

The 2024 Luskin Senior Exit Survey will open on March 27, 2024 (Spring Break). The deadline for students to opt-in or opt-out for the survey for ticket ordering purposes is April 9, 2024 (spring quarter, week 2).

UCLA Senior Survey

Graduating students are invited to complete the UCLA Senior Survey to share their feedback about their experience at UCLA. Students who complete the UCLA Senior Survey are entered into different raffles. You can access the Senior Survey in early Winter quarter onMyUCLA> Academics > “Commencement-Student” > click on the Senior Survey link.

First Destination Survey

The First Destination Survey (FDS) is administered by the UCLA Student Affairs Information & Research Office (SAIRO) and is designed specifically to help us learn more about the experiences and aspirations of our recent UCLA graduates. The responses help future Bruins prepare for their career and post-graduation goals. Click here to learn more about and access the First Destination Survey.

OVERVIEW

Students pursuing the B.A. in Public Affairs who wish to participate in the Luskin School of Public Affairs Commencement ceremony must confirm their participation in the ceremony by completing the ticket ordering process. Please read the information below for details.

Ticket ordering for the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement ceremony opens annually in late April and close in early May. Students receive an email confirmation with their final ticket order by mid-May.

TICKET ORDERING FOR THE LUSKIN COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

To participate in the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement ceremony, students must reserve a ticket for themselves and their guests. All tickets are free of cost.

To ensure students have an equitable opportunity to reserve commencement tickets, each student will be offered the same number of tickets and will also have the opportunity to request additional tickets by adding themselves to a ticket wait list. During the ticket ordering process, the student must confirm the number of tickets they are reserving, and if applicable, the number of additional tickets they would like to request. The availability of additional tickets is dependent on how many tickets each student confirms. Students will receive a confirmation email if the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program is able to offer them additional tickets.

For the 2024 Luskin Commencement Ceremony, students will receive 1 ticket for themselves and up to 7 guest tickets. Students may request additional wait list tickets, but there is no guarantee that additional tickets will be granted.

Please note that children need their own ticket unless they can sit on their guardian’s lap for the duration of the ceremony.

TICKET ORDERING TIMELINE AND ACCESS

Ticket ordering for the 2024 UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement ceremony will open April 10, 2024 and closes April 24, 2024. Students will receive an email confirmation with their final ticket order (including additional tickets) by May 6, 2024.

To access the Luskin commencement ticket order form, students must opt-in or opt-out of completing the Luskin Senior Exit Survey, and if applicable, submit a Special Inclusion Petition. Students who neither opt-in nor opt-out of the Luskin Senior Exit Survey will not be granted access to order tickets to the Luskin School of Public Affairs Commencement.

After the ticket ordering process concludes, students will receive their digital commencement tickets from the UCLA Central Ticket Office 1-2 weeks in advance of the ceremony. Each student is responsible for distributing the digital commencement tickets to their guests. Guest must show their digital ticket to gain entrance to the commencement venue.

TICKET ORDERING PROCESS

Follow the steps below to order tickets to the Luskin Commencement Ceremony:

• STEP 1: Submit the Luskin Senior Exit Survey
  • Deadline to opt-in or opt-out in order to access ticket ordering is April 9, 2024.
  • Access the Luskin Senior Exit Survey here (link forthcoming).
• STEP 2: Access and submit your ticket order
  • Complete and submit the ticket order form from April 10, 2024 through April 24, 2024.
  • The ticket order form will be emailed to students who submit the Luskin Senior Exit Survey.
• STEP 3: Review your ticket order confirmation
  • Students will receive their ticket order confirmation (including additional wait listed tickets) by May 6, 2024.
• STEP 4: Receive your tickets
  • The UCLA Central Ticket Office will email students their digital commencement ceremony tickets on May 28, 2024.

TRANSFERRING TICKETS TO GUESTS

The UCLA Central Ticket Office emails students their digital commencement tickets in late May. Tickets will be sent to the preferred email address the student submits on their ticket order form. Students are responsible for forwarding guest tickets to their guests either via email or cell phone. Instructions on how to transfer guests tickets are available here.

STUDENT CONDUCT CODE AND COMMENCEMENT TICKETS

Selling commencement tickets is a violation of the Student Conduct Code (code 102.23c). Students who are found selling commencement tickets will be referred to the Dean of Students. You can read the Student Conduct Code on the UCLA Office of the Dean of Students website.

Parking Overview

Students and guests can purchase daily parking permits for the commencement ceremonies beginning May 1, 2024, via the Bruin ePermit Portal (linked here). When purchasing parking permits, be sure to select “UCLA Commencement” as the event. Please purchase one parking permit per transaction. Learn more about commencement parking at the UCLA Transportation website.

• Click this link to purchase parking permits: Bruin ePermit Portal

Commencement parking is $15 per day per permit (prices are subject to change). Parking permits are nonrefundable.

For questions about parking permits please email Transportation@ts.ucla.edu or call (310) 794-7433.

Parking and Transportation Tips

• The closest parking lots to Ackerman Grand Ballroom are Parking Structures 4, 7, and 8. Access the interactive campus map here.
• Purchase your parking permits ahead of time to save time.
• Traffic density surrounding the UCLA campus is higher than usual on commencement weekend. Give yourself plenty of time to account for travel time to campus, parking, and travel time to the commencement venue.
• Park closest to your last ceremony of the day.
• Remember where you parked. Drop a pin, take a picture, write it down.

Cap and Gown

Undergraduate students who participate in thein-personcommencement ceremonies must wear a black cap/mortar board, black gown, and tassel. The tassel color for the B.A. in Public Affairs is royal blue.

You can order your cap, gown, tassel, and all commencement regalia, from the UCLA Store Graduation Etc. You can purchase your cap and gown in-person or online from the UCLA Store Graduation Etc. beginning March 4, 2024. Online orders take approximately 2 days to process.

Honor Cords

Studentsare eligible to wear honor cords (or,fourragere)if they are graduating with Latin Honors or College Honors, and/or if they are recipients of the Chancellor’s Service Award.Purchase and distribution ofhonor cords begins June 3, 2024. You are eligible to receive a refund if you return your honor cords to UCLA Store Graduation Etc.by June 21, 2024 at 5pm (PT). Please contact UCLA Store Graduation Etc. for details.

Senior Portraits

Student can schedule their senior portraits with UCLA Grad Etc. here.

UCLA Yearbook

For information about purchasing the UCLA yearbook, please visitUCLA Bruin Life.

Other Regalia

In addition to wearing honor cords, students are permitted to wear sashes, cords, and other regalia that programs and student organizations give to graduating students. Students may also wear sashes, cords, and leis that are given to them by family and loved ones.

Student Speaker

Each year, the graduating class of Public Affairs majors nominates and elects a commencement student speaker who will address the graduating class in a 3-5 minutes long speech.

Students who are interested in being considered for the Commencement Student Speaker opportunity must complete the Public Affairs Commencement Student Speaker Nomination Form (linked here). The nomination form opens on April 15, 2024 and closes on April 26, 2024.

After the nomination period closes, the graduating class of public affairs majors will vote to elect the student speaker by completing the Public Affairs Commencement Student Speaker Voting Form (linked here). Voting opens on April 30, 2024 and closes on May 7, 2024. The student speaker will be confirmed by May 10, 2024.

Multilingual Greeters

The Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony will begin with students welcoming the audience in various languages. This is a welcoming and inclusive feature of the Commencement Ceremony, particularly for bilingual families.

Multilingual greeters will say the same phrase in a different languages. The phrase is: “Welcome to the 2024 Commencement Ceremony of the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs”

If you speak a language other than English and you would like to be one of the multilingual greeters at commencement, submit the Public Affairs Commencement Multilingual Greeters form (linked here). The form opens April 15, 2024 and closes May 7, 2024. Selected students will be notified by May 10, 2024.

Timeline for Student Speakers and Multilingual Greeters

Below are the student speaker and multilingual greeters dates/deadlines for the 2023 Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement ceremony:

• Monday, April 15, 2024:
  • Public Affairs Commencement Student Speaker Nomination Form opens
  • Public Affairs Commencement Multilingual Greeters form opens
• Friday, April 26, 2024:
  • Public Affairs Commencement Student Speaker Nomination Form closes
• Tuesday, April 30, 2024:
  • Public Affairs Commencement Student Speaker Voting Form opens
• Tuesday, May 7, 2024:
  • Public Affairs Commencement Student Speaker Voting Form closes
  • Public Affairs Commencement Multilingual Greeters form closes
• Friday, May 10, 2024:
  • Public Affairs Commencement Student Speaker is confirmed
  • Public Affairs Multilingual Greeters are confirmed

Questions?

For questions about the Public Affairs Commencement Student Speaker and/or Multilingual Greeter opportunity, please contact the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program via MyUCLA Message Center.

Class Photos

Prior to the processional (click here for details), you will have the opportunity to take a class photo with your fellow graduates. We have limited time before the processional so this will be your only organized opportunity to take photos as a class. Class photos will be available for download at www.luskin.ucla.edu.

Photographer

GradImages professional photography will take each graduate’s picture as they shake hands with the Department Chair when they cross the stage. If you want to receive proofs of your photographs, you must fill out the address information that will be on the back of the name card you will receive when you line up for the processional. Filling out a card and receiving proofs does not obligate you to purchase photographs.

The timeline below is intended to serve as an overview of important dates/deadlines pertaining to the 2024 Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement ceremony. For details, please read the corresponding sections of this Public Affairs Graduation and Commencement webpage.

• Wednesday, March 27, 2024 (Spring Break)
  • Luskin Senior Exit Survey opens
  • Preferred Name for the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement Ceremony Form opens
  • Special Inclusion Petition for Public Affairs Majors opens
• Thursday, March 28, 2024 (Spring Break)
  • Deadline to submit theCollege Honors Candidacy Form for Public Affairs Majors to the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program
• Tuesday, April 9, 2024 (Spring Week 2)
  • Deadline to opt-in or opt-out of the Luskin Senior Exit Survey to access the ticket ordering process
  • Deadline to submit Special Inclusion Petition to access the ticket ordering process
• Wednesday, April 10, 2024 (Spring Week 2)
  • Public Affairs Undergraduate Program commencement ticket ordering opens
• Monday, April 15, 2024 (Spring Week 3)
  • Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement Student Speaker Nomination Form opens
  • Public Affairs Commencement Multilingual Greeter form opens
• Wednesday, April 24, 2024 (Spring Week 4)
  • Public Affairs Undergraduate Program commencement ticket ordering closes
• Friday, April 26, 2024 (Spring Week 4)
  • Preferred Name for the Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement Ceremony Form closes
  • Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement Student Speaker Nomination Form closes
• Tuesday, April 30, 2024 (Spring Week 5)
  • Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement Student Speaker Voting opens
• Monday, May 6, 2024 (Spring Week 6)
  • Students receive confirmation of their final commencement ticket order including additional tickets received
• Tuesday, May 7, 2024 (Spring Week 6)
  • Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement Student Speaker Voting closes
  • Public Affairs Commencement Multilingual Greeter form closes
• Friday, May 10, 2024 (Spring Week 6)
  • Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement student speaker is confirmed
  • Public Affairs Multilingual Greeters are confirmed
  • Deadline for students to confirm their privacy restrictions to be included in the Luskin Commencement bulletin
• Friday, June 14, 2024 at 3:00pm (PST)
  • UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs Undergraduate Program Commencement Ceremony