UCR commencement, archive photo. (UCR/Stan Lim)
May 12, 2021

Commencement now allows two guests; ceremonies listed

2020 and 2021 grads may join the in-person recognition; all events will be live-streamed for families to enjoy at home

Author: Sandra Baltazar Martínez
May 12, 2021

Nearly 7,000 UC Riverside students are eligible to graduate this June. 

As COVID-19 cases stabilize, and in following with state and county COVID safety protocols, UCR is now offering students an opportunity to bring no more than two guests to a modified commencement celebration. Some events will be scheduled at indoor venues, others will be outdoors. 

“I am pleased to announce that I am granting an exception to our current campus policy prohibiting visitors to allow each student to bring no more than two guests with them into the venue,” Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox wrote in a May 7 announcement. “I want to reiterate that the safety and health of our community is my highest priority while acknowledging the profound sacrifices our students have made over the past 14 months, completing degree requirements under daunting circumstances.”

This year’s 67th commencement will be fully virtual and livestreamed. This means that the formal ceremony will remain as a virtual event, with remarks and greetings by university, Academic Senate, alumni, and student leadership delivered as a prerecorded program of about 30 minutes, and released at the beginning of commencement weekend. Students and their families can watch at their convenience and enjoy a tassel-turning or hooding moment with their loved ones at home.

The in-person portion of the event will allow graduates from 2020 and 2021 to participate individually or show up with up to two guests. The three-person unit will walk across the stage to take an official commencement photo and have their name read. Photos will be taken on stage, and then participants will then exit on the opposite side of the venue.

Students can remain up-to-date and submit a form to participate in the in-person name recognition by visiting: commencement.ucr.edu

Here is what participants need to know:

  • For the in-person event, participants will line up with households socially distanced, wearing face coverings, as required by campus and public health guidelines. All participants must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination at check-in in the form of a completed COVID Vaccination Record Card issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. 
  • Unvaccinated individuals must arrive with a negative result from a SARS CoV-2 PCR test, performed no more than 48 hours prior to arriving on campus.
  • Any student or guest traveling or visiting from outside California who is not vaccinated should self-quarantine per public health guidelines. All travelers who test positive or develop symptoms of COVID-19should isolate and follow public health recommendations.

Virtual ceremonies

School of Medicine

Friday, June 4, 6 p.m.: School of Medicine virtual commencement and Hippocratic Oath ceremony

M.D. degree recipients

Location: Zoom Webinar

Times and locations: somsa.ucr.edu/commencement-2021

Ceremonies by college

Friday, June 11, 6 p.m.

Visit commencement.ucr.edu for details. Each college will post links on this site.

In-person recognition and name-reading events

Thursday, June 3 at 4 p.m.

School of Medicine Photo Op

M.D. degree recipients

Location: University Theatre. Details: somsa.ucr.edu/commencement-2021

Saturday, June 5 at 10:30 a.m.

Graduate Division

All Ph.D. degree and M.F.A. degree candidates

Location: University Theatre

Livestream link will be added to this site: commencement.ucr.edu

Saturday, June 12 

School of Business, 9 a.m.

Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates 

Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium

Livestream link will be added to this site: commencement.ucr.edu

College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, 4 p.m.

Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates

Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium

Livestream link will be added to this site: commencement.ucr.edu

Sunday, June 13

College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS) Group 1, 9 a.m.

Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates in the departments of Anthropology, Economics, History and Political Science

Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium

Livestream link will be added to this site: commencement.ucr.edu

Graduate School of Education and School of Public Policy, 1:30 p.m.

Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates

Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium

Livestream link will be added to this site: commencement.ucr.edu

Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering, 5 p.m.

Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates

Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium

Livestream link will be added to this site: commencement.ucr.edu

Monday, June 14

College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS) Group 2, 9 a.m.

Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates in the departments of Art, Art History, Asian Studies, Comparative Literature and Foreign Languages, Creative Writing, Dance, English, Ethnic Studies, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Global Studies, Hispanic Studies, Multidisciplinary Studies, Latin American Studies, Liberal Studies, Media and Cultural Studies, Middle East and Islamic Studies, Music, Religious Studies, Southeast Asian Studies, Theatre, Film & Digital Production

Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium

Livestream link will be added to this site: commencement.ucr.edu

College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences (CHASS) Group 3, 4 p.m.

Master's and Bachelor's degree candidates in the departments of Philosophy, Psychology and Sociology

Location: Student Recreation Center North, main gymnasium

Livestream link will be added to this site: commencement.ucr.edu

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