The University of California, Riverside’s class of 2025 will once again commence at one of two locations. 

Graduating seniors obtaining their M.D., Ph.D., and M.F.A. will celebrate on campus at UCR’s Student Recreation Center, or SRC. All other degrees and credentials will be celebrated off campus at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California. 

For the 2024-25 academic year, about 7,246 Highlanders are eligible to graduate, and about 5,800 are expected to participate in a series of Commencement ceremonies this spring. There is capacity for about 50,000 guests across all ceremonies.

Below is a roundup of must-knows, with comprehensive details provided at commencement.ucr.edu. 

Ceremony details: Visit the Commencement website for more ceremony details specific to each group, like graduate check-in times, estimated ceremony durations, etc.

• School of Medicine Hippocratic Oath: June 6 at 3 p.m. at SRC
• Graduate Division Hooding: June 7 at 9 a.m. at SRC
• Bourns College of Engineering, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, School of Education, and School of Public Policy: June 16 at Toyota Arena
• College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences: CHASS 1 & CHASS 2, and School of Business: June 17 at Toyota Arena

Specialized audience celebrations:

• MESC Gala hosted by Middle Eastern Student Programs: May 31, 5-9 p.m. at Alumni & Visitors Center
• Certificate & Recognition Ceremony hosted by University Extension: June 2, 6-7:30 p.m. at HUB 302
• AAPI Grad hosted by Asian Pacific Student Programs: June 4, 6-8 p.m. at SRC
• Honors Cording Ceremony hosted by University Honors: June 5, 5-7 p.m. at SRC
• Lavender Celebration hosted by LGBT Resource Center: June 5, 6-9 p.m. at HUB 302
• Legacy of eXcellence Celebration hosted by African Student Programs: June 7, 5-9 p.m. at SRC
• Chicano Latina Year End Celebration hosted by Chicano Student Programs: June 8, 1:45 p.m. at SRC

Venue details:

Toyota Arena in Ontario

• Entry: Venue gates will open 60 minutes before each ceremony for guests. 
• Parking: Graduate parking is free, and passes were picked up with tickets. Guests will pay $15 per car, and the venue will only accept credit cards, no cash. 
  • The general admission parking lot is currently under construction. More information will be shared in the “Graduate Day-of Information” email. Please plan to allow for more time when parking.
• Security: Security will screen all persons and belongings at the entrance to ensure safety; only small or clear bags are allowed.
• Prohibited Items: To ensure efficient entrance into the venue, visit the Toyota Arena website for venue policies and prohibited items, like noisemakers, flowers, confetti cannons, balloons, signs, etc. Leis can be worn by students prior to entry, but guests will be restricted from bringing leis as gifts into the building.
• Seating: Disregard the seat number on the tickets. Ceremony seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and all seating is open. Saving seats is not allowed, so please have your guests plan accordingly. Children under 2 do not need a ticket but will need to remain on a parent’s lap for the duration of the ceremony.
• Amenities: Along with free water dispensers located throughout the venue, refreshments will be available for purchase. Outside food/drinks are prohibited. There is air conditioning and restrooms.
• View: The stage and graduates will be viewable from all angles on the jumbotron. 
• Grad Images: Professional photos will capture individual graduates crossing the stage. Proofs will be emailed or mailed directly to graduates and will be available for purchase.
• Accessibility: For ADA requests/inquiries, reach out to the Toyota Arena Guest Services Manager, Josh Salcedo: JSalcedo@toyota-arena.com. More details are on the Toyota Arena website.

UCR’s Student Recreation Center (SRC) in Riverside

• Parking: Complimentary parking at the SRC will be provided for graduates and guests. Vehicles that do not have a UCR parking permit must be registered using the links below. Register vehicles once they’ve parked, as pre-registering does not guarantee a spot in the lot.
  • Lot 1 (Blue) - Graduate Division graduates/guests
  • Lot 24 (Blue) SOM/Graduate Division graduates/guests
  • Lot 26 (Gold) SOM/Graduate Division graduates/guests
  • ADA Parking in Lot 25: For those needing ADA parking, submit names to commencement@ucr.edu by June 3 at 5pm. ADA parking spaces are first-come, first-served.
• Security: Ceremonies will have enhanced security, including metal detectors and bag checks at all entrances. Security will begin checking in guests 90 minutes prior to the ceremony. 
• Prohibited Items: Balloons, signs, and noisemakers are prohibited and not allowed inside the SRC. Smoking and tobacco use are not permitted on university property.
• Entry: Doors will open 60 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
• Grad Images: Professional photos will capture individual graduates crossing the stage. Proofs will be emailed or mailed directly to graduates and will be available for purchase.
• Amenities: Water stations, air conditioning, and restrooms will be available.

Visit Commencement FAQs for more details.

Streaming: For those who cannot attend in person but would like to join virtually, we will have live broadcasts of each ceremony on the UCR YouTube channel.

Remaining checklist for graduating seniors:

• Request late registration or extra tickets by visiting commencement.ucr.edu/#schedules and selecting your college/school link for Toyota Arena ceremonies.
• Purchase regalia from the UCR Bookstore, decorate caps, take senior photos around campus, and share tickets and ceremony details with guests.
• Attend Senior/Year-End Celebrations hosted by various departments and groups. 
• Sign the Class of 2025 Yearbook!