Sunday Commencement Update: June 11, 12:18 p.m.

We listened to your feedback overnight and made changes to the commencement process. Students who participated in Saturday morning’s commencement were able to cross the stage and have their names read starting at 7:30 a.m. 

To help facilitate the Sunday commencement, we will follow a similar program. On Sunday, stadium gates will open at 6 a.m. We ask students to arrive and find a seat on the field by 7 a.m. when our program will begin. Students will start crossing the stage by 7:30 a.m. and have their names read. 

We recommend bringing an index card or small piece of paper with your name clearly printed on it for the stage crossing. There will also be cards onsite. Once your name has been read, we encourage you to leave the stadium after collecting your diploma.

Misters, fans, shade tents and water stations are available throughout UC Davis Health Stadium.

Graduates’ family members are welcome to watch a livestream of the ceremony in air conditioning at the University Credit Union Center, which will be open as a cooling center. Our public safety officials recommend that people go there before they start feeling ill.

Students who did not have the opportunity to walk across the stage on Friday or Saturday will be contacted at a later date to get their input on a future ceremony to celebrate their achievements.

Updated June 11, 8:30 a.m.

Today’s ceremony started at 7:30 a.m. The chancellor welcomed the graduates. The names of graduates will be read until all names have been read or Safety Services determines that it is too hot to continue. The speakers are recording their speeches and they will be sent to graduates at a later date.

We have taken additional measures to mitigate the heat this morning. Family members of graduates can watch a livestream of the ceremony in air conditioning at the University Credit Union Center, which has been opened as a cooling center. Safety Services recommends that people go there before they start feeling ill. At the event itself, there are misters on the sides of the field. Fans and shade tents are also on the field. We have more water stations, tents and misters and shade available for graduates and their families today.

Students who did not get to cross the stage on Saturday will be contacted, along with the students who did not get to cross the stage on Friday, to get their input on a future ceremony to celebrate their achievements.

Updated June 10, 7:56 p.m.

To the UC Davis Community:

The weather forecast for Saturday, June 11, includes an excessive heat warning. Because of this, we have made adjustments to Saturday's commencement ceremony.

Students arriving for the ceremony on Saturday should check in and immediately take a seat in the stadium. The ceremony will start promptly at 8 a.m. without a processional. We will hear from our keynote speaker, U.S. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-California), and our student speaker, deliver awards to students, and then Chancellor Gary S. May and Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost Mary Croughan will confer degrees. The ceremony will end by 9 a.m.

We know that crossing the stage and having your name read is one of the most exciting and rewarding days in students’ and families' lives. While we won't be able to accommodate this aspect of the ceremony on Saturday, we will be inviting all of Saturday's graduates and graduates from Friday's ceremony who did not get to cross the stage to return to campus at a later date. We will have more details about this make-up commencement soon.

We appreciate the community's understanding as we continue to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of our campus community. 

 

Original statement

Based on health and public safety concerns due to heat and at the urging of the UC Davis Fire Department, Fire Prevention Services, and Environmental Health and Safety, we had to end today’s commencement ceremony early.

We deeply regret that some students did not get a chance to walk cross the stage. Chancellor Gary S. May and Provost Mary Croughan invite any of those students who did not get to cross to return with their families for a separate ceremony this Sunday. We appreciate your understanding and know this has been frustrating. 

We will provide more information later today for graduates and families at www.ucdavis.edu/news.