Commencement Schedule
College of Arts and Humanities
College of Sciences
College of Undergraduate Studies
College of Business Administration
Rosen College of Hospitality Management
College of Community Innovation and Education
College of Engineering and Computer Science
College of Optics and Photonics
College of Health Professions and Sciences
College of Graduate Studies
College of Nursing
College of Medicine
Commencement Photo Opportunities
UCF GRADS, PLEASE DO THE “KNIGHT” THING AND USE BIODEGRADABLE CONFETTI WHEN TAKING PHOTOS ON CAMPUS.
Saturday, April 22 – Monday, May 8, 2023
Get your cameras ready graduates! Strike a pose for portraits at one of the most iconic spots on campus – The Reflecting Pond. The pond continues to serve as a favorite backdrop for UCF graduates.
Monday, May 1, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday, May 2, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday, May 4, 2023, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
FBC Mortgage Stadium will be open for graduates to come take their #UCFGrad photos during the advertised dates and times. Please enter through Gate 17 to access the stadium. Taking photos on the field is prohibited.
Thursday, May 4, 2023, from 3 – 7 p.m. at the Addition Financial Arena
Graduates are invited to walk across the commencement stage while loved ones record and photograph this milestone moment in your collegiate career. No pre-registration is required, and this opportunity is open to graduates on a first-come, first served basis. Every graduate may bring up to ten (10) guests with them inside the arena. Regalia is not required to participate. Complimentary parking is available in Garage D. Mobility impaired individuals may be dropped off in front of the Addition Financial Arena prior to parking.
Regalia Information
Graduates participating in the commencement ceremonies are required to wear official UCF regalia available exclusively through the UCF Bookstore.
- In-store cap and gown ordering:
- will take place February 14-16 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm at the UCF Bookstore, John T. Washington Center location.
- Online cap and gown ordering:
- is available at the Herff Jones website.
There is a late deadline for regalia of March 31, 2023. All rental orders placed after March 24 will be assessed a rush fee. Graduates are encouraged to order their cap and gowns sooner rather than later to allow ample time for your order to be delivered to your home. If you have any questions, please contact the UCF Bookstore at 407-882-0365.
Graduates who ordered their official academic regalia on or before March 31 may pick up their reader cards and tickets at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center from April 26-28.
Graduates who did NOT preorder their official academic regalia through Herff Jones before the deadline can still rent regalia onsite at the UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center, along with picking up their reader card and guest tickets April 24-25.
Note: Guest tickets and reader cards will only be distributed to graduates with regalia rental orders and who filed an Intent to Graduate application on time. Availability of sizes for official regalia cannot be guaranteed after April 28. Contact the Barnes & Noble at UCF Bookstore for any regalia request after April 28.
Herff Jones also offers other commencement products — like graduation announcements, class rings and nursing pins — which can be viewed and purchased online.
The tassel on a graduate’s cap must be their college tassel and not the black and gold souvenir tassel. Note: Baccalaureate degree candidates wear tassels on the right. Graduate degree candidates wear tassels on the left.
Returning Regalia
It is highly encouraged that graduates return rented regalia immediately following your commencement ceremony to the Barnes & Noble @ UCF Bookstore located next to the Addition Financial Arena or by the end of business day on Saturday May 6, 2023. Bachelor’s and master’s graduates are allowed to keep the cap and tassel ONLY. A late fee of $40.00 will be assessed between Monday, May 8, 2023, and Friday, May 12, 2023, with the return of the gown. Credit cards will be charged full price for any regalia not returned by Monday, May 15, 2023 ($450.00 for bachelor’s, $750.00 for master’s and $1,350.00 for doctoral regalia).
Baccalaureate Honors
The University shall confer baccalaureate honors recognition on those students who have completed a minimum of 48 credit hours at UCF. Honors awarded will be based on overall cumulative GPA including transfer credit:
- summa cum laude — 3.950-4.000
- magna cum laude — 3.900-3.949
- cum laude — 3.800-3.899
In addition, students with a record of academic dishonesty appearing on any transcripts may graduate from a degree program after meeting all degree requirements, but will not be eligible for honors at graduation, including the honor of graduating from the Honors College or a departmental honors program.
Records for the term of graduation are incomplete at the time the Commencement Program is printed. Identification of these students at commencement, therefore, is presumptive of honors and not conclusive, since final term grades may result in changes in relative rankings.
Questions regarding honors eligibility should be directed to the Registrar’s Office prior to commencement at graduation@ucf.edu.
Honor Cords
All baccalaureate graduates potentially earning baccalaureate honors will be notified to their Knight’s email by the Registrar’s Office after the withdrawal deadline of the term the Intent to Graduate application is filed. For students who earn baccalaureate honors, the Honor cords will only be available for purchase at the time of ticket pickup during the designated ticket-pickup week at the FAIRWINDS Alumni center. At that time, a reader card for use at the ceremony is also issued indicating honors.
Because records for the final term are incomplete when the commencement program is printed, and final term grades may affect relative rankings and overall GPA, the notification of graduation with honors is presumptive rather than conclusive.
Honor cords from various honor societies may be worn if they are the designation of an officially recognized group.
Ticket Information
Due to the graduating class size, graduates attending the Saturday, May 6, 2023 – Evening Ceremony (7 p.m.) will receive four (4) commencement tickets for their ceremony. All other graduates will receive five (5) commencement tickets for their ceremony.
Graduation announcements cannot be used for admission. Graduates do not need to register for or order their commencement ceremony tickets. All graduates who have filed an intent to graduate on time and place a regalia order on time will automatically receive their ceremony tickets during the designated dates/times established for guest ticket and reader card pick up. Guest tickets must be picked up along with reader cards by each graduate at the main campus by the dates specified below. Guests who do not have tickets may watch the live ceremony via a simulcast viewing in the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center and the Student Union. The Alumni Center’s seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are not required for the live telecast, and it is closed captioned.
Tickets are picked up during ticket-pickup week at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center located near the Addition Financial Arena on the main campus. A photo identification is required for pick up.
Doctoral candidates and Order of Pegasus graduates may obtain reserved seating for their guests by bringing their tickets to the Office of University Events and Engagement (Millican Hall, Room 326) during ticket-pickup week for a reserved seating stamp.
UCF ONLINE STUDENTS
UCF Online Students pick up guest tickets at the FAIRWINDS Alumni Center located near the Addition Financial Arena on the main campus. A photo identification is required for pick up. If you have any questions, please contact the UCF Bookstore at 407-882-0365.
Monday, April 24, 2023 –
Friday, April 28, 2023
9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Location: UCF FAIRWINDS Alumni Center
Unable to Pick up guest tickets
Graduates unable to pick up their guest tickets may designate a third party to do so by providing them with a letter authorizing UCF to release the tickets during ticket-pickup week. Letters must include the name of the designated pick-up person, along with the graduate’s full name, UCF ID, college of major and their signature on the letter. The designated third party must also present a copy of the student’s photo ID along with the authorization letter.
Doctoral candidates and Order of Pegasus requesting reserved seating from the Office of University Events and Engagement via third party will need a second printed copy of the authorization letter.
Additional Tickets
There will be no ticket lottery offered for additional tickets for graduates. We encourage graduates to reach out to fellow graduates about additional tickets.
Any forfeited tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Addition Financial Arena box office two hours prior to each individual Commencement ceremony.
Ticket Information FAQs
Tickets are not guaranteed. If tickets are available, they will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis at the Addition Financial Arena Box Office will call window two hours prior to the start of each ceremony for that particular ceremony. There will be a limit per graduate based on availability.
On the day of the ceremony, extra tickets can be turned in to the will call ticket box office at the Addition Financial Arena starting two hours prior to the first ceremony time.
Commencement Rules & Tips
Grad cap decorations
- Graduation cap decorations must lay flat against the cap and extend no higher than the cap button.
- Stagnant LED lights are permitted.
- Moving or flashing lights are not permitted.
- Language on decorated caps must be appropriate.
important venue info
- Please anticipate a longer than expected travel time to the Addition Financial Arena due to traffic.
- Graduates should be at the Addition Financial Arena 90 minutes prior to their commencement ceremony.
- Graduates who arrive after the procession begins will not be guaranteed a seat.
- All graduates should park in Garage D. View a map of the location of Garage D .
- Graduates must stay for the entire duration of the commencement ceremony.
important ticket info
- Please check to make sure all guest tickets have the correct commencement ceremony date and time listed on them.
- There is no ticket lottery for additional tickets.
- Graduation announcements cannot be used for admission.
Prohibited items
- The use of cell phones, iPads or Go Pros is prohibited during the ceremony.
- Selfie sticks are not permitted.
- The following items are prohibited to bring by both graduates and their guests: balloons, bottles, cans, containers, glass vases, alcoholic beverages, noisemakers, air horns, laser pens, silly string, confetti, banners, signs or posters.
appropriate Attire
- Graduates should wear comfortable shoes.
- Temperature in the arena can be cold during the ceremony.
- Graduates participating in the commencement ceremonies are required to wear official UCF regalia available exclusively through the UCF Bookstore.
- Honor cords from various honor societies may be worn if they are the official designation of an officially recognized group.
