Information for Cowell Grads

GRADUATE INFORMATION SESSION

Learn everything you need to know from applying to graduate, to purchasing your cap & gown.

GRAD FAIR

Wednesday, March 30 & Thursday, March 31 | 10 am - 6 pm | Redwood Lounge

This interactive event will prepare you for commencement and beyond. Connect with vendors to help you purchase your regalia, diploma frames, college rings, and more. Campus partners will also be present.

Want to take your senior portrait at Grad Fair? BestGrad, professional photographers, will be ready to take your photo on a first-come-first-serve basis or by appointment. The indoor portrait location will be at the Cowell Community Room.

BOOK YOUR PORTRAIT SESSION

You will receive confirmation of your appointment and additional instructions via email once you book. Photos will be sent as an online photo gallery and there is no obligation to purchase. If you have any questions please contact support@bestgradphoto.com.

ORDER YOUR REGALIA

Purchase your cap and gown today! The deadline to order regalia is Tuesday, May 10 at 8:59 PM.

Once ordered, click here to check your order status.

Regalia is not required to participate in commencement.

REGISTER FOR COMMENCEMENT

Commencement will consist of a virtual commencement ceremony and in-person stage crossing experience - Slug Crossing!

Registration for both the virtual and in-person experience will be in the same registration form in Marching Order. Registration opens Monday, March 28. At that time, the registration link will be emailed to the graduates. Graduates are able to log back into the system at any point up until the deadline of Monday, May 16 at 11:59 PM to update their photo and/or message for the virtual ceremony and change their time for Slug Crossing.

PERSONALIZE YOUR VIRTUAL COMMENCEMENT SLIDE

Class of 2022 graduates will be able to create a personalized slide, including preferred name, major, photograph, and a message they would like to share.

Example of a virtual celebration.
Please note, all images and messages uploaded to the celebration website will be reviewed by administrators and need to adhere to the Student Conduct & Community Standards.

Graduation vs Commencement

Applying to graduate from UCSC is a separate process from registering to be in Cowell's Commencement ceremony, with different deadlines.

If you DO NOT intend to be in Cowell's Commencement, read only the "How to Graduate from UCSC" section, and its links, making sure you apply to graduate via MyUCSC during the appropriate filing period (you can be too early or too late!).

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How to Graduate from UCSC

PART A: VERIFY THAT YOU WILL MEET ALL GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Questions about general requirements = college advising
Questions about major/minor requirements = major/minor advising

PART B: APPLY TO GRADUATE during correct term

The quarter in which you will complete all requirements: this is your "Graduation Term." The filing period to apply to graduate is published in the Academic Calendar (in the Announcing Candidacy section), here is a summary:
If your Graduation Term is this spring quarter or before, you must apply to graduate via My.UCSC.EDU and indicate a winter or spring grad term. If you apply to graduate after the published deadline for your term, you will be billed a $75 late application fee. Late applications submitted after the quarter has ended will be assessed a $100 post-graduation application fee.
If your Graduation Term is this summer quarter or after, DO NOT apply to graduate at this time. You will apply later, during the quarter that is your Graduation Term.
Questions? Check out How to Apply for Graduation and Graduation FAQs for more information.

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ACADEMIC HONORS AND COMMENCEMENT

Several types of academic honors are included in the Commencement print program. These include honors determined at the college level (College Service Citations), departmental honors (Honors and Highest Honors in the Major), University Honors (i.e. cum laude), the Deans/Chancellor's Undergraduate Awards, and Phi Beta Kappa nominees. Some honorees may be designated "candidate for" certain honors, when official/final designation is contingent on the consideration of spring quarter grades (not available at the time of the ceremony).

Deadlines have been communicated to the academic units. Not all departments are able to identify the honors in time to have them included in the print program. All departmental honors we receive by the deadline are included in the program. If you have questions regarding your departmental honors status, please contact your major advisor directly.

COMMENCEMENT KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Information about the Keynote Speaker for 2021 will be posted soon.

STAY CONNECTED

When you graduate, you will join a powerful network of more than 120,000 Banana Slug alumni. UC Santa Cruz Alumni have FREE access to services, networking opportunities, discounts, and events. To get information for all of our alumni programs and services, update your post-UCSC contact info, including your email and city. Update your contact information here and explore alumni.ucsc.edu to learn about our alumni programs and services.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Cowell Programs Office
Phone: (831) 459-2255
Email: cwgrad@ucsc.edu
We are currently operating remotely. If you have questions or concerns, please make sure to email cwgrad@ucsc.edu or the main Commencement email commencement@ucsc.edu.