Commencement 2025

Congratulations, Class of 2025!

Philosophy Department Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, June 14, 2025

Royce Hall

2:00-2:45 PM: Pre-Ceremony Reception

3:30 PM: Ceremony

Congratulations, class of 2025! We look forward to celebrating with you at our departmental commencement event in June.

Event details

All graduating philosophy majors, minors, PhD students and your families are invited to attend the philosophy department commencement ceremony on Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 3:30 PM in Royce Hall. Celebrate your accomplishments with your fellow classmates and the philosophy department’s faculty and staff! (Please note: this is a separate ceremony from the College of Letters and Sciences Commencement.)

A pre-ceremony reception will take place outdoors on the Humanities Courtyard (north entrance of Royce Hall across from Rolfe Hall) from 2:00 – 2:45 PM. Come by before the ceremony to mingle with your peers, professors, TAs and staff over some light bites and refreshments!

Ceremony highlights

• Address from philosophy department chair, Professor Michael Rescorla
• Presentation of department of philosophy awards, prizes and departmental honors designations. (Our departmental ceremony does not include College Honors or Latin Honors announcements.)
• Individual recognition of graduates: your name will be called and you will cross the stage for a ceremonial photo with the chair. We ask that all graduates and their guests remain until the end of the ceremony to honor each student as their name is announced.

Instructions for graduating students

Your regalia is your ticket. For the philosophy department ceremony, graduating students do not need a ticket to enter Royce Hall. Your graduation regalia will serve as your ticket.

Participants’ entrance. Students participating in the ceremony should enter Royce Hall via a dedicated entrance. The participant entrance is located at the front of Royce Hall, to the left of the main entrance (as you face the building).

No re-entry permitted. Make sure you have everything you need when you check in for the ceremony. Participants are not permitted to exit and re-enter the venue before walking in the ceremony.

Please arrive on time. Students participating in the philosophy department ceremony must arrive with regalia promptly by 3:30 p.m.

Clear bags or coin purses policy. According to Royce Hall regulations, only clear bags or coin purses meeting certain specifications may be brought into the building on Commencement day:

• Bag must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and must not exceed 12”W x 12”H x 6”D.
• A one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc or similar) would be permitted.
• Small clutch bag measuring no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”, with or without a handle or strap. Such bags may be carried separately or within a plastic bag.
• Diaper bags are permitted, provided an infant is present.
• These policies apply to all graduating students and audience members, so please notify your guests of the guidelines as well.

Eligibility to participate in the ceremony

Students must have a degree (major or minor) expected term in philosophy for one of the following quarters: fall 2024, winter 2025, spring 2025 or summer 2025.

Please note that for fall 2025 candidates, students must submit a Special Inclusion Petition with the College of Letters and Science. Please complete the petition on my.ucla.edu to participate in the philosophy commencement ceremony. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that these requirements are met.

Ordering student regalia

Students must wear regalia to take part in the philosophy commencement ceremony. Students should order regalia through Graduation Etc., which is accessible online through the UCLA Store. We recommend ordering regalia by the beginning of April 2025.

Ticketing for the ceremony

• Students may reserve tickets from May 9, 2025, at 12 noon, through May 23, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. via my.ucla.edu.
• Students participating in the philosophy commencement ceremony are eligible for 4 free tickets. Additionally, students have the possibility of up to 4 waitlist tickets at $20 each. Guest tickets are required for the Royce Hall venue and will need to be scanned at entry.
• Waitlist tickets are not guaranteed, but if given to students, you will be charged directly.
• Graduating students do not need a ticket to enter the ceremony, your regalia is your ticket into the ceremony.
• Students with ticketing issues for the philosophy ceremony should contact philcounselor@humnet.ucla.edu.
• After the May 23 deadline, no ticket orders are guaranteed. Ticket requests made after the deadline will be handled on a first-come, first-serve basis.

UCLA College ceremonies

Please visit the UCLA College Commencement page for more information.

Questions?

If you have questions, please email Wil Jones, Student Affairs Coordinator, at philcounselor@humnet.ucla.edu.

FAQs

I'm a graduating student participating in the philosophy department commencement ceremony. Do I need a ticket?

No, as a graduate you do not need a ticket. But you must RSVP for the ceremony via my.ucla.edu during the open RSVP/ticket ordering window. Your regalia is your “ticket” to the ceremony.

Do toddlers and newborns need tickets?

Yes. A ticket is required for every person attending the ceremony, so that event staff have an accurate count of the number of attendees, which is required in the event of an emergency, and because patrons with babies often use a second seat for baby items.

When will waitlist tickets be released?

The department’s Commencement Coordinator will assess after ticketing ends for students on or around May 27, 2025, and will let the students know via my.ucla.edu soon after that if waitlist tickets will be released. An email from Wil Jones, Student Affairs Officer, will inform you of waitlist tickets being released.

Who can help if my family needs assistance for a relative with a disability or an elderly relative?

Please see the Disability Accommodation page on the UCLA College Commencement website for resources and information. Royce Hall and philosophy department staff are unable to assist.

I forgot to RSVP for the ceremony by the deadline. Can I still attend?

Please contact Wil Jones, Student Affairs Officer, at philcounselor@humnet.ucla.edu to ask if space is still available for the ceremony.

How long is the philosophy department commencement ceremony?

 

The ceremony will last no longer than 1 hour and 45 minutes. Please plan accordingly when making restaurant reservations, travel plans, etc.

 

Stay connected!

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