Graduate School of Management Commencement Ceremony 2024

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We look forward to honoring all the graduates who have earned the Master of Business Administration, Master of Professional Accountancy or Master of Science in Business Analytics and hosting their friends and families during this event.

Doors open to the public at 9 a.m., and all seats are general seating. All graduates participating in the ceremony are expected to arrive at Hutchison Field by 9 a.m. The ceremony is estimated to be two hours long.

Student Speakers

• Full-Time MBA: Tess Sussman
  • 39 Full-Time MBA graduates
• Bay Area Part-Time MBA: Jessica Cheng
  • 43 Bay Area Part-Time MBA graduates
• Sacramento Part-Time MBA: Leticia Garay
  • 40 Sacramento Part-Time MBA graduates
• OMBA: Utsav Sarkar 
  • 180 Online MBA graduates
• MPAc: Arjun Khosla
  • 49 MPAc graduates
• MSBA: Maanvee Mehrotra
  • 94 MSBA graduates

General Information

Guest Tickets

All guests are required to have tickets. Ticket information was shared directly with the candidates. Please reach out to your candidate to receive your ticket. Children under the age of two years old do not need a ticket. 

Location

The UC Davis University Credit Union Center (formerly known as The Pavilion), is the 150,000-square-foot arena, located next to the Activities and Recreation Center.

UCenter Layout (.pdf)

Address
750 Orchard Rd.
Davis, CA 95616

Directions

From San Francisco

• Take US-101 S via the ramp to Oakland/I-80/San Jose
• Take the exit onto I-80 E toward Oakland (Partial toll road)
• Slight right at CA-113 N (signs for CA-113/Woodland)
• Take the Russell Blvd exit toward Davis
• Turn right at Russell Blvd
• Turn Right at La Rue Rd
• Turn Left at Orchard Park Road

From Sacramento

• Take I-80 W
• Take exit 70 to merge onto CA-113 N toward Woodland
• Take the Russell Blvd exit toward Davis
• Turn right at Russell Blvd
• Turn Right at La Rue Rd
• Turn Left at Orchard Park Road

Parking Information

https://taps.ucdavis.edu/commencement-transportation-planning

Parking is complimentary with registration for all graduates and commencement guests in the Pavilion Parking Structure and Lot 25. To receive complimentary parking you register must register your vehicle and your license plate becomes your permit for the duration of the event. For the Graduate School of Management Commencement ceremony please use the voucher code GSM24. After completing registration, you will receive an email confirmation with your event details, and you don’t have to worry about printing or displaying anything on your vehicle! For instructions on how to register for complimentary parking watch this video or follow the instructions below.'

Step 1: Navigate to parking.ucdavis.edu 

Step 2: Click on Special Event Parking 

Step 3: Select Commencement Ceremonies under Event Type 

Step 4: Select the ceremony you will be attending  

Step 5: Enter the coupon code for the Graduate School of Management GSM24

Step 6: Select Commencement Parking Permit ($0.00) under Permit Type 

Step 7: Select the date of the event 

Step 8: Add your vehicle information 

Step 9: Review the Permission to Park Agreement and select I agree at the bottom  

Step 10: Enter your email address and checkout for the $0 amount 

Graduates and guests with a DMV-issued disabled persons parking placard or license plate will be able to park on a first-come, first-park basis in disabled spaces in Parking Lot 25 and the Pavilion Parking Structure, as well as A, C, and C+ zones. And for those who need assistance, we have Mobility Assistance Shuttles available to assist.

Photography

Photos can be taken from a guests seat or from the designated photo areas in the stands above the arena floor. Tripods are NOT allowed into the UCenter. Professional photographs will be taken of each graduate throughout the ceremony as they are hooded and walk off the stage. Photo stations will be available for friends and family to use with the graduates before and after the ceremony under the tent on Hutchison Field. 

If you would like to purchase photos of your graduate(s) from ProPics, please visit the ProPics website. 

Overnight Accommodations, Restaurants and Fun

Make reservations early, especially if you prefer to stay in Davis, as local hotels will fill up fast. Hotels in the city of Sacramento may also have high occupancy given that UC Davis will be having its undergraduate commencement ceremonies that same weekend. The same goes for some of the more upscale restaurants; save yourself the wait and make a reservation in advance. Davis is located in Yolo County. Please see the Yolo County Visitors Bureau for a listing of hotels, restaurants, and more. Sacramento is the capital of California and is located twenty miles from Davis. Please see their visitors' guide for more information. 

Mobility and Accessibility

For guests who are attending commencement ceremonies in the UCenter and who need mobility assistance, UC Davis offers mobility assistance golf carts for passenger pick up and drop off near the Pavilion Parking Structure ONLY. Guests will be picked up/dropped off at the tent situated on Hutchison Field just to the west of the bike path. Golf carts will take guests across Hutchison Field to and from the southwest entrance of the UCenter. There is no mobility assistance pick up and drop off in Lot 25 due to pedestrian safety concerns with golf carts utilizing the same bike/pedestrian path.

For guests who will be arriving with walkers or wheelchairs, you and your accompanying adult may move along the bike/pedestrian path and use the southeast UCenter Concourse entrance. Please note that entrances have ramps that must be traversed. Please note that UC Davis does not provide wheelchairs or walkers nor personnel to assist with wheelchair movement. Service Animals are allowed at commencement ceremonies. 

Doors open to the UCenter one hour before the ceremony start time. Special accommodation seating sections are available for guests with limited mobility or who use a wheelchair (who may also be accompanied by one other member of their party). UCenter staff can direct you to these sections. The limited mobility seating sections are located in Rows E & F in sections 207, 213, 220 and 226 for all ceremonies. The wheelchair-accessible sections and Special Assistance Seating are located on all four Concourse corners. The building elevator is located on the Concourse Level in the southwest corner. Please plan to arrive at least one hour prior to the ceremony start time as mobility assistance and wheelchair-accessible seating are on a first-come-first-serve basis.

For those guests with limited/no hearing attending commencement in the UCenter, assisted listening devices may be picked up in the UCenter Guest Services Center (located at the northeast Lobby corner in the UCenter) and/or sign language interpretation can be arranged if requested prior the ceremony. 

For Your Safety

Although UC Davis does not anticipate any security problems during commencement, we take special measures to ensure the safety of students, faculty, and guests at our events.

All bags (including purses, fanny packs, and backpacks) are subject to search before being allowed into UCenter. Bags shall be small enough to fit completely under one seat (occupied by bag’s owner) and shall be so kept at all times to maintain clear aisles, walkways, and stairs. Hard sided cases and coolers are prohibited. All prohibited items (see: Prohibited Items) will not be allowed into the venue.

The following items will be prohibited:

• Animals (except service animals).
• Artificial noisemakers or noisemaking devices of any kind.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Balloons
• Hard-Sided Coolers.
• Laser pointers.
• Selfie-sticks.
• Signs or flags larger than 3' x 2'.
• Tripods.
• Tobacco products or e-cigarettes.
• Weapons.
• Any other item(s) determined by event management to be dangerous or inappropriate will not be allowed into the venue.

Due to fire and safety concerns, strollers and baby carriages must be checked and kept at UCenter Guest Services and are not allowed on the main floor.

All commencement venues have the authority to prohibit any other items deemed to be a security risk. In such cases, patrons will not be allowed to bring those items inside the event venues.

Information for Graduates

Commencement Town Hall

Student & Academic Services and the GSM Events Team will be holding two town hall meetings for students eligible to participate to learn more about the Commencement Ceremony and ask questions. RSVPs are not needed. Click the links below to join.

Town Hall #1: May 6, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. (up to 6:30 p.m. as needed) | Join Meeting

Town Hall #2: May 9, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. (up to 6:30 p.m. as needed) | Join Meeting

Graduate Registration to Participate in 2024 Commencement

If you plan to participate in this year’s Commencement Ceremony, we ask that you register here by April 12, 2024. Please review this website to find information on how to order regalia, obtain tickets for guests, expectations during ceremony, and so much more.

*Please note that the Graduate School of Management will send information and/or updates regarding Commencement using your UC Davis email address, if still active. If you no longer have access to your UC Davis email account, please provide an email address that you regularly and consistently check in the Registration to Participate form.*

Complete Required GSM Employment Survey

Started a new role? Started a business? Received a promotion? Share your success with us! We want to hear from you! 

As part of the MBA, MSBA, and MPAc programs, please complete the following exit interview courtesy of the GSM Careers team. The information submitted will be treated confidentially and used only in aggregate in accordance with the MBA CSEA standards. 

Questions about the survey? Make an appointment to meet with the GSM Careers Team prior to June 13, 2024.

**The survey only takes 2 minutes to complete.**

• Complete the survey no later than June 13, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
• Your Class of 2024 Employment Survey is accessible via GTS
• Under My Profile>>Add/Edit Offers > + Add Offer
• If you need access to GTS, please email careerdevelopment@gsm.ucdavis.edu.

ONLINE MBA students who have never accessed GTS, please use the following Qualtrics link: Non-GTS Survey 

This data is crucial to showcase the strength of your MBA and to share out the professional success that the program enabled you to achieve - while also utilizing the aggregate information to build stronger ties with recruiters and companies.

Activate Your eos Account

Eos is an interactive lifelong learning community where UC Davis Graduate School of Management alumni and students can share thought leadership commentary, contribute to discussions and gain different perspectives from other GSM community members.

Join eos to stay connected to the GSM community after you graduate and gain access to a directory, job board, Online MBA course videos, events and more.

Mobility and Accommodations for Graduates

If you are a graduating student and require special accommodations, please notify us as soon as possible by stating your need in the request under the "Special Needs" section of your commencement registration. Two months' notice is needed for a sign language interpreter or if you need assistance crossing the stage. We are able to offer accommodations to students only.

Please contact your program manager to request accommodations and/or to learn more.

Ordering Your Commencement Regalia

All Graduates will receive a padded diploma cover at the Commencement Ceremony, as a gift from the GSM.

We recommend renting the Alumni Package and ordering items that you desire from the à la Carte options. All regalia rentals will include:

• A cap
• A tassel 
• A Masters gown (UC blue/gold masters gown)
• and a Masters hood (drab velvet and blue/gold lining)

The Masters gown and Masters hood must be returned to the bookstore immediately following Commencement on June 14. You may only keep the cap and tassel.

Orders for regalia not submitted by the deadlines indicated below will need to be picked up directly from the UC Davis Stores on the main campus. Graduates are responsible for picking up their regalia; Graduate School of Management staff cannot pick up late regalia orders on a graduate’s behalf.

If you have any questions about your regalia orders, or you have issues with the regalia you received, please contact Herff-Jones at BayAreaGrad@herffjones.com.

Stoles are not required as part of your academic dress. However, they are a keepsake that many graduates choose to purchase on their own and then it will be theirs to keep. You can view your options at the UC Davis Stores website under the Regalia section. Graduates who choose to incorporate a stole are reminded that they must be kept professional.

Full-Time MBA, Sacramento MBA, Bay Area MBA, Master of Professional Accountancy and Master of Science Business Analytics

• Regalia orders can be placed beginning on March 1, 2024 at regular pricing. Orders placed after April 22, 2024 will include a late fee of USD$15.00.
• Regalia orders for these programs are delivered to your home campus (Davis, Sacramento, Bishop Ranch, San Francisco) and are distributed by your program manager.
• In order for you to get your regalia on time, you must place your order by May 21, 2024 at 8:59 PM PST.

Online MBA

• Regalia orders can be placed beginning on March 1, 2024 at regular pricing. Orders placed after April 22, 2024 will include a late fee of USD$15.00.
• Regalia orders for Online MBA students will be shipped and delivered directly to the student’s home address.
• In order for you to get your regalia on time, you must place your order by April 29, 2024 at 8:59 PM PST.

Day of Ceremony

Attire 

Candidates must wear appropriate apparel to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. Lightweight clothing is usually worn under the gown due to the hot weather in June. For men, a suit jacket/coat is not necessary but a shirt and tie improve the gown’s appearance. A button-up blouse/shirt is recommended for ease in affixing the hood. Shoes should be comfortable and appropriate for walking on grass, concrete, tiling, and metal. Graduates should expect to walk up and down stairs/ramps (processional, ceremony and recessional).

Graduates may not decorate or embellish their graduation caps. 

Arrival Time

Graduates are expected to arrive at Hutchison Field, located next to the UCenter, by 9 a.m. to line up for the procession. The venue will open to guests at 9 a.m. for seating, with the ceremony starting promptly at 10 a.m..

Hutchison Field layout 2024.pdf

Conduct/Behavior

Any student perceived as being under the influence of alcohol or drugs may be detained or removed from the ceremony by staff and/or security for further investigation. All graduates and guests are expected to conduct themselves in a polite and respectful manner becoming of a graduate. Prior to the start of the ceremony, UC Davis Aggie Hosts or the UC Davis Police Department supporting Commencement will conduct robe checks. 

End of Ceremony

The anticipated end time for the ceremony is 12:30 to 1 p.m. Light refreshments (water/juice, snacks) will be served outside on Hutchison Field after the ceremony.

Photography

UC Davis has partnered with ProPics to take professional portraits of all graduates during the ceremony. They will be at the venue to take portraits of graduates before, during, and after the ceremony. Individual portraits of graduates will be taken as graduates walk across stage. Graduates should remember to wear their tassel to the right when on stage. 

Photos will be available for purchase after the ceremony. There is no cost to have your photo taken and no obligation to purchase. If you would like to receive your photo proofs, please go to www.UCDavisphotos.com to submit your information.

If you have any questions regarding photos, please contact ProPics at info@propicsusa.com.

Guest Tickets

All guests must have a ticket, except children the age of two and under. Age determination is handled by ticket-takers and security. Tickets may be displayed via your mobile device or printed out as PDF on a sheet of 8.5” x 11” paper.  University policy prohibits the selling of commencement tickets for money or for any commercial value. Violation will result in referral to Student Judicial Affairs.

The ceremony can also be viewed via live streaming webcast and afterward on-demand at: http://commencementvideo.ucdavis.edu.

The Graduate School of Management advises graduates participating not to wait until the day of the ceremony to access your tickets. We also advise that you add your tickets to your phone’s virtual wallet or print a hard copy in case of connectivity issues.

Obtaining Tickets

1. Visit tickets.ucdavis.edu
2. Login to the UC Davis Ticket Office Student Portal
   • If you have redeemed Football tickets or attended campus events this year, you may have already created an account that you can log into.
   • If you have not utilized the student portal before, please click register to enter in your student ID to activate your account. 
   • If you are having login issues, please contact the UC Davis Ticket Office at (530) 752-2471 or aggietickets@ucdavis.edu for assistance. 
3. Once logged in, click the promotions tab on the top menu bar or click the three-bar menu button to find the promotions tab. Enter GSMGRAD24 into the promotions box. Not seeing the promotions box? Visit www.goagspromo.com to enter in the code.
4. Redeem up to 10 tickets

For extra tickets

1. Visit tickets.ucdavis.edu and select the PROMOTIONS tab on the top menu bar
2. Enter in the promo code: GSMGRAD24EXTRA
3. Redeem up to 2 additional tickets. 
4. Upon ordering your 2 additional tickets, you will receive two emails:
   • confirmation of order
   • email with the link to download your mobile tickets.

*Please note that ticket allocation is based on the actual number of students participating in the ceremony and the capacity of the venue.

The UC Davis Ticket Office is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. for assistance in redeeming tickets.  For issues or if you require troubleshooting assistance with ticket distribution only, please contact the Aggie Ticket Office at aggietickets@ucdavis.edu or (530) 752-2471. Do not contact the Aggie Ticket Office with questions about additional tickets as they will not be able to assist.

Invitation Letters for International Travelers/Guests

If any guest(s) part of your Commencement party are international travelers, you may request a Commencement Invitation Letter from your program manager. Please email your program manager the following information:

1. The complete name of your visitor or visitors. 
2. Each visitor's relation to the candidate.
3. If there are multiple visitors, you may request individual letters for each visitor, or one letter that includes all the visitors.

*Please note that all letters must be requested by [DEADLINE PENDING].