The 2010 College Eight Commencement Ceremony

Saturday, June 12, 2010 at 1:00 PM*

Lower West Field University of California, Santa Cruz

*Graduates must arrive at the College Eight Plaza by 11:30 AM. Guests are encouraged to arrive no earlier than 12:00 PM.

Getting Started

Graduating from UCSC and walking the College Eight Commencement Ceremony is a multi-part process. Listed below are the two major steps that all students who wish to participate in the C8 Ceremony need to take.  Click Here to download a complete list of the steps that students should take to ensure an enjoyable commencement experience.

        Step 1 – Announce your Intent to Graduate from UCSC

To graduate from UCSC, you must apply to graduate at the Registrar's Office, or at their webpage.  Click Here.

        Step 2 – Register for College Eight Commencement

Click Here to Register to walk in the College Eight Commencement Ceremony.

        Not a College Eight Student?

If your not a college Eight Student but are interested in petitioning the Provost to walk with College Eight, please Click Here to download a copy of the printable form. Please follow the directions on the form. Read it carefully!

Click Here for information about the Commencement Ceremonies at other UCSC Colleges.

Student Speaker Nominations

Do you know someone who would make a great commencement student speaker? Would you make a great commencement speaker?

Click Here to nominate a student speaker for the 2010 College Eight Commencement Ceremony.

             Student Speech Topical Areas

            A strong commencement speech should include (or  address) at least two of the three topics below.

1.    Societal Change –How the world and/or the USA and/or California are changing?

2.    Institutional Experience – What has the UCSC and the College Eight Community been like during the past few years?

3.    Personal Experience – How the values, ideas, goals, relationships, etc. of the speaker have grown and developed during their time at UCSC and College Eight?

            Student Speaker Requirements

Nominee's will be contacted by the College Eight 2010 Commencement Planning Committee and asked to submit and present a draft of their speech to a special "Student Speaker Selection Committee" provided that they:

1. Are a College Eight Student

2. Are in Good Academic Standing (Both Current & Cumulative GPA above a 2.0)

3. Will be completing all graduation requirements by June 12, 2010

Commencement Rehearsal

A brief Commencement Rehearsal will be held on Friday, June 12, at the College Eight Plaza. We will walk through the ceremony procedures and answer any last-minute questions. All those walking in the ceremony are expected to attend.

Announcements & Caps/Gowns

Order Announcements, Caps & Gowns and other items at the Bay Tree Bookstore Graduation Center beginning Tuesday, April 13 through Friday, June 4. You may order many items at the UCSC Baytree Bookstore’s website: http://slugstore.ucsc.edu/. You are strongly advised to order your Announcements at least five weeks ahead of graduation to receive them on time.

Caps and gowns are strongly encouraged for the Commencement Ceremony. Although there is an option to rent or buy a baccalaureate hood, College Eight will not be “hooding” graduates during the ceremony. * Discounts available for diploma frames when ordering announcements between 4-13-10 to 4-16-10.

The Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility

“I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.”

Be part of a national student movement by taking a voluntary personal pledge for social and environmental responsibility! The Graduation Pledge Alliance (GPA) is a national organization founded in 1987 by students at Humboldt State University. Students define for themselves what it means to be socially and environmentally responsible. The purpose of the pledge is not to limit or restrict our employment options, but rather to remind us of the importance of every decision we make and of the opportunities for proactive involvement that exist in all aspects of our daily schedules.

Click Here to take the Graduation Pledge online at UCSC.

For more information about the GPA movement please click here.

Disability Accessibility

College Eight is committed to making the ceremony accessible to all participants, families and guests. Disability vans/shuttles will be available throughout the day for transportation assistance between the parking lots and ceremony site. For accommodation requests, separate from the use of disability vans/shuttles, please contact the College Eight Programs Office at 831-459-4279.

Parking and On-Campus Transportation

During Commencement weekend, with ten colleges hosting ceremonies, parking will be very limited and traffic heavy. Each registered senior will receive only two (2) parking passes for the day. Passes will be mailed to each registered senior’s local address in late May. We recommend that you plan to carpool, shuttle, use public transportation, and most of all plan ahead.

Parking passes must be placed on the dashboard of the vehicle, visible to staff directing traffic and parking. Follow the "West Side Ceremonies" and "College Eight" signs. Parking officials will direct cars to the appropriate lots. Guests may walk or take shuttles to the ceremony site at the Lower West Field.

For additional information about parking & transportation please visit the UCSC Transportation and Parking Services (TAPS) website at http://www2.ucsc.edu/taps/. Commencement related information will be posted on the TAPS website in the Spring quarter.

For more information, contact College Eight Programs

Physical Location: College Eight Student Commons - Room 204

Mailing address: College Eight Programs Office UCSC / 1156 High Street / Santa Cruz, CA 95064

Office Phone: (831) 459-4279