UCLA Neuroscience - Commencement

The following should answer most of the questions you might have about graduation day, so please read the information below carefully. We're excited to celebrate this momentous event with you and your special guests.

Questions	Answers
What's the difference between "graduating" and "walking through commencement ceremonies"?	Students can graduate (that is, have completed all requirements for their degree and have stopped taking classes) during any quarter of the year. Then, several months after they have declared their degree expected term (through URSA), they will be issued a diploma from UCLA. Commencement ceremonies, however, occur only once per year and you are invited to walk through these ceremonies whether or not you are actually graduating in Spring Quarter (see below for details). This is the time for you to be publicly recognized by the university and your friends and family for your scholastic achievements. Participating in any commencement activities does NOT guarantee that you will actually earn a degree. You should consult a UCLA college and the departmental counselor for detailed information on satisfying degree requirements.
Where can I get info on the College of Letters and Science Life Sciences Graduation Ceremony?	For information regarding the Letters & Science Ceremony, call the Letters and Science Commencement Hot Line at 310.206.1232 or visit UCLA Commencement website at: http://www.commencement.ucla.edu/ The Letters & Science Graduation Ceremony has different regulations from the Neuroscience Undergraduate Ceremony as to who can attend, and how many guests you can invite. Please contact Letters & Science for details on the Letters & Science Graduation Ceremony. Please read below for details on the Neuroscience Ceremony.
When and where is the Neuroscience Undergraduate Commencement Celebration?	1 P.M. on Saturday, 14, 2008 in Ackerman Grand Ballroom. Graduates and their guests should arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the Graduation Ceremony and proceed to the Registration Table.
Who may participate in the celebration?	Neuroscience majors and minors who graduated in Fall 2007 and Winter 2008, and degree candidates for Spring and Summer 2008 may participate. Fall 2008 candidates may participate after filing a Special Inclusion Petition on MyUCLA.
When will I receive information about the celebration?	All information regarding the Neuroscience Commencement Ceremony will be sent through the undergraduate mailing list. Please be sure your email address is subscribed here.
Do I need tickets to bring guests to the celebration?	Students must order their guest tickets on My.UCLA. Tickets my be ordered through My.UCLA beginning early in May. Four tickets will be complimentary. There will be a charge of $8.00 per ticket for each additional ticket ordered beyond the four complimentary tickets regardless of whether or not the student picks up the tickets.
How many tickets can I get?	Each student can request up to 14 guest tickets through My.UCLA during the first order period. We are usually able to accommodate extra requests, so please email your student ID number and the amount of additional guest tickets you would like to request to the Neuroscience undergraduate advisor. Please be advised there will continue to be an $8.00 charge per ticket. Students must obtain their tickets from the Neuroscience undergraduate office. Please check My.UCLA to see when tickets can be picked up. There are no refunds for guest tickets.
How do I pay for my tickets?	Tickets will be billed to your BAR account.
What do I need to do in order to pick up the tickets?	Students must provide a name pronunciation, photo, and statement for the Neuroscience processional before the commencement guest tickets will be distributed. Please follow the following directions: Statement: Name – We will read your name as part of a processional across the stage. If your name is typically mispronounced, please give us a phonetic spelling of your name or something the syllables rhyme with. In the past, professors have read the names, so they will be unfamiliar with many of you. We will only list your first and last name unless otherwise requested. STATEMENT- In keeping with the more personal character we try to maintain within the Neuroscience major/minor, we would like to provide you with an opportunity to say something personal to friends, family, graduating colleagues, and faculty. After your name is called, a member of our faculty will read aloud the 2-3 line statement you submitted. Please be reasonably succinct (~40 words) in composing your statement. If you do not wish to say anything, please just send me an email to me know not to expect anything. Usually students use this time to thank significant people in their lives or share a meaningful quote/statement. The statement will be read in third person (“Erin would like to thank….”), unless you would prefer a different style in order to get your point across. PHOTO - Please email a photo of you for the processional. The photo must be titled: Last name, First name. In the past, some have been great individual photos (headshot style or profile pics), scanned baby pictures, family group pictures, professional UCLA senior portraits, collages, and more. This will be shown as your statement is read while you proceed across the stage and shake Dr. Chandler or Watson's hand. Guidelines for photo are as follows: Digital Pictures: -Make sure your camera is set at the highest resolution possible. This means it will store the fewest amount of photos on the memory card. -Technical specs: 1600 x 1200 pixels or greater; tiffs or jpegs file format is fine. Scanned photos: Original picture should be at least 3"x5". Scan at 300DPI or the highest resolution possible.
Where will I sit?	Graduates will sit in the first few rows of Ackerman Grand Ballroom, in alphabetical order.
Where will my guests sit?	All seating is general seating, so please tell your guests to arrive early.
What will happen during the celebration?	There will be remarks from Dr. Chandler, a short video, student speaker, and a processional across the stage. For the processional, you will walk across the stage while your photo is displayed on the large screen and your name and statement is read on your behalf.
Will I receive my diploma during the celebration?	No, your diploma will not be handed to you at the celebration, but will be available from the Registrar's Office a few months after you graduate from UCLA.
Can pictures be taken at the celebration?	Yes! We will have a designated photo area for one member of your group to come stand in once they see you stand for the processional. Family members and guests will also be able to take photos from their seats.
Should I wear my cap and gown to the graduation event?	Yes! Please make sure to wear your cap and gown to the ceremony. Graduation Etc. will begin taking orders for caps & gowns, announcements, diploma plaques and frames, Alumni Association memberships, and graduation gifts the beginning of March. Visit them online at http://www.uclastore.com/ or call 310.825.2587.
Will there be a rehearsal for the Neuroscience Commencement?	No rehearsal will be held, but there will be a short workshop during finals week to discuss the ceremony and answer questions.
Will provisions be made for my physical disabilities or those of my guests?	If you have a disability, or you are inviting a guest who needs special assistance to attend commencement, please call the Office for Students with Disabilities at (310) 825-1501 (voice), or (310) 206-6083 (TDD), ASAP to receive information about parking and other assistance at the Commencement. Students who have family members and guests with physical disabilities are urged to arrive early since no seats or sections can be reserved ahead of time.
Where can I get information about parking for graduation?	Current UCLA permit holders may park at their assigned spot during commencement without additional costs. Pre-paid Commencement Parking Permits will be available for purchase ($8 per permit). Check with Parking & Commuter Services, located on the second level of Parking Structure 8, 555 Westwood Plaza from 8 A.M. to 5 P.M., Monday - Friday. http://www.commencement.ucla.edu/ Contact Parking Services at 310.825.9871 or here
Where can I find other commencement information, e.g., directions to UCLA, campus maps, hotels, etc.?	Check out the UCLA Commencement Website at http://www.commencement.ucla.edu/ and the College of Letters & Science FAQ page at http://www.college.ucla.edu/ commencement/faq.html

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