The University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) Class of 2024 has much to celebrate! On Sunday, June 9, nearly 2,000 graduates and 11,000 guests will convene to celebrate the entire graduating class of approximately 9,000 eligible graduates during a commencement ceremony at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. It is an incredibly exciting time for graduates and the University, and the entire UAGC community is ready to honor the Spring Class of 2024 in style.
University leadership is thrilled to provide graduates with a memorable experience and has been preparing for this momentous occasion for several months.
"Spring Commencement at UAGC represents an exciting time to come together in person and celebrate the achievements of our students," says Ashley Kirwan, Director of Student Affairs for UAGC. "It is a wonderful opportunity to be reminded that through all the hard work and determination of our students stands a bigger community of peers, support staff, and loved ones who are proud of everything UAGC students have accomplished."
The UAGC Spring 2024 graduates have endured a lot to make it to the finish line, and this ceremony marks your amazing journey to finishing your college degree.
"This is our favorite time of year," said Katie Scheie, UAGC Chief Operating Officer. "This is the moment you have all been working so hard toward, and we cannot wait to celebrate you and all of your accomplishments."
To help you stay organized, the University created a Commencement Checklist that serves as a guideline to help you prepare for your big day and ensures you can enjoy a stress-free celebration. Read on for details about the UAGC Spring 2024 Commencement.
UAGC Spring 2024 Commencement Schedule
To help make this an event to remember, there are a number of "experiences" planned for the weekend-long celebration. Be sure to RSVP to the Facebook event pages for the Saturday and Sunday events to stay in the know leading up to the ceremony. Then, continue reading for more details about commencement.
Graduation Celebration
Date: Saturday, June 8, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. MST (Local Arizona Time)
Location: Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel and Spa, 9495 W. Entertainment Blvd, Glendale, AZ 85305
Enjoy a day with your fellow UAGC graduates! This free, fun-filled day will be packed with plenty to do for the entire family. Attendance is optional for these events, but why miss all the fun? This will be a great way to see your peers and instructors in person and celebrate your major milestone.
Highlights of the day include:
- Career Fair
- Honor Societies Meet and Greet
- Meet the Faculty Event
- Doctoral Hooding ceremony
- Photos with Dignitaries
- Graduation Cap Decorating
- Kids' Fun Zone
- Military Appreciation Event
- More to come!
Look for details in the official Commencement Newsletter, coming your way soon.
Commencement Ceremony
Date: Sunday, June 9, 2024
Time: 9 a.m. MST
Location: Desert Diamond Arena, 9400 W Maryland Ave, Glendale, AZ 85305
Let the ceremony begin! Congratulations to the UAGC Spring 2024 graduating class. We are so proud of your accomplishments and can't wait to see what you achieve next. On Sunday, June 9, we will recognize the completion of your degree program in a commencement ceremony, marking the end of one journey, and the beginning of another.
Check-in begins at 7 a.m. MST, and the procession/ceremony beginning at 9 a.m. MST, with an estimated conclusion at 2 p.m. Here are some additional highlights and important things to know about your big day:
- Anthem Singer – Hear the winner of the UAGC National Anthem contest (a fellow alum) sing at the opening of the commencement.
- Special UAGC Dignitaries – Dr. Gary Packard, Senior Vice Provost of Online Initiatives, and other University leaders will speak and recognize graduates from the Honors programs, CHAMPS Peer Mentoring, and the Doctoral programs, then present the Class of 2024 and confer the degrees.
- Keynote speech – Ms. Cecilia Mata, Chair of the Arizona Board of Regents, is a devoted advocate of public higher education, Arizona's public universities, women-owned small business, and small businesses in general. Ms. Mata is the founder, president, and owner of AllSource Global Management, LLC, a professional services company.
- StageClips – All graduates in attendance can purchase a short personal recognition StageClip video that can be viewed, downloaded, and shared to social media after the ceremony for $19.99! Links from StageClip will come before the ceremony for pre-purchase and after the ceremony. The name in the program and for StageClip is populated from your student record. Please review the formatting of your name now. If a change/edit is required, email [email protected].
- Safety policies – Backpacks, purses, fanny packs, seat cushions, laptop bags, and camera bags are prohibited at Desert Diamond Arena. The only approved bags are a crossbody, clutch, wristlet or wallet meeting the dimensions of 4.5" x 6.5".
- Parking – Parking will be a $10 dollar credit card charge on the day of the event if you plan on parking at the venue rather than walk from your hotel.
The UAGC 2024 Commencement ceremony can be viewed here on the day of the ceremony.
Don't forget to take a moment to celebrate yourself. Graduating from college is one of life's most significant achievements, placing you firmly on the path to becoming a lifelong learner. Share your accomplishments with the hashtag #UAGCgrad24, and enjoy your success!
Visit our Graduation page for details on traveling to Glendale, for local hotel information, and much more. Be sure to check out our blog on fun things to do while visiting Glendale and the surrounding region. Wondering what to do or where to eat while you are in Glendale for the weekend? Check out this visitor guide, which has everything you need to know to make your stay in Glendale a great one. If you have any questions or concerns, email [email protected].
Congratulations, UAGC graduates! We'll see you in Glendale in June!