A treasured, lasting memory for every college student is the day they celebrate the completion of their degree and realize after all the hard work and sacrifice; it was all worth it. To ensure graduates, families, friends, and faculty are able to mark this significant occasion from anywhere in the world, the University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) is hosting a virtual commencement to celebrate the fall graduating class on October 26, 2024, at 10 a.m. AZ Local Time. Be sure to check our Graduation Ceremony Information Page to learn more about how you and your friends and family can join in the celebration.
To stay up-to-date on announcements made on the University Facebook and Instagram channels, we recommend that you RSVP to the Facebook event for the ceremony and share the link with family and friends. Additionally, you are invited to participate in a Facebook Live Pre-Commencement Ceremony Walkthrough on Tuesday, October 8, at 11 a.m. MST, so you know what to expect on the big day! Then, be sure to join us in a Facebook Live Virtual Commencement Pre-Party on Tuesday, October 22, at 11 a.m. MST for some fun games and chances to win some exclusive UAGC swag!
The University leadership team is excited to provide graduates with a memorable experience and has been preparing for the fall ceremony for several months. Recognizing that graduates often plan months or even years in advance to participate in their commencement, the leadership team is dedicated to ensuring graduates experience the best celebration possible.
With this event, the virtual experience will acknowledge the graduates’ accomplishments.
"UAGC Fall Virtual Commencement represents the University's commitment to celebrating our students' achievements in diverse ways,” explains Ashley Kirwan, Director of Student Affairs. “Virtual commencement is an acknowledgment of the hard work and sacrifice of our graduates and shines a spotlight on their accomplishments for friends and family to witness from anywhere in the world."
Erin Wilton, Associate Registrar, Director of Student Records adds:
"Commencement is a time to honor and celebrate all our graduates and their accomplishments. A virtual event in the fall allows the University to meet our students where they are – wherever that may be around the world. We are privileged to be welcomed into the homes and families of our graduates everywhere and are proud to celebrate their success!"
To help make this a memorable event, there are a number of “experiences” planned. Some of the many highlights include:
- Keynote speech from Vincent Vargas, a UAGC graduate and author, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, border patrol agent, actor, and U.S. Army Veteran.
- Speeches from UAGC Senior Vice Provost of Online Initiatives, Dr. Gary Packard, Vice Provost of Academic Affairs, Dr. Blake Naughton, Arizona Board of Regents Chair, Cecilia Mata, and UAGC Alum Domenica Alcala Welter.
How to Throw a Commencement Party at Home
The University hosts two ceremonies a year, one in person in the spring and one virtual in the fall. Past commencement ceremonies have been streamed online for graduates who were unable to make the trip to Arizona in person. Those who celebrated their achievement at home in the past have gotten creative in their commencement planning. To help you stay organized and get your creative juices flowing ahead of the ceremony, the University created a Virtual Commencement Checklist that serves as a guide, providing some ideas on how to get festive, and ensuring you enjoy a stress-free virtual celebration.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Virtual Commencement
- Background decorations are a must: Do you go all out for holidays? Then you already know a thing or two about decorations. This is an occasion where it’s perfectly acceptable to make the celebration all about you, so choose any room you like and give it a makeover with signs, streamers, banners, balloons, glittery backdrops, or anything that puts a smile on your face. Remember to wear your cap and gown to add to the festive look! If you’re inviting friends or family to join you, encourage them to bring signs or decorations of their own. You could even kick it up a notch and have shirts made up with your face on them, with large lettering that says, “Congratulations!”
- Send e-vites and announcements to friends and family: If your loved ones aren’t traveling to your home for commencement, you can still make a plan to get everyone together for your big moment. Send an e-vite or virtual graduation announcement with details on the commencement ceremony so they can watch it from wherever they are.
- Host your commencement watch party online: Zoom is a popular video conferencing tool, but there are other options out there! Do your research and find one that best suits your needs.
- Create a congratulatory video montage with classmates: Students are adept at forming friendships within the online classroom. One way to celebrate your collective accomplishments is to gather congratulatory video messages from each other and create a montage. You could be the person who kicks things off by creating a video congratulating one classmate and ask them to “pay it forward” by creating their own video for another UAGC grad.
- Make a shareable graduation story: If you’re not shy about sharing your achievements on social media, you can create a “story” for commencement. Start by taking videos and photos of the decoration process, then let your followers watch as you chronicle every moment of the big day. Don’t forget to include your “thank yous” (like an award ceremony acceptance speech) and talk about all the people in your support system who have helped you get through college.
- Take lots of photos! Don’t forget to document your day by taking as many pictures as you can. Need some tips? Check out this blog for some great advice on snapping the best graduation photos! And be sure to share them on your social profiles — or share them with us on here — using #UAGCgrad24. We will also be hosting a photo contest leading up to the big day, so be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for details! Check out this Pinterest board for some inspo from your peers.
- Cookies and cake: That’s it. Eat cookies and cake on your graduation celebration day! An advantage of celebrating at home is that you can reward yourself with treats. Do you know a friend or relative who has baking talents? Ask them to contribute a dessert to the party. Check out some of these delicious UAGC-inspired commencement recipes you can create in advance. Enjoy, and share leftovers with neighbors or others who will be proud of you.
- One last thing – don’t forget to take a moment to celebrate yourself. Graduating from college is a significant life achievement, placing you firmly on the path to becoming a lifelong learner. Continue to share your accomplishments with us after graduation using the hashtag #UAGCgrad24 and enjoy your success!
“Fall virtual commencement allows us to provide access and an affordable way to honor all graduates and celebrate with their family and friends as we confer their degrees,” says Lai Zitoun, Vice President University Registrar. “It is a time for the UAGC community to reflect on the dedication and tireless work of our graduates. This is our way of creating a space to bring everyone together as we share this wonderful memory. Congratulations to our graduates, and Go Wildcats!”