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2009 Commencement News!

Psychology will hold its Commencement Ceremony on Wednesday, May 20th 2009
at 2:00 PM in the Greek Theater. A Reception will follow in the Campanile Esplanade. 

Commencement Updates
More information will be available in the coming months on this webpage and through the Student Services Office which will  make Commencement related announcements through the Psychology Majors listserv and Psychology Graduate Student listserv. Please be sure that you are subscribed with a current email address that you check regularly.

Commencement Sign-up
Students completing their Bachelor's or Doctoral degrees in Fall 2008, Spring, Summer or Fall 2009, or Spring 2010 (if the student will be studying abroad) may participate in the Commencement Ceremony. Students may only participate in one Psychology Department Commencement Ceremony.

If you would like to participate in the Psychology Commencement Ceremony on May 20, 2009 and/or have your name listed in the program, you need to sign-up through our online registration system no later than April 17, 2009. If you missed registering by the deadline, please email psychsso@berkeley.edu

Guests & Tickets
Graduating students may invite an unlimited number of guests. Please note, however, that tickets are REQUIRED and that guests will not be allowed to enter the Greek Theater without a ticket. Tickets will not be sold at the gate and must be purchased before the day of the event. INFORM YOUR GUESTS THAT TICKETS WILL BE COLLECTED AT THE GATE.

Each graduating student will be given four complimentary tickets. Additional tickets can be purchased for $5 per ticket (CASH ONLY) in the Student Services Office beginning at the end of April. Please be prepared to show your Cal Student I.D. card to receive your tickets.

Commencement Location - Greek Theater
The Commencement Ceremony will be held at the Greek Theatre, a large outdoor amphitheater built into the Berkeley hillside. Please wear comfortable shoes, the location is hilly and there are steep steps in the theatre. The seating is concrete benches, so we suggest that you bring along a cushion to sit on. For those unfamiliar with the campus, please view/print this Campus Map which has the ceremony, reception, and parking information highlighted.

Reception - Campanile Esplanade
The reception will be held after Commencement at approximately 4:00 p.m. at the Campanile Esplanade. No tickets are required for the reception. The reception will be catered by A.G. Ferrari Catering and will include light snacks and beverages.

Commencement & Student Speakers
The Commencement Speaker for the 2009 Commencement Ceremony will be Professor Matt Walker. The Student Speaker will be the winner of the Departmental Citation Award.

Regalia Information
Cap and Gown rentals are available through Graduation Department of the Cal Student Store. Questions regarding regalia rental may be directed to the ASUC Store (642-9000 ext.681 or 642-7028). Honor Cords may be purchased at the store by undergraduate students who are enrolled in the Honors Program.

Grad Finale & Cal Student Store
Attend Grad Finale the week of April 7 - 10 for everything you need for graduation. The Graduation Department at the Cal Student Store opens on March 23, 2009. View their Student Information Flyer to get more information about what they have to offer.

Graduation Announcements
If you wish to inform friends and relatives of your graduation, generic announcements may be purchased at the Cal Student Store. Personalized announcements may be ordered any time online at jostens.com. Order early! (They take around 3 weeks to arrive). If you do not like the product offered, you can go to your favorite stationer and order your own design. A group of students ordering together might find a reduced price available for a bulk order.

Diplomas
Diplomas are not presented at the ceremony; they are usually available about 4 to 5 months after the end of the semester. Graduates may pick up their diploma at the Registrar's Office (120 Sproul Hall) or request that it be mailed to them for a charge. You must have all of your fees paid, returned all library books, and have no other outstanding concerns. If you have not already done so, please log onto Bearfacts to designate a specific address for your diploma. For more information, contact the Office of the Registrar.

Photographs
There will be a professional photographer present during the ceremony. A picture will be taken of each student at the moment the commemorative scroll is given to the student by the Psychology Department Chair Dr. Stephen Hinshaw. The photographer will contact you at the address you write on the card.

To prevent crowd congestion and to ensure the safety and comfort of all, guests may only take pictures and videos from their seats.

Weather Considerations
Please inform your guests that both the ceremony and reception are outdoor events that will take place rain or shine. Guests should be prepared for all weather conditions. Please note that the ceremony will probably take place in direct sunlight (no shade), and so people should plan accordingly (sunscreen, umbrellas, water, etc.).

Disability Accommodation & On-Site Medical Aid
Please inform the Student Services Office by May 4th if you or any of your guests require special seating (e.g., if they are disabled and/or will be using a wheelchair or if the steps will be difficult for them to manage). Information on the campus' Disability Access Services can be found at http://access.berkeley.edu/.

There will be a registered nurse and campus security aides on duty during the ceremony should anyone need medical attention. The nurse will be backstage, near the North Gate entrance.

Parking
On-campus visitor parking is available in any designated student lot on campus, for a fee. Parking lots near the Greek Theatre include: 1) Foothill Lot (Hearst Ave., east of Highland Ave.) and 2) Upper Hearst Structure, (Hearst & Gayley Rd.), and 3) Kleeberger Lot (Stadium Rimway, off Gayley Rd.). Traffic is likely to be heavy around the theater and parking may be difficult, so be sure to allow plenty of time to get there. Please see the Parking & Transportation web site for more information on parking fees, maps and locations, disability parking, and public transportation.

Visitor Information
Visitors coming from outside the Bay Area may wish to contact UC Berkeley Visitors Services at 510-642-5215. Information on local accommodations can be found at the Berkeley Visitors Bureau.

Commencement Day Procedures - Graduating Students
PLEASE ARRIVE AT THE GREEK THEATER ON WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2009, AT 1:00 PM IN ROBE.

• The Greek Theatre gates will be opened at 1:00 p.m. The ceremony will start at 2:00 p.m.

• Degree candidates should congregate in the backstage area at 1:00 pm. You will then be given a color coded index card on which to print your first and last name. If your name is difficult to pronounce, it should be spelled phonetically on the card. All cards will be either blue or yellow, signifying whether you line up stage left or stage right for the procession. Although we cannot  guarantee that you will be able to sit near your friends, your chances of sitting beside them are greatly increased if you are next to each other in the same line backstage (in other words, ask for a card that is the same color as those of your friends). After receiving your card, it is almost impossible to switch cards (from A to B or vice versa), so make sure you know what line you want to be in before asking for a corresponding card.

• On cue, the lines will march into the Theater and into the student seating. Please remain standing until Dr. Hinshaw signals candidates to be seated.

• Towards the end of the ceremony, Dr. Hinshaw will present each student with a commemorative scroll on stage.
                 o Ph.D. candidates will be hooded individually by their Faculty Advisor.
                 o B.A. candidates will be given a card backstage which will have
                    directions regarding this process. Student Services Staff will be there
                    to guide you through this portion of the ceremony.

• Dr. Hinshaw will then end the ceremony. The audience will remain seated while the students leave the stage. 

• The ceremony usually lasts between two and two-and-a-half hours.

PLEASE INFORM YOUR GUESTS OF THESE DETAILS SO THEY DO NOT HAVE TO CALL THE STUDENT SERVICES OFFICE TO GET THE INFORMATION.