Commencement? Convocation? Celebration? A quick guide

Anyone who's worked at the University of Arizona for at least a year is likely familiar with the springtime cheer that comes with the lead-up to Commencement – the U of A's flagship graduation ceremony.

What perhaps is less familiar, even to Commencement veterans, is the nomenclature around the various campus events that celebrate students earning their degrees and other end-of-term milestones.

Image

University Ceremonies – the unit within the Office of the President that oversees official graduation events – worked with the Office of the Provost in the fall to clarify the distinctions that define Commencement, the convocations and other celebrations. The effort was aimed at ensuring that graduating students and their accomplishments get the recognition that they deserve, said Patricia Prelock, U of A provost and chief academic officer.

"Graduation season is the most profound expression of our promise of student success," Prelock said. "Whether a student is being recognized at a celebration, a convocation, or at Commencement, it is a privilege to stand with them as they advance from the classroom to the world, carrying the tools and the confidence they've built here."

Event organizers hope the changes will also help clarify what each event is designed to do – and why recognition events are important at every level, said Claudia Dávila, director of Commencement and ceremonies.

"Whether you're 20 or 60, that moment matters," said Dávila, who worked on her first Commencement 30 years ago. "We love what we do. We're happy to be behind the scenes, but we put a lot of heart into making this night unforgettable for every student."

There are key differences among Commencement, convocations and celebrations – both practical and conceptual:

• Commencement: This term refers only to the university's marquee graduation ceremony held every spring in Casino Del Sol Stadium; this year's is on Friday, May 15. University of Arizona President Suresh Garimella presides over Commencement and delivers an address, followed by a keynote speech – former Google CEO Eric Schmidt will give this year's keynote. Garimella will confer degrees for the entire graduating class all at once and will recognize graduates from each of the university's 20 colleges. Students who graduated in the previous fall and winter terms, or who will graduate in the next spring, summer fall or winter terms, are eligible to attend Commencement.
• Convocations: Convocations are college-level ceremonies where deans preside over the recognition of their individual graduates, as well as faculty and staff with annual awards. Every graduate who participates in a convocation will be individually recognized by college leadership, and those earning advanced degrees will be hooded by faculty mentors.
• Celebrations: This general term refers to award ceremonies, receptions and other graduation-celebration events specific to departments, programs and other smaller units. These events are designed to provide more intimate settings to celebrate the accomplishments of graduating students, and to recognize faculty and staff with annual awards.

The full range of ceremonies, Dávila said, illustrates how graduates are honored across multiple formats, from a full-scale Commencement to college-level ceremonies to more intimate settings. McKale Center at ALKEME Arena will host many graduate convocation ceremonies, including for the College of Engineering, which will celebrate its graduates in a single ceremony – rather than dividing the ceremony based on program – on Thursday, May 14.

For Native American Student Affairs, students and leaders organizing their May 8 celebration at the Student Union Memorial Center intend to deliver inspiration to graduates and their guests. The event will feature an appearance and keynote from Dallas Goldtooth, an activist and actor who portrayed William "Spirit" Knifeman, a fan-favorite character from the Hulu TV series "Reservation Dogs."

"My hope is that students leave inspired and excited as they step into their next chapter, feeling connected to who they are, the communities that have shaped them, both here at the University of Arizona and within their Indigenous communities, and knowing we are all cheering them on in their success," said M. Talia White, interim director for Native American Student Affairs.

University employees interested in lending a hand during the May 15 Commencement ceremony in Casino Del Sol Stadium can still sign up to be volunteers.