The English Department's 2024 commencement ceremony will take place on Thursday, May 16th, at 9 AM in Zellerbach Auditorium. Undergraduate Major Advisors emailed graduating students (Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 graduates only) directly on April 3rd with specific instructions. Please check this page for any future updates. If you are graduating at a later term, you will be invited to our Spring 2025 ceremony. No exceptions will be made due to venue capacity restrictions.
Emails pertaining to commencement, such as the save the date, are sent to senior English majors at their Berkeley.edu email address.
*Note: The campuswide commencement has a separate ceremony. For more information, visit commencement.berkeley.edu and submit questions using the contact form
STUDENT SPEECHES:You have the opportunity to address your graduating class with a short commencement address! If you would like to be one of our student speakers, please submit the written draft of a short speech by Friday, April 19 to english_advising@berkeley.edu. You should aim for a delivery length of 2 minutes. We will be in touch with students whose speeches are selected during the first week of May.
REGISTRATION: Graduates with an expected graduation term (EGT) for Fall 2023, Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 who received the April 3rd email are automatically registered for the English department commencement.
GUEST TICKETS: Starting Thursday, April 4 at noon, students may purchase 5 guest tickets at $12 each through CalPerformances hereGraduates don’t need to purchase a ticket for themselves, only for their guests (including children). It is recommended to purchase as soon as possible as tickets are limited and not guaranteed/reserved. Starting April 18, students may purchase additional tickets (more than the 5 initial amount). Purchase through: http://tickets.berkeley.edu/
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Email contact only for questions: tickets@calperformances.org
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Box Office phone: 510-642-9988
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In person hours: Open Tuesday–Friday, 12–5:30 pm, Saturday–Sunday 1–5 pm.
*PLEASE NOTE: The Box Office will be closed Friday, April 16, 2024 and in person sales will not be available that day. We strongly encourage students and their guests to purchase online via tickets.berkeley.edu.
CAP & GOWN:Caps and gowns are available to purchase/rent at the Official Cal Student Store (2560 Bancroft Way) and in the Graduation Department at Fall Rush (2470/2480 Bancroft Way). Cal Student Store Cap and Gown Pricing
HONOR CORDS: All English students who complete English H195A and H195B are eligible to purchase an Honor Cord from the Cal Student Store. If you did not complete the English Honor course sequence, you are not eligible for the Honors cord. There is only one Honors cord at the Cal Student Store and it is intended for Major Honors. Semester honors, Dean’s List or GPA that is roughly equivalent to cum laude, magna cum laude, and summa cum laude DOES NOT qualify for the Honors cord. To view non-major distinctions, visit this page.
ACCESSIBILITY REQUESTS: Please respond to chloevr@berkeley.edu if you or your guest need accessibility accommodation for commencement.
DIRECTIONS & PARKING: During commencements, student "S" permit areas will be open to the public at the hourly rate. Drivers must purchase parking from the "pay by space" dispensing machines. For more information about parking, visit the UC Berkeley Parking and Transportation Special Event Parking Website. Please also consider avoiding parking stress by using the BearTransit shuttle service. Shuttle lines circuit the campus at approximately 12-24 minute intervals. View the BearTransit page for transit information, shuttle schedules and route maps.
GENERAL INFORMATION:Area hotels fill up in May. If you have family or friends coming to your ceremony from out of town, we suggest that they make reservations immediately. For information about local accommodations, restaurants, and things to do in Berkeley, refer to the Berkeley Convention and Visitors Bureau and the UCB Visitors Center
Additional useful information that is not about the English department commencement:
DIPLOMA:Diplomas for undergraduates will be mailed (usually 4-6 months after graduation) automatically to the diploma mailing address in Cal Central and distributed by the Office of the Registrar. Click here for more information.
FIRST DESTINATION SURVEY: The Career Center surveys our graduating seniors every year to learn about their plans after graduation (First Destination Survey/FDS). This valuable information is used to help future students as they embark on their own career exploration. If you have a few moments, please take a moment to complete the survey. For any questions, please email Santina at santina@berkeley.edu