Commencement

Students graduating in Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 are automatically eligible to participate in MIMG's Commencement. Students should please utilize the UCLA Graduation Checklist for all graduation items. Graduating MIMG students can contact MIMG Advisors at undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu for questions about MIMG Commencement participation and/or completing MIMG major requirements.

If you do not meet the above eligibility criteria (for example, if your Degree Expected Term is Fall 2026 or Winter 2027) but wish to be included in the 2026 College Commencement, you have to file a Special Inclusion Petition (SIP). To be included in MIMG's Commencement Ceremony, please contact the MIMG Advisors at undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu with your UID. 

Regalia Requirements

MIMG major students who wish to participate in the MIMG in-person commencement ceremonies must wear an approved cap and gown (standard black gown, cap/mortarboard) and a tassel indicating the type of degree). 

• MIMG graduating students will wear a standard black gown, available for purchase online (UCLA Store- Graduation website, UCLA Undergrad./Bachelors Regalia for 2026). 
• MIMG graduating students will wear an approved cap/mortarboard, available for purchase online (UCLA Store- Graduation website, UCLA Undergrad./Bachelors Regalia for 2026). 
• MIMG graduating students (B.S. candidates) will wear a tassel of the appropriate color (historically, B.S. Degrees from the College of Letters and Sciences are gold). Graduating students will wear the tassel on the right side of the cap initially, and will participate in a tassel-turning ceremony when their degrees have been conferred. Tassels are available for purchase online (UCLA Store- Graduation website, UCLA Undergrad./Bachelors Regalia for 2026). When adding the tassel to your online cart, you will select the degree earned to ensure the tassel is the appropriate color. 
• There is no hood associated with the B.S. attire.

Ordering Regalia from UCLA Store

UCLA undergraduate students participating in Commencement should please utilize the UCLA Store- Graduation website for UCLA Undergrad./Bachelors Regalia for 2026 to place orders online. Orders can be picked up in-person or shipped directly to you. Qualifying students may order an Honors cord (available in late Spring) – eligibility is confirmed with your student ID number.

UCLA Store- Graduation website is UCLA's official source for graduation regalia, including caps, gowns, tassels, diploma frames, portrait packages, and announcements. Please see their contact information:

•  UCLA Store- Graduation Location: Ackerman Union A-Level 308 Westwood Plaza Los Angeles, California 90024
• Phone: 310-825-2587
• E-mail: gradetc@asucla.ucla.edu

First-Gen Cord

A “first-generation” student is someone whose parents or guardians have not completed a four-year degree at a college or university in the United States. If you’re the first in your family to navigate college, you’re a first-gen Bruin, and UCLA is here to celebrate. 

• Pick up your First-Gen graduation cord (Week 6–Finals Week): Check the First-Gen cord distribution schedule (locations and times).
• Bruin Firsts (First-Gen Graduation Celebration): Thursday, June 4, 5:00–7:00 PM at James West Alumni Center. More details coming soon.
• Questions or updates: Email First to Go at firsttogo@saonet.ucla.edu and subscribe to the First-Gen Newsletter.

Latin Honors Cord

Honor Cords/Gold Fourragère is made of braided cord and worn over the arm at the left shoulder, signify academic distinction and are awarded to undergraduate students who have attained Latin Honors of Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude. 

Bachelor of Science students eligible for latin honors*  will be able to purchase their honor cords from the Graduation, Etc (located in Ackerman A-Level) beginning Monday June 1, 2026 (In-Person ONLY). 

Eligible students will be asked to provide their UCLA UID and your School (please make sure you state College of Letters and Sciences) to verify they are on the approved eligible list before being able to purchase the latin honor cord.

*If you have not already completed your degree and have officially been awarded latin honors we will use the tentative latin honors eligibility as posted on your Degree Audit Report (DARS).  You must have followed the degree audit process.  Please run a DARS (via MyUCLA) to verify your tentative eligibility.  Please reference this quick guide to show you how to wear the honor cords. Students with questions about eligibility can contact us via the Commencement MyUCLA Message Center.

Diplomas will be available about three months after you complete all of your degree requirements and graduate.  For more information, see: Diploma Availability and Release.

For information regarding the Letters and Science College ceremony please visit the Commencement website. Please direct any questions about the College Commencement Celebration via Message Center. 

Students must ensure that their correct, active email is listed in their MyUCLA "My Contact Information" feature to receive commencement information from MIMG.

Students must ensure that their Degree Candidacy Term is correctly set on MyUCLA. This information is also located on the top left of your Degree Audit. If you do not have a degree expected term listed, or it is inaccurate, you may correct it through MyUCLA. Please see additional information about declaring candidacy here. 

All updates about the MIMG Commencement Ceremony will be sent through the undergraduate email subscription/MIMG "listserv". Please ensure your email address is subscribed. If you're not on the mailing list (or if you'd like to confirm your subscription), please email undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu with your UID along with your preferred email(s). 

Q: What’s the difference between “graduating” and “walking through commencement ceremonies”?

A: Students can graduate (that is, have completed all requirements for their degree and have stopped taking classes) during any quarter of the year or even after summer sessions. Then, several months after they have declared their degree expected term (through MyUCLA), they will be issued a diploma from UCLA. Commencement ceremonies, however, occur only once per year and you are invited to walk through these ceremonies whether or not you are actually graduating in Spring Quarter. This is the time for you to be publicly recognized by the university and your friends and family for your scholastic achievements. Participating in any commencement activities does NOT guarantee that you will actually earn a degree. You should consult a UCLA college and or departmental counselor for detailed information on satisfying degree requirements.

Q: Who may participate in the MIMG Spring 2026 Commencement Ceremony?

A: MIMG majors graduating in Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 are automatically eligible to participate in MIMG's Commencement. 

• Students must ensure that their correct, active email is listed in their MyUCLA "My Contact Information" feature to receive commencement information and ticketing information from MIMG.
• Students should please utilize the UCLA Graduation Checklist for all graduation items.
• Graduating MIMG students can contact MIMG Advisors at undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu for questions about MIMG Commencement participation and/or completing MIMG major requirements.
• If you do not meet the above eligibility criteria (for example, if your Degree Expected Term is Fall 2026 or Winter 2027) but wish to be included in the 2026 College Commencement, you have to file a Special Inclusion Petition (SIP). To be included in MIMG's Commencement Ceremony, please contact the MIMG Advisors at undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu with your UID. 

Q: Do I need tickets to bring guests to the celebration?

A: Each graduate will be allowed 4 complimentary guest tickets. You will need to indicate your participation and reserve your complimentary tickets on the MyUCLA ticketing system. No additional guest tickets will be provided.

All tickets for the MIMG Commencement Ceremony will be virtual tickets. You will receive email messages from tickets@cto.ucla.edu that contain links for you to receive your tickets. You will receive one message per ceremony for each of your graduate tickets and one message per ceremony for your guest tickets. Be sure you check the email account you have in MyUCLA, and check that email account’s spam folder for your ticket messages.

Q: Will provisions be made for my physical disabilities or those of my guests?

A: If you have a disability that will limit your ability to participate in the commencement ceremony, please contact undergrad@microbio.ucla.edu If you have guests with disabilities, call the Office for Students with Disabilities at (310) 825-1501 (voice), or (310) 206-6083 (TDD), ASAP to receive information about parking and other assistance at the Commencement. Sign language interpreters are available upon request. Guests with wheelchairs, disabilities or strollers are encouraged to arrive early.

Q: How do I purchase my cap and gown?

A: Graduation Etc. will begin taking orders for caps & gowns, announcements, diploma plaques and frames, Alumni Association memberships, and graduation gifts. Visit them online at the UCLA Store.

Q: Where can I get information about parking for graduation?

A: Current UCLA permit holders may park at their assigned spot during commencement without additional costs. You can pre-purchase parking passes for your guests. The UCLA Central Ticket Office will sell Pre-paid Commencement Parking Permits beginning in May. The UCLA Central Ticket Office is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday-Friday.

Q: Where can I find other commencement information, e.g., directions to UCLA, campus maps, hotels, etc.?

A: Please see the UCLA Commencement Website for additional commencement resources and information.