UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine

School of Veterinary Medicine




Commencement holds special significance for the School’s degree candidates, their families and friends.  Our congratulations to you and our best wishes for a memorable day!

The following information will acquaint you with our commencement traditions and provide answers to frequently asked questions.

If you have any further questions, please contact the Student Programs Office at (530) 752-1383.


ACADEMIC DRESS
ADMISSION TO THE CEREMONY
GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
AWARDS AND HONORS
DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES
FLOWER SALES
PHOTOGRAPHY
PARKING
SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
ASSEMBLY PRIOR TO CEREMONY
ORDER OF THE CEREMONY
RECEPTION
ACCOMMODATIONS VISITOR LINKS
OTHER UC DAVIS 2009 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY DATES
UC DAVIS COMMENCEMENT HANDBOOK -2009

ACADEMIC DRESS

The academic attire for participants in the ceremony is a doctoral gown and cap with a gray tassel.

How to order

DVM and MPVM students:
Your academic attire must be rented from the UCD Bookstore.
Online ordering will be available beginning March 1, 2009
DVM and MPVM candidates may order and pay for their academic attire by linking to the UCD Bookstore Web site. The rental cost is $35. This cost will increase later in the season per the chart below.  You will be prompted for your degree, name, student ID, e-mail address, telephone, height and weight. You will then be asked for billing information and notified of the return procedure and conditions. Your final order will generate a confirmation and submit the order to the UCD Bookstore.

Students who order online NO LATER THAN MIDNIGHT on APRIL 17, 2009 will have their academic attire delivered to the VMTH or Valley Hall for convenient pick-up in June.  If your order includes a Grad Pack, it will be made available to be picked up with your gown.

If you cannot or choose not to order online, you may order in person at the Grad Faire on APRIL 17th.  This will be your only opportunity to order in person before the deadline.

After APRIL 17:  If you have not pre-ordered by the APRIL 17 deadline, you may still pre-order online through June 2, but your apparel will not be delivered to the VMTH, and must be picked up during Cap and Gown Pickup, June 8 through 10. You may also simply pay for your rental when you pick it up (please see price chart for pricing after APRIL 17.)

Grad Faire: APRIL 17 - Griffin Lounge, Memorial Union
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Gown/Grad Pack pickup: June 8 - 10 - Freeborn Hall
Monday, June 8, 2pm -7pm - PRE-ORDER PICKUPS ONLY
Tuesday, June 9, 9am - 4pm - General Rental and pre-order pickup
Wednesday, June 10, 9am - 2pm - General Rental and pre-order pickup

Gown Rental Fees:

Online Early-Bird thru Grad Faire

Mar 1 – Apr 17

Online orders
after Grad Faire

Apr 18 – Jun 7

If paid during Gown Pickup

Jun 8 – Jun 10

Late Rental
at the Bookstore

After June 10

If ordering a Souvenir Grad Pack

FREE

FREE

FREE

FREE

Doctor's cap, gown and tassel

$35.00

$40.00

45.00

50.00

Commencement Tassel alone

$5.00

$5.00

$5.00

$5.00

Commencement Cap alone

$10.00

$10.00

$10.00

$10.00

Late Pickup Fee for all pre-orders:

 

 

 

5.00

NOTE: Grad Pack prices remain the same throughout season.

For Grad Pack pricing and/or information on availability of graduation announcements, class rings, and portrait photography, please visit the UCD Bookstore Web site.

Residents:
Your academic attire will be ordered for you by the VMTH Director's office.

Academic Hoods

DVM students: The academic hood is a symbol of your personal achievement, reflecting your Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California. The satin lining of the hood is the official colors of the University, while the gray velvet indicates your DVM degree. You will be invested with a School of Veterinary Medicine hood when your degree is conferred at the ceremony. The hoods are property of the School and are loaned free of charge for your use during the ceremony.

MPVM students and residents: The School will loan you a hood signifying your veterinary degree to wear at the ceremony.

Candidates may purchase their own doctoral hoods for use at the ceremony by linking to the UCD Bookstore. Please allow 8-10 weeks to complete your order. For further information, e-mail the Bookstore Commencement Coordinator

How to return: To avoid a late charge, gowns must be returned to the collection staff in the Mondavi lobby immediately following the ceremony, or to the UCD Bookstore no later than Monday, June 15.  The cap and tassel are yours to keep.  Hoods, which are property of the School, will be collected at a designated table following the ceremony.

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ADMISSION TO THE CEREMONY

Tickets to the commencement ceremony are free of charge and will be distributed to candidates in Spring Quarter. Every person (including infants and toddlers) attending the ceremony must have a ticket. Tickets will be for general admission and open seating.

DVM Candidates: Each student will receive an allotment of nine tickets. To obtain additional tickets, classmates can negotiate among themselves for extra tickets and/or request additional tickets from the VMTH Student Affairs Office. Students are urged to return unneeded tickets to the VMTH Student Affairs Office for redistribution.

MPVM Candidates: Each student participating in commencement may request up to five tickets for their guests.

Residents: Each resident participating in commencement may request up to five tickets for their guests.

If space in the Mondavi Center permits, additional tickets will be made available prior to the ceremony.

University policy prohibits the selling of commencement tickets for money or commercial value. Violation will result in referral to Student Judicial Affairs

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GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

The UC Davis Bookstore sells official UC Davis commencement announcements, blank notes, thank-you notes, envelope seals and certificates of appreciation. For personalized announcements, please allow one week for shipment. Personalized announcements may be purchased via the UC Davis Bookstore Web site. If you have questions, or for more information, please e-mail the Bookstore's Commencement Coordinator.

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ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES

University policy prohibits possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages at the commencement ceremony.

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AWARDS AND HONORS

The School Medal will be presented at the ceremony to a graduating senior in recognition of outstanding academic and clinical performance.  Members of the veterinary honor society, Phi Zeta, will wear medallions signifying their academic achievement.

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DIPLOMAS AND CERTIFICATES

DVM: Immediately following the ceremony, diplomas will be distributed to candidates who have completed all clinical, school and campus requirements for June degrees.

MPVM: Candidates will receive program participation certificates.  Diplomas are available from the Registrar’s Office four months after the end of the quarter in which all degree requirements are complete (including presentation of research project).

Residents: A certificate commemorating the ceremony will be presented to each participant at commencement.

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FLOWER SALES

The Cal Aggie Student Alumni Association will be selling flowers at the commencement ceremony, outside of the Mondavi Center. Guests may purchase roses, leis, or mixed flowers for their graduates.

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Bob Knight Photo Marketing will take two photos of each candidate: crossing the stage and immediately off-stage. They will also take a photo of the graduates seated on-stage and various candid shots. The company will email proofs to graduates along with ordering information immediately after the ceremony.

During the ceremony, photos taken by family or friends will be permitted from their seats. Videotaping the ceremony is allowed as long as the equipment does not obstruct other guests’ view.

GradTrak® by Graduation Images has an exciting offer for your graduates. We are offering students a $5 discount on any photo order over $25 when they register their email address prior to graduation.

Bob Knight Photography
Visit the GradTrak® by Graduation Images website at: http://www.gradimages.com/register.cfm
Enter “Davis” as the school name.

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PARKING       

Parking is free in designated areas for those attending the commencement ceremony. Directional signs reading "Commencement Parking" are placed at all entrances to the campus. A portion of South Entry Parking Structure, ground level is reserved for vehicles displaying disabled person placards or plates. Click here to view the map for parking areas (The parking structure and lots #1 and 2 are the most convenient).

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SPECIAL ASSISTANCE

For the convenience of all guests with mobility problems, please ask them to arrive as early as possible to locate their seating. If special accommodations are necessary for unique situations (including sign language interpreters), contact the Student Programs Office at 752-9722.

If an individual has a state disabled parking permit, parking is available in South Entry Parking Structure. For those with mobility problems and no state placard, please contact the VMTH Student Affairs Office or Student Programs Office for a special parking permit. Disabled guests can also be dropped off and picked up in front of the Mondavi center.

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ASSEMBLY PRIOR TO CEREMONY

Degree candidates and residents will assemble prior to the ceremony at 9:45 am in the Studio Theater in the Mondavi Center.

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ORDER OF THE CEREMONY

The ceremony will include remarks by the dean, student speakers and faculty speaker; the presentation of awards; the conferring of degrees and hoods; and the administration of the Veterinarian’s Oath.

At the appropriate time in the program, candidates will rise for presentation to the chancellor.  Following degree conferral, candidates will cross the stage and hand their name cards to the announcer.  DVM graduates will be presented to the faculty marshal who will invest their veterinary hoods.  Graduates will cross the stage to the chancellor and the dean and then return to their seats to be led in reciting the Veterinarian’s Oath.

The ceremony will last approximately two hours.

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RECEPTION

Immediately following the ceremony, light refreshments will be served in the Mondavi lobby for degree recipients, their families and friends, and friends of the School.

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ACCOMMODATIONS / VISITOR LINKS

    * City of Davis Home

    * Davis Visitor's Bureau / Lodging

    * Downtown Davis Businesses

    * Lodging in the City of Woodland

    * Lodging in the City of Dixon

References or pointers on this page do not represent endorsement.

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OTHER UC DAVIS 2009 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY DATES

School of Law

May 16, 2009, 10:30 am, ARC Pavilion

School of Medicine

June 6, 2009, 10:00 am, Mondavi Center

School of Education

June 10, 2009, 4:00 pm, Mondavi Center

Graduate Studies

June 11, 2009, 4:00 pm, ARC Pavilion

Division of Biological Sciences

June 12, 2009, 10:00 am, ARC Pavilion

College of Engineering

June 12, 2009, 3:00 pm, ARC Pavilion

Graduate School of Management

June 13, 2009, 10:00 am, Mondavi Center

College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

June 13, 2009, 9:00 am & 2:00 pm, ARC Pavilion

College of Letters and Science

June 14, 2009, 9:00 am & 2:00 pm, ARC Pavilion

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MORE INFORMATION

Contact the Student Programs Office, 125 Surge IV, 530-752-1383.
Visit the UC Davis 2009 Commencement Handbook Web site.

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