Spring 2023 Haas Undergraduate Program Commencement

Participating in the Ceremony

The Haas School of Business holds a commencement ceremony at the end of each Spring semester. Undergraduate Business Majors who are completing degree requirements in Spring or Summer are expected to attend the Commencement ceremony in the year in which they graduate.

Majors who are completing degree requirements in Fall have the option of attending the ceremony the Spring semester before or after they graduate. Students do not need to let the Undergraduate Program Office know if they are planning on participating.

Ceremony

The Commencement ceremony will be held at the Hearst Greek Theatre on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at 2pm.

Commencement Speaker

This year’s commencement speaker is Elena Gomez. As chief financial officer at Boston-based Toast, Gomez oversees global finance, investor relations, and corporate development. Under her financial leadership, the cloud-based restaurant management software company launched its initial public offering in 2021. Throughout her 30-year career, Gomez has helped organizations scale through cycles of massive growth while leading in industries that have been transformed by digital transactions. She has held financial leadership roles at Fortune 500 companies including Salesforce, Visa, and Charles Schwab. An advocate for corporate diversity, equity, and inclusion, she serves on the Founding Advisory Council of the Center for Gender, Equity & Leadership (EGAL) at Haas, as well as the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco.

Before the Ceremony

The gates to the Greek Theatre will open at 1pm for Families, Guests and Graduates. Families and Guests need to enter through the North Gate and Graduates through the South Gate. Families and Guests in wheelchairs and those that have difficulty with stairs should also enter through the South Gate.

Graduates should proceed to the backstage area to fill out a name card, specifying how they would like their name read. The graduates will be in single file when they leave the backstage area and should stand either in front of or behind the person they wish to sit with.

At 2pm the music will begin and the graduates will march out to the seating area.

The ceremony will proceed as listed in the program:

Commencement Address,

Acknowledgement of the Departmental Citation Winner,

Defining Life Principles Award Winners,

Student Speaker.

After the Student Speaker, each graduate will walk across the stage to have his or her name read by the Assistant Dean and Faculty, receive a scroll, and have a picture taken with the Dean before proceeding back to the seating area. The ceremony will last approximately one and a half hours.

Tickets for the Ceremony

Tickets will be available beginning Tuesday, April 4th at $10 each. You can purchase them online at tickets.berkeley.edu, via phone at 510-642-9988 or in person at the Ticket Office in Zellerbach Hall (Tues-Fri 12pm to 5:30pm, Sat-Sun 1pm to 5pm). Tickets purchased through these means will be delivered via email only. Additionally, tickets will be available for purchase at the venue from 1pm-3pm PM on the day of Commencement.
Tickets will not be available for pick up at the Ticket Office. There is also no limit on ticket purchases.

Security

As a security measure, there will be metal detectors at each entrance at the venue. It is recommended that all graduates and guests allow for extra time upon arrival for this extra step. Please review this list of prohibited items before visiting the Greek Theatre (.pdf).

Reception

There will be a reception for all students and their guests immediately after the ceremony in the Haas Courtyard. Refreshments and light snacks will be served.

Cap and Gown Information

https://calstudentstore.berkeley.edu/merchandise/graduation-regalia-43

Commencement-related Merchandise

Rings and Announcements

Photographer

Grad Images will be taking photographs of each graduate as they are given their scroll and as they are congratulated by the Dean. Please see their web site at https://www.gradimages.com/

ADA Parking and Seating

Disabled parking is available at Upper Hearst parking garage at the corner of Hearst Ave and Gayley Road. Upper Hearst parking garage has the best path of travel (one relatively level block) from the parking area to the Greek Theatre. Please note that there is a curbside drop-off area on Gayley Road just north of the Greek Theatre entrance for passengers with mobility disabilities who prefer to minimize the travel distance to the Greek Theatre. The Parking Information for Commencement Ceremonies 2023 flyer below contains more information.

Driving to and Parking at UC Berkeley for Commencement

Parking to Greek Theatre and Directions

Parking Information for Commencement Ceremonies 2023 (pdf)

Rain or Shine

The Commencement ceremony and reception will be held in the locations designated above rain or shine.

Haas Alumni Web Page

Ordering Your Diploma and Final Transcript

Complete the “Career Destinations Survey”

We invite you to take the Career Center’s First Destination Survey, to share your plans after graduation. This brief survey will take no more than 5 minutes and provides Haas with invaluable information that will help us better provide resources and guidance to your peers who follow you. Even if you haven’t yet accepted a full-time job or heard from grad school, please complete the survey now – you can return to it again once your plans settle. As an alum, you continue to have access to  Handshake for a full 5 years after graduation – we hope you’ll take advantage of that as you need it.  If you run into any issues accessing the survey, please reach out to Karen Lin ([email protected]) directly.

Live Stream of Ceremony