How to participate:

Students: Fill out the Intent to Participate Survey at the Student Affairs' front desk, Admin Bldg., 3rd floor no later than May 22, 2009.

Faculty: If you are able to participate in the Eleanor Roosevelt College Commencement ceremony, click here.

UCSD Seniors Spring 2009

Senior Spring is the quarter of events that offer seniors a variety of opportunities to enrich their UCSD experience in the last ten weeks before commencement. It allows seniors to celebrate their accomplishments and support their transition into alumni. Click here for more information

Commencement Ceremony:

*New - Commencement General Info. PDF version

The Commencement Ceremony for ERC graduates will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 14, 2009 in the RIMAC North Athletic Field and should end approximately at 3:00 p.m.

Graduates should report to the Spanos Field (north of RIMAC) beginning at 12:00 p.m.

Please do not bring personal possessions, e.g. purses, cameras, etc., as there is no secured location to store them. No coolers are permitted and please turn off your cell phones.

We will brief you on the ceremony and give final instructions when you report at 12:00 p.m. Important announcements will be made, so it is important that you be there ON TIME!

Parking: Click here to see the parking areas for ERC

ERC guests and graduates are asked to park in the Pangea Parking Lot (371-376), then Muir Lots (208-207). Parking is free for the day, but we strongly encourage you to carpool.

Disabled Parking:  Disabled guests should park in the North Parking Lot 359 (closest to the field).

Wheelchairs:  An ADA certified ramp is available for those in wheelchairs. We regret the University is not able to provide wheelchairs for guests. The first/last chair of each row may be removed to accommodate wheelchairs.

Commencement Program: Speakers

Helen M. Pataki, ’96, will deliver the keynote commencement address for ERC. Ms. Pataki graduated with a major in Economics and minors in Modern European Studies and Music. She studied abroad in Germany, served as a Resident Advisor her senior year, and was the student commencement speaker in 1996. Following graduation, she was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in Dresden, Germany for one year. After attending Columbia University Law School, she worked for Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, LLP, a corporate law firm in Washington, D.C. and New York City, before joining the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) as a Foreign Service Officer. For the last two years she has been posted in West Africa (Accra, Ghana) as the Regional Legal Advisor for USAID covering a number of countries in West Africa, including Liberia, Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Togo.

Victor Algaze is a fourth year student majoring in Management Science. During his time at UCSD/ERC he has been a frequent College-Bowl competitor, served as a panelist for Admit Day, played intramural football and baseball with fellow students, served as an Instructional Assistant for the Human Development Program’s “Introduction to Career Development” seminar and, this past fall quarter, studied in London at the UC Bloomsberry Center. A strong advocate for the College’s Making of the Modern World core course sequence, he has stated that “…combined with ERC’s globally-oriented atmosphere it has helped prepare me to better grapple with the complexity and challenges which characterize our modern (and ever-increasingly interconnected) world”.

1. Can I participate in the ERC Commencement in June if I am graduating in the Summer 2009 or Fall 2009?

Yes, All students who have graduated or will graduate in Fall 2008 to Fall 2009 may participate in the commencement ceremony on June 14, 2009 at 1 p.m. on the RIMAC Field.

2. How do I ensure that I am able to participate in the ERC Commencement ceremony?

You must fill out the ERC Intent to Participate Survey that is posted on this website. All students who wish to participate in the ceremony must have a commencement ticket. You will receive your commencement ticket at the Bookstore when you pick-up your Cap and Gown and pay your Graduation Fees.

3. How many guests may I bring to the Commencement and do I need to get tickets?

All ERC graduates may bring an unlimited number of guests to the commencement ceremony. It will be open seating and tickets are not required for guests.

4. How and when do I order and pick-up my Cap and Gown?

The UCSD Bookstore will rent caps and gowns June 1-15 inside the UCSD Bookstore. Gowns must be returned immediately after the ceremony to the designated area at RIMAC, so wear appropriate clothing underneath. Bookstore staff will be available at graduation for gown returns only. The cap and tassel are yours to keep.

5. College Honors at Graduation

Eligibility for college honors is based upon the cumulative grade point average (GPA). In addition, to be eligible for honors, a student must receive letter grades for at least 80 quarter units of course work at the University of California. Effective Fall 2008 through Summer 2009, the cumulative GPA ranges for college honors are as follows:

Cum Laude: 3.624 – 3.774

Magna Cum Laude: 3.775 – 3.888

Summa Cum Laude: 3.889 – 4.000

Students who are eligible for Phi Beta Kappa will be contacted in spring quarter with an invitation for membership to the honor society. Selection for this is made based on criteria approved by the UCSD Chapter.

6. I want to participate in another College's Commencement Ceremony, how do I do this?

For graduates with very exceptional circumstances, exceptions may be requested. Written exception requests (with supporting documents) will be accepted via e-mail by 12 midnight, Friday, April 10 to commencement@ucsd.edu or mailed to:

Commencement Ticket Exception Committee
c/o John Muir College
9500 Gilman Drive, Dept 0106
La Jolla, CA  92093-0106

Students will be notified in writing via e-mail of the decision of the committee by April 24, 2008.

For more information please click here

Questions?
Contact us at ercstudentlife@ucsd.edu