SUBJECT:

Faculty Participation in All Campus Commencement

We invite all UC San Diego Senate Faculty to participate in UC San Diego's Commencement weekend, which will begin at 9:00 on Saturday, June 17, at RIMAC Field with the All Campus Commencement ceremony. The ceremony will unite the Class of 2017 as a community and include the conferral of degrees by academic division/school for an anticipated 8,000 graduating students. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, will serve as keynote speaker.

In 1989, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He has carried a message to more than 62 countries spanning six continents, receiving over 84 awards, honorary doctorates, prizes and other recognition of his message of peace, nonviolence, interreligious understanding, universal responsibility and compassion.

Graduates will be recognized individually at the college and graduate school ceremonies, which continue on Saturday afternoon through Sunday evening. We encourage faculty to participate in these important milestones for our graduating students, as you play a significant role in students’ academic careers. Surveys conducted during the strategic planning process showed that students identify close contact with faculty as one of the keys to a better, stronger student experience. A prominent faculty showing will send a message to our students about our commitment to their academic journey. Faculty attending All Campus Commencement will receive complimentary commencement regalia, a guest ticket to the ceremony, and will also be included in a pre-commencement breakfast reception. The colleges and graduate schools will host receptions prior to their events for participating faculty.

For additional information regarding faculty participation and to RSVP visit: http://commencement.ucsd.edu/. Details regarding the breakfast and staging will be provided to registered faculty as the date approaches.

We look forward to your engagement in UC San Diego's commencement weekend, as it will contribute immensely to making the ceremonies special and memorable for our graduating students and their families.

Pradeep K. Khosla Chancellor Peter F. Cowhey Interim Executive Vice Chancellor