Our Commencement Ceremony will take place on Wednesday, May 20, 2026 at 10:00am. We are excited to celebrate our Fall 2025 - Fall 2026 graduates!
Commencement Registration
If you are a student and would like to participate in the Geography department's commencement ceremony, please fill out this form by April 3.
The Geography department’s commencement is free for both the students participating as well as the guests who will be attending. We do not require tickets for our ceremony. Graduates are welcome to bring as many guests as they’d like. If the number of guests that you are bringing has changed from what you indicated on the registration form, that’s fine! We will have ample seating.
Location and Timeline
- Our ceremony will take place in the Hertz Hall. The address for the building is:
101 Cross-Sproul Path
UC Berkeley
Berkeley, CA 94720
- All graduating students are expected to arrive at Hertz Hall by 9:00am in order to participate in a walk-through prior to the ceremony beginning at 10:00am. It is very, very important that you attend this rehearsal so that you know where to sit, stand, and walk when the ceremony begins.
- Your commencement guests do not need to attend this rehearsal. They are welcome to join in time for the ceremony or hang out elsewhere on campus while you rehearse; if need be, they can sit in the theater, though we would prefer they not be present for the rehearsal so as to not spoil the surprise!
- The ceremony officially begins at 10:00am and should end by 11:45am.
- A reception outside of the building will begin as soon as the ceremony ends and will wrap up at 12:45pm.
Commencement Speaker
We are excited to announce our commencement speaker: Dr. Veena Dubal, Professor of Law at the University of California, Irvine, School of Law and General Counsel for the American Association of University Professors.
Professor Veena Dubal’s research focuses broadly on law, technology, and precarious workers, combining legal and empirical analysis to explore issues of labor and inequality. She has written numerous articles in top law and social science journals and publishes essays in the popular press. TechCrunch has called Prof. Dubal an “unlikely star in the tech world,” and her expertise is frequently sought by regulatory bodies, legislators, judges, workers, and unions in the U.S. and Europe. Prior to joining the academy, Prof. Dubal was a public interest attorney and Berkeley Law Foundation Fellow at the Asian Law Caucus where she founded a taxi worker project and represented Muslim Americans in civil rights cases. Prof. Dubal received a B.A. from Stanford University and holds J.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of California, Berkeley. She currently serves as the General Counsel of the American Association of University Professors.
Regalia
All participating students are encouraged to wear blue or black regalia (cap and gown), though you may dress in whatever makes you feel comfortable and confident. Order your rental gown before March 27, 8:59 p.m. PT for pickup at the Cal Student Store or before April 20 for shipping to your address (starting at an additional $18.10). Every rental includes a cap and tassel for you to keep. A green honors cord will be gifted to undergraduate students who completed a Geography thesis.
For students earning their PhD, please also obtain a Graduation Doctor Hood in PhD Blue.
Regalia will not be available to rent or purchase on-site during the event.
Parking
Please allot extra time to travel around campus for commencement. We strongly encourage the use of public transportation or carpooling to the ceremony, if possible. Parking on campus can be limited, and availability and prices may vary. This page shares parking recommendations and alerts. Commencement parking information can be found here. Please note that our department does not manage event parking.
accessibility
Hertz Hall is wheelchair accessible via an exterior door on the west side ground level. This door has an automatic opener activated by two push plates.
If you require accommodations for effective communication (ASL interpreting/CART captioning, alternative media formats, etc.) or information about campus mobility access features in order to fully participate in this event, please contact the Event Coordinator
Photos
The professional commencement photography company, GradImages, will be present at our ceremony and will be photographing students as they cross the stage, as well as snapping shots throughout the ceremony. GradImages will send proofs of the images after the ceremony which you are welcome, but certainly not required, to purchase. Folks who register with GradImages prior to the ceremony will get 20% off their order.
Hertz Hall Rules
Our ceremony is taking place in Hertz Hall and all guests in attendance are asked to follow the event location's rules:
- The following items are not allowed in Hertz Hall during commencements/ceremonies:
- Noise makers, including but not limited to blow horns, megaphones, noise makers, horns, and bells.
- Confetti and/or glitter.
- Helium and/or mylar balloons (can be left in the lower lobby).
- Strollers; all strollers must be parked in the downstairs lobby.
- Camera tripods set up in any aisle, row, or ADA spot; this is against fire egress and ADA compliance.
- Food or drink (except water bottles). There is a table in the lower lobby where food, drink, and takeaway bags can be held. Drinks and snacks can be enjoyed in the lower lobby or outside courtyard.
- Please do not stand or sit in walkways or on the floors of rows, aisles, or doorways. This is a fire violation and any person doing this will be asked to find a seat.
- Service animals are welcome, but non-service pets are not allowed in Hertz Hall.
Campus-wide Commencement Ceremony
The campuswide Commencement for all undergraduate and graduate students, in every school and college, is on Saturday, May 16, 2026, at 10:30am at California Memorial Stadium. Please note this is a separate ceremony in addition to our Geography Department Commencement.
The campuswide Commencement is free for all graduates, but registration is required to participate. Registration opens on March 17. Students do not need to fill out any additional forms other than registration in order to participate. Students who register by April 17 will have their name listed in the commemorative program. If a student registers after April 17, they can still participate in the campuswide Commencement ceremony, but their name won’t be listed in the program.
Students participating in the campuswide ceremony are required to purchase tickets for their guests. Each graduate can purchase a maximum of six guest tickets. Tickets go on sale starting March 17. All guest tickets are reserved seating and range from $20 to $80 each. Please note that tickets are non-refundable once purchased. Ticket availability is not guaranteed, as they are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. We encourage you to purchase your tickets early.
The campuswide Commencement ceremony will also be livestreamed on commencement.berkeley.edu.
Additional information about the campuswide Commencement ceremony can be found here.
Diplomas
Diplomas are not given out at the commencement ceremony. Instead, they are mailed about four months after the end of a student’s graduating term. More information on diplomas and graduation verification, please visit the Office of the Registrar website.
Lodging
Information on lodging near Berkeley’s campus, and other local accommodations, can be found at Visit Berkeley. For more information on Berkeley campus tours, maps, and directions, please visit Berkeley Visitors Services.