Graduation

GRADUATE INFORMATION

Ticket Information

Graduates will receive five (5) commencement tickets for the ceremony. Each guest, including children 9 months and older, needs a ticket for admission into the Addition Financial Arena. Children younger than 9 months need to sit on the lap of a guest. There are not seats for baby carriers and diaper bags. Commencement tickets and parking passes will be in an envelope included in the Grad Box containing the graduate’s cap and gown. Once the Grad Box has been ordered, the graduate will be alerted via text or email when their Grad Box is ready for pick up in the VC Vault on their campus of choice. A shipping option is available for a fee. Please allow up to two weeks for processing the order. There are no extra tickets and there is not a Will Call location the day of commencement so please have your tickets in hand prior to May 4.

Graduate Reader Card Information

Reader cards are distributed with tickets and parking passes. Graduates should bring their reader card to the ceremony. Extra reader cards will be available prior to the ceremony at Graduate Check-In located inside the Addition Financial Arena. It is important that each graduate clearly print in dark ink their first and last name,  including the phonetic spelling, mailing address, and email. Graduates will present their card to the reader before crossing the stage.

Diplomas, Certificates & Transcripts

Diplomas, certificates and official transcripts are not provided until all requirements are certified by the records office after the commencement ceremony.

Diplomas and certificates are not distributed at the ceremony. They are mailed to graduates approximately 6-8 weeks after the end of the semester in which they graduate. Commencement attendees will receive a diploma cover. The approximate timing to receive diplomas and certificates are as follows:

• December: Arrive in March
• May: Arrive in July
• August: Arrive in October

For questions regarding your diploma, please contact the graduation office at records_graduation@valenciacollege.edu.

Graduate Arrival Instructions

All graduates should report to the Addition Financial Arena Grad Check-In entrance 1 hour and 30 minutes prior to their commencement ceremony. The Graduate Check-In entrance is located on the side of the building on the East Plaza Drive side under the black awning. Graduates will be placed in groups and escorted to the arena floor. All graduates need to be seated by 11:40am for the afternoon ceremony, and 3:40pm for the evening ceremony.

Attire: All graduates should be fully dressed in their regalia and wearing comfortable shoes. Please do not bring a purse or personal items as there is no place to store items onsite. You will carry across the stage anything you bring in – we recommend that you limit those to car keys, cell phone and your reader card. Participating graduates in the commencement ceremonies need to wear the official regalia provided by Valencia College. Stoles, cords, and medallions may be worn if they are the designated by the college as an officially recognized group or club.

The commencement ceremony should last approximately two hours. Graduates will be released through the front doors of the arena. Graduates may then join their family and friends in the arena courtyard outside.

This is a formal ceremony celebrating your academic achievements and the achievements of your peers. We request that you respectfully stay for the entire ceremony.

Accessibility Needs

Graduates who use a wheelchair, motorized scooter, service animal, walking cane, white cane, sign language interpreter or assistive listening devices; have hearing or visual impairments; or need special accommodations should contact the Valencia College OSD team at (407) 582-2229 or osdeast@valenciacollege.edu in advance to make special arrangements. Wheelchairs are not provided onsite so graduates need to bring their own. For TDD/TTY calls, please use the Florida Relay Service and phone 711.

Commencement Photos and Video

A team of professional photographers will be onsite to capture formal photos, which will be available to purchase. Grad Images will provide photo previews for participating grads approximately 3-4 days after the event. Grad Images uses the information from your reader card so make sure you print details clearly. Your family may take photos and videos during the event. In order to not obstruct other guests from seeing their graduates, all photos and videos need to be taken from their seats in the arena. The ceremony will be streamed live the day of commencement and can be viewed from the top portion of this webpage. A recorded version will be available for online viewing approximately one week after the live ceremony. The college does not sell the video.

Graduate Gifts

Valencia College gifts and diploma frames are available for purchase online through the Campus Store.

VENUE INFORMATION

Addition Financial Arena

A security check will be conducted for all guests and graduates entering the arena.

Arena doors will open for guests at 11am for the 12pm ceremony, and 3pm for the 4pm ceremony.

Commencement takes place at the Addition Financial Arena (12777 Gemini Blvd N., Orlando FL, 32816) on the main campus of UCF. Tickets for adults, children and infants are required for admittance to the Addition Financial Arena. Once admitted, guests are not permitted to exit and re-enter, and will not have access to the graduate line up, processional and seating areas.

While most guest seating is general admission, some seating is reserved for platform party guests and faculty. Early arrivals will have the best choice of seating. Doors open 60 minutes prior to the ceremony. Guests interested in sitting together should arrive early together.

The Addition Financial Arena does not allow backpacks of any kind or bags larger than 12’’ x 6’’ x 12’’ inside the arena. Guests who bring backpacks or large bags will be asked to return them to their car before entering the building. Plan to arrive approximately one hour and 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. Travel to the Addition Financial Arena may take longer than expected, and guests should anticipate lines and wait times at the security check point.

The following items are also prohibited to bring by both graduates and their guests into the Addition Financial Arena: balloons, bottles, cans, containers, glass vases, alcoholic beverages, noisemakers, air horns, laser pens, silly string, confetti, banners, signs or posters. Review the full list of prohibited items here.

Guests should be made aware that the temperature inside the Addition Financial Arena is much cooler than outside, and they should plan to bring a jacket or sweater.

First aid is available on the main concourse level of the Addition Financial Arena. Paramedics will be available onsite throughout each ceremony. Lost and Found is located at the Addition Financial Arena Guest Relations office on the main concourse. Baby strollers are NOT permitted in seating areas but can be checked at the Addition Financial Arena’s main lobby prior to the ceremony.

Guests can purchase graduation day flower bouquets and leis at the Addition Financial Arena the day of commencement. Vases are not permitted inside the Addition Financial Arena.

ACCESSIBILITY NEEDS

Guests with Hearing Impairments

An American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter and reserved seating will be provided at the commencement ceremony for guests with hearing impairments.

Guests with Mobility Impairments

Guests should use the main entrance of the Addition Financial Arena. An elevator is located on the west side, to the left upon entering the main door of the lobby, to access seating areas. Posted signs and arena staff will direct the guest and one companion to an accessible seating section in the Addition Financial Arena. Guests will have to check their walking assistive device if they choose to sit in the regular bowl seating area and not the accessible seating section.

Guests with Vision Impairments

Reserved seating will be provided at the commencement ceremony. Contact the Valencia College OSD team at (407) 582-2229 or osdeast@valenciacollege.edu to arrange reserved seating.

Accessible Parking & Access to the Arena

Those with state disability parking permits may park in Garage D. Mobility impaired individuals may also be dropped off in front of the Addition Financial Arena prior to parking. Please plan to arrive at the Addition Financial Arena at least one hour and 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. Wheelchairs are not provided. Guests need to bring their own.