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Today is your day

University of Phoenix Commencement

Phoenix, AZ  |  Spring 2023

Congrats! It’s time to celebrate your achievement surrounded by people who are so proud of everything you’ve accomplished. Welcome to a community of over 1 million alumni.  

When

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Note: These are in-person ceremonies with no virtual options for participation.

Where

Chase Field, 401 E Jefferson Street
Phoenix, AZ 85004

View directions

Ceremony times

Ceremony times are based on your registration.

Morning ceremony: 10:30 am MST
Doors will open at 9 am MST
Graduates should arrive no later than 9:30 am MST

Afternoon ceremony: 3:30 pm MST
Doors will open at 2 pm MST
Graduates should arrive no later than 2:30 pm MST

University of Phoenix student in cap and gown

Have guest(s) who can’t make it? Stream it live.

The Phoenix ceremonies will be livestreamed. Please choose the ceremony based on your registration time:

Morning ceremony – starts at 10:30 am MST

Afternoon ceremony – starts at 3:30 pm MST

Live streams will be available for viewing up to 30 days after ceremony.

Day of commencement

Getting to the ceremony

Transportation

Check with Arizona Department of Transportation for any road closures the weekend of commencement. 

Get directions to the venue and transportation information.

The Metro light rail is available. Visit Valley Metro for detailed information on how to ride or call 602-253-5000.

Parking

Parking fees will be required ($10–$20). The closest garages are Chase Field Garage (401 S. 4th St., Phoenix, AZ 84004) and Jefferson St. Garage (333 E. Jefferson St., Phoenix, AZ 85004). There are accessible parking spaces in all garages. There will also be a designated drop off point on the West side of the venue. Be on the lookout for signs.

Entrance

Graduates and guests will enter through the West side of the ballpark and use Gates B–E. There will not be concession stands available. Guests including minors are not allowed into the pre-ceremony graduate area or in the graduate seating and stage areas. Minors must be accompanied by an adult and this cannot be a graduate.

Ticket information

You should have received an email from AZ Diamondbacks (events@dbacks.com) with instructions on how to reserve your tickets through the Fevo ticket website. Currently, we’re able to provide up to 15 guest tickets. This includes children of all ages.

Watch for a separate email from AZ Diamondbacks (events@dbacks.com) approximately three weeks prior to the ceremony, with instructions on how to reserve your tickets through the Fevo ticket website. After reserving your tickets, they’ll be issued by Ticketmaster (on the backend) and available in the MLB Ballpark app.

In preparation for your event, please download the MLB Ballpark app and create an account if you do not have one. Please use the same email you used during registration for the MLB Ballpark app account. Check all mail folders as it may go to "spam" or "junk" folders.

Be prepared to show your digital tickets at the entrance. The tickets will be digital, and you will show them through the MLB Ballpark app after completing the required steps. Graduates can send ticket(s) to their guests as needed. They will also need an MLB Ballpark app account and have the app downloaded to their phones to show tickets.

Note: The official number of tickets you will receive is based on what is requested through the Fevo ticket website (not what is requested when registering).

ADA accommodations

If any of your guests will require ADA accommodations at the commencement ceremony, there will be staff at the venue who can assist with seating accommodations. Wheelchairs will not be available for use during the ceremony. Please be sure to provide your own wheelchair, whether it is for a guest or graduate.

There is accessible seating at the top of each section for wheelchairs and a companion. There will be a designated drop off point near the venue. 

Strollers

Due to Fire Marshal regulations, strollers are not permitted in the seating area. Please be advised that University of Phoenix is not responsible for any damage or loss to personal property.

Exiting procedure

We ask all graduates to stay until the end of the ceremony out of respect to the remaining graduates. You’re officially done at the conclusion of the ceremony and can celebrate by moving your tassel over as recognition of being a graduate. Guests will be released in an orderly fashion to ensure a safe exit for everyone. Afterward, you’ll exit the ceremony and go outside where you can meet your friends and family.

Clear bag policy

Safety at the ceremony is our top priority. There is a clear bag policy at this venue. All bags are subject to search. There will be a limited amount of lockers available for a fee on the day of the ceremony.

See what's approved and not approved

Graduate information

Preparing for the ceremony

There is no storage at the commencement venue for personal belongings. Please make arrangements for a guest to hold any personal items or carry them with you at all times. Please be advised that University of Phoenix is not responsible for any damage or loss to personal property.

Bring your cap and gown. Additionally, bachelor’s degree students must bring their stoles and master’s degree and doctoral students must bring their hoods. Use a cool iron, if necessary, to ensure a wrinkle-free appearance.

The deadline to order standard regalia is April 16, 2023 (by midnight) without additional shipping charges. The final deadline will be April 21, 2023, with expedited shipping charges. The deadline for doctoral graduates to order Academic Apparel level regalia is March 1, 2023. 

You can order regalia through the Herff Jones website.

Please contact Herff Jones, Stan Howard for any regalia needs or questions at stan.howard@comcast.net or 480-219-3247. Limited amount of regalia will be available on the day of the ceremony for purchase (cash or credit).

Military graduates: Remember to bring your cord to the ceremony. The military cord is available to order at no charge on the regalia web site. If this was not ordered, they will be available on the day of the ceremony.

Regalia protocols and attire:

Out of respect and courtesy to the University and graduates, we ask that candidates and faculty do not alter their caps and gowns; however, if graduates do alter their caps, we ask that they respect their fellow graduates by wearing their regalia (cap/gown) in a manner that prohibits the use of any offensive or obscene pictures, words, or reference. If students violate any of these prohibited items, they may be asked to remove or alter these items. 

  • Business casual attire should be worn under the gown.
  • Military Dress Uniforms may be worn in place of regalia. Uniforms and regalia should not be worn together.
  • Cultural robes, beauty pageant stoles, etc. are inappropriate for commencement ceremonies and should not be worn, unless they are worn completely underneath the official regalia robes.
  • Cultural and tribal stoles are approved to be worn on the top of the approved official UOPX regalia at commencement ceremonies. Cultural robes, if worn, must be worn underneath the official regalia robe.

Upon arrival, graduates will be directed to a “grad central” area on the concourse. We will have the following tables available:

  • Herff Jones to purchase regalia
  • Grad Card Assistance
    • Your graduate name card will be available on the day of the ceremony.
    • There will be a designated area for picking up your name card, they will be organized alphabetically by last name.
  • Grad Supplies with bobby pins and safety pins
  • Military and Honors Cords to pick up military and/or honors cords

University staff will be available to assist with any questions regarding ceremony logistics.

  • Pick up your name card.
  • Verify you have all your regalia (cap, gown, etc.)
  • No rehearsal, staff will be available to guide the graduates.
  • Graduates will be lined up by degree level, not alphabetically (associates, bachelor's, master's, doctoral)
  • Processional - graduates will walk down seating sections to the field for seating. Recommend comfortable and stable shoes.
  • Seating will be by degree level in two sections on the field.
  • You will be called to the stage by degree level, not alphabetical, with dual lines as you go across the stage. Your name and degree will be displayed and your name announced as you cross the stage. Photos will be taken as you go to the stage as well as when you cross the stage and are handed a UOPX branded congrats envelope.
  • Doctoral graduates will be hooded on stage.
  • We ask that everyone to remain until the end of the ceremony for the celebratory tassel change and acknowledgment of being graduated. For recessional, you will exit up seating to the concourse level and out to the post-ceremony alumni celebration on the outside plaza. Your guests can join you at this location to celebrate.

The University identifies graduates registered for the commencement who are eligible for the honor cord. If you are eligible to receive an honor cord, one will be provided to you at no cost on the day of commencement. This cord is not part of the President or Dean lists. 

Current University of Phoenix Honors Policy:

Graduates eligible to participate in a ceremony and meet the honors criteria can receive a cord.

  • Associate and bachelor's degree students with a program completion date of 01/01/2022 or later:
    • "Cum Laude" - Bronze Cord
      Program GPA of 3.70-3.84
    • "Magna Cum Laude" - Silver Cord
      Program GPA of 3.85-3.94
    • "Summa Cum Laude" - Gold Cord
      Program GPA of 3.95-4.0
  • Master's degree students with program completion date of 01/01/2022 or later:
    • "With Distinction" - Red & Platinum Cord
      Program GPA of 3.90 or higher

Prior University of Phoenix Honors Policy:

Bachelor's degree students with program completion date of 12/31/2021 or before:

  • "With Honors" - Platinum Cord
    Program GPA of 3.85 or higher

The University has coordinated with GradImages Photography to photograph graduates at the ceremony. There will be two photo opportunities during the ceremony: one when going up to the stage and another when crossing the stage.

GradImages Photography
service@gradimages.com
800-261-2576

You will get a printed program the day of the ceremony. The digital program version will be viewable 3 days prior to the ceremony date and up to 30 days following the conclusion of the ceremony. 

Visit the official University of Phoenix Commencement Program site.  Select “Phoenix” from the “What is your Ceremony Location?” drop-down menu.

Hotels with discounted rates

These are available on a first come, first serve basis with a limited amount of rooms available with each block. The rate does not include tax or any other fees.

While you're in Phoenix

Check out things to do

10 E Thomas Road, Phoenix, AZ 85012
Rate: starts at $209
Deadline: March 30, 2023 (or sooner if room block is filled)

Book your group rate

802 East Van Buren St., Phoenix, AZ 85006
Rate: starts at $169/night
Deadline: reserve by April 6, 2023 (or sooner if room block is filled)

Book your group rate

414 N. 5th St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Rate: starts at $189/night
Deadline: reserve by April 6, 2023 (or sooner if room block is filled)

Book your group rate

333 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004-2121
Rate: starts at $219/night
Deadline: reserve by April 6, 2023 (or sooner if room block is filled)

Book your group rate

50 E. Adams St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Rate: starts at $209/night
Deadline: reserve by April 6, 2023 (or sooner if room block is filled)

Book your group rate

15 East Monroe St., Phoenix, AZ 85004
Rate: starts at $229/night
Deadline: reserve by April 6, 2023 (or sooner if room block is filled)

Book your group rate
University of Phoenix student accepting their degree at commencement.

Share your journey!

We would love for you to share any ceremony photos and stories about your educational journey on Facebook.

Questions?

If you have any questions, please email us at uopxcommencement@phoenix.edu.