We’re looking for staff volunteers to help create a memorable experience for graduating Anteaters!
Commencement ceremonies will be held June 13-16.
Staff volunteers will assist with graduate check-in, volunteer and faculty check-in, graduate name display and scanning, line-up staffing, assisting graduates to their seats and stage management.
What staff volunteers can expect
- Each shift is approximately 3 hours at the Bren Events Center.
- Sign up by completing the volunteer form by Friday, June 6, 2025.
- Volunteers can sign up for one or more shifts and will be assigned to work all shifts they indicate on the volunteer form.
- Grab-and-go snacks, coffee and water will be provided throughout the day for volunteers to take a quick break in the staff-designated area.
- Volunteers will be able to attend a virtual volunteer training session in June. We will also be hosting an optional on-site open house at the Bren Events Center to be held Thursday, June 12th. Exact times and dates for these sessions have not yet been determined. Volunteers will receive an email with details closer to June.
Volunteer qualifications
- Volunteers will need to follow all safety and public health guidelines in place at time of the event.
- Volunteers are provided a Commencement volunteer shirt and are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes.
- Volunteers must be a current UC Irvine staff member and have approval from their supervisor to volunteer at Commencement.
Volunteer for one ceremony or more, it's up to you!
A registration link will be added in April. Please email commencement@uci.edu if you have any questions about volunteering for Commencement.
Graduate Check-in
Check graduates in as they arrive to lineup. Graduates will display their grad pass QR code on their phone while staff use provided iPads to scan each graduate in. Assit the graduate with double checking their electronic name card. Give them instructions on how to have their name card on their phone and ready for scanning at stage. Assist graduates on where to go next: lineup.
Bachelor Student Lineup
Organize lineup and assist bachelor candidates with regalia. Graduates should be in two equal side by side lines before entering the arena. Check that graduates have their name cards ready on their phones ahead of time. Lead bachelor candidates into the Bren Events Center arena.
Masters Student Lineup
Organize lineup and assist masters candidates with regalia. Graduates should be in two equal side by side lines before entering the arena. Check that graduates have their name cards ready on their phones ahead of time. Lead masters candidates into the Bren Events Center arena.
Graduate Hooding Student Lineup
Check in graduates and faculty hooders at their specific school check-in area. Once a faculty hooder and all of their graduates have checked in with a line-up staff, please assist them them into the arena to be pre-seated before the ceremony begins. All graduates and faculty hooders should be seated inside the arena by 5:15 p.m. The ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m.
Volunteer Check-in
Using provided iPads, Check in all volunteers as they arrive for their shift. Assist with credentials, pins, volunteer shirts,and any questions about assignment location.
Faculty Hooder Check-in
Check in faculty hooders as they arrive for the Graduate Hooding ceremony. Assist with getting them to their graduate’s line up area to be pre-seated before the ceremony begins.
Name Display/ Scanner
Assist with the technology that helps display graduates names on the video board as they cross the stage. Volunteers in these roles are near the stage and either scan name cards while graduates approach the stage or advance names on a laptop, perfectly timing their name to be displayed as their name is called.
Graduate Seating
Assist graduates into their seat before the start of the ceremony. Pull them to stage when it is their time to cross the stage, and assist them as they exit the ceremony.
Banner Carriers
Banner Carriers play a prestigious and important role in the Commencement ceremonies, leading the Bachelor's candidates or Platform Party down the aisle and directing graduating students to and from the stage. They are selected from current UCI student applicants who are not graduating in June 2025.
Several Banner Carriers are needed for each ceremony.
Selected Banner Carriers are required to attend a rehearsal. They do not need tickets to enter the Bren Events Center for their volunteer position, but are required to check in one hour before the ceremony begins. If you've been selected, you will be notified via email with information regarding rehearsal location and time.
It is important that volunteers in this role are able to commit to the ceremony/ceremonies they sign up for.
Please email Commencement@uci.edu if you have questions about signing up to be a banner carrier. A sign up link will be added to the website in February.
National Anthem Singers
Auditions will take place in April 2025. Dates and signup information will be added once the date is confirmed.
