Convocation 2024

May 20, 2024

Congratulations 2024 Graduates!

The College of Science 2024 Convocation Ceremonies were held on Thursday, May 2 at the Jon M. Huntsman Center. The ceremony was presided by Dean Peter Trapa and featured comments from Associate Dean Pearl Sandick, chairs and directors of each department and a student speech by physics graduate Dua Ahzar.

Dean Peter Trapa Convocation Speech:

Welcome! My name is Peter Trapa, and I am Dean of the College of Science and of the College of Mines and Earth Sciences. On behalf of the entire merged college community, I welcome you to the 2024 convocation ceremony.

I am so happy to be here with all of you -- graduates, of course, but all those (family, friends, loved ones) who have been with you every step of the way. Many of you began your college careers during the years of the pandemic, so you know acutely the privilege of celebrating here together, in person. Just take a moment to think about how the last few years have changed you - I hope you look back fondly at favorite lectures, campus events, the friends you’ve made, and how much you’ve learned and grown as a person. You have achieved so much, overcome so much… you are unstoppable!

The twenty-first century will continue to be shaped by scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who first shed light on the pandemic, and whose research in many ways allow us to be here on this dazzling day. The challenges facing our world will continue to tackle the grand challenges – energy, environment, medicine, health – of the future.

That’s you! It’s your turn. The world awaits you -- needs you -- each and every one of you. Your career, your family, your entire life -- all unspool into an endless frontier of infinite possibility, and it’s your imagination that is the best window into your future. You will take what you learned in the Colleges of Science and Mines and Earth Sciences, the technical and the abstract, what you learned from your friendships and experiences at the U -- you’ll take all of that, and apply it in new ways that none of us, except for you, can imagine. Embrace the change and opportunities as they come, and seek out new discoveries and challenges. I’m so excited - and so proud - for all of you.

Remember that you are, and will continue to be, part of our College family. We want to hear about your successes, your new discoveries, your opportunities. Remember that we are here, celebrating with you every step along the way, as you achieve great things.

Convocation

April 28, 2022

Photo Gallery

April 30, 2020

Convocation Speakers

February 26, 2020

Convocation speaker

The Convocation speaker will be announced soon!

Student speaker

The College of Science is pleased to have the opportunity for one of our graduates speak at Convocation to represent their experience and deliver an inspiring message to all students in attendance. All undergraduate students graduating in Fall 2019, Spring 2020, and Summer 2020 are invited to submit a written speech to be considered for the 2020 Convocation Student Speaker.

Here are some guidelines for a successful submission:

Your speech should be around 3 – 4 minutes (500-700 words).
Have a clear story, theme, or message.
Talk about your future and how your experience in the College of Science helped to shape it.
Be authentic and positive.
You must be comfortable speaking in front of several thousand people during the College of Science Convocation on Thursday, April 30 at 9 am at the Huntsman Arena.

Please submit your speech by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 18. Speech submissions should contain your full name, UNID, and major.

Students chosen to audition with the College of Science convocation committee will be contacted to arrange a time during the week of March 23-27. The committee will then choose the winning speaker and notify them by April 1. If you have any questions, please email us.

>> Return to the Convocation page <<

Student FAQ

February 26, 2020

Convocation is an opportunity to celebrate your academic accomplishments with your peers, family, friends, and College of Science community. This page contains useful information for graduation day.

Convocation Procedure

All candidates for degrees will line up outside the Huntsman Event Center beginning at 7:30 a.m. Although convocation does not begin until 9:00 am, students will begin marching in at 8:10 am.
A reader card will be given to you when you arrive at convocation. Printing legibly, fill out ALL sections of the card (front & back) and bring it with you to the reader table. These cards are to provide your information to the faculty announcing the student names. They also assist the professional photographer in the process of identifying student photos for those who wish to purchase pictures.
Graduates will file into Huntsman Arena and be directed by the ushers to your seats.
During the awarding of diploma cover, you will be directed to a reader table where you will hand the reader your card. As your name is read, walk to the Dean’s reception line, where your photograph will be taken.
You will then return to the seating area to await the processional out of Huntsman.

Regalia

All graduates are required to wear the appropriate cap and gown during Convocation. Ribbons or cords may be attached to the robe to denote membership in an officially recognized academic organization or honor society when membership is by nomination and/or election.
Regalia may be ordered through the Campus Store.

Photography

Graduation photographs may be ordered through Island Photography. You are not obligated to purchase these photographs.
Family and friends may take pictures as long as they do not disrupt the ceremony.

Diplomas

Diplomas are mailed to graduates from the Office of the Registrar within three months of graduation.
If your address, phone number, and/or email address change, update your information immediately in the Campus Information System (CIS). The Registrar will use the most recent address listed in CIS when mailing your diploma.

reception

All graduates and their guests are invited to a reception at the Crocker Science Center, directly after graduation. It is recommended that cars remain parked, as there is very limited parking by the Crocker Science Center. Guests may take campus shuttles from the Huntsman Center to Crocker, or take TRAX west one stop to the Rice Eccles station. It is a short walk from the TRAX station to the Crocker Science Center. Please email events@science.utah.edu if you need parking accommodations close to the Crocker Science Center.

PhD Candidates

The College of Science allows faculty to hood their Ph.D. candidates during the diploma presentation of the convocation ceremony. In order to assure that this process proceeds smoothly, please read these instructions carefully:

Step 1: After the Ph.D. candidate’s name has been read, s/he proceeds to the dean’s reception line to receive the diploma. The hood should be draped over the left arm. Please be sure that the hood is unbuttoned so that it will fit over the graduation cap.

Step 2: As the candidate approaches the dean, the faculty advisor or department chair (if the advisor is not present) will step forward and stand on the candidate’s left side. The dean will be on the candidate’s right side. The dean will give the diploma cover to the candidate, and the candidate should hand the hood to the dean.

Step 3: The dean and the faculty/chair will each take one side of the hood and lower the hood over the candidate’s head from the rear.

Step 4: The candidate shakes hands with the faculty/chair and the dean, and smiles for the photo.

Guest FAQ

February 26, 2020

Parking

Campus parking lots may be used at no charge during Convocation. Families are encouraged to drop off elderly guests and those who cannot walk long distances in the Jon M. Huntsman Center circle before parking their cars. The closest parking to the Jon M. Huntsman Center is directly south in the LDS Institute lot.

There will be no parking at the Rice Eccles Stadium lot during Convocation and Commencement ceremonies.

For information regarding guest parking, accessible parking, shuttles, and other transportation related information, please visit the Parking Page.

bag check

The Huntsman Center enforces a clear bag policy. Guests may bring in one clear bag no larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches or a one (1) gallon storage bag.

If you do not have a clear bag, any belongings brought into Huntsman Center, including diaper bags, will be searched.

Seating

There is open seating for Convocation guests. Please arrive early to ensure a good seat for the ceremony.

Special seating/accomodations

Guests needing ADA access to the Huntsman Center have 2 options: They may have someone drop them off directly in front of the Huntsman center on the circle (accessed from Westbound South Campus Drive only) and then the driver can park at the stadium lot and take the shuttle or TRAX back OR they may park in the stadium lot and ride a campus shuttle to the Huntsman Center. All the shuttles will be lift equipped.

Photography

Official graduation photographs may be ordered through Island Photography. The graduate will receive information from Island Photography on ordering prints.

Family and friends may take pictures as long as they do not disrupt the ceremony. No one is allowed to take photographs in front of the main stage or the Island Photography staging area.

For additional information, check out the University commencement page here.

>> Return to the Convocation page <<

Video Stream

February 25, 2020

Convocation 2019

September 3, 2019

2019 Convocation Speaker

Dr. Monica Gandhi, BS'91

The College of Science is honored to welcome College of Science alumna, Dr. Monica Gandhi, BS’91 as our 2019 Convocation speaker. Dr. Ghandi is Professor of Medicine and Associate Division Chief (Clinical Operations/ Education) of the Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine at UCSF/ San Francisco General Hospital. She also serves as the medical director of the HIV Clinic at SFGH. Her work in HIV research and HIV education and mentorship has been recognized with a number of international awards including the HIV Congress, Lifetime HIV Merit Award in 2018.

Before HIV research–Monica was immersed in the University of Utah. Her father, Om, now aged 84, was a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the U for over 50 years, and former department chair. Says Monica, “I essentially grew up on campus.”

The health and social issues of the 1970s/80s helped define Dr. Gandhi’s career. “I was moved to enter HIV care by the struggles I witnessed firsthand” says Monica, “I also became interested in infectious diseases, which differentially affect the poor, after going to India several times and witnessing the stark contrast between rich and poor.”

After receiving her undergraduate degree in 1991, Dr. Gandhi completed her M.D. at Harvard Medical School and then came to the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) in 1996 for residency training in Internal Medicine. After her residency, Dr. Gandhi completed a fellowship in Infectious Diseases and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, both at UCSF. She also obtained a Masters in Public Health from Berkeley in 2001 with a focus on Epidemiology and Biostatistics.