A treasured, lasting memory for every college student is the day they celebrate the completion of their degree and realize after all the hard work and sacrifice; it was all worth it. To ensure graduates, families, friends, and faculty are able to mark this significant occasion from anywhere in the world,鈥痶he University of Arizona Global Campus (UAGC) is hosting a virtual commencement鈥痶o celebrate the fall graduating class on October 24, 2026, at 10 a.m. AZ Local Time. Be sure to check our鈥Graduation Ceremony Information Page鈥痶o learn more about how you and your friends and family can join in the celebration.
To stay up-to-date on announcements made on the University Facebook and Instagram channels, we recommend that you and share the link with family and friends. Additionally, you are invited to participate in a鈥痮n Tuesday, October 6, at 11 a.m. PT, so you know what to expect on the big day! Then, be sure to join us in a on Wednesday, October 21, at 11 a.m. PT for some fun games!
The University leadership team is excited to provide graduates with a memorable experience and has been preparing for the fall ceremony for several months. Recognizing that graduates often plan months or even years in advance to participate in their commencement, the leadership team is dedicated to ensuring graduates experience the best celebration possible.
With this event, the virtual experience will acknowledge the graduates鈥 accomplishments.
"UAGC Fall Virtual Commencement represents the University's commitment to celebrating our students' achievements in diverse ways,鈥 explains Ashley Kirwan, Director of Student Affairs. 鈥淰irtual commencement is an acknowledgment of the hard work and sacrifice of our graduates and shines a spotlight on their accomplishments for friends and family to witness from anywhere in the world."
Erin Wilton, Senior Director, Global Campus Registrar and Records adds: "Commencement is a time to honor and celebrate all our graduates and their accomplishments. A virtual event in the fall allows the University to meet our students where they are 鈥 wherever that may be around the world. We are privileged to be welcomed into the homes and families of our graduates everywhere and are proud to celebrate their success!"
To help make this a memorable event, there are several 鈥渆xperiences鈥 planned. Some of the many highlights include:
- Keynote speech from Jessica Smith, a two-time UAGC graduate and automobile industry executive.
- Speeches from Dr. Blake Naughton, UAGC Vice Provost, Global Campus Academic Affairs; Arizona Board of Regents Chair Doug Goodyear, and Provost Dr. Patricia Prelock
How to Throw a Commencement Party at Home
The University hosts two ceremonies a year, one in person in the spring and one virtual in the fall. Past commencement ceremonies have been streamed online for graduates who were unable to make the trip to Arizona in person. Those who celebrated their achievement at home in the past have gotten creative in their commencement planning. To help you stay organized and get your creative juices flowing ahead of the ceremony, the University created a鈥疺irtual Commencement Checklist鈥痶hat serves as a guide, providing some ideas on how to get festive, and ensuring you enjoy a stress-free virtual celebration.
Tips for Making the Most of Your Virtual Commencement
- are a must:鈥疍o you go all out for holidays? Then you already know a thing or two about decorations. This is an occasion where it鈥檚 perfectly acceptable to make the celebration all about you, so choose any room you like and give it a makeover with signs, streamers, banners, balloons, glittery backdrops, or anything that puts a smile on your face. Remember to wear your cap and gown to add to the festive look! If you鈥檙e inviting friends or family to join you, encourage them to bring signs or decorations of their own. You could even kick it up a notch and have shirts made up with your face on them, with large lettering that says, 鈥淐ongratulations!鈥
- Send e-vites and announcements to friends and family:鈥疘f your loved ones aren鈥檛 traveling to your home for commencement, you can still make a plan to get everyone together for your big moment. Send an e-vite or virtual graduation announcement with details on the commencement ceremony so they can watch it from wherever they are.
- Host your commencement watch party online:鈥鈥痠s a popular video conferencing tool, but there are other options out there! Do your research and find one that best suits your needs.
- Create a congratulatory video montage with classmates:鈥疭tudents are adept at forming friendships within the online classroom. One way to celebrate your collective accomplishments is to gather congratulatory video messages from each other and create a montage. You could be the person who kicks things off by creating a video congratulating one classmate and ask them to 鈥減ay it forward鈥 by creating their own video for another UAGC grad.
- Make a shareable graduation story:鈥If you鈥檙e not shy about sharing your achievements on social media, you can create a 鈥渟tory鈥 for commencement. Start by taking videos and photos of the decoration process, then let your followers watch as you chronicle every moment of the big day. Don鈥檛 forget to include your 鈥渢hank yous鈥 (like an award ceremony acceptance speech) and talk about all the people in your support system who have helped you get through college.
- Take lots of photos!鈥疍on鈥檛 forget to document your day by taking as many pictures as you can. Need some tips?鈥Check out this blog鈥痜or some great advice on snapping the best graduation photos! And be sure to share them on your social profiles 鈥 or鈥痵hare them with us on here鈥 using #UAGCgrad26. We will also be hosting a photo contest leading up to the big day, so be sure to follow us on鈥痑苍诲鈥痜or details!
- Cookies and cake:鈥疶hat鈥檚 it. Eat cookies and cake on your graduation celebration day! An advantage of celebrating at home is that you can reward yourself with treats. Do you know a friend or relative who has baking talents? Ask them to contribute a dessert to the party. 鈥疷AGC-inspired commencement recipes鈥痽ou can create in advance. Enjoy, and share leftovers with neighbors or others who will be proud of you.
- One last thing 鈥 don鈥檛 forget to take a moment to celebrate yourself. Graduating from college is a significant life achievement, placing you firmly on the path to becoming a lifelong learner. Continue to share your accomplishments with us after graduation using the hashtag #UAGCgrad26 and enjoy your success!
鈥淔all virtual commencement allows us to provide access and an affordable way to honor all graduates and celebrate with their family and friends as we confer their degrees,鈥 says Lai Zitoun, MBA, Associate Vice President, Admissions & Enrollment Services. 鈥淚t is a time for the UAGC community to reflect on the dedication and tireless work of our graduates. This is our way of creating a space to bring everyone together as we share this wonderful memory. Congratulations to our graduates, and Go Wildcats!鈥
