University Wide Commencement Ceremony

University-wide Ceremony Schedule

Saturday, May 25, 2019

After two days of individual recognition in college and school convocations, degree candidates from all disciplines come together at the Tower, along with their families and friends, for the crowning celebration of their academic achievement — the university-wide commencement ceremony.

5 p.m. Commencement Seating Area Open
6:30 p.m. The University of Texas Steel Pan Ensemble Performance
7 p.m. Tower Carillon Concert
7:20 p.m. Commencement Concert
The University of Texas at Austin Chamber Singers
The University of Texas at Austin Concert Chorale
The University of Texas at Austin Wind Ensemble
Butler School of Music, College of Fine Arts
8 p.m. Grand Procession of Degree Candidates
Commencement Ceremony
President Gregory L. Fenves, Presiding
Commencement Address
Michael S. Dell
Presentation of Degree Candidates
College & School Deans
Conferring of Degrees
Illumination of the Tower in Orange Honoring Degree Candidates
Grand Finale
“The Eyes of Texas” and Fireworks Celebration

University-wide Ceremony

Tickets are not required for guests attending the university-wide commencement ceremony. Seating for guests is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Procession Tickets for Degree Candidates

Degree candidates participating in the university-wide commencement ceremony on Saturday evening (May 25, 2019 at 8 p.m.) are required to present a ticket when lining up for the Grand Procession.

Tickets must be picked up in advance and will be available beginning Tuesday, May 21 at the Texas Performing Arts Box Office and the Frank Erwin Center North Box Office.

Tickets are for degree candidates only and are free of charge. Tickets are not available by phone; they must be picked up in person by presenting a UT ID.

Procession tickets may be picked up at the following locations beginning Tuesday, May 21:

Texas Performing Arts Box Office
Deloss Dodds Way (23rd Street) and Robert Dedman Drive
Open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday
Special hours, Saturday, May 25: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Frank Erwin Center Red River Box Office
1701 Red River Street
Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Friday
Special hours, Saturday, May 25: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

136th Commencement Speaker Bio

Michael S. Dell
Chairman of the Board
Chief Executive Officer
Dell Technologies

Michael S. Dell is chairman and chief executive officer of Dell Technologies, a unique family of businesses encompassing Dell, Dell EMC, Pivotal, RSA, Secureworks, Virtustream and VMware. Dell Technologies is an innovator and technology leader providing the essential infrastructure for organizations to build their digital future, transform IT and protect their most important information.

With revenues of $90B and 145,000 team members, Dell Technologies is one of the world’s largest IT companies serving the needs of global corporations and governments to small businesses and consumers. The company’s unique structure allows innovative, fast-moving startups to co-exist with, and leverage, the global reach and trusted reputation of the large enterprise.

Michael’s story started when he founded Dell with $1000 in 1984 at the age of 19. Notably quoted as saying that “technology is about enabling human potential,” Michael’s vision of how technology should be designed, manufactured and sold forever changed the IT industry. In 1992, Michael became the youngest CEO ever to earn a ranking on the Fortune 500. Known and admired for his astute business vision and bold moves, Michael took Dell private in 2013, setting the stage to architect the largest technology deal in history with the combination of Dell and EMC in 2016.

In 1998, Michael formed MSD Capital, and in 1999, he and his wife established the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation which provides philanthropic support to children and families in the U.S., India and South Africa.

Michael is an honorary member of the Foundation Board of the World Economic Forum and is an executive committee member of the International Business Council. He is also a member of the Technology CEO Council, the U.S. Business Council and the Business Roundtable. He serves on the advisory board of Tsinghua University’s School of Economics and Management in Beijing, China and on the governing board of the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, India. He is a board member of Catalyst and also served as the United Nations Foundation’s first Global Advocate for Entrepreneurship.

Seating and Viewing Locations

Public Outdoor Seating

No tickets are required for Commencement guests. Public seating on the Main, South and East Malls for guests attending the university-wide commencement ceremony will be open beginning at 5 p.m. For the safety of guests, and to allow for final preparations by workers within the seating area, no one will be allowed to enter the seating area prior to 5 p.m.

Seating is limited and demand for outdoor seating may exceed capacity.  At 5 p.m., admission to the Main, South and East Malls will be on a first-come, first-served basis so that everyone planning to attend the ceremony will have an equal opportunity to access availabile seating. For this reason, it is not possible to save seats. Standing in aisles will not be allowed.  Once general outdoor seating becomes full, guests will be directed to available remote indoor and alternate outdoor viewing locations.

Guests attending Commencement activities are asked to assist in maintaining a tobacco-free environment on campus. Use of tobacco is not allowed on the university campus.

Indoor Viewing Locations

Families and friends of graduating students may prefer to view Commencement preparations and the university-wide ceremony in the comfort of an indoor, air-conditioned space. The rooms listed below are indoor viewing sites. Locations open and telecasts begin at 6 p.m., continuing until the ceremony ends around 10 p.m.

Flawn Academic Center (FAC) Room 21*
Garrison Hall (GAR) Room 0.102
Hogg Auditorium (HMA)*
Homer Rainey Hall (HRH) Jessen Auditorium, Room 2.104
Mezes Hall (MEZ) Room 1.306
Student Activities Center (SAC) Auditorium, Room 1.402
University Teaching Center (UTC) Room 2.112A*
W. C. Hogg Building (WCH) Room 1.120

* captioned viewing available

More information can be found here. 

Skip to toolbar