Who: Undergraduate students approved for fall 2024 graduation
Time: Friday, Dec. 20, 2024, 9 a.m. (doors open at 8 a.m.)
Place: Hilton Coliseum
Purpose: To recognize students graduating from the college.
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) Convocation is a separate event from the official Iowa State University commencement ceremony. Convocation includes only students with majors in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and allows students and their guests a more individualized celebration of their achievement. Diploma covers are not presented at this event, and caps and gowns are optional to wear. Tickets are not required for admission. Attendance is optional.
Please note: Hilton Coliseum will be performing a bag check for all individuals entering the facility for convocation ceremonies. Concessions will not be available.
RSVP
The RSVP process for the university commencement ceremonies, convocations, and receptions will take place in an event system outside of Workday.
Access the RSVP system and complete the following steps:
- Input your university ID and date of birth.
- Confirm that the student information at the top is correct. *The name listed could be used for Reader Cards, Programming, etc.
- Input your RSVP information for the commencement, convocation, and/or reception event(s). * If you are attending a convocation and/or reception, you must select and answer one of the questions listed in the system.
- Hit 'Submit All Registrations'.
You will receive a confirmation email, whether you indicated 'Yes' or 'No' after you have submitted your response.
Please register for CALS Convocation by Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.
Dress for participating students
Students participating in the CALS Convocation may wear cap and gown or business professional attire. Stairs to and from the stage may be steep for some; comfortable shoes are strongly encouraged.
Arriving at Hilton Coliseum
Students will need to plan to arrive at Hilton Coliseum by 8:15 a.m. so that they can get their reader card (card to be read as graduate crosses the stage) and be seated in a timely manner. Please check in at the CALS table on the concourse level by the north entrance of Hilton by section 109. At the check-in table you will be instructed where to pick up your reader card and where to go to be seated for the event. If you are a double major/degree, you can choose with which major you would like to sit/cross the stage. Please leave coats, purses, and other valuables with family or friends.
Seating Assistance / Special Parking / Special Arrangements
Graduating students with special needs: Any student planning to participate in the CALS convocation ceremony who will need special assistance (e.g., wheelchair seating, sign language interpreter, captioning services, service animals, etc.) prior to, or during, the ceremony should contact Angie Weeks, amweeks@iastate.edu, prior to the ceremony.
Guests with special needs: Special seating accommodations for guests are available on a first-come, first-served basis in the top row of arena seating in Hilton Coliseum. If assistance is needed the day of the ceremony, please speak with an usher. If a wheelchair and/or scooter is needed, Hilton Coliseum does not have any to rent or loan, and guests will need to supply their own or work with outside vendors to secure a wheelchair and/or scooter. Handicap parking is available, and there are no passes or reservations for the handicap accessible parking, your vehicle would require a handicapped tag or plate to be allowed to park in those spaces. Guests needing a handicap accessible entrance and/or elevator should utilize Hilton Coliseum’s west entrance, located under the catwalk between Scheman and Hilton.
Crossing the Stage
The most important part of Convocation is the individual recognition of graduates. Only those present will be recognized. Students with multiple degrees or majors will only be recognized once with the department with which they are seated. The graduates will present a card to the reader and proceed to cross the stage to be recognized by the Dean and appropriate department representative. Students will return to their seats after crossing the stage.
Invitations
Invitations will be sent in November to students at their University address on file with the Office of the Registrar. Families will receive a personal invitation at the permanent addresses on file with the Registrar’s Office. Students who plan to attend the convocation are asked to RSVP by Friday, Dec. 6, 2024.
Program
Students who have applied to graduate by no later than Dec. 6 will have their name in the CALS Convocation program. A printed program will be available at the ceremony.
Photographs
Flash Photography, a private photography company, will take a photo of each graduate as she/he crosses the stage and is greeted by the Dean. An individual photo off-stage will also be taken. Within one week of the ceremony, graduates will receive electronic proofs. Graduating students are able to order photos using an online ordering system. However, you are under no obligation to order any photos.
Questions regarding photographs should be directed to:
Flash Photography
1 (888)-325-3930
University Commencement Information - Iowa State University graduation information
For more information about the University's graduation ceremonies, visit the Commencement website.
Lodging
For information about lodging, contact the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-288-7470. We recommend that you make hotel reservations well in advance, as hotels are usually booked on graduation weekend.
Dining Plans
Nearly all restaurants in the Ames area operate on a first-come, first-served basis during graduation weekend and are usually quite busy.