School of Information 2025 Graduation
Ceremony Overview
We are happy to announce that the School of Information 2025 Graduation Ceremony will take place on Friday, May 9, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. at Bass Concert Hall.
The ceremony will include remarks from the dean, a student speaker, and an alumni speaker. Graduates will cross the stage and have their name announced while professional photos are taken
Entry Instructions
Guests enter through the front doors facing Deloss Dodds Way. Graduates enter via the loading dock. Doors open at 2:15 pm. No tickets are required and seating is first-come, first-served. Tickets are not required for guests and there is no limit on the number of guests that can attend. Seating is first-come first-seated.
Graduates and guests should be aware of the Safety and Security Policies
Contact Info
iSchool Ceremony
Graduate Ceremonies & Ticketing
Accessibility
Kijana Knight-Torres
Bio
Kijana Knight-Torres is the Sr. Manager for UX Research at CDK Global, where she leads a team of mixed-methods UX researchers supporting strategic initiatives across the product portfolio. Formerly a UX Research Director at Indeed, she focused on team development, excellence in practice, and mentorship. Her work centers on understanding the intersection of human behavior, cognition, and business motivation, with an emphasis on aligning user needs and decision-making. Kijana began her career as a software developer, but shifted toward UX research and user advocacy. She holds degrees in Computer Science (Rice University), Information Studies (UT Austin), and Choral Conducting (Messiah University). Outside of work, she sings in The Quinlan Singers, leads a church choir, and enjoys baking, music, and family life in Austin.
Graudate
Instructions
RSVP
Graduates must RSVP through Tassel. Emails with information on how to RSVP will be sent to students once they have been approved to graduate. More Information and updates will be provided to graduates who have RSVP’d to the iSchool’s ceremony in late April. Academic regalia is strongly encouraged for graduates. Regalia is available at the UT Co-Op.
Check-in
Check-in for graduates will begin at 2:00 pm at the Bass Concert Hall loading dock and will close at 2:30 pm. Graduates should arrive carrying their regalia and will pass through a metal detector before entering the venue. Please do not bring personal items such as purses or bags, as there is no area to secure them during the ceremony. We recommend that graduates carry cell phones and keys on a wristlet or in clothing with pockets. The clear bag policy described in “Security Policies”
Photos
Flash Photography will take a photo of you as you cross the stage, as well as an individual posed photo shortly thereafter. Flash will e-mail you proofs of your photos directly after the ceremony. If you choose to purchase photos, you will do so directly through Flash.
Venue Details & Map
The ceremony will be held in Bass Concert Hall, located in the Texas Performing Arts Center, at 2350 Robert Dedman Dr, Austin TX 78712.
Parking
Parking garages and most parking lots on campus will be open and free to use on commencement weekend. More parking information, including drop-off points, will be provided closer to the ceremony. Please note that visitor traffic is significant during commencement days, and you should anticipate longer travel and parking times.
Security Policies
- All attendees, including graduates and guests, will pass through a metal detector before entering Bass Concert Hall.
- A clear bag policy will be in effect to enhance existing security measures and expedite venue entry at all event facilities on the UT Austin campus.
- Approved bags include:
• LARGE BAGS: Clear bags or totes that do not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”
• SMALL BAGS: Each person is allowed one large clear bag and one small clutch. Small clutch bags or purses do not have to be clear but cannot exceed 4.5" x 6.5" - Prohibited bags include: Non-clear bags that exceed 4.5” x 6.5” OR clear bags that exceed 12” x 6” x 12”. This includes items such as grocery totes, mesh or straw bags, duffle bags, diaper bags, camera/binocular cases, and any other bags that event staff deem do not meet the clear bag policy.
Venue Policies
- No outside food or drink, including water, may be brought into the venue. Exceptions will be made for those with disabilities, medical requirements, and/or special needs.
- The University of Texas at Austin is a tobacco-free campus.
- Check list of prohibited items, exceptions and other up-do-date venue information from link below
Drop-off
A designated drop-off area is available in front of Bass Concert Hall on Deloss Dodds Way (formerly 23rd Street), across from Darrell K. Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, for mobility impaired guests.
Disability Parking
A limited number of disability/ADA parking spaces will be available near Bass Concert Hall on a first-come, firstserved basis on the day of the event.
Wheelchair Seating
Upon arrival, guests needing wheelchair seating should visit Guest Services, located just to the left of the Bass Concert Hall entrance. Ushers and House Managers will escort guests to designated wheelchair seating and can also provide temporary wheelchair assistance for navigating the venue.
Accessibility
Graduates should contact events@ischool.utexas.edu no later than five business days before the ceremony if they or their guests require additional assistance, such as ASL interpretation.
Additional Celebrations
We encourage all iSchool graduates to attend the University-wide Commencement Ceremony to celebrate with the entire university. This ceremony is the culmination of commencement weekend and students are recognized as a group, rather than individually. The ceremony includes a distinguished speaker, the lighting of the Tower, and a concluding fireworks display.
UT-wide Commencement
May 10 7:00PM DKR Stadium
Graduating students will receive more information about the university-wide ceremony in late April. Guest tickets are not required to attend, but tickets will be required for graduating students to access their designated seating area.
Graduate School ceremonies
May 8: Master's May 10: PhD
The Graduate School hosts optional ceremonies for masters and doctoral graduates. RSVPs and guest tickets are required for these ceremonies and will be distributed via Tassel. Please send questions about the Graduate School’s ceremonies and ticketing to GS.Commencement
Great Texas Exes
May 10 hosted by Texas Exes.
The Texas Exes hosts the Great Texas Exit immediately before the UT-wide Commencement, as well as a variety of celebrations earlier in the week.
Looking for Graduation Gear?
Graduation Attire at UT Co-op
Find official UT caps, gowns, and other items at the Co-op.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why haven’t I received my tickets from Tassel?
Tickets are not required for the iSchool graduation ceremony.
Graduating master’s and doctoral students from the School of Information will also be invited to the Graduate School’s convocation ceremonies on Thursday, May 8 (master’s), and Saturday, May 10 (doctoral). Tickets are required for these ceremonies and will be distributed via Tassel. If you plan to attend both the iSchool and Graduate School’s ceremonies, please make sure that you have RSVP’d to both in Tassel.
What is the difference between the iSchool’s ceremony and the Graduate School ceremony?
The iSchool’s ceremony will be on Friday, May 9th at 3 pm, and will honor all the graduates of the School of Information, including undergraduate, master’s, and PhD students. There will be a distinguished speaker, live music, and all students will cross the stage when their name is read to shake the dean’s hand. This is the primary event for iSchool students, so graduates will be able to celebrate with their fellow students and friends.
The Graduate School’s master’s ceremony will on Thursday, May 8th at 1:00 pm, and will honor the master’s graduates from across the university. There will be remarks by Dr. Sarah Ades, Dean of the Graduate School and Senior Vice Provost for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and all students will cross the stage when their name is read. While all graduation ceremonies are optional, the majority of iSchool graduates will attend the iSchool’s ceremony, and many will not participate in the Graduate School’s ceremony.