The College of Environmental Design's 2008 commencement ceremony will take place Friday, May 23, 2008, from 6-8 p.m. at UC Berkeley's Greek Theatre. This year's speaker is Daniel S. Friedman, Ph.D, FAIA, dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Washington.

Please select one of the links below for more information on:

Schedule of Events
Commencement Speaker
Information Packets and Tickets
Ceremony Sign-Up and Procedures
Parking and Transportation
Special Guest Services

Schedule of Events

Commencement Speaker

Our speaker this year is Daniel S. Friedman, Ph.D, FAIA, dean of the College of Architecture and Urban Planning at the University of Washington. Upon his recent appointment, University of Washington Provost Phyllis Wise described Daniel Friedman as “…an architect for the 21st century [who] is at the forefront of new thinking in the fields of architecture, design, and urban planning. He fully appreciates the importance of building sustainable structures, the impact of the built environment on the quality of our lives, and developing a generation of students who are prepared to tackle these challenges.”

Friedman writes and lectures widely on professional ethics and education, public architecture, and twentieth century theory. He is the co-founder and past editor of Practices magazine; and co-editor of Plumbing: Sounding Modern Architecture, an anthology of critical and theoretical essays on geometry and hygiene. He has contributed numerous articles to professional journals, magazines, and critical anthologies.

He was elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in 2001. Friedman currently serves on the national AIA Board Knowledge committee and the AIA Chicago board of directors. He is 2007 chair of the AIA College of Fellows' Latrobe Prize jury.

Friedman has been director of the School of Architecture at University of Illinois, Chicago, where he developed the school's five-year strategic plan, secured its most recent six-year accreditation, advanced improvements to the undergraduate and graduate curricula, instituted weekly convocations on architecture and public policy, led the initiative for a new post-professional graduate degree in healthcare design, and oversaw the student design and construction of interior renovations to the Art and Architecture building. Prior to joining UIC, Friedman taught at the School of Architecture and Interior Design at the University of Cincinnati from 1990 to 2002, serving his last two years there as school director. Friedman holds an M.Arch. from the University of Wisconsin and a Ph.D. in architectural theory from the University of Pennsylvania.

Information Packets and Tickets

Students may pick up commencement information packets beginning in mid- to late-April. Included in these packets are four complimentary guest tickets for the commencement ceremony. Additional tickets may be purchased for $4 each from the Undergraduate Office in 232 Wurster Hall.

Ticket supplies are limited, so students should purchase tickets ahead of time. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Every guest 10 years of age or older must have a ticket. Children under 10 may attend without a ticket. Early arrival guarantees the best seating.

Ceremony Sign-Up and Procedures

Students must sign up in order to participate in the collegewide commencement ceremony. Undergraduates may sign up online; graduate students should contact their department Student Affairs Officers to sign up. The commencement ceremony is held only at the end of the spring term. Students graduating in fall or summer terms are encouraged to participate.

All participants must wear traditional UC Berkeley academic regalia, which can be purchased and/or rented from the Cal student store. Rental cost is approximately $40 for a bachelor's degree gown, cap, and tassel. Honors cords are available upon request for $15. For further information about graduation apparel, announcements, and related items, visit the Cal student store website or call the store at (510) 642-9000. You may also download the store's graduation quick reference (pdf).

Students should arrive for a backstage line-up at the Greek Theatre no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, May 23, wearing their academic regalia. Line-up will be by degree and major. Undergraduates will assemble along the north side of the stage and graduates along the south side. Guests should be in their seats by 5:45 p.m. in order to watch the student processional.

During the ceremony, students will be led to the stage and directed to seating by degree. Students should stand for the conferring of the degrees for their major when announced. Doctoral students will come to the platform to be individually recognized. Each student will receive a certificate of participation during the commencement ceremony. Official diplomas will be available approximately four months after graduation from the Office of the Registrar, 120 Sproul Hall.

Students should tell family and friends that due to space limitations, they will NOT be able to come close to the stage to take pictures. There will, however, be a professional photographer taking photos of graduates receiving their certificates. You may purchase these photos from Bob Knight Photo, (800) 628-4509. The ceremony will also be recorded on DVD. Copies may be purchased through the DVDGraduation website. Flowers and one-time-use cameras will be available for purchase at the entrances to the Greek Theatre.

The ceremony will last approximately two hours. A reception will follow in the front entrance plaza of Wurster Hall. Please join us for refreshments.

Transportation and Parking

For maps and directions to UC Berkeley, see the UC Berkeley visitors webpage.

For commencement parking information, visit the UC Berkeley Parking & Transportation website.

Special Guest Services

Guests with mobility or hearing impairments or who otherwise need special assistance should contact the CED Undergraduate Office at (510) 642-4942 by Monday, May 12, 2008, so that we may make appropriate arrangements for seating and/or Sign Language interpreters.