CCS Commencement 2026

Livestream

For guests who wish to attend virtually, a live stream with closed captions is available here.

Congratulations Class of 2026!

The CCS Commencement Ceremony will take place on Sunday, June 7th at 11:00 am in Campbell Hall. Following the ceremony, there will be a reception in Campbell Plaza. Graduates must check in and be seated by 10:30 am for ceremony instructions. Doors to the hall will open at 10:00 am.

Graduating students should have received a CCS Commencement Registration form and other important commencement-related communications through their campus email accounts.

Guest Seating & Accessibility

Graduate guest seating is to be reserved by CCS graduates via the CCS Commencement Registration form. There are enough seats in Campbell Hall to accommodate all registered guests as confirmed with the CCS Advising Office. Note: guest seating is unassigned, rather all guest seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Additional details will be communicated to graduates as they become available.

Designated wheelchair-accessible seating will be available. Event staff will be available in the venue to guide guests who require those features.

As noted above, a livestream with closed captioning will be available. The link will be posted on this page as the event approaches for guests who wish to attend virtually. A recording will be available online shortly after the event.

Parking & Arrival

All vehicles parked on campus must have both a valid permit and a visible license plate in order to avoid a parking citation. Your vehicle's license plate must be affixed to the exterior of the vehicle, unobstructed, and fully visible from the drive aisle in order for your permit to be valid.

CCS graduates have received a link for a complimentary parking ePermit to send to their guests. The permit, once registered, will be valid only on Sunday, June 7, 2026 from 8:00 AM until 4:00 PM in designated lots (see driving directions below). Your vehicle license plate is your ePermit.

Permits may be set up immediately (recommended) and changes may be made until 8 am on the day of the event.

The parking areas are up to approximately a quarter-mile from the venue. Guests are encouraged to plan their arrival time with this distance in mind. Parking staff will direct guests displaying ADA placards to the most accessible parking areas. For additional information regarding ADA Parking on campus, please visit here. Those with mobility concerns may wish to bring a mobility aid. The venue is wheelchair accessible.

Upon arrival at the Campbell Hall lobby, event staff will be available to usher guests to available seats. There are enough seats in Campbell Hall to accommodate all registered guests as confirmed with the CCS Advising Office. Note: guest seating is not assigned, rather all guest seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Driving Directions

Signs directing guests to CCS Commencement will be posted on campus for guests traveling both from the West (through Isla Vista), and from the East (via Highway 217 / Ward Memorial Boulevard). Parking staff will be located at University Plaza to direct guests to the designated parking lots (Lots 14, 16, and Mesa Structure 18). ADA parking will be available, including in Lot 12, the closest lot to the venue.

An interactive UCSB map is available here. Click here for google maps driving directions.

Additional Information

Attire: Graduates may wear regalia available through the UCSB bookstore or other appropriate attire. CCS graduates will receive a braided cord to wear in honor of their graduation from our College.

The ceremony is indoors, while the post-ceremony reception is outdoors with minimal coverage or shade. As Santa Barbara weather can vary widely in June, please check the forecast and plan accordingly. Be prepared for sun, fog, or even drizzle to ensure a safe and comfortable experience.

Program: The CCS Commencement is a personal and intimate celebration of our graduates.The ceremony is scheduled to last approximately 90 minutes, and will include:

Speeches by the Dean, keynote speaker and CCS Student Speaker(s)
Individual graduate acknowledgements
Post-ceremony reception in the plaza

Note: there will be a professional photographer present from GradImages. Information about photos available for purchase will be sent to students directly.

RSVP: graduating students received a CCS Commencement Registration form via email with a deadline of April 13th. If you are planning to participate and did not RSVP, please contact heidi.dinnogen@ccs.ucsb.edu immediately.

Please stop by the CCS advising office or call us at (805) 893-4146 or email info@ccs.ucsb.edu if you have any questions - we will be happy to help in any way we can.

Dr. Ronald D. Vale; alt text: a man wearing eye glasses and a button up shirt smiles at the camera

Meet 2026 CCS Commencement Speaker Dr. Ronald D. Vale ’80 (CCS Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry)

The College of Creative Studies (CCS) at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) is pleased to announce Dr. Ronald D. Vale ‘80 (CCS Biology, Chemistry & Biochemistry) as the 2026 CCS Commencement Speaker. Vale is a world-renowned cell biologist and discoverer of the motor protein kinesin, a tiny machine that moves materials within cells along microscopic tracks. Disruptions in this process have been linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

A firm believer in the value of curiosity-driven research, Vale also maintains that breakthroughs with societal impact require a deep understanding of both the fundamentals and the details of a subject. This notion has guided his own work as a professor at the Whitehead Institute at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, where his research encompasses everything from how cells organize themselves to how organisms adapt to harsh environmental conditions.