2026 SEFS Graduation celebration
Date and Location
Please Note If you are expecting out of town guests for graduation, VERY IMPORTANT information is available on the UW Commencement web site under Transportation and Lodging, concerning the probable effects of the June 15th World Cup match in Seattle on lodging, flights and transportation.
- The 2026 SEFS department graduation ceremony will be on Friday June 12th in Kane Hall room 130.
- Doors open at 1:00pm. Graduates should arrive and check in at the tables outside of Kane 130 no later than 1:00pm.
- The ceremony will begin promptly at 2:00pm.
- The event will also be Livestreamed from 1:55-3:30: Livestream Link coming soon. Note that this link will not go live until shortly before the event. This link is valid for anyone, no UW NetID required. Unfortunately, a recording of the ceremony will not be available.
- After the ceremony, there will be light refreshments in the Anderson Hall courtyard.
- The 2026 UW campus Commencement ceremony will be on Saturday June 13th. You can find details at the UW Commencement website.
Registration and Tickets
Student RSVP Form, go here to register and request tickets.
SEFS Stoles are back! See below for how to order!
Student RSVP Form – please register and request tickets using this link.
We ask that only graduating students fill out the RSVP form – not guests.
- Deadline for name in the SEFS program: May 1, 2026
- Deadline for ordering tickets: May 15, 2026
- Any graduating student from Summer 2025 – Summer 2026 is eligible to participate in the ceremony
- All attendees, including guests, need a ticket!
- Request your tickets through the RSVP form which registers you as a student to participate – and provides places to request audience tickets.
This RSVP is for the SEFS Graduation Celebration ONLY – visit the UW Commencement page for more information about the all campus graduation in the stadium.
Event Schedule
- 1:00pm: Doors open at Kane Hall 130.
- Students must register at the sign in table.
- Please arrive no later than 1:30pm.
- 2:00-3:30pm: Graduation ceremony
- 3:30pm: After the ceremony, light refreshments will be available in the Anderson Hall courtyard.
*The SEFS Graduation Event is separate from the UW Commencement ceremony.
Eligibility for Graduation
Undergraduate students:
take a look at the UW’s Undergraduate Checklist for Graduation to make sure you have completed all the steps required for graduation.
Graduate students:
If you have any questions about eligibility, check with sefsgpa@uw.edu
All other questions can be directed to sefsadv@uw.edu.
SEFS Graduation Stoles
Stoles are optional, but many enjoy having these as part of your graduation garb, and as a remembrance. We have made arrangements with a local supplier who is providing our Stoles this year.
Anyone can wear a stole! We are not placing limits on people needing to have any particular status (e.g. like honors, etc.). Any student can wear a stole, you need to purchase these directly from the supplier.
Ordering Information:
To order a stole, you’ll go directly to the supplier’s website – link coming soon. Stoles will be shipped to you individually by US Mail.
The supplier is local, so if you prefer to pick up your stole, you can make arrangements to do that directly with them.
Deadline – Order stoles by May 18, 2026 to ensure receipt on time.
FAQs
When should I sign up for graduation?
- Undergraduate Students can sign up to graduate by contacting their departmental advisor up to 3 quarters before their intended graduation. The absolute latest time to sign up is the 3rd week of the intended graduation quarter.
- Once you sign up to graduate, you receive graduating senior priority registration for 2 quarters.
- Graduate Students: check the Graduate Student Handbook and contact sefsgpa@uw.edu with questions.
- Use the RSVP link on this page to sign up to participate in the departmental Graduation Celebration event.
When is the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences’ graduation celebration?
Where is the SEFS graduation celebration typically held?
- In 2025, it will be held in Kane Hall
Do I need to RSVP?
- Yes, take the graduation survey to RSVP for the graduation ceremony by May 15. Link for RSVP at the top of page.
- You MUST RSVP as this is how (A) we know you are participating, and (B) you get tickets for your family to sit in the audience!
Who can participate?
- All students who graduated in the autumn, winter, spring and summer quarters of the current academic year may participate.
How will friends and family members know where to go?
- You can direct friends and family to Kane Hall (UW Map)
Do I need a cap and gown? What should I wear?
- Formal attire is highly recommended. While cap and gown are not required, most students prefer to wear them. Departmental Stoles are a separate item, and are ordered from our own special supplier, see the section on Stoles above.
What is the program like?
- The formal program typically consists of an invited keynote speaker, the College of the Environment Dean, two student speakers chosen by graduating students, and naming of the graduates, all hosted by our SEFS Director.
Will my name be read during the program?
- Yes, SEFS Faculty members will read the names of each graduate and students will walk across the stage.
- Be sure to fill out the RSVP, it has questions that provide us with things like name pronunciation, and other items.
How many guest tickets can I get?
- The RSVP form allows you to request up to 2 main room guest tickets.
- There is an additional question in the RSVP so that you can request additional guest tickets so your whole party can attend.
- Space is limited. Once the RSVP closes, Advising will be assigning the additional tickets.
- We will do our very best to get you all the additional tickets you request. We cannot guarantee how many of those additional tickets will be in the main room with the live event, and how many will be in the overflow room with the simulcast.
- We will do our best to get you as many main room tickets as we can!
- Advising will contact you after 5/15 to let you know about ticket pickup, and also about any extra tickets requested.
Will there be a simulcast via the internet?
- Yes, we will post a simulcast link as soon as we can. Please share the link with family and friends who aren’t able to attend the live event.
Are strollers permitted?
- We do not have space for strollers.
- Please tell your guests that they should either leave the stroller in the car, or expect that there will not be a place to lock it up and it will end up sitting in a hallway.
- We do not have staff to watch strollers, so the strollers will be unattended.
- If someone definitely needs to bring a stroller and is okay with the unsecured status in the hallway, have them check in with registration about where we have designated a space that they can leave the stroller.
Are special accommodations available for mobility or hearing needs?
- Please enter this information in the space provided in the RSVP form.
I submitted my RSVP – but now I need to make changes?
Where can I go if I have other questions?
Post-Graduation Information
Did I graduate?
- To check, look at your unofficial transcript to see your degree posted at the end. Please remember that grades need to be officially posted and all audits must be verified, so it can take a while for your degree to appear on your transcript.
Where is my diploma?
- Diplomas are mailed to students’ mailing address (check MyUW) two to three months after graduation.
- Certified Electronic Diplomas (CeDiplomas) are also offered for an additional charge.
Can I change the name on my diploma?
- See this link for the UW’s Name Change Policy.
What happens to my UW email after graduation?
Access to email and other services usually expires after non-enrollment for two consecutive quarters (excluding summer).
- UW emails can be set up to forward to a personal email address before service termination.
- UW Technology will send notifications when access to certain IT services expire.
Does SEFS or UW have an Alumni Association?
Does SEFS have a LinkedIn Page?
