Commencement 2025

Please contact the Office of the Registrar for an application to graduate, graduate readiness notification (audit status), information about collecting special honors medallions and department honors cords, and information about receiving your diploma by mail. Applications were due in November, so please reach out immediately if you have not applied yet.

PLEASE NOTE: For information about eligibility to participate in the graduation ceremony, visit the Graduating and Degree Auditing page for the current policies and procedures. 

Traditionally, several awards are presented to undergraduate graduates at commencement. Awardees must be nominated, and nominations are due by Friday, April 4, 2025. For more information on the awards and how to nominate a graduate, click here.

The Dominican University Bookstore has partnered with Jostens and created a Dominican specific website where you can purchase your regalia. Academic regalia must be purchased through this website no later than April 10, 2025. If you miss the April 10 deadline, please visit the campus bookstore in person, and as soon as possible, to purchase your regalia. For more information about academic regalia, click here.

Come to the Bertrand Hall back patio on Tuesday, May 6, from 3:30 to 5 p.m., to see friends, enjoy refreshments, and pick up tickets for your Commencement ceremony guests (six tickets per graduating student). Students receiving Latin and/or departmental honors will pick up their medallions and cords at this time. You will also meet Alumni Relations, who will welcome you to the Dominican Alumni community with a gift. 

Each graduating student will receive up to 6 guest tickets. Persons without a ticket to the event will not be allowed entry to the venue. Graduating students do not need a ticket to participate in the ceremony. 

To pick up your tickets, you must:

• Bring your student ID.
• You must have a clear business account (no balance) and have complied with any outstanding issues or missing documents per your degree audit. 

It's ok if you miss the Ticket Pick-up Event. Visit the Registrar’s Office in Bertrand Hall anytime during business hours from May 7 through May 16 to pick up your tickets, honors medallions, and/or cords. Normal business hours are Monday - Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note: The registrar’s office will close at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 16.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be held in St. Catherine Benincasa Chapel, Edgehill Mansion, on Friday, May 16, at 11 a.m.

Students of all faiths and backgrounds are invited to attend this ceremony, which honors the graduates and their families. The ceremony and program were developed by students with the support of Alumni Relations.

8 - 9 a.m. – Students Arrive & Gather for Processional 
Come fully dressed in gown, hood, and mortarboard. Wear light clothing under your robes, in case the weather is warm. Go to the Conlan Rec Center (main gym) to check in and receive your name card, which you must carry with you to the ceremony; DO NOT lose your card.  If you’d like, you may write your name phonetically on your card. Line up according to the school in which you are enrolled. You do not have to march in alphabetical order, but you do have to march with your school. After check-in, you will remain in the gym until the processional begins.

8:30 a.m. – Commencement Venue Opens to Guests
The ceremony will be outdoors. Gates leading to the Forest Meadows field will be closed until this time, at which point we will allow only those guests with tickets entry to the venue. BE ADVISED: Guests should plan accordingly for hot or inclement weather. Please see FAQ's below. 

9:30 a.m. – Commencement Procession Leaves Conlan Center
Students process from Conlan to Forest Meadows Field, guided by ushers. The procession of graduating students and faculty will leave Conlan around 9:30 a.m. - with or without you - please do not be late! The procession will travel directly from Conlan to the field. Follow ushers’ instructions to be seated in chairs on the lawn, facing the stage. 

10 a.m. – Commencement Ceremony Begins 
Once the ceremony begins, students will remain seated until escorted by ushers to the stage. Onstage, you will hand your card to the academic Dean, who will read your name – then you will walk to the center to receive your diploma from President Pitchford. After you exit the stage, an usher will guide you back to your seat. Out of respect for your fellow graduates, please remain seated through the conclusion of the ceremony.  The ceremony should last about 90 minutes. 

Summary

• Arrive at the Conlan Recreation Center between 8 and 9 a.m.
• Come fully dressed in academic regalia (gown, hood, and mortarboard) and pick up a card with your name on it at one of four tables organized by school.
• Line up according to the school in which you are enrolled. Students do not have to march in alphabetical order, but they do have to march with their school.
• When your school is called to receive your diploma, you will hand your card to the speaker, who will read your name as you walk across the stage to collect your diploma. If your name may be difficult to pronounce, please be sure it is written phonetically on your card. The ceremony should last about 90 minutes. 

Commencement will be held on Forest Meadows field adjacent to the Conlan Recreation Center. The ceremony will be outdoors and open air. Seating will not have shade. Please remind your guests to be prepared for the weather and walking on an athletics field. A live stream will be available for guests who cannot attend or who cannot sit outdoors. Click here for the live stream link.

The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and end at approximately 11:30 a.m. 

IMPORTANT: The ceremony is outdoors. Guests should dress comfortably, wear flat shoes, apply sunscreen, and bring water. If there is rain in the forecast, guests should bring umbrellas and/or ponchos. Guests should consider their personal health needs before deciding to attend. 

This is a ticketed event. Each graduating student will receive up to 6 guest tickets for the Commencement event. Guests without tickets will not be allowed entry to the venue. Lap children 3 years old and younger may attend without a ticket. Graduating students do not need a ticket to participate in the ceremony. We encourage your guests to arrive prior to 9:30 a.m. to ensure they find an available seat. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m.

No. While our campus is generally dog-friendly (on leash), Forest Meadows Field is an athletics field, so dogs are not permitted, even if they’ll be seated on a lap.

It's okay if you miss the Ticket Pick-up Event. Visit the Registrar’s Office anytime during business hours from May 7 through May 16 to pick up your tickets, honors medallions, and/or cords. Normal business hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Please note: The Registrar’s Office will close at 3 p.m. on Friday, May 16.

Each graduating student will receive up to six tickets for guests. Unfortunately, we cannot offer tickets in excess of six per student due to limited capacity in the venue and to be fair to all students. The Registrar’s Office will only know if there are extra tickets available after most students have come in to pick up their tickets. Students may request extra tickets at the Registrar's Office beginning May 6th either at the ticket pickup party or via email.  Requests prior to May 6th will not be recorded. This does not guarantee extra tickets. Notification of extra tickets is TBD. We also encourage students to network with their graduating peers. Often there are students who cannot use all their tickets. Alternatively, the livestream allows loved ones without tickets to enjoy the ceremony from home.

If someone else will pick up the tickets, please email registrar@dominican.edu in advance with your name and the name of the person picking up the tickets.
 

Commencement will be live-streamed (audio and video) and broadcast on Penguin Radio. 

Vendors will open on Conlan Plaza by 8 a.m. The Campus Bookstore will have a sales booth and can help if you forget a piece of your regalia or wish to purchase alumni swag. A flower vendor will sell flowers and leis. 
 

Please encourage graduating students and their guests to carpool or take public transportation. If driving to campus, budget ample time for parking (which is very limited) and walking to the event site. Parking lots will fill up early in the morning.  Guests should expect to park along Grand Avenue or within the campus core and walk from their cars. 

Graduating students should park cars along Magnolia (near the Magnolia House and Caleruega) or in the residence hall lots at Edgehill Village and Fanjeaux Hall so that guests can use the Conlan parking lot. 

We discourage guests from parking in the immediate residential area as a courtesy to our neighbors. 

There are limited designated accessible spaces on the Dominican campus. Additional ADA parking is located in the Belle Ave Parking Lot adjacent to the ceremony site. Guests with limited mobility should consider a wheelchair, for which special seating will be available in the venue on a first-come, first-served basis.

The pathways to the venue are paved, but the athletics field may be challenging for some guests - especially those who use assistive walking devices (cane, walker, etc.). Guests in wheelchairs can access the seating area but may need assistance moving across the lawn.

We recommend arriving early, especially if your guest requires a seat in our accessible section, as these tend to fill up quickly. "Saving" blocks of seats for guests arriving late is not allowed. Each graduating student will receive up to 6 guest tickets for the event. The venue will have enough seating for all ticketed guests. 
 

A professional photographer will document the event, shooting candid photographs and photographing students as they cross the stage. Only the official Dominican photographer will be allowed to capture the event close to the stage. We do not allow guests to leave their seats or block aisles to take photos. 
 

We hope all graduating students will participate in Commencement when they become eligible, but it’s not required. If you participate, regalia is required, and we ask that you stay through the duration of the ceremony out of respect for other graduates and their families. 
 

It's unpredictable! Some years, it can be over 100°, and other years, it can be 55° and pouring rain. Remind your guests to prepare accordingly. Because the event is an athletics field, it is wise to wear flat shoes. In case of high temperatures, bring water to drink and wear sunscreen. In case of rain, bring an umbrella and/or poncho. Guests who lack the stamina to sit outdoors through a long ceremony should consider their health before committing to attend.
 

When you cross the stage, you will receive a diploma cover with a letter inside stating that your diploma will be mailed to you in late summer. Please ensure the Office of the Registrar has your correct (non-campus) mailing address.
 

Book accommodations (hotels or homestay sites) as soon as possible. The same weekend as Commencement, competing events often take place in/around Marin. 

See our visitor guide for area directions and area information. 

Being an alum unlocks valuable discounts, on-campus privileges, and opportunities for continued education. Benefits cards are free to alumni after graduation and are valid for two years. All graduating students should complete the Alumni Association Registration form to activate their free benefits. After the first two years, you pay a $30 annual fee. Use your benefits card to access the perks.

If, after reviewing this information, you have specific questions or need additional information or clarification, please contact the appropriate office/department listed below. Please be sure to read through all of the information, as there is a great deal of information—and likely the answer to your question.