Fall Commencement 2023

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

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

The Bookstore Grad Fair will be held Thursday, October 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Fanjeaux Hall Bookstore. 

The robes, hoods, caps, cords, medallions, and other accessories worn by students, faculty, and staff comprise “academic regalia.” Review Dominican’s Academic Regalia guide for details on what graduates wear for the commencement ceremony.

Visit the Dominican Bookstore or Grad Fair to order your academic regalia. The Dominican Bookstore is the official provider of academic regalia (caps and gowns) for the commencement ceremony. The bookstore provides students the opportunity to view and purchase regalia packages (discounted during Grad Fair), order personalized announcements and/or class jewelry, and enter the bookstore raffle for an opportunity to win prizes. After the Grad Fair students may purchase regalia through the remainder of the term during the bookstore’s regular hours. Please note that neither the bookstore nor the University provides rental regalia for Commencement. 

A professional photographer will be at the Grad Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. providing complementary sitting fee for LinkedIn headshots in the student union and graduation photos in the courtyard (weather permitting). 

Commencement regalia should be purchased online at dominicanushop.com or by visiting the campus bookstore in person.

Pick-up your tickets at the Registrar's Office during business hours December 1-8. Students receiving Latin honors will pick up their medallions at this time. 

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 themselves need a ticket in order to participate in the ceremony. 

To pick up your tickets you must:

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

8:45 - 9:15 a.m. – Students Arrive & Gather for Processional
Come fully dressed in academic regalia (gown, hood, and mortarboard).

• Undergraduate students gather at Guzman Hall.

All students should check-in and pick up a name card, which students should hold during 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. Students do not have to march in alphabetical order, but they do have to march with their school.

9 a.m. – Commencement Venue Opens to Guests
Angelico Hall will be closed until this time, at which point we will allow only those guests with tickets entry to the venue. 

9:45 a.m. – Commencement Procession Leaves 
Students will process from their check-in locations to Angelico Hall where ushers will provide guidance. The procession of graduating students and faculty will leave at 9:45 am - with or without you - please do not be late! After you enter the venue, please be seated. 

10 a.m. – Commencement Ceremony Begins 
Once the ceremony begins, students will remain seated until escorted by ushers to the stage. Onstage,  each student will be prompted to hand their name card to the Academic Dean, who will read your name. Student are guided to proceed to center stage to receive a diploma from President Pitchford. Ushers will guide students back to their seats. Out of respect for all our graduates and guests, students should remain seated through the conclusion of the ceremony. The ceremony should last about one hour.  

Summary

• Undergraduates arrive at Guzman Hall between 8:45 a.m. and 9:15 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 three 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 Dean, 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.
   

11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. – Students Arrive & Gather for Processional
Come fully dressed in academic regalia (gown, hood, and mortarboard).

• Graduate students gather at Guzman Hall.

All students should check-in and pick up a name card, which students should hold during 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. Students do not have to march in alphabetical order, but they do have to march with their school.

12 p.m. – Commencement Venue Opens to Guests
Angelico Hall will be closed until this time, at which point we will allow only those guests with tickets entry to the venue. 

12:45 p.m. – Commencement Procession Leaves 
Students will process from their check-in locations to Angelico Hall where ushers will provide guidance. The procession of graduating students and faculty will leave at 9:45 am - with or without you - please do not be late! After you enter the venue, please be seated. 

1 p.m. – Commencement Ceremony Begins 
Once the ceremony begins, students will remain seated until escorted by ushers to the stage. Onstage,  each student will be prompted to hand their name card to the Academic Dean, who will read your name. Student are guided to proceed to center stage to receive a diploma from President Pitchford. Ushers will guide students back to their seats. Out of respect for all our graduates and guests, students should remain seated through the conclusion of the ceremony. The ceremony should last about one hour.  

Summary

• Graduates arrive at Guzman Hall between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m. 
• Come fully dressed in academic regalia (gown, hood, and mortarboard) and pick up a card with your name on it at one of three 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 Dean, 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. 

Fall Commencement will be held in Angelico Concert Hall in two separate ceremonies. The undergraduate ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. (though graduating students should check-in between 8:45 a.m. and 9:15 a.m., see undergraduate section above), and will last about one hour. The graduate ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. (though graduating students should check-in between 11:45 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., see graduate section above), and will last about one hour. Guests should remain seated until their Ceremony is finished. The Ceremony is followed by a reception hosted by President Pitchford, in the Shield Room at Caleruega Dining Hall. All students and guests are welcome.

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 themselves need a ticket in order to participate in the ceremony. We encourage your guests to arrive more than 30 minutes prior to the ceremony to ensure they find an available seat. Doors will open for the undergraduate ceremony at 9 a.m. and for the graduate ceremony at 12 p.m.

Each graduating student will receive six tickets for guests. Unfortunately, we cannot offer tickets in excess of six per student due to limited capacity in Angelico Concert Hall 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 ask about extra tickets at the Registrar’s office between noon and 3 p.m. on Friday, December 8 or inquire at the information table in front of Angelico on Saturday morning. We also encourage students to network with their graduating peers. Often there are students who cannot use all their tickets. Alternatively, loved ones without tickets can tune into the ceremony on Penguin Radio or via the livestream.

If someone else will pick up the tickets, students should 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 radio broadcast by Penguin Radio. 

The Campus Bookstore will have a sales booth and be able to help if you forget a piece of your regalia, or with alumni swag. Flowers and leis will be sold by a flower vendor. 
 

We are planning for an indoor, in-person ceremony on the Dominican University of California campus. We appreciate your cooperation in following our COVID safety measures, which are periodically updated. Currently, masks are optional indoors. Attendees who are sick, having symptoms, or within their isolation period based on a recent COVID+ test, should not attend the event. Live-streaming will be available for those who cannot attend in-person. 
 

We encourage 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.

• 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.
• Guests should park: 
  • On Grand Avenue or within the main campus core.
  • In the Conlan Center lot on Grand Avenue.
  • In the Belle Avenue lot.
• All other on-campus parking is reserved for staff, faculty, and trustees. 
• We discourage guests from parking in the immediate neighborhood as a courtesy to our campus neighbors. 
   

There are limited accessible spaces on the Dominican campus. If you have a guest with mobility needs, we recommend driving the guest to Conlan Recreation Center and then parking your vehicle. 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. 

Please complete the Commencement Accommodations Request form if you will be a guest to campus in need of a disability accommodation for Commencement.

Please complete the Commencement Accommodations Request form if you will be a guest to campus in need of a disability accommodation for Commencement.

Because of the high demand for sign language interpreters, we must confirm if an interpreter will be needed as soon as possible. Please let us know by November 1 if an interpreter is needed. For questions about accommodations for disabilities and hearing impairments, including ASL interpretation, please complete the Commencement Accommodations Request form.

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

A professional photographer will be at Commencement, shooting candid photographs and photographing students as they cross the stage. Only the official Dominican photographer will be allowed inside the venue to capture the event. 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. 

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 early spring. Please make sure the Office of the Registrar has your correct (non-campus) mailing address.
 

Book accommodations (hotels or home-stay sites) as soon as possible. There are often competing events that take place in/around Marin the same weekend as Commencement.

See our visitor guide for area directions and area information. 

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 info – and likely the answer to your question.