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Commencement will be on Thursday, May 21. The ceremony begins at 5 p.m.

Commencement will be held at the San Jose Civic Auditorium at .

Doors open at 4:00 p.m. and guests may line up beginning at 3:30 p.m. 

Student check-in begins at 3:30 p.m. Please arrive no later than 4:30 p.m.

Students can sign up or at one of the Grad Fair events.

Please work with your instructor if you need to reschedule a final to attend Commencement.

The online RSVP form closes on Tuesday, May 19 at 11:59 p.m. Students may sign up for the ceremony at the San Jose Civic during check-in, but signing up earlier is strongly recommended. Regalia will not be available for purchase at the venue. 

A commencement rehearsal for students participating in the ceremony will be held on Monday, May 18 at 5 p.m. at the San Jose Civic.

There are no tickets for Commencement. All guests will be allowed entry, and seating is based on a first-come, first-seated basis. Please refrain from saving seats out of respect for guests who arrive on time. Students may invite 6-8 guests. 

Attendees may park for free during the ceremony and rehearsal using a coupon code at machines in select parking lots. The code will be posted on the Commencement webpage on Friday, May 1. Please keep in mind that the free parking lots require some walking to arrive at the venue. Comfortable shoes are recommended for all graduates and guests. Elderly and disabled guests may be dropped off at a designated drop-off area at the venue. In addition, free street parking in Downtown San Jose is available on weekdays after 6 p.m.

Please indicate on the RSVP form whether you or your guests require accommodations. The venue will have special seating for guests with disabilities. Please contact Mike Scaletta from the Disability & Educational Support Programs (DESP) for accommodations at mike.scalettaFREEWEST_VALLEY no later than 4 p.m. on Friday, May 15.

Students may purchase regalia online and pick up at the Grad Fair events. If you cannot attend Grad Fair, pickup for online purchases will be available at the Welcome Center beginning on Wednesday, May 6. Students experiencing financial need may request free regalia through . Regalia will not be available for purchase at the venue.

The package including a cap, gown, and tassel is priced at $37. Individually, the graduation cap costs $11, and the standard black tassel costs $8.

Students receiving degrees or certificates are expected to wear the cap and gown. Students who are transferring only and not receiving a degree may wear a cap and gown but are not required to do so. If you choose not to wear a cap and gown, the required attire is semi-formal in all black.

As long as the cap and gown are black, you can wear them to the ceremony.

Honors tassels (3.0+ GPA) and honors cords (3.8+ GPA) are provided for free at the Grad Fair events.

All students will receive one college stole corresponding to their primary major at check-in prior to the ceremony. For example, a student majoring in business administration will receive a stole corresponding to the Che School of Professional Studies. Transfer students will also receive a white transfer stole at check-in. Navy blue 69ÂÜÀò stoles are available for purchase through the Commencement website for $29.

Bouquets and leis will be available for preorder on the Commencement webpage and at the Grad Fair events. Pickup will be located at guest check-in at Commencement.

Free graduation portraits are available at the Grad Fair event on Tuesday, May 5. Students may sign up for the portraits on the Commencement webpage beginning on Wednesday, April 29. At Commencement, a photographer will be taking a photo of students as receiving their diploma holder and shaking hands with President Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza. Samples will be available after Commencement, with an opportunity to purchase prints.

There are no strobing lights, but there will be a loud noise at the end of the ceremony. Earplugs will be available for guests and students.

Balloons, noisemakers, and signs larger than 8.5 x 11 inches are prohibited. Food and drinks are not allowed in the venue, with the exception of sealed plastic water bottles. Strollers are not allowed inside the venue and must be parked in the lobby. There will be a guest bag check upon entry. 

Light refreshments will be provided for students at check-in. Grab-and-go desserts will be available for students and guests following the ceremony.

Yes, the event will be livestreamed on our Commencement event webpage.