University Commencement 2024

When/Where are the commencement ceremonies?
General GGU Commencement – Date: May 4, 2024
Time: 3:00pm–6:00pm PST
Location: Oracle Park, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, San Francisco, CA

Law School Commencement – Date: May 9, 2024
Time: 7:00pm–9:00pm PST
Location: Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA

Who is eligible to participate in commencement?
You are eligible to participate if you have or are planning to graduate in the following terms:

• Summer 2023
• Fall 2023
• Spring 2024
• Summer 2024

How many commencement ceremonies does GGU have during the year?
GGU has two different commencement ceremonies. One for graduate students (Ageno School of Business, School of Accounting, Braden School of Taxation, and GGU Worldwide) and undergraduate students on May 4, 2024.

The other is for School of Law students on May 9, 2024.

How do I know if I will be receiving an honor cord?

• Graduate students: 3.8 or above
• Undergraduate students: 3.5 or above
• Law students: Please see the Law School Commencement page for criteria.

Honor cords will be distributed to those who meet the honors criteria at the end of the Fall 2023 trimester only. Unfortunately, we do not round numbers past the 2nd decimal place.

Honor cords will be distributed at ceremony sign-in. Honors is noted on your diploma and will be based on your GGU GPA after all courses have been completed.

Can Certificate program students participate in the commencement ceremony?
No. The commencement ceremony is designated for doctoral, masters, and bachelors degree students; unfortunately, certificate students are not eligible for this event.

Is it mandatory to attend the commencement ceremony, in order to receive my diploma?
No, it is not. In fact, students do not receive their diploma at the commencement ceremony. Your diploma will be mailed to you once you have successfully completed all of your units and applied for graduation. Students at the ceremony receive a certificate of congratulations, but not a diploma.

I was wondering if I could apply my full name to my diploma and what I would like to be announced at the commencement ceremony. What steps I would need to take to make this happen?
Any questions about your diploma should be sent to graduation@ggu.edu.

When you register for the commencement ceremony, you will be asked for your name as you would like it to read. If you need to edit your response, please email commencement@ggu.edu.

Does GGU offer graduation pictures? When and where?
Yes, you can have graduation pictures taken at several times during the commencement process. Students can have headshots taken during the Grad Fair (March 29, 2024). There will also be two pictures taken during the commencement ceremony – as you walk onto the stage and as you exit the stage. These photos are available for purchase from the vendor – GradImages. More information will be sent to you as we get closer to the ceremony.

Will the ceremony be live streamed?
Yes, friends and family can watch the ceremony remotely on our YouTube channel.

How do I register for commencement?
You will need to fill out the University Commencement Ceremony 2024 Registration Form:

• Student Registration Form
• Faculty & Special Guest Registration Form

When do I need to register by?
To guarantee your spot in the commencement program and attend the ceremony, you must register and pay the commencement fee by 11:59pm PST on March 15, 2024. Students who have not registered and paid by that time will not have their name in the commencement program and may not be able to walk across the stage during the ceremony.

When/Where is the Grad Fair?
Date: Friday, March 29, 2024
Time: 12:00pm—1:30pm PST & 4:00pm–6:00pm PST
Location: Golden Gate University at 536 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94105

What is the Grad Fair?
The Grad Fair is an event where you can do the following:

• Pick up your regalia
• Pick up tickets
• Take a graduation photo
• Learn about alumni services
• Receive information from The Career Center

Is there a fee for commencement?
Yes, there is a $100 commencement fee. This covers the cost of the regalia for the event.

How do I pay the commencement fee?
Payment can be made using Student Finance by credit card, debit card and e-check options. You can learn more about Student Finance here.

What payment options are available on Student Finance?
The online payment options will stay the same, you can pay by e-Check or credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover).

Can I pay the commencement fee over the phone?
You can make a payment over the phone by calling that HUB at 415-442-7800. Only credit card and debit card are accepted.

Is there a deadline to make the commencement fee payment?
Yes, the commencement fee is due by 11:59pm PST on March 15, 2024. Students who have not registered and paid by that time will not have their name in the commencement program and may not be able to walk across the stage during the ceremony.

I am not going to attend commencement; can I get my money back?
No, unfortunately, the commencement fee is nonrefundable. The fee is used to pay for your regalia, which has already been ordered.

How do I determine my cap size when ordering regalia?
Please use this printable Cap Size Guide to measure your cap size.

Did I order regalia?
All students ordered regalia when they completed the commencement registration.

Where/How do I get my regalia?
Pick Up: Grad Fair, March 29, 2024; 12:00pm–1:30pm PST and 4:00pm–6:00pm PST, Golden Gate University, 536 Mission Street, San Francisco. Beginning Monday, April 1, 2024, you can pick up your regalia at the bookstore.

Delivery: We are working to make the deliver-to-home process more efficient. Please watch for updates to this FAQ and Division of Student Success emails.

Can I pick up the regalia the day of the commencement ceremony?
No, you are required to either pick up or have your regalia delivered.

Can I order announcements or frames?
Yes, please use this link to make your order.

How many tickets do I get?
Graduates are typically able to receive a maximum of 10 tickets. The number of tickets is determined by the number of students who register to participate in the commencement ceremony. For this reason, we cannot tell you how many tickets you will receive until after the registration deadline. Look for an e-mail last week of March to let you know exactly how many tickets are available for each graduate. All students are guaranteed a minimum of four tickets.

I need more than four tickets. How do I get more?
Many of our students would like to bring more than the allowed number of guests. Once all students have had a chance to register, we will use the requested number on your commencement registration to award additional tickets. We usually receive more requests than we can accommodate, so we hold a lottery toward the beginning of April to determine who receives the extra tickets. Look for an email letting you know it is time to request extra tickets.

More detailed information about directions and parking can be found here.

Gates open at 1:00pm. Students must arrive by 1:30pm to check in, line up, and make sure they have properly put on their graduation regalia.

Family and friends may not wait with students while they check in, line up, and proceed to stage. Family and friends should arrive and be seated by 2:15pm so that we may start the ceremony promptly. Guests who have notified us that they will need accommodated seating will be permitted to enter through a separate entrance and encouraged to take their seats between 1:15 and 2:15pm.

The ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00pm and will last about 3 hours. Please stay seated during the entire ceremony unless instructed to do otherwise. The venue states that food and drinks are prohibited inside the stadium, and violators will be removed. However, guests have the option of leaving and returning throughout the ceremony.

Photography
GradImages will take professional pictures of the ceremony. Guests must remain in their seats and maintain the safety and dignity of this very important event. GradImages will take student photographs as they walk across the stage. On the back of the name card that students receive at check-in, they can indicate a mailing address or e-mail address. GradImages will mail or e-mail students a proof of their picture, which can then be purchased online.

Special Accommodations
If you are attending and need accommodations for you or your guests, such as wheelchair space or extra time to get to their seats, please submit a request. We have requested certain seating arrangements to meet the needs of the guests. If your guests arrive the day of the event without prior arrangements, we cannot guarantee accommodations.

Student Check-in Information
Students must arrive by 1:30pm to check in, line up and make sure they have properly put on their graduation regalia. When you arrive, you will be instructed to check-in at a particular table depending on your last name. You will receive a colored card with a name label on it. Beneath the label, you are to write the phonetic spelling of your name to assist the name reader. Please hold on to this card until you hand it over to the name reader during the graduation ceremony.

On the back of the name card is information from the photographer.

After you have checked-in, the staff will direct you to a line up area. Please arrive in your regalia and be all ready to go. Line up for the processional begins at 2:15pm sharp.

Wearing the Cap & Gown
After check-in, you will be directed to the line up area. Staff will be available to help you with your regalia. Please bring safety pins and bobby pins to secure your cap and gown as necessary.

• It is best to have your regalia ironed and ready to go when you arrive.
• Please wear sensible shoes as you will be walking up and down stairs.
• YOU MUST WEAR THE CAP AND GOWN IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE GRADUATION CEREMONY.
• For Bachelor’s degrees: Tassels should remain on the RIGHT until directed by President Fike.
• For Master’s and Doctoral degrees: Tassels should remain on the LEFT since you already have received your undergraduate degree.

Honor Cords
Students who are graduating with Honors or students who have designated a veteran status or International program students will receive cords to wear during the graduation ceremony.

Eligible students will receive their cords when they check-in at the graduation ceremony.

Purses, Coats, and Other Personal Belongings
There is no place to put your personal belongings in the check-in area. Please bring to the check-in area only what you intend to wear as you walk across the stage, and have your family and friends hold on to any other personal belongings. The staff is not responsible for any lost or left behind items.

Lining Up & Walking
The processional will form at 2:15pm. Graduates will line up in separate lines according to school then degree and program. Within each degree, the students will be lined up alphabetically by using the number labels on their cards. Students are to follow the directions of the marshals. The marshals will direct you into your lines, take you up the stairs and seat you. When it is your turn to receive your degree, the marshals will escort you up to the platform. You then will walk up the stairs, hand your card to the name reader, walk across the stage, receive your scroll, and walk off the stage and down the stairs on the opposite side of the podium. When you are off the platform, the marshals will again direct you back to your seat. Please show respect for your classmates who receive their diplomas after you by remaining quiet and orderly as you leave the stage and are guided back to your seat. You must return to your seat until the recessional.

How do I apply to be one of the student speakers?
You can apply to be one of the student speakers by submitting this application. Following the deadline of March 13, 2024 at 12:00pm PST, we will reach out to schedule a virtual meeting with you sharing your draft speech with the selection committee on March 15, 2024.

How do I request special accommodations for myself and/or my guests?
To request special accommodations, you will need to submit a request. If you have edits after you have submitted the form, please email commencement@ggu.edu.

How do I get to Oracle Park?
For a comprehensive overview of available transit options, look over SF Giant’s Getting to Oracle Park.

When should I arrive?
The event starts at 3:00pm PST. Gates will open at 1:00pm PST. We require that students arrive by 1:30pm to check-in and line up for their procession. Guests should arrive and be seated by 2:15pm so that we may start the ceremony promptly.

Are there any prohibited items?
Please visit the Oracle Park website for a comprehensive list of prohibited items.

I would like to invite my family from outside the US and they need to get a B-2 Visa to attend the event. How can I get a letter from GGU that supports that I’m graduating and that I’m inviting them to the commencement ceremony?
You need to submit a letter request form. We will try to process the request within three business day and email you the letters to your GGU email.

As a graduate of Golden Gate University, you are a member of the Alumni Association. Visit the alumni website to create an alumni profile, learn more about the exclusive benefits and services and the latest updates, alumni news stories and more. We encourage you to stay connected, share your success stories with us and be an advocate for GGU’s programs and future students and graduates.

Follow the GGU Alumni Association on Facebook to connect with other GGU alumni.

Shop at the GGU Bookstore online for yourself or your graduate. Pick up diploma frames, alumni apparel, gifts, collectibles and more.

We captured some of the stories about our GGU graduates.

• Watch the ceremony on YouTube