BEFORE COMMENCEMENT
Academic Regalia
All master’s students (except Art/MFA) will rent and wear a gown, cap, tassel, and hood during the ceremony. In recognition of the doctoral and MFA degrees being the highest degree granted in their respective disciplines, CGU officials will give these graduates their hood on stage.  Therefore, doctoral and MFA candidates will not wear a hood to the ceremony.   They will wear a gown, cap, and tassel.  Note: The cap tassel should be worn on the left side.

Purchase Regalia
Purchase Deadline - March 14
If you are a doctoral candidate and wish to purchase your own Claremont Graduate University doctoral regalia, please contact Susan Navarro of Huntley Bookstore at (909) 607-1503.  The deadline for placing an order to purchase regalia to be worn at the commencement 2008 ceremony is Friday, March 14, 2008  to assure delivery by May 17, 2008.  The cost of purchasing the custom-made gown, cap, and tassel is $719.91. (price includes tax and shipping.) The purchase price for a PhD hood only is $161.14 (plus tax and shipping.)

Rent Regalia
Rental Deadline - April 4
If you received a September or January degree, or have filed an intent to receive a degree in May, you will receive a mailing* in late February regarding participation in the ceremony.  The mailing will include a cap and gown order form.  Your order form and payment must be submitted to Huntley Bookstore no later than Friday, April 4, 2008.  Graduates ordering regalia after this date will be subject to a late fee of $20 and may not get the exact size or color needed. Prices subject to change.

• All Doctoral candidates - $26.01 for gown, cap, and tassel
• Master’s of Fine Arts  - $22.76 for gown, cap, and tassel
• Master’s candidates - $43.72 for gown, cap, tassel, and hood

*Note:  Please be sure the Office of Student Affairs has your correct mailing address. You can confirm it and/or correct it on the student portal.  Login to the Portal  at https://my.cgu.edu and click on "Student Information", then "My Personal Information".  

Pick Up Regalia
at Huntley Bookstore

• It is advisable to pick up your regalia before Saturday, May 17. 
• Students who ordered regalia late, after April 4 are advised to call Huntley Bookstore at  (909) 607-1503  prior to picking up regalia.  When you call, be prepared to give your name and degree.

Return Regalia
All rented regalia must be returned to the bookstore immediately following the ceremony by 5 p.m.  Any rented regalia not returned to Huntley Bookstore by 12 p.m., Monday, May 19, will be billed for the purchase price to your student account and you will not be eligible to receive transcripts or your diploma until your account is cleared. 

Announcement Cards
Announcement cards may be ordered through Huntley Bookstore, or by calling 1-800-433-0296, or on line at CB Graduation Announcements, http://www.cbgrad.com. 

  
Diploma Frames
Diploma frames may purchased at Huntley Bookstore or through their website www.claremont.bkstr.com.

Fees / Other Obligations
As a reminder to May candidates, all fees and other obligations must be fully met.  This includes, but is not limited to, obligations to CGU student accounts, housing accounts, and any of the libraries or other central service organizations of The Claremont Colleges.

Log onto the CGU student portal at https://my.cgu.edu  to access your information. Click on "Student Information", then "My Finances."

You may contact Student Accounts:
-  by phone at (909) 607-2613
-  by email at Student.Accounts@cgu.edu
-  during office hours weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Protocol
Commencement ceremonies are special events for all involved. We ask that you show respect for everyone who shares in the experience by creating an occasion that will appropriately highlight your achievements. Children, including babies, are not allowed to sit with the graduates nor are they allowed on stage.  Tickets are not required to attend the commencement ceremony.

The university ceremony is a dignified program governed by academic tradition, overall good manners, and local laws. Therefore, possession of alcoholic beverages or materials that may disrupt the ceremony are prohibited.

Inclement Weather Plan
Commencement will be held rain or shine, in Mudd Quad. 

Arrival  
Arrive at the corner of Dartmouth Avenue and 8^th Street wearing your regalia at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 17. (The cap tassel  should be work on the left side.)Please be prompt!  Those who are not at their assembly points, in academic regalia, when the procession is formed will not be able to march and sit with their classmates.

Check-in
When you arrive, stop at the check-in table just west of Honnold Library (near the drive-through book depositories) and north of Eighth Street to receive your "Graduate Name Card", which you will hand to the provost during the ceremony.  Your name will be read from this card when you cross the stage so please be sure to spell your name phonetically, as  well as the acutual spelling. Please print clearly.  Also be sure to print your address so that the photographer may contact you regarding your photos.  Click here to view the Graduate name card. 

Line Up
All participants must be in line no later than 9:30 a.m. on Dartmouth Avenue between 8^th and 9^th streets.  You will line up behind your school’s banner.  You should stand in line next to the person you want to sit with during the ceremony.  You’ll march and sit by schools, with M.A./M.S. candidates in front of Ph.D. candidates.  Staff will be on hand to place you in line according to your school and degree.  Once you are in line, please do not break ranks—you can visit with family and take pictures after the ceremony.   

Processional
Two candidates’ marshals will lead the processional.  The marshals will direct you into the row in which you’ll sit.  It is extremely important that you do not save a seat for another person.  Otherwise, we will not have enough chairs and the ceremony will be delayed.

Once the processional begins, candidates will proceed north on Dartmouth Avenue and turn right (east) just north of Honnold Library.  The eight school lines will condense into two lines, with half proceeding north along the west aisle and half proceeding north along the east aisle.  The section of chairs in the center, directly south of the stage is reserved for candidates.  

Conferrals
Conferrals will be made in the following groupings:  (1) master, (2) master of fine arts, and (3) doctoral.  For group 1, the provost will state, “Will the candidates for the degrees of Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Information Science, Master of Business Administration, and Executive Master of Business Administration please rise and remain standing?”  The provost will then confer the degrees on the candidates, and you will be asked to sit down.  The provost will make the conferrals for each group.  When your group is called, you are to stand and remain standing until the provost asks you to sit.  

Once the conferrals are complete, the candidates will be recognized individually.  The candidates’ marshals will instruct you when to approach the stage.  In the same three groupings mentioned above, by school, you will approach the stage.  Your photo will be taken while you are on the west ramp.  You then hand your graduate name card to the provost and state your name.  The provost will announce your name.  Masters candidates will then shake hands with the president and the chair of the board of trustees.  Doctoral and Master of Fine Arts candidates will turn and face the audience while the faculty places the academic hood over your head.  The chair will then hand you a certificate, and your photograph will be taken.  You will leave the stage via the east ramp and return to your chair.

Recessional
When the commencement ceremony is over, graduates will march out of Mudd Quad by schools.  The banner carriers will lead the way to the school receptions being held at various locations on campus. 

School Receptions
Members of the class of 2008 and their families are invited to a reception at the graduate’s school.   Click here to access more information about school receptions.

Strollers
Strollers are allowed.  They may be stored in the area designated on the attached map, or your guests may park them next to their chair as long as they do not block the aisle. 

Handicapped Parking
Handicapped Parking will be available in the parking lot north of McAlister Center on the southwest corner of Tenth Street and Columbia Avenue.  Access to this lot is available via Eleventh Street and Columbia. 

Refreshment, Flowers, and Gifts
Hagelbarger’s will be closed to the public the morning of commencement; however, their staff will have a refreshment stand located at Dartmouth and Ninth Street.  They will be selling Starbucks Coffee, juice, cookies, soda, muffins, scones, fruit cups and chips.  Huntley Bookstore will have a stand on the lawn in front of the Institute for Antiquity and Christianity (IAC) where you or your guests may purchase Claremont Graduate University memorabilia, flowers, and rings.

Photographer
Chappell Graduation Images will take your photograph during the ceremony and will mail the proofs to the address you print on your “graduate name card.” Click here to view the Graduate Name Card.  If you would like to pre-register your email address with Chappell, they will contact you just as soon as your photos are available for online viewing and ordering.  Go to  http://www.gradimages.com/Register.cfm to pre-register.  Should you need to reach them, their telephone number is (800) 247-3435.

Candid Photos
A designated area will be available to take a photo of graduates as they cross the stage to receive diplomas.  Those entering this area will be asked to return to their seat as soon as the photo is taken. The aisles must be kept clear at all times for safety reasons and to avoid interruption of the traffic flow. We encourage purchasing photos from the professional photographer to allow guests to enjoy a clear view of their loved ones / colleagues and to minimize the confusion in this area. 

Campus Map
Click here to download PDF. 

Rev'd:  4/24/08

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