2015 COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION
COLLEGE OF THE PACIFIC DEAN'S OFFICE
Commencement Ceremony (University-wide)
A.G. Spanos Center
Saturday, May 9 2015: 9:00AM- 11:00AM (Arrive at 8:00AM)
1. Meet at 8:00A.M. at the southeast side of Spanos Center. Wear gown and cap with tassel attached.
Do not bring your hood to this ceremony.
2. Look for signs and line up with College of the Pacific; no need to be alphabetical. COP will have
its own line that will be beside the line for all other schools. Follow instructions of University
Marshals for processional and recessional.
3. This is the ceremony in which the President officially confers all degrees, and your names are not
called out individually-the degrees are conferred as a group.
4. Refreshments will be available for COP seniors and guests in the tented area outside the NW
entrance of Spanos Center immediately following the ceremony. After refreshments, please
proceed to the west side of Spanos to line up for the COP Diploma & Hooding Ceremony (see
instructions below).
College Diploma & Hooding Ceremony Guidelines
A.G. Spanos Center
Saturday, May 9, 2015: 1:00PM- 2:30PM (Arrive at 12:00 Noon)
PLEASE arrive on time – the College has a large graduating class and it takes a full hour to get all
graduates in alphabetical order and to distribute name cards.
Graduating seniors will meet-wearing gowns and caps with tassels attached, and carrying hoods-on the
east side of the Spanos Center at 12:00 Noon on Saturday, May 9th. Faculty marshals will be there to
assist you in getting to your proper place; you are asked to help by going there early and, most
importantly, staying there until we step off. We do step off exactly ON TIME-- 1:00 p.m.
In the assembly area:
1. Upon your arrival please go immediately to the area designated for your degree. There will be
signs for 5 different degree groups in the following order:
a. Graduate Degrees (PhD first, then MA, then MS) first in line, closest to the entrance.
b. Bachelor of Fine Arts
c. Bachelor of Science
d. Bachelor of Arts (This is the largest group, look for signs with the first letter of your last
name).
e. Evening Bachelor of Science
2. Within each group, line up in alphabetical order in single file. Your names will be listed
alphabetically in the printed program to assist in this effort. Not everyone will show up, so do not
leave space or a seat for someone who is not present.
3. After you have successfully lined up, each graduate will be given his or her own name card. You
will be responsible for this card until you walk across the stage.
During the processional, ceremony and recessional:
1. Follow the faculty marshal's direction onto the floor seating in the Spanos center. Move into your
seats quickly, making sure not to leave empty seats as the marshals will be filling each row with the
same number of people as there are chairs.
2. When the faculty marshal indicates that your row should proceed toward the stage, file out and
follow their direction in an orderly manner, making sure you have your name card with you.
3. When your turn comes, hand your name card to the reader and process across the stage to where the
Dean is standing. You will be given your diploma case and the Dean will offer you a handshake. At
this point, your photograph will be taken by our professional photographer.
4. Proceed to the hooding area on stage to be hooded.
5. Follow the direction of the faculty marshals there to guide you off the stage (another photograph)
and back to your seat.
6. At the end of the ceremony, follow faculty marshals out of the Spanos Center to the reception. At
this point, it is no longer important to maintain alphabetical order, but is important to keep the line
moving.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Seating: There is open seating for the Commencement Ceremony and the College Diploma and Hooding Ceremony.
If you have a family member or guest who has a disability there are disability related accommodations available at the
South East entrance to the A. G. Spanos Center. The space is very limited and is reserved only for the person and one
other family member.
Please plan on using the free shuttle services! Your family can park in any lot and be taken to and from the
A.G. Spanos Center in minutes. The shuttle stops are located on the campus map in the yellow SS boxes.
Should you find you have the wrong hood or tassel, the University Bookstore, where you purchased your
academic regalia, will be open to change your hood and purchase your tassel.
There will be no tassel ceremony at the College Diploma & Hooding Ceremony. Tassels begin and end the
ceremony on the LEFT side.
Hoods are to be carried over the left arm with the neck side out and the velvet toward the wrist. The
Marshals will be there to assist you with this before the ceremony and before you walk across the platform.
After the Diploma and Hooding Ceremony
Where Can I Meet My Family/Friends/Guest? –
You will be able to meet up with your family/guests outside of the A. G. Spanos Center immediately following
the ceremony. There will be colored banners with the individual names of each COP Department placed around
the outside of the A. G. Spanos Center. These banners can be used as a focal point to meet up with your family
and friends. You don’t necessarily have to meet at the department you were in, but could use one of the banners
as the meeting place, example meet your family at the English banner.
Please make sure the Registrar's Office has your current address so that your diploma will reach you. Your
diploma will be mailed about 2 weeks after commencement.