Commencement Day 2023

APPLY TO GRADUATE

All candidates must file an Application for Graduation with the Admissions & Records Office. Candidates will be notified by mail about their graduation status. Students planning to participate in the 2023 Commencement Ceremony must have applied for graduation by Friday, May 5 to ensure that their name is on the commencement program. Students must also register to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. See details in the next section.

Apply for Graduation

VERIFY YOUR NAME

In order to ensure the correct spelling of your name on your diploma and in the Commencement program, you are advised to check the accuracy of your name in your student portal by Friday, May 5.

Visit the Portal

HAVE QUESTIONS?

For specific questions about your graduation application, call the Graduation Evaluator below who is assigned to the letter corresponding to your last name: (909) 274-4415.

D-K: Veronica Gutierrez

B, L-M: Becky Wang

C, N-R: Mariezar Figueroa

A, S-Z: Jenny Hua

 

REGISTER NOW 

Registration to participate in Commencement will be May 15 to June 2, 2023. 

Register Now

ELIGIBLE PARTICIPANTS

Students who have applied for graduation through the  Admissions & Records Office for Fall 2022, Winter 2023, Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 are eligible to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. 

Graduates will be provided a maximum of 6 tickets for guests. More details will be provided when students register for the ceremony. Please note all guests 2 years or older will require a ticket. Children under 2 years may sit on a parent’s lap.

Registration to participate in the Commencement Ceremony opens May 15 to June 2, 2023.

Tickets will be distributed digitally by Wednesday, June 7, to the graduate's official Mt. SAC email address. If you have not received the tickets by Thursday, June 8, please email boxoffice@mtsac.edu or call (909) 274-2050 for assistance. 

Caps and Gowns Required

A cap and gown are required for graduates to participate. Cap decorations should not obstruct the view of the people behind you

ONLINE PURCHASE: Caps and gowns may be purchased on-line through May 9, 2023 at https://collegegrad.herffjones.com.

BOOKSTORE PURCHASE: From May 1 – June 9, 2023, they can be purchased at the Mt. SAC Bookstore. Cap, gown, tassel, and stole package is $79.98. Visit the Mt. SAC Bookstore website for more information. 

Dress Comfortably

We encourage students and guests to opt for comfortable shoes (high heels discouraged) due to the distance from parking lots to the stadium, turf, stairs, and length of the program.

 RAIN OR SHINE
The ceremony will take place rain or shine. Consider weather conditions and dress accordingly. Some seats in the stadium are in direct sunlight, please consider proper sun gear and protection.

Need Accommodations?

Students and guests who need accommodations (mobility, sign language interpretation, accessible formats etc.) must contact the Accessibility Resource Centers for Students (ACCESS) by emailing access@mtsac.edu or calling (909) 274-4290 by NO LATER THAN Friday, June 2, to request accommodations.

GRADUATES

Park in Lots F and H, or Gateway Parking Structure
Parking opens at 3:30 p.m. 
Graduates should arrive at the stadium with their caps and gowns.  Parking Lots F and H and Gateway Parking Structure are designated for graduates and their guests. Champion Parking Structure is available for graduates and guests in need of accessible parking. After the security screening, graduates will be directed to the “check-In” booth (south of the track field) once they arrive at the stadium. Final processional instructions will be given to the graduates at the assembly area at the south side of the stadium following check-in.

GUESTS

Park in Lots F and H, or Gateway Parking Structure
Parking and Stadium Gates open at 3:30 p.m.

Guest may park in Parking Lots F and H and Gateway Parking Structure. Champion Parking Structure is available for graduates and guests in need of accessible parking.   Guests may park in any of these designated parking areas with their graduates. 

At the end of the ceremony, the stadium will remain restricted to only commencement participants.  All participants will exit the venue when prompted.  Participants may meet their families outside the venue in Lot F or Lot H.

PARKING IS FREE

Commencement  Map

Parking Lot F Map     Parking Lot H Map

Gateway Parking Structure   

PLAN FOR HALF MILE WALK

The campus is large and walking distance can be a half mile. Please plan accordingly, wear comfortable shoes (high heels discouraged), and arrive early.

ACCESSIBLE PARKING

Champion Parking Structure
Those with mobility challenges (including the elderly and those with disability placards) can park in Champion Structure (730) and are encouraged to bring their walker or wheelchairs with them.  Mt. SAC is not able to provide personal mobility assistance, so please plan to bring someone with you who can assist with mobility needs.

Entry Process and Prohibited Items

Tickets

All guests must present a ticket provided by their graduate to enter the stadium.

Security Screening

All guests entering the stadium are subject to a metal-detector screening, visual inspection, and bag inspection conducted by  security personnel. The purpose of the inspection is to detect prohibited items and is for the safety of our guests and our staff. 

Prohibited Items

For safety reasons, guests are refused entry  if they are in possession of prohibited items. Illegal items will be confiscated and turned over to the police. If a guest is found inside the venue with a prohibited item, the item will be confiscated and the guest may be ejected from the facility. Prohibited items include:

• Pets (including emotional support animals) are not allowed in the stadium. Only service animals are permitted.
• Banners and Signs (Only handheld signs and small banners are allowed in the stadium. Graduates and guests may not bring large banners or signs that will obstruct the view of people sitting around them.)
• Noisemaking Devices (i.e. whistles, air horns)
• Weapons of any kind (i.e. pepper spray, tear gas, handcuffs, stun guns)
• Alcohol, smoking and vaping are not permitted. 
• Large balloons or large balloon clusters that can obstruct the view of people sitting around them.

FOOD AND DRINK PERMITTED

Guests and graduates are permitted to bring food and water with them to the stadium. Please note the ceremony can last 4 hours, graduates and guests are encouraged to plan accordingly. 

CONCESSION STANDS

Concession stands will be open with drinks and snack items available for sale.

Graduates must stay through the duration of the ceremony. The tassel turning occurs at the end of the ceremony. 

No kids or guests are allowed on the field or stage with graduates.

The full ceremony can run about 4 hours long, including the procession, conferral of diplomas, and turning of the tassels, so please plan accordingly. 

Those who cannot attend the event in person are invited to watch the livestream on Mt. SAC's YouTube page at www.youtube.com/mtsac. 

Watch the live stream on YouTube

GRAD PHOTOGRAPHY
A professional photographer, GradImages will take photos of graduates during the degree conferral segment of the ceremony. Visit website, www.gradimages.com, and click on Pre-Event Email Registration. Enter your email and up to 6 emails of loved ones who would like to share in your accomplishment by viewing and ordering your photos. If you have any questions, please contact GradImages Customer Service department at (800) 261-2576.

MEDIA RELEASE
By attending Commencement, participants and guests grant permission to  Mt. San Antonio College, its employees and agents, to take and use visual/audio images of me. The college owns the images and all rights related to them. The images may be used in any manner or media without notification. All participants waive the right to inspect or approve the images not to be compensated for them. Participants release Mt. SAC, its employees and agents, from any claims, damages or liability in connection with the taking and use of visual/audio images.

Actual degrees are not issued at the commencement ceremony—only the diploma covers. Grads will receive official diplomas by mail approximately 12 weeks after the ceremony. Verify your mailing address by logging into your Mt. SAC Portal to review your address.

Outstanding Payments: Please note that if you have an outstanding obligation (such as fees or payments you still owe) to the college, we will not be able to release your diploma when it becomes available.