Help! I forgot to order my Commencement regalia (cap, gown, etc.). Is it too late for me to obtain regalia so I can participate in Commencement?
If you have not yet ordered your regalia, please contact Amy Anderson in the Office of Academic Affairs (510-869-6744, aanderson@samuelmerritt.edu) immediately to see if we can accommodate late regalia orders.  Students without regalia will NOT be permitted to walk in the Commencement ceremony.

How do I order my graduation announcements?
Go to http://www1.herffjones.com/college/graduation/index.cfm [1], select Samuel Merritt College from the drop down list, and follow the prompts to find the announcement for your academic program.

Do my family and friends need tickets for the ceremony? If so, how many tickets will each graduate receive?
No, given the capacity of the venue, there is not a need to issue tickets for guests or limit the number of guests each student may invite to the Commencement ceremonies.

Will there be a rehearsal for the ceremony?
Yes. Rehearsals will be held on Thursday, May 22 at The Paramount Theatre in Oakland. A rehearsal for students participating in the Doctoral Commencement ceremony will be held at 12:30 PM on Thursday, May 22. The rehearsal for participants in the Bachelors and Masters Commencement ceremony will be held at 10:30 AM on Thursday, May 22.

How long will the ceremony last?
The doctoral ceremony (10:00 AM) will last approximately an hour and a half to two hours. The ceremony for masters and baccalaureate graduates (2:00 PM) will last about two hours.

Will there be a professional photographer at Commencement?
During the ceremony, graduates will be photographed in their regalia while being hooded and/or shaking hands with the President. The photographer [2] may also take informal pictures of the graduates outside the theatre before and after the ceremony. The photographer [3] will contact graduates directly with information on how to view proofs and order pictures.

Where do I find directions to and/or parking information for The Paramount Theatre?
Please click here [4] for directions and parking information on The Paramount Theatre's website.

Is there any information about Commencement I should pass along to my guests?
Please ask your guests to refer to the "Commencement Information for Family and Friends" [5] page.

Are there special arrangements for guests in wheelchairs or with mobility limitations?
Contact Amy Anderson in the Office of Academic Affairs (aanderson@samuelmerritt.edu [6] or 510-869-6744) at least one week prior to Commencement to make arrangements for special seating in the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) section of the venue for guests with disabilities/mobility limitations. Please note that seating in the ADA section of the theatre is limited and your entire party may not be able to sit there. The guest needing the ADA access will be permitted to have one other member of their party sit with them in the ADA section.

Will there be any kind of reception for graduates and their guests following Commencement?
Due to space and time limitations, the College does not sponsor a reception at the theatre following Commencement. However, individual academic programs often organize their own reception or party at other venues to celebrate graduation. Please contact your program Chair or Director to find out if a reception is being planned.

What is the difference between "Graduation" and "Commencement"?
Completion of the academic requirements for degree is referred to as Graduation. The celebration marking this achievement is Commencement. Participation in the Commencement ceremony does not guarantee graduation, nor is graduation necessarily a prerequisite for participation in Commencement.

I am not planning to participate in the Commencement ceremony and don't want my academic regalia. Do I still have to pay the "Graduation Fee"?
Yes. The graduation fee, which is charged to all students in their final term at the College, will be assessed even if you do not participate in Commencement. In addition to regalia, the fee covers the cost of other graduation related expenses. Please refer to the "Graduation Procedures" information on page 94 of the 2007-2008 Catalog and Student Handbook for more details about the graduation fee.