Commencement.

Dear Graduates:

Following is important information regarding Commencement:

DATE / TIME / PLACE:

Samuel Merritt University's fall 2026 commencement ceremony will take place on Wednesday, December 9, 2026 at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland.  A 1:00 PM ceremony will be held for the Bachelor of Science, Master of Biomedical Sciences, Master of Health Administration, Master of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN, BSN, and RN to BSN programs), and Master of Science in Nursing programs.
 

REGALIA:
You will receive an email in September to order your regalia. 

Congratulations!

Do guests need tickets for the ceremony? 
Yes, the Fall and Spring ceremonies will require to have tickets for entry due to the number of graduates. All guests ages 2 and over must have a ticket to attend graduation. You will not be admitted into the theatre without a ticket. Tickets will be distributed by your program. To obtain extra tickets, you will need to work with your program. 

Which commencement ceremony will my graduate be participating in?
A 1:00 PM ceremony will be held for the College of Health Science programs.

A 1:00 PM ceremony will be held for Doctor of Nursing Practice, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN, BSN, and RN to BSN programs), and Master of Science in Nursing programs.

Students that graduate from any program between July 1 and December 31, will attend the fall commencement held in December. If you graduate between January 1 and June 30, you will attend the spring commencement held in May.

Are there special arrangements at The Paramount Theatre for guests in wheelchairs or with mobility limitations?
Please ask the graduate to contact Veronica Paniagua in the Office of Academic and Student Affairs (vpaniagua@samuelmerritt.edu or 510-879-9200 ext. 7373) at least two weeks 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. You will need to provide the name of the guest needing accommodations and the name of the person accompanying them. 

Where do I find directions to and/or parking information for The Paramount Theatre?
Please click here for directions and parking information on The Paramount Theatre's website. Plan your visit https://www.paramountoakland.org/plan-your-visit/graduations.

How long will the ceremony last?
The College of Health Sciences, College of Podiatric Medicine, and College of Nursing ceremony will last two and a half to three hours. All graduates must remain in their seats until the end of the ceremony. You must not leave the theatre early, as it is disruptive and disrespectful to the other graduates and guests.

Does The Paramount allow guests to bring balloons for the graduates?
No, the Paramount does not allow balloons inside the theatre. 

Can you provide me with a list of hotels in the area?
Please click here to view a list of accommodations in Oakland on the Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau website. (opens in new tab) There are also several hotels in the nearby city of Emeryville, including a Courtyard by Marriott (opens in new tab), Oaktown Roost, Four Points by Sheraton (opens in new tab), HYATT house (opens in new tab), and the Hilton Garden Inn (opens in new tab).
If you are interested in staying in the city of Berkeley, please click here to view a list of accommodations on the Berkeley Convention and Visitors Bureau website. (opens in new tab)

Will there be any kind of reception for graduates and their guests following Commencement?
Due to space and time limitations, the University 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 ask your graduate if their program is planning to host a reception.

Will there be a professional photographer at Commencement?
Yes. During the ceremony, graduates will be photographed in their regalia with the President and the chair of their program. The photographer will also take informal pictures of the graduates outside the Theatre before and after the ceremony. The photos will be available to purchase two weeks after commencement. 

Where can I meet up with my graduate before or after the ceremony to take pictures, etc.?
We request that family and friends wait until after the ceremony is over to meet with their graduate to take pictures, give them flowers, etc., since prior to the ceremony, students will be busy donning their regalia, listening to important instructions about the academic procession, and lining up. After the ceremony, graduates will exit the Theatre on 21st Street, where you can meet up with them. Please do not give your graduate any items such as flowers or balloons prior to the ceremony, as they will not be allowed to carry them into the theatre. (Flower leis are OK.)

Help! I forgot to order my Commencement regalia (cap, gown, hood, etc.)!
Spring graduates will receive an email in March regarding, how and when to order a cap and gown.

Fall graduates will receive an email in September regarding, how and when to order a cap and gown. 

If you have not yet ordered your academic regalia (cap, gown, etc.) after the deadline and plan to participate in Commencement, please contact, Herff Jones at your earliest opportunity. All grads MUST have the appropriate academic regalia in order to participate in Commencement.

How do I order my Commencement/Graduation announcements?
Go to http://colleges.herffjones.com/college/_samuelmerritt/, select Samuel Merritt University from the drop-down list, and follow the prompts to find the announcement for your academic program. Announcements take 2-3 weeks for delivery.

Will my family and friends need tickets for the ceremony? 
The fall and spring ceremonies require tickets for entry due to the large number of graduates. Graduates will receive their tickets from their programs. All guests ages 2 and over must have a ticket to attend the graduation. Your guests will not be permitted into the theatre without a ticket. Lost or misplaced tickets will not be replaced.

Will there be a rehearsal for the ceremony?
No.

How long will the ceremony last?
The spring and fall ceremonies will last two and a half to three hours.

Will there be a professional photographer at Commencement?
Yes. During the ceremony, graduates will be photographed in their regalia with the President. The photographer may also take informal pictures of the graduates outside the Theatre before and after the ceremony. The photos will be available to purchase two weeks after commencement. 

Where do I find directions to and/or parking information for The Paramount Theatre?
Please click here (opens in new tab) for directions and parking information on The Paramount Theatre's website. Plan your visit to the graduation https://www.paramountoakland.org/plan-your-visit/graduations. 

Are there special arrangements for guests in wheelchairs or with mobility limitations?
Contact Veronica Paniagua in the Office of Academic and Student Affairs (vpaniagua@samuelmerritt.edu or 510-879-9200 ext. 7373) at least two weeks before 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 guests needing ADA access will be permitted to have one other member of their party sit with them in the ADA section. You will need to provide the name of the guest needing accommodations and the name of the person accompanying them.

Will there be any kind of reception for graduates and their guests following Commencement?
Due to space and time limitations, the University does not host a reception at the Theatre following Commencement. However, individual academic programs/departments often organize their own reception or party at other venues to celebrate graduation. Please contact your program Dean, 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 a given 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.