Commencement

Samuel Merritt University's spring 2023 commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, May 26 at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. A 9:30 AM ceremony will be held for graduates of Master Physician Assistant, Master Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. A 1:30 PM ceremony will be held for graduates of Doctor of Nursing Practice, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN, RN to BSN, and ABSN programs), and Master of Science in Nursing programs.

Commencement Participation

If you graduate between January 1 and June 30, you will attend the spring commencement held in May. 

If you graduate between July 1 and December 31, you will attend the fall commencement held in December. 

Commencement Speaker

TBA

Where to View The Ceremony 

Live Streaming Ceremony from the Paramount Theatre!

May 26, 2023: College of Health Science and California School of Podiatric Medicine ceremony: https://youtube.com/live/ID_vG54Ysvo

May 26, 2023: School of Nursing ceremony: https://youtube.com/live/ZdxRrFUVJ-k

 

 

Dear Graduates:

Following is important information regarding Commencement:

COMMENCEMENT PARTICIPATION:

If you graduate from any program between July 1 and December 31, you 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.

DATE / TIME / PLACE:

Samuel Merritt University's spring 2023 commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, May 26 at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. A 9:30 AM ceremony will be held for graduates of Master Physician Assistant, Master Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. 


REGALIA:

You will receive an email in early March to order your regalia. If you missed the cutoff date and plan to participate in the ceremony, please contact the Bookstore in Oakland, 510-879-9200 ext. 9287, Denis Korelov, (dkorelov@follett.com) ASAP.

 Congratulations!

Dear Graduates:

Following is important information regarding Commencement:

DATE / TIME / PLACE:

Samuel Merritt University's spring 2023 commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, May 26 at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland.  A 1:30 PM ceremony will be held for graduates of Doctor of Nursing Practice, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN, RN to BSN, and ABSN programs), and Master of Science in Nursing programs.
 

REGALIA:

You will receive an email in early March to order your regalia. If you missed the cutoff date and plan to participate in the ceremony, please contact the Bookstore in Oakland, 510-879-9200 ext. 9287, Denis Korelov, (dkorelov@follett.com) ASAP.

Congratulations!

We will follow the Paramount Theatre COVID guidelines. Please visit the Paramount Theatre website for current information regarding COVID guidelines. 

Do guests need tickets for the ceremony? If so, how many tickets will each graduate receive?
Yes, the Fall and Spring ceremonies will require to have tickets for entry due to the number of graduates. You will not be admitted into the theatre without a ticket.

Are masks required? Do you have to be vaccinated?
Yes, mask are required to be worn for the duration of the event. Yes, all guest are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.  We will follow the Paramount Theatres guidelines. Visit the Paramount Theatre website for additional information, https://www.paramountoakland.org/.  

What is acceptable proof of vaccination?
Acceptable proof of vaccination is the original vaccination card, or a digital vaccination record with an appropriate ID matching the name on the vaccination document.

Are Digital Proof of Vaccinations acceptable?
Yes, Clear App (create an account for free). California residents can request a digital vaccination record at https://myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov/ (a government-issued photo ID will be required at the venue).

What about unvaccinated guests under the age of 12?
Unvaccinated guests under the age of 12 will be required to present proof of a negative COVID-19 diagnostic test (PCR or antigen test) within three days of the event start time before entering the venue.

What is an acceptable negative test?
An acceptable proof of a negative COVID-19 test result must be in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy). The documentation must include:

  • Type of test (PCR or antigen test only)
  • The entity issuing the result (e.g. laboratory, healthcare entity or telehealth service)
  • Specimen collection date. A negative test result must show the specimen was collected within the three days of the event start time.
  • Information that identifies the person (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number).
  • Test Result

Are over-the-counter test acceptable?
No, over-the-counter tests will not be accepted as proof of negative results of COVID-19.

COVID-19 Disclaimer:
An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people gather. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. You assume all risks, hazards, and dangers arising from or relating in any way to the risk of contracting a communicable disease of illness, whether that exposure occurs before, during, or after the event, and regardless of how caused or contracted.

Which commencement ceremony will my graduate be participating in?
A 9:30 AM ceremony will be held for Master Physician Assistant, Master of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Doctor of Podiatric Medicine. 

A 1:30 PM ceremony will be held for Doctor of Nursing Practice, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN, RN to BSN, and ABSN 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 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.

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.

How long will the ceremony last?
The College of Health Sciences, School of Podiatric Medicine, and the College of Nursing ceremony will last two and a half hours 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 are in the area?
Please click here to view a list of accommodations in Oakland on the Oakland Convention and Visitors Bureau website. There are also several hotels in the nearby city of Emeryville including a Courtyard by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, HYATT house , and the Hilton Garden Inn.
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.

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 while being hooded no shaking hands with the President. The photographer will also take informal pictures of the graduates outside the Theatre before and after the ceremony. Prior to Commencement the photographer will contact the graduates directly with information on how to view proofs and order pictures.

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 up 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 in to 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 early March regarding ordering how and when to order your cap and gown. Fall graduates will receive an email in early October regarding how and when to order your cap and gown.

If you have not yet ordered your academic regalia (cap, gown, etc.) and plan to participate in Commencement, please contact the bookstore manager Denis Korelov (dkorelov@follett.com or 510-879-9200 ext. 9287) at your earliest opportunity. All grads MUST have the appropriate academic regalia in order to participate in Commencement. Regalia ordered ship to campus will arrive the second week of May.

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? If so, how many tickets will each graduate receive?
The spring ceremony will require tickets for entry due to the large number of graduates. Graduates will receive tickets from their programs. Your guests will not be permitted into the theatre without a ticket.

Will there be a rehearsal for the ceremony?
Spring rehearsals will be held on Thursday, the day prior to commencement at The Paramount Theatre. Rehearsal time for College of Nursing is 10:00 AM and College of Health Science and California School of Podiatric Medicine will be at 12:00 PM. 

The fall ceremony will not have a rehearsal. 

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

Will there be a professional photographer at Commencement?
Yes. During the ceremony, graduates will be photographed in their regalia while being hooded and/or shaking hands with the President. The photographer may also take informal pictures of the graduates outside the Theatre before and after the ceremony. The photographer will contact graduates directly by email 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 for directions and parking information on The Paramount Theatre's website.

Are there special arrangements for guests in wheelchairs or with mobility limitations?
Contact Veronica Paniagua in the Office of Academic 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.

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.

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 University, 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 in the 2022-2023 Catalog and Student Handbook for more details about the graduation fee.