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 October 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?
The fall ceremony we will not have a rehearsal.
The spring ceremony will have rehearsal on May 22 at The Paramount Theatre for the CoN at 10 AM and CoHS and CoPM at 12 PM. Rehearsal will last about one hour.
How long will the ceremony last?
The spring and fall 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 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 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 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.
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 2024-2025 Catalog and Student Handbook for more details about the graduation fee.
