All candidates for 2021 are allowed to participate, including  guests from the same household in one vehicle. Please RSVP online and reserve your designated time slot.

The registration form for Commencement 2021 is now closed.

The Office of Student Life & Leadership will be hosting Gradfest Week on Monday, April 12th through Thursday, April 15th with partners on campus to distribute academic regalia, tassels, cords and stoles.  The event will take place in lot #12 at the San Marcos campus. Here are the sign-up links (students are able to sign-up for multiple links):

ASG / Bookstore Sign-Up
Veterans Sign-Up
Phi Theta Kappa Sign-Up
Service Learning - Please contact servicelearning@palomar.edu if you completed Service Learning hours and qualify for a graduation cord (50 hours) or stole (100 hours).

If you would like to order academic regalia through the Palomar College Bookstore and pick it up during Gradfest Week, the deadline to order is Friday, April 9th. Please order directly through their website:  Palomar College Bookstore.

All students will enter through East Comet Circle on Mission Road in San Marcos, CA.  As each vehicle enters the Drive-Thru Commencement Ceremony, there will be a check-in to confirm your pre-registration. Please ensure you have a mask and you're wearing academic regalia. Only students are required to wear academic regalia; however all participants in the vehicle must have a mask. You will need to have proof of your completed registration upon arrival at the check-in booth. Your confirmation of registration will be used for the name reader once you approach the staging area. The estimated time length of the route will depend on the amount of participants that join.

The pre-recorded program will be shared online  Friday, May 28th,  2021 at 2 PM.  More information on where to view the pre-recorded program as well as the  link will be posted closer to May.

Yes! We highly encourage you to get creative and festive with your vehicle. Faculty, staff and administrators would love to see your names somewhere on or within the vehicle to cheer you on. Please note you must comply with California vehicles codes and there will be no tolerance of obscenities as students must follow the student code of conduct when decorating their vehicle.

If you are a student that is in need of an accommodation to participate in this event, please contact the Office of Student Life & Leadership directly to see if they can facilitate your request. (760) 744-1150 x2594

All students and participants in each vehicle must have a mask. In order to protect the safety of others and yourself, you must be wearing your mask when approaching each stop throughout the route.

All students and participants must remain in their vehicles at all times, unless there is an emergency. Faculty, staff and administrators will be stationed throughout the route but will be socially distant amongst each other to ensure they're following safety protocols related to COVID-19.

No, all students and participants must be in an enclosed vehicle.

Only employees of the District will be permitted to stand alongside the drive-thru route. All faculty, staff  and administrators will be temperature screened prior to the event and will social distance while wearing face coverings at all times. A live stream of the Drive-Thru Commencement Ceremony will be available online at 5 PM and a recording of the event will be published online in June.

Students will need to roll down a designated window to receive their Foundation SWAG bag and diploma cover. Diploma covers will be distributed on a tray where students will grab them as they drive through the staging area. Governing Board members and the President of the college will be at the staging area greeting and distributing diploma covers with appropriate PPE gear.