Before Commencement day

Purchasing Regalia:

Graduates may purchase their cap and gown from the Bookstore now in-store at the San Marcos Campus or  online at PalomarStore.com.

How to wear Your Regalia

Regalia should be worn properly at all times during the Ceremony
GOWN: Have your gown pressed (cool iron only). Gowns should be zipped up at all times during the ceremony.
CAP:  The cap should be worn straight and pulled down over the forehead. You may need to use bobby pins to keep your cap on. Caps should also be worn at all times during the ceremony, except during the National Anthem (men). The tassel should be draped over the left front quarter of the cap. 

If you are borrowing regalia from a sibling or friend, please make sure it matches the black cap and gowns that are sold at the bookstore.

Commencement Day Dress Code

Wear Proper Footwear
Seriously, wear the proper footwear! You will be standing for a period of time and you will be walking on potentially uneven ground. For your safety, graduates are strongly urged not to wear high heels. Wedge heels and flats are highly recommended.
Decorating your Cap
Graduates are allowed to decorate their caps for the ceremony.
 

Cords, Medals and Sashes
If the graduate earned an honors cord, medal, and/or sash during the time they attended Palomar College (for example Puente, Phi Theta Kappa, UMOJA, and Veterans, etc) they are more than welcome to wear those items.

DEADLINES

If you are unsure, we recommend you meet with a counselor first to verify when you will complete all of your academic requirements. Once you enroll in your last course(s) to satisfy your associate degree and/or certificate requirements, you should submit a petition for graduation to the Evaluations and Records office. You can submit a petition for graduation by email, by fax (760) 744-2932, or in-person to the Evaluations and Records office

Petitions must be submitted no later than the dates listed below:

• Spring graduation – February 28th
• Summer graduation – June 30th
• Fall graduation – September 30th

There is no official deadline for students to file a petition for CSU General Education (CSU GE) or IGETC Certification

NOTIFICATION

You will receive an email once your evaluation has been completed. This email will include notification of approval or denial status, a copy of your degree/certificate evaluation, and further explanation, if necessary. This notification may come any time during the semester or, in some cases, after your final semester has ended. If you are unsure if you qualify to graduate, we recommend you meet with a counselor to verify you have satisfied all of your academic requirements.

If you missed the cut-off date to petition for graduation but have verified with a counselor that you are qualified to graduate, you may still walk in the Commencement Ceremony.

GRADUATE ARRIVAL
Complete your personal Cleared4 link (found in your student email) prior to coming to campus
If you have trouble finding your Cleard4 link, or have not taken any Face to Face courses this semester complete the Visitor Access pre-screening questionnaire
Please note that if you are "reusing" the link more than once it may not work.
Park in the parking structure located in Lot 12
ARRIVE EARLY:
Friday, May 26th: Check-in at the Dome no later than 3:30pm in your Academic Regalia
When you arrive at the Dome, there will be a QR code to scan for your check-in.  We will have back-up if you don't have a phone or your phone is not capable of scanning
NOTE: All participants must check-in
Instructions will be explained to all participating graduates in detail while inside the Dome
DRESS CODE:
Official cap and gown are required for participation
Selected adornments such as honor and program stoles and cords and flower leis, may be worn with cap and gown during ceremony
PERSONAL BELONGINGS:
You will be responsible for any personal items you bring. Palomar College will not hold, store or be responsible for any personal items.

LENTH OF CEREMONY:
The Commencement ceremony is generally under 2 hours.  We ask that out of respect for all graduates that you stay until the ceremony is completed.

Please park in the Parking Structure located in Lot 12.  Campus Map

Disabled parking is available in Lot 1 & 2 for those who have a DMV approved placard or license plate.

The Commencement Ceremony will be held on the Football Field & Track.

Graduates Requesting Accommodations

Commencement is held on the football field and is wheelchair accessible. ASL interpretation and real-time captioning will be provided for the Commencement ceremony.
If you are a student that is in need of an accommodation for Commencement, please contact the Office of Student Life & Leadership at (760) 744-1150 x2594 at least two weeks prior to the event.

Disabled Parking

Graduates and guests with a DMV approved placard  or license plate may park in parking lot 1 & 2 located in front of the football field.

Guests with Disabilities

There is a designated seating area for Disabled Guests and Deaf Guests (with interpreters) located on the west side of the Commencement ceremony field.  There is a  limited number of seating available so please plan accordingly. Please check-in upon arrival at the Programs table if assistance is needed .

Live captions will be provided for this event and will be viewable from the Deaf Seating Area.   Link for live captions will be provided closer to May 26, 2023.

PHOTOGRAPHS ON COMMENCEMENT DAY

Grad Images will be available to take graduate portraits after the Graduate Check-In point, on the day of your commencement ceremony.

All graduates will have a photo opportunity as they proceed off stage and back to their seats. On commencement day, you will be asked to complete the form on the back of your name card, and a free color proof will be mailed to you.  Once you have received your proof in the mail you can contact Grad Images at their customer service line at (800) 261-2576. The link for graduates is www.gradimages.com

DIPLOMA NAME

Your diploma/certificate will include your official name as it appears in MyPalomar. You may view the name that will be included by logging into your MyPalomar account. If you need to change your official name, please bring legal proof of the correct name to the Palomar College Admissions Office.

DIPLOMA ADDRESS

Your diploma/certificate will be sent to your mailing address as listed in Palomar College MyPalomar. If you have an address change, you must update your mailing address in your student MyPalomar account.  We do not assume responsibility for degrees and/or certificates sent to the wrong address. Duplicate diplomas may be purchased through the Evaluations Office. There is a charge of $15.00 each per duplicate diploma or certificate.

WHEN WILL I GET MY DIPLOMA?

Diplomas and/or Certificates for graduates will be mailed approximately four weeks after your degree has been awarded in MyPalomar. Please note, due to the large size of the graduating class, degree applications can take several months to process and award.  To check if your degree has been awarded, log into MyPalomar and view your Unofficial Transcript. To view your Unofficial Transcript go to your Student Center and on the “Other Academic” dropdown menu towards the bottom of the page select “Transcript: View Unofficial.” Click the arrow button. Select eServices and click “Go.”

CERTIFICATES OF PROFICIENCY

Certificate of Proficiency requirements are designed to certify basic workplace competencies for students who are entering the workforce. These certificates consist of programs that are less than 18 total units. Certificates of Proficiency are not awarded at the Palomar College Commencement, nor are they posted on official transcripts.

Pre-order Bouquet's, Lei's and more to be available for pickup on site the day of graduation prior to the ceremony.  Pre-order link: Palomar Community College : Commencement Group (thecommencementgroup.com)

Class of 2023 memorabilia items are available to order for a limited time:
PalomarStore.com CLASS OF 2023 DRINKWARE
PalomarSotre.com CLASS OF 2023 ORNAMENTS

Looking to order Announcements for your big day? 
Jostens.com for Palomar College_Announcements & Rings

Tickets and Seating

There are no tickets required and we are not limiting the number of guests who can attend.  Seating is limited and out of respect for all we ask that guests do not save seats.
Commencement is held on the football field with field level seating and potentially uneven ground.

Parking is free
Please park in lots 3, 5, 9 and lot 12.
Disabled parking is available in Lot 1 & 2 for those who have a DMV approved placard or license plate.

Length of Ceremony

The length of the ceremony is dependent upon several variables however, it is generally under 2 hours.  We ask that out of respect for all graduates that you stay until the ceremony is completed.

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 Bookstore will be hosting Gradfest Wednesday, April 13 and Thursday, April 14 (10am - 4pm)

If you would like to order academic regalia through the Palomar College Bookstore and pick it up during Gradfest, 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