海角视频

A graduate student receiving their sash

Graduate Commencement

Congrats Class of 2026!

  • Participation forms are due by April 10, 2026.

Global Online students should choose the California campus in the  survey unless you prefer to participate at Clarion or Edinboro, please indicate which campus ceremony location you will participate in the survey.

View our Colleges and Schools page.

The ceremony typically lasts approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. It includes a welcome address, conferral of degrees, recognition of individual graduates by name, and the presentation of diploma covers. Doctoral and Master鈥檚 candidates will also be hooded during the ceremony.  

No, attendance at commencement is optional and does not affect the awarding of your degree or diploma.

Participation in a commencement ceremony does not guarantee confirmation of your degree completion.

The closest large airport to each 海角视频 campus is Pittsburgh International Airport. For those traveling to 海角视频 Edinboro, Erie International Airport is a smaller option nearby.

Graduates will receive a diploma cover during the Commencement ceremony, which contains information regarding their official diploma. Diplomas will be mailed to graduates approximately one month after completion of degree requirements and degrees are conferred.

Participation in a commencement ceremony does not guarantee confirmation of your degree completion.

There is considerable amount of walking to the Commencement venues and during the ceremony. Alternate accessibility arrangements for Commencement activities should be made to your campus Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD).

Request Accommodations

        

All guests must have a ticket to attend Commencement on each campus (guests 2 years old or younger do not need a ticket). The maximum amount of guest tickets available to each graduate is based on the size of the graduating class and the size of the venue on each campus.

Graduates will receive guest ticketing allotment and ordering information from commencementceremony@pennwest.edu sent to their 海角视频 email. (Guest tickets are no charge and can only be ordered/provided by the graduate through the electronic ticketing process.)

Are your guests unable to attend? No problem! Your family and friends can livestream the commencement ceremony from anywhere!

View Livestream

Guests With Disabilities

There is considerable amount of walking to the Commencement venues and to the venue seating. Our Commencement guests are offered parking closer to the venue as it is available and offered accessibility seating at the ceremony in order of arrival (one companion per guest in accessibility seating). Guest accommodations cannot be reserved in advance. University Police will be available to direct guests where to park and where to drop off those who need assistance.

Student Commencement Ceremony Rehearsals:

When: Friday, May 8, 2026, 11 a.m.

Where: Convocation Center

President鈥檚 Celebration for California Graduating Students

When: Friday, May 8, 2026, immediately following rehearsal

Where: Convocation Center, Main Lobby

When: Friday, May 8, 2026, 1 p.m.

Where: Tippin Gymnasium

President鈥檚 Celebration for Clarion Graduating Students

When: Friday, May 8, 2026, immediately following rehearsal

Where: Gemmell Student Center, Room 107 (next to The Store)

When: Friday, May 8, 2026, 1 p.m.

Where: McComb Fieldhouse

President鈥檚 Celebration for Edinboro Graduating Students

When: Friday, May 8, 2026, immediately following rehearsal

Where: Pogue Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room

Commencement celebrations are formal events for our graduates, staff, faculty, and honored guests.

Master's and Doctoral candidates must wear an academic robe and must purchase an academic hood for 鈥渉ooding鈥 during the ceremony.

Doctoral graduates must purchase an academic robe and an academic hood and cap online, they are not available at the bookstores.

Each campus Follett Bookstore can answer all your regalia (cap, gown, tassel, hood) questions, will have approved undergraduate and master鈥檚 regalia available on site and during the Grad Fair (see Grad Fair information below), as well as offers a convenient online ordering option for purchasing/delivery to your residence or campus Bookstore.

Regalia Online Ordering Deadline: April 12, 2026

Bookstore contacts for regalia questions:

海角视频 Grad Fairs

Representatives from across university departments and regalia consultants will be in attendance to aid with your academic graduation and Commencement ceremony questions, as well as games, refreshments, and prizes!

When: Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 10 a.m. 鈥 4 p.m.

Where: Natali Student Center Bookstore

When: Tuesday, March 24, 2026, 10 a.m. 鈥 4 p.m.

Where: Gemmell Student Center Bookstore

When: Monday, March 23, 2026, 10 a.m. 鈥 4 p.m.

Where: Pogue Student Center Bookstore

Decorating Caps

We kindly ask that personal modifications to the mortarboards (caps) be limited to those expressing well-wishes and gratitude or affiliation with sanctioned organizations. Students are not permitted to have unacceptable decorations, offensive language, or inappropriate images on the mortar boards. Students who do not follow these guidelines will be given a new mortarboard to wear.

海角视频 will offer a digital commencement program for ticketed guests. This program will be available below before the ceremony. QR codes will also be available at the event for easy access. We encourage guests to download the program in advance for their convenience. Each graduating student attending the commencement ceremony will receive a printed program.

Spring 2026

Fall 2025

Spring 2025

Fall 2024

Spring 2024

海角视频 contracts with for official graduate photos taken during the ceremony. GradImages will contact graduates via their 海角视频 email after the ceremony with proofs for review and purchase information.

Questions about photos? Contact 骋谤补诲滨尘补驳别蝉庐 directly on their page or email.