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The CSUSM Commencement Office is committed to providing a way to celebrate the years of hard work and accomplishments of all graduates. The Commencement Office strives to enhance the experience during Commencement so that it will leave a lasting and memorable impression with our graduates and their guests. Commencement is also a way for our CSUSM community to show support to our graduates and represent the CSUSM values and culture.
You Did It!
Congratulations to the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021! We had so much fun celebrating your achievements this past weekend. You may rewatch your livestream by clicking on one of the links below.
DiFranco Photography will be emailing proofs for pictures of graduates taken with their diploma cover the week after Commencement.
Photos taken by our Communications Team will be placed in albums according to ceremony and posted on the Commencement Live Site as well as the Albums page of the Commencement Website.
Don't forget to share your congratulations on social using #CSUSMgrad. You may see your post on our social media wall on the Commencement Live Site.
The digital Commencement Program is now available for download.
Commencement will be held May 22 & 23, 2021!
Inquiries may be emailed to the Commencement Office.
News and Updates
May 13, 2021 - How to Access Guest Tickets
Graduates who have registered for Commencement prior to May 3 may access their guest tickets by completing the following steps:
You’ll need to log-in to Marching Order to access Guest Tickets:
1 - Log into https://csusm.marchingorder.com/#/
2 - Click the blue button “Ticketing & Guest Info” under the phase 2 section.
3 - Under “Your Tickets” update the drop down menu to reflect the number of tickets
you want to claim. Max is 2.
4 - Enter your guest info just like you did on your registration. Submit and continue.
You cannot make any changes after this step!
5 - Click the red button “Get Your Tickets”
6 - Enter your guest emails or your email to send the tickets directly, or select
the tickets to print.
May 7, 2021 - GradPasses are available to print or download
For graduates that have signed up for Commencement, they should have received and email by today regarding how to access their GradPass. The GradPass is the graduate's electronic reader card and their ticket to get into the venue. Each graduate will need to have their gradpass available to scan at the venue entrance by security and to scan prior to walking across the stage to have their name announced and name on the screen.
For more information on the commencement ceremonies and safety protocol, please visit the Ceremony Page or the FAQ Page.
May 3, 2021 - Last Day to signup for Commencement
Email reminders have been sent out to those that have not signed up for Commencement. This email was sent out by Marching Order on behalf of the Commencement Inbox and would have been sent to the email that your form registration link was sent to. May 3, 11:45PM is the last day to sign up for Commencement.
Another email will be sent out to those participating in Commencement on May 6th. This email will inform students on how to access their GradPass (electronic reader card) as well as their guest tickets.
April 12, 2021 - Registration Link for Commencement
Emails are starting to be sent! The Class of 2021 and Class of 2020 should receive their registration link by the end of day Tuesday, April 13th. Only email the Commencement office if you have not received this email by Wednesday, April 14th.
Check your CSUSM email (and your Junk Email folder) for an email from Marching Order sent on behalf of Commencement@Csusm.edu with the subject line: "Create Your Graduation Slide". This email will contain a registration link that is unique to you and will note how to set your login information. Please do not forward the link to anyone since this link is unique to you. Only the Class of 2020 (Fall 2019, Spring 2020, Summer 2020) and the Class of 2021 (Fall 2020, Spring 2021, and Summer 2021) will receive the Commencement registration link. Due to the strict restrictions on occupancy set forth by the State, we are unable to accommodate those walking early at the Spring Commencement Ceremonies. Those walking early (graduates of Fall 2021 and so on) will participate in the 2022 Commencement Ceremonies in May 2022. No exceptions will be made this year.
April 10, 2021 - Registration Link Delays
Thank you for your patience graduates! We are working with our third party vendor to have the Commencement registration links ready to sent out by tonight or tomorrow morning. We were having trouble uploading the needed data over the weekend. We are working with our third party vendor to have the issue resolved.
April 9, 2021 - Registering for Graduation Celebrations
Hello graduate,
Graduation celebrations are just six weeks away. These celebrations mark our favorite time of the year – the time when we get to honor you and celebrate your achievements and perseverance in reaching this important milestone. We are excited to offer two celebration opportunities for our graduates from the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021: a traditional in-person commencement ceremony and Graduates on Parade.
Graduates on Parade
Friday, May 21 starting at 9 a.m.
Share the moment with the people you love from the comfort of your own vehicle. Hosted by the Alumni Association, Graduates on Parade is a spirited one-mile car parade through campus as staff and faculty line the route to celebrate the graduating class. Graduates can choose to wear their regalia and decorate their vehicles (receive a special CSUSM alumni car flag when you purchase the Alumni Association Class Champion Package). All graduating parade-goers will receive a complimentary graduation yard sign. Graduates on Parade is a great opportunity to include more people in your celebration as we kick off the weekend of festivities.
Register Now for Graduates on Parade
Learn more about Graduates on Parade, including answers to frequently asked questions, at www.csusm.edu/parade.
Commencement Ceremonies
Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23
Mangrum Track and Field
Custom registration links will be emailed directly to graduates starting this weekend through Monday, April 12. These emails will come from Marching Order, our registration platform, and are specific to each graduate. During your online registration, you’ll be able to indicate the phonetic pronunciation of your name and have the option to record it for the commencement readers. Registration will remain open until May 3.
All graduates participating in commencement will need to register themselves and their two guests. Graduates will receive an electronic ticket, known as a Grad Pass, and their guests will be issued an electronic guest ticket. Each person attending a commencement ceremony, regardless of age, must have a ticket, including children. On the day of the ceremony, graduates will need to arrive and enter into the commencement venue with their guests. Tickets can only be scanned once. In-and-out privileges will not be permitted, and tickets are nontransferable.
Once inside Mangrum Track and Field, graduates will be directed to their seats, which are organized by major and separated by 6 feet. Guests will sit in paired seating, socially distanced also by 6 feet from other guests. All attendees must wear a face covering (mask or face shield) at all times while on the campus property. Food will not be permitted in the venue. All seating and spaces will be cleaned and disinfected between each ceremony.
Requests for special accommodations, such as an American Sign Language interpreter or live captioning, must be made to the Commencement Office by May 7 by emailing commencement@csusm.edu.
Saturday, May 22
- 9-10:30 a.m.: College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM)
- 12:30-2 p.m.: College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences (CHABSS) A*
- 4-5:30 p.m.: College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences (CHABSS) B**
Sunday, May 23
- 9-10:30 a.m.: College of Business Administration (CoBA)
- 12:30-2 p.m.: College of Education, Health and Human Services (CEHHS)
* The CHABSS A ceremony is for Bachelor of Arts graduates in American Indian Studies; Anthropology; Arts & Technology; Communication; Economics; Environmental Studies; Ethnic Studies; Global Studies; History; Liberal Studies; Liberal Studies Integrated Credential Program; Literature and Writing Studies; Media Studies; Music; Political Science; Visual and Performing Arts; and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; and for Master of Arts graduates in History; and Literature and Writing Studies.
** The CHABSS B ceremony is for Bachelor of Arts graduates in Child and Adolescent Development; Criminology and Justice Studies; Psychological Science; Social Sciences; Sociology; Spanish; and Special Major; and Master of Arts graduates in Psychological Science; Sociological Practice; and Spanish.
For more information about the ceremony logistics and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the Commencement website.
April 1, 2021 - Celebration Plans for CSUSM Graduates
University Communications sent out the following on April 1 to all graduates:
Congratulations on achieving this important milestone! We know how hard you have worked – and how patiently so many of you have waited for this moment to arrive – and we are looking forward to celebrating both the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 in May.
As President Ellen Neufeldt announced last month, we have been working in close partnership with county public health officials on plans to host two graduation options. All celebrations will be livestreamed online to give more friends and family near and far the opportunity to be part of your special moment.
CSUSM will be hosting two celebration options to honor graduates:
- In-person commencement ceremony for each college; and
- Graduates on Parade, which will become an annual CSUSM tradition.
Please read this message carefully for important information about dates and guidelines for both events. Graduates can choose to participate in both celebration options, although advanced registration will be required for all events. Registration links will be shared in a separate email in the coming week.
If you have a question that isn’t answered below, please email commencement@csusm.edu .
Commencement Ceremonies
College-specific ceremonies for the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021 will be held on campus on Saturday, May 22 and Sunday, May 23 (see the full schedule below).
Tickets will be required for all graduates and guests. A separate registration email will be sent to graduates by Friday, April 9. Each graduate may bring two guests. No walk-in graduates or guests will be admitted. While we understand that limiting the number of guests may be challenging for our graduates, please know that it is essential to safely host in-person ceremonies.
In accordance with California Department of Public Health guidance, graduates will be seated 6 feet apart and guests will be seated in pairs spaced 6 feet apart from other guests. All attendees must wear face coverings (masks or face shields), socially distance and follow all safety guidelines throughout the event. All seating and spaces will be cleaned and disinfected between each ceremony.
Saturday, May 22
- 9-10:30 a.m.: College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (CSTEM)
- 12:30-2 p.m.: College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences (CHABSS) A*
- 4-5:30 p.m.: College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences (CHABSS) B**
Sunday, May 23
- 9-10:30 a.m.: College of Business Administration (CoBA)
- 12:30-2 p.m.: College of Education, Health and Human Services (CEHHS)
* The CHABSS A ceremony is for Bachelor of Arts graduates in American Indian Studies; Anthropology; Arts & Technology; Communication; Economics; Environmental Studies; Ethnic Studies; Global Studies; History; Liberal Studies; Liberal Studies Integrated Credential Program; Literature and Writing Studies; Media Studies; Music; Political Science; Visual and Performing Arts; and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; and for Master of Arts graduates in History; and Literature and Writing Studies.
** The CHABSS B ceremony is for Bachelor of Arts graduates in Child and Adolescent Development; Criminology and Justice Studies; Psychological Science; Social Sciences; Sociology; Spanish; and Special Major; and Master of Arts graduates in Psychological Science; Sociological Practice; and Spanish.
For more information about the ceremony logistics and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the Commencement website.
Graduates on Parade
Hosted by the Alumni Association, this unique and spirited celebration will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 21, kicking off CSUSM’s commencement weekend.
Graduates are encouraged to decorate their car and join members of their immediate household in one vehicle to parade the streets of campus in a celebration honoring their accomplishments. Graduates need to enter the parade route between 9-10 a.m.
The parade route will be lined by CSUSM faculty and staff, cheering on the graduates. Once on the route, graduates and guests may not park or leave their vehicles. Only one vehicle per graduate is allowed. Guests from the same household unit may join a graduate in their one vehicle. You must adhere to all California driving laws throughout the parade.
A separate email to RSVP to participate will be sent by Friday, April 9.
Graduation Essentials
If you missed GradFest, there’s still time to get all your graduation essentials, including purchasing your cap and gown, ordering announcements, scheduling a graduate portrait session with DiFranco Photography, purchasing flowers, leis and commemorative gifts, and redeeming your free two-year Alumni Association membership.
Graduation Essentials
If you missed GradFest, there’s still time to get all your graduation essentials, including purchasing your cap and gown, ordering announcements, scheduling a graduate portrait session with DiFranco Photography, purchasing flowers, leis and commemorative gifts, and redeeming your free two-year Alumni Association membership.
March 19, 2021 - Celebrating Graduates
Today, President Neufeldt shares some encouraging updates as the university prepares to safely celebrate the Class of 2020 and Class of 2021. It has always been a matter of when, not if, we would be able to safely come together. It is with great optimism that we’re planning two options to honor the achievements and perseverance of our inspiring graduates.
In close partnership with county public health officials, we are working diligently on plans to host two options, which will both be livestreamed online:
- A more traditional in-person commencement ceremony; and
- Graduates on Parade, which will become an annual tradition for CSUSM graduates.
More information about these two celebrations – including event dates and times, guest policies, guidelines for participation and answers to frequently asked questions – will be shared by the Commencement Office by April 1. We know you are eager to know more, and we appreciate your patience as we gather all those details together. It is important to note that an in-person ceremony is dependent on state and county public health guidelines.
We know how important this milestone is and we are excited to offer two options to best meet the diverse needs and interests of our graduates and their families.
Video on President Neufeldt sharing this message.
February 4, 2021 - GradFest 2021 goes virtual!
GradFest 2021 will be virtual on March 10th & 11th! Our GradFest vendors will be available
virtually on Microsoft
Teams to help you shop for all of your graduation gear and accessories. Join us at
the event on Teams to be eligible
to win one of our amazing prizes! Bundle pricing will also be available during these
days. Visit the Commencement
website to learn more about Virtual GradFest 2021.
October 19, 2020 - Diploma Covers & Honor Cords
The Commencement Office Staff is considered non-essential staff. Due to campus closure for the Summer and Fall, non-essential staff are unable to go on campus nor schedule in-person meetings/pickups. Once all staff are allowed to return to campus, the Commencement Office will arrange for in-person pickups in a safe manner or distribute them at the rescheduled Commencement ceremony. Unfortunately we will be unable to mail out diploma covers.
June 26, 2020 - Events have been postponned through the end of 2020
Office of Communications June 26, 2020 Update The safety of all graduates, guests, faculty, and staff are of our highest concern. Commencement logistics will be reliant on news regarding COVID-19, and the recommendations put forth by the CDC, local government, and the University. Once these logistics have been made, an announcement will be made from the Office of Communications and/or the Commencement Office.
Stay Connected!
Join our vibrant community online and share your excitement using #CSUSMGrad. We're so excited to celebrate with you! For inquiries, you may email the Commencement Office directly.
