Faculty, Staff, Student Ambassadors

Be a part of the celebration!

The Commencement Office invites all faculty, staff and campus partners to join us as we celebrate graduates during one of the happiest celebrations hosted by the university! The Commencement Office utilizes SignUpGenius to organize participants and time slots available. Each shift will be dependent on ceremony time and participants will be notified of the information sessions before commencement. Help us make this a memorable experience for our graduating Cougars!

Faculty Participation

graduates on stage

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SignUpGenius for Faculty

Faculty can now sign up to support commencement through SignUpGenius.
Faculty Check-In and Parking

Faculty must check in by scanning the QR code at the Clarke Field House (or by manually signing in). Please arrive 15-30 minutes early so that you have enough time to change into regalia, snack and get to your lineup on time. Please also account for traffic.

Please park in Lot N and Parking Structure 1

Commencement faculty check-in QR code coming soon.
Faculty Marshal Sessions

Faculty marshal training will be held before the event. Dates, times and locations will be emailed to those who signed up.
Faculty Attire

Regalia Rental and Purchase

All faculty participating in commencement are responsible for providing their own regalia to wear during the commencement ceremonies. Faculty must wear ceremonial regalia during the commencement ceremonies. Faculty will NOT be permitted to participate in the processional or sit in the faculty seating area if they are not in the appropriate decorum.

Please note that purchasing regalia is a personal expense and will not be reimbursed by the university. Additionally, departments may not purchase regalia as a supply for their department.

For questions regarding department expenses, you may contact and/or work with your department support personnel.
Snack & Meals

Pre-packaged snacks and boxed meals will be served to those that sign up for commencement. Snacks and meals are based on those who sign up via SignUpGenius. There will be designated areas and times to have a break and eat.

Snacks and meals are on a first-come, first-served basis. Supplies may be limited and we encourage all to sign up via SignUpGenius so that we have the appropriate head count for snacks and meals.

All faculty and staff are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle.

Commencement Staff Participation

Commencement graduates

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SignUpGenius for Commencement Staff & Student Ambassador
The Commencement Office is utilizing SignUpGenius to manage commencement staff sign ups. The commencement staff sign up form will be organized by tabs according to area in SignUpGenius.
Please note: We try to accommodate all requests, but if there is a position that requires additional assistance, you may be placed there to assist. We thank you for your understanding and for your participation.

Employees who sign-up to work commencement during their non-work hours are eligible for compensation in accordance with the respective collective bargaining agreement (e.g., for non-exempt employees typically either by compensatory time off or adjusting the employee’s regular work schedule within the work week in which commencement is held). Employees should speak with their manager about how the additional time will be compensated.
HR Information for CSUSM Staff Supporting Commencement

We encourage staff from all divisions to participate—whether it's welcoming guests, assisting with logistics or cheering on our graduates, every role makes a difference. Staff employees who are not regularly scheduled to work on Sunday, Dec. 15, can either flex their work schedule the week of Dec. 15-21 or accrue paid time off for the hours on Dec. 15.

Non-exempt employees are eligible to earn CTO (compensatory time off) at the rate of time-and-a-half for the hours worked. Exempt employees are eligible to accrue these hours as straight time, which can be used on Dec. 23, Dec. 31, Jan. 2 or Jan. 3. For those areas that must remain open on the campus during Quiet Days (Dec. 23, Jan. 2 and Jan. 3), we ask that managers work with employees to offer as much flexibility as possible when approving requests for time off. Employees should make their managers aware if they will be earning CTO as a non-exempt employee or would like to request to flex their schedule Dec. 15-21.

Since straight time hours accrued by an exempt employee are not able to be posted in PeopleSoft, managers will need to informally track those hours. If the hours accrued by the exempt employee will be used on the campus closure day (Dec. 31), they must be reported to Lisa McLean by Monday, Dec. 16, in accordance with the prior communication outlining options for payment on the campus closure day. If the straight time hours will be used on one of the campus Quiet Days, those may be informally tracked by the manager and do not need to be reported. If you have any questions about providing compensated time adjustments for your team members, please reach out to Lisa McLean at lmclean@csusm.edu.

This information does not apply to corporation staff. Corporation staff interested in participating who have questions can email hrcorp@csusm.edu.
Commencement Staff Information Session

Information session meeting is to be determined. Please contact commencement@csusm.edu to be added to the meeting.

*Commencement staff are encouraged to wear their commencement polos from previous years or their department shirt or polo/blue CSUSM shirt.

Unfortunately, we were unable to order additional commencement polos this year due to budget cuts.

We will have a stock of limited sizes on the day of commencement ONLY for those that do not have a commencement polo.
Check-In and Parking

Please arrive 15-30 minutes before the start of your assigned shift and check in by scanning the QR codes at the Grand Salon in the Clarke Field House. if you do not have a device that is able to scan the QR codes, you have the option to manually sign in/out.

You will then be directed to go to your assigned location by your shift start time. You may check your email for the SignUpGenius confirmation/reminder of the area in which you are assigned. Please be sure to make proper arrangements to allow for travel time and possible traffic delays. Please park in Lot N.
Shift Times
Please note that end times are approximate times. Shifts will end when ceremonies conclude and all clean up or reset is complete.
Attire

Commencement polo shirt with dress slacks, khakis, or jeans (no holes) with comfortable shoes. If you do not have a commencement polo from previous years, you may wear your department shirt/polo or blue CSUSM gear. Please take into consideration the weather for the day.

We will have a stock of limited sizes on the day of commencement ONLY for those that do not have a commencement polo.

Weather Forecast
Snacks & Meals

Pre-packaged snacks and boxed meals will be served to those who sign up for the fall commencement. There will be designated areas to have a break and eat. Snacks and meals are on a first-come, first-served basis. Supplies may be limited and we encourage all to sign up via SignUpGenius so that we have the appropriate head count for snacks and meals.

All faculty and staff are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle.