Family

Do I have to purchase tickets to the Main Ceremony?
No, anyone can attend the Main Ceremony which is held at 9:00 am in Alumni Memorial Park. However, some satellite ceremonies have limited seating and so issue tickets to their students to distribute among their guests.

Please check your graduate’s satellite ceremony page on the commencement website in regards to which ones require tickets.

What is the difference between the Main Ceremony and the Satellite Ceremonies?
The Main Ceremony is for all students, undergraduate and graduate, who are participating in Commencement. President Sample and the Commencement Speaker will address the students during the Main Ceremony, and the students will then be asked to move their tassels from the right side of their cap to the left, the traditional sign of graduation.

The satellite ceremonies are where the student will proceed across the stage and receive commendation on their achievements. These ceremonies are more individualistic as they are significantly smaller.

What time should we arrive for the Commencement Ceremony?
As seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, we urge you to arrive by 7 am on Friday, May 16. All guests are requested to be in their seats before 8:15 am.

Where should we park?
We recommend that guests and the graduates park at the University Parking Center, on the corner of Jefferson Boulevard and Grand Avenue. From there, trams will be available to transport individuals to campus.

What is available to help guests with disabilities?
For guests with disabilities, please enter campus through Gate #2, located on Figueroa Street and drop off in front of the Widney Alumni House. Cars will then be directed to the parking at he PS1 structure at the corner of Figueroa Street and Exposition (enter through gate on Flower). If additional information is required, call USC Transportation Services at 213-740-3575. There will be a limited number of wheelchairs available for checkout, free of charge, in front of the Alumni House for those who are in need of this service. Because of the large crowds, navigating across campus for the entire day may be physically challenging. Family members who believe they will need additional assistance may want to consider bringing or checking out a wheelchair.

USC Campus Cruiser will be making regular stops at USC tram stops (where vehicular access has not been impeded due to Commencement) to help transport guests who require additional assistance.

Additionally, there is special seating at the Main Ceremony for guests with disabilities, including ones requiring sign language interpretation, which will be designated by signs in Alumni Park. Due to space limitations, we ask that only one family member accompany the guest with disabilities into this special seating area.

Please click here for more information on disability services.

Will the trams be operating?
Trams will be operating between campus and the Parking Center, the Health Sciences Campus (HSC), University Park Campus (UPC) and Union Station.

At 7:00am, two trams will depart HSC for UPC. Following that, the trams will run on their regular schedule, stopping on the UPC only at the corner of Jefferson and Hoover.

The Union Station tram will run on its regular schedule, also stopping only at the corner of Jefferson and Hoover.

Trams from the Parking Center and the Menlo Parking Lot will make regular stops at the corner of Jefferson and Hoover and at Gate 1 on Exposition.

How will I be able to see the ceremony?
When the available seating in Alumni Park fills up, guests will be directed to additional seating by Tommy Trojan and in Founders Park. Both areas will have a JumboTron enabling guests to view the main Commencement Exercise.

How will I be able to meet up with my graduate after the Main Ceremony?
The graduates will be escorted out of the Main Ceremony after the end of Commencement by Marshals who will lead the students to a location near their satellite ceremony. You should proceed to the satellite ceremony location after the Main Ceremony to see your graduate. However, some ceremonies do not start until several hours after the Main Ceremony has ended, so it might be best to select a central location on campus to meet your student, such as Tommy Trojan or McCarthy Quad.

Graduate

How do I know if I am eligible to graduate?
Graduates should check their STARS Report in OASIS to confirm their date of graduation as Fall 2007, Spring 2008, or Summer 2008. If this information is incorrect, please contact Degree Progress to address the issue.

Click here for more information on diplomas.

Where can I rent/purchase my cap and gown?
Regalia (caps and gowns) will be available to rent starting April 30th in the USC Bookstore on the third floor. Regalia must be returned on the day of Commencement, at the conclusion of commencement exercises, to the Bookstore except for the tassel which is retained by the graduate.

Bachelor’s Degree (Cap and Gown only) $29.99
Master’s Degree (Cap, Gown, and Hood) $49.99
Doctor’s Degree (Gap, Gown, and Hood) $67.50

Should you like to purchase your regalia, the Bookstore will accept orders in the spring. Please see them for pricing.

Click here for more information on regalia.

Click here for a list of academic degree colors.

Where can I get graduation announcements?
Please visit this page for information on annoucements.

Can I attend the Baccalaureate Ceremony and Dinner if I am not religious?
Anyone is welcome to attend the Baccalaureate Ceremony and Dinner together or individually on Thursday, May 15. The ceremony is multi-faith and free to attend but has limited seating as it takes place in Bovard Auditorium. The Dinner requires a reservation which can be made online here.

When should I line up for the Main Ceremony’s procession?
Line up for graduates begins at 8:00 am with the procession into Alumni Memorial Park beginning
at 8:30 a.m..

How long will the ceremony last?
The Main Ceremony should last slightly longer than one hour. Satellite ceremonies differ depending on the size of the school. Please refer to the individual satellite ceremony pages on the website.