Commencement FAQ

Find answers to many common questions related to Commencement.

Yes, graduates need to complete the commencement RSVP electronic form. The RSVP form opens in October for fall commencement and in March for spring commencement. Check the Ceremonies page on the website for the checklist flyers for important dates and information. Graduates must complete the RSVP form by the deadline to be guaranteed guest tickets.
Check out our Ceremonies Schedule for date, time, and location.

Commencement is held at the Dignity Health Arena. Graduates will check in at the front of the arena (Truxtun Ave.) near the ticket booth.

Students with double majors must select one major to walk with at the ceremony during the commencement registration process. Both majors will be displayed on the video screens when the student walks across the stage.

Students who are eligible to participate in commencement will receive a letter to register for commencement. Deadlines to apply are on the Office of the Registrar's graduation webpage.

If a student misses the deadline to submit their graduation application, the form will default to the next graduation term. It is the student's responsibility to email graduation@csub.edu to inform the evaluators their intent to graduate is the current term.

Students will have completed a graduation application through the link provided on their myCSUB student portal and pay the required fee.

The evaluations team will respond via CSUB email to the student if the application was approved or denied. Denied applications will need to be followed up with the evaluations office as soon as possible in order to be re-instated to the commencement eligibility list. Graduates will email their evaluator or graduation@csub.edu for questions.

Final list of eligible graduates will be submitted by the Registrar's Office to the Commencement office the Friday prior to the first day to RSVP to participate in the commencement ceremony. 

Students are responsible to to ensure the correct graduation term is listed in myCSUB to be included on the eligible graduates list.

Fall commencement cap and gown ordering will be available soon. Check back for more information.

Students are welcome to decorate their cap. Cap decorum must be tasteful and respectful.

Yes, students' names will be read out loud as they cross the stage.

Students must RSVP to confirm the name that will be announced at the ceremony. 

Students will have the opportunity to view their name to be read and to record on how it is to be pronounced during the RSVP process. This will assist the person who records the graduates' names.

Diploma Name
The Commencement Office doesn't make changes to the name printed on the diplomas. If a graduate wants a different name printed on their diploma than when they originally submitted their graduation application, email graduation@csub.edu to make the name change. 

For each commencement, guest tickets vary based on the number of graduates and how many RSVP. Graduates should refer to their ceremony for the number of tickets that will be issued.

All guests four years and older are required to have a guest ticket to enter the venue.

Guests three years and younger are considered lap children and do not require a guest ticket to enter the venue.

Ceremonies are approximately 1.5 to 2 hours each.

Parking is available in the county parking structure for a fee or on the street. Please review street signage when parking on the street.

A limited number of disabled parking spaces are in front of the arena.

Honors are awarded to undergraduate students only who have completed at least 40 letter-graded units of resident credit at CSUB as part of their baccalaureate program. Honors status is determined by your GPA. Both CSUB and overall GPA must meet the GPA criteria indicated below. Students may locate their GPA in the student portal. The Commencement Office does not have access to students' GPAs.

Students may check their myCSUB transcript for GPA information and calculate their expected grades for the current term to determine honors status.

There is only one honors cord, which is gold. Students may purchase an honors cord when they purchase their regalia. 

Both the CSUB GPA and Overall GPA must meet the GPA requirements indicated below. 

  • Summa cum laude: 3.9 to 4.0 GPA
  • Magna cum laude: 3.6 to 3.89 GPA
  • Cum laude: 3.3 to 3.59 GPA

Fall Graduates - Students who finish their degree required courses by the fall term and have an active graduation application on file at the Office of the Registrar are eligible candidates to participate in the fall commencement.

Spring Graduates - Students who finish their degree required courses in the spring term and have an active graduation application on file at the Office of the Registrar will be eligible candidates to participate in the spring commencement 

Summer Graduates - Summer graduates are eligible to participate in the fall or spring commencements. Summer graduates who want to participate in the spring commencement must be enrolled in their summer courses to be eligible to walk and submit their unofficial transcript showing their enrolled summer courses on the transcript to the commencement office by Thursday, May 8. 

If a student changes their grad check application to a different term, the student will be removed from the eligibility list and the Commencement Office will notify the student via email of their ineligibility to participate in commencement.

If a student changes their grad check application to a different term, the student will be removed from the eligibility list and notified by the Commencement Office by email they are no longer able to participate in the next commencement ceremony.

Graduates and guests will be screened by security and metal detectors before entering the venue. Graduates and guests are not permitted to bring in items that are on the prohibited items list. Prohibited items are to ensure all guests and graduates have a pleasant, safe experience and to ensure each graduate will have their name heard and be visible on the screens without distraction from items and noisemakers.

Prohibited Items

  • Purses, backpacks, and totes (clear backpacks/purses are acceptable)
  • Air honors
  • Noise makers
  • Signs
  • Balloons
  • Beach balls
  • Outside food/drinks. Exception: Baby formula and/or food for infants, toddlers, and for medical needs.
  • Camera tripods
  • Selfie sticks
  • Alcohol
  • Illegal drugs and/or narcotics
  • Fireworks/weapons
  • Smoking, vaping, and other tobacco-related products
Graduates will have photographs taken of them as the walk across the stage and a posed photo with their diploma cover.

Students who have special requests can email commencement@csub.edu.

There is seating available for people who need accommodations. When the graduate completes the RSVP form to participate in commencement, they will be asked if accommodations are needed.

Yes, all commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed. To view the livestream, visit the Commencement Live page.

All ceremonies are posted on the CSUB YouTube channel under the Live tab on YouTube CSUB.

Guests are not permitted in the student check-in area.
Only students who are present at the ceremony will have their names announced.

Diplomas are mailed to graduates 4-6 weeks after final grades post. 

If you want to pick up your diploma, indicate "pick-up" on your application for graduation. If you arrange for someone to pick up your diploma, he/she must have written authorization from you, and provide proper identification.

The Office of the Registrar oversees the processing, printing, and mailing of diplomas. If you haven’t received your diploma, email graduation@csub.edu.

We hope that you will stay involved in your alma mater. Please continue to update your contact information with us, especially to share your stories of success and achievement. Please email the Office of Alumni Engagement with any post-graduation questions at alumni@csub.edu or visit the links below.

Summer graduates may participate in spring or fall commencements.

For spring commencement participation, the graduate will need:
  1. Enroll in their summer courses;
  2. Submit their unofficial transcript showing their summer courses on the transcript to the Commencement Office before the RSVP deadline to commencement@csub.edu; and
  3. Complete the commencement RSVP form before the RSVP deadline.
To assist graduates with this process, review the Summer Graduates Checklist flyer.

For fall commencement participation, summer graduates will be on the eligible graduates list to participate and will not be required to submit any documentation.

Minors are not part of commencement. Only full degree majors.

Minors will show on your academic transcript and printed on your diploma.

There won’t be a rehearsal for commencement. We have a commencement team who will guide graduates through the ceremony.

Additional Information

Can't find what you're looking for?  Try these additional resources.

For questions about each school's recognition receptions and cultural ceremonies, visit the ceremonies page.

For information about the status of your grad check application, check your myCSUB email, email your evaluations advisor, or email graduation@csub.edu.

For questions regarding details about each school's honors receptions, contact your school directly.

Arts and Humanities
(661) 654-2221

Business and Public Administration
(661) 654-2157

Natural Sciences, Mathematics, and Engineering
(661) 654-3450

Social Sciences and Education
(661) 654-6807

Commencement Office
Dina Ebeling, Associate Director
commencement@csub.edu