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Commencement Ceremonies: Spring 2012

Date: Friday, May 18, 2012

Location: Power Balance Pavilion, Sacramento, California

Arrive early. Students will begin lining up for the ceremony at 5:00 p.m.

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Participants in the College of Education

  • Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Child Development
  • Candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in American Sign Language and Deaf Studies
  • Candidates for the Bachelor of Career Technical Studies
  • Candidates for the Master of Science degree in Counseling and Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Candidates for the Master of Arts degree in Education (BMED, Special Education, School Psychology, Ed Leadership, Early Childhood Education and Teacher Education)
  • Candidates for the Single Subjects, Multiple Subjects, Bilingual Education, and Special Education Teaching Credentials
  • Candidates for the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree in Educational Leadership
  • Specialist Credentials (PPS, Educational Administration)
  • Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in School Psychology
  • Doctorate in Educational Leadership (Ed.D.)

Caps and gowns

Caps and gowns are available through the Associated Students Office, 3rd Floor of the University Union. Telephone 278-7916.

Border Color of Masters Degree Hoods is White for the Master of Arts Degree and Gold for the Master of Science degree. There will be a hooding ceremony during commencement. Faculty marshals will assist Masters students in the proper way to fold and carry their hood into the ceremony.

Honors cords are given to Bachelors candidates only and will be given to students when they pick up their caps and gowns. Admissions and Records provides this information to the Associate Students Office Staff.

Credential Candidates may wear the gown they wore for bachelor's ceremony or borrow a black gown from a friend. Many of the credential cohorts distinguish themselves with special designations, i.e. neck cords or cloth around the shoulders, decorated mortar boards. Some coordinators have established regalia for their cohorts.

Petition to Graduate/Program info:

Registration with your college does not guarantee your name will appear in the program. The appropriate petition to graduate forms must have been filed with Admissions and Records. (November 1 of the previous year for Winter ceremonies and May 1 of the previous year for Spring Ceremonies.) For more information on petitions to graduate please click on the following link: www.csus.edu/registrar/graduation/apply_online.stm

Disability Services:

For the graduate:

Graduates with disabilities who need special accommodations should contact their college and the Office of Services to Students with Disabilities prior to the commencement ceremony.

For guests:

Reasonable accommodations will be made for all guests with disabilities. Prior to commencement, we ask that you contact the Commencement Office by emailing commencement@csus.edu or calling (916) 278-4724 with your name, college, phone number, email address and the names of the disabled guests. On graduation day, please have them locate the Special Guest Services Table on the second floor of Power Balance Pavilion.

Sacramento State commencement staff will escort your guests to reserved seats. Due to space limitations, there may be a limit on the number of family members allowed to accompany the guests with disabilities in the reserved seating area.

A sign language interpreter is on the stage during each ceremony and can be viewed on the pavilion’s video screens.

Guide dogs are allowed in the pavilion. Guests should bring their guide dog’s certification and be prepared to present the certificate to pavilion security at the entrance. No other animals are permitted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I order announcements?
At the Sacramento State bookstore or the Copy Center.

Do I need to sign up for Graduation?
Students need to sign up to participate in the ceremony. Use the sign up links on this page.

How many guests may I invite?
Students may invite as many guests as they wish. If you have guests and/or family members who are in wheelchairs or require special seating, please notify Mimi Phothichack at the telephone number listed below.

Where can I park?
Ample parking is available at Power Balance Pavilion.

What kind of hood am I supposed to get with my academic regalia?
The hood is included in the academic regalia for students earning MA, MS, Ed.S., and Ed.D. degrees. Students earning the BA or BS degrees or post-baccalaureate credentials do not wear hoods with their academic regalia.

How do I know if I am receiving Academic Honors? And if I am, how do I get my Honor Cord?
For recognition of graduation with honors at commencement ceremonies, a qualifying GPA must be met before the semester in which ceremonies are held. If a student subsequently improves his/her GPA, honors at graduation will be posted on the official academic record and the diploma. However, the student will not be able to acquire an honor cord for the commencement ceremonies. Honor cords will be available at the ASI cashier window after March 1 for those bachelor’s degree candidates who quality for University Honors with a cumulative CSUS grade point average of 3.5 or higher (excluding extension).

How do I know if my name will be called during the ceremony?
A card and pencil is placed on your chair at the ceremony. You will write your name and address on this card and hand it to a reader as you move toward the podium. Your name is called from this card.

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