Offices & Services

Commencement at Whittier College is a very special event. We are proud of our graduates and look forward to celebrating their academic accomplishments.  Please remember that in order to participate in commencement and receive a diploma, your tuition bill must be paid in full by MAY 2, 2008. 

Approximately 500 people are directly involved in the Commencement program, and about 4,000 are expected to attend. For many, this will be a new experience for you and your families.

Please read the directions thoroughly:

Graduates will assemble on the Memorial Field (Baseball Field)  at 8:00 am in caps and gowns (see information below). The tassels on the mortar board should be on the RIGHT  side.

The procession to Newman Stadium will begin at 8:45 am. The ceremony starts promptly at 9:00 am Friday May 23, 2008. All candidates will be arranged alphabetically and by number. Please go to the table and pick up your card, which will have your assigned number on it.  When you have your assigned number you will then go and stand on your number. Attendance will be taken in sequence at 8:30 am. IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT LEAVE YOUR PLACE AFTER ROLL HAS BEEN TAKEN! This is the order in which names will be called for the presentation of diplomas. Late arrivals will risk being totally excluded from the ceremony and not receiving diplomas.

1.  When you arrive at the Newman Stadium, follow the instructions of the Faculty Marshals. Please check carefully to be sure that (1) you have a seat and (2) there are no seats left empty. Remain standing for the invocation. Men will remove caps for Invocation and Benediction.

2.  The Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty will call the candidates by degree (M.A. then B.A.). Rise in your place. First standing row proceeds as directed by the Faculty Marshal. As your name is called advance to the President, take your diploma in your left hand, shake hands with your right, and then proceed across stage  to the other end of the row from which you started. The line will move up regularly to bring each person back to their original seat.

3.  To be sure your name is pronounced correctly your completed phonetics form MUST be given to Liz Ibarra in the Office of Academic Affairs in Mendenhall.

4.  Upon signal from the President you will shift your tassel from RIGHT TO LEFT.

5.  Remain standing until all B.A. degrees have been conferred.

6.  Order of recession from the Amphitheater: Speakers, Board of Trustees, Faculty,    Masters and Bachelors.

7.  Return cap, gown, and hood to the Bookstore Receiving Station which will be in Memorial Field (Baseball Field) immediately following commencement.

 BACCALAUREATE SERVICE AND RECEPTION

Graduation activities will begin on Thursday, May 22 with a Baccalaureate Service in the Ruth B. Shannon Center at 5:30 pm. Following the service, an evening of dining and socializing, hosted by Bon Appetit will take place on the North Lawn

COMMENCEMENT RECEPTION 

Immediately following commencement on Friday, May 23, the Commencement Reception will be held on Memorial Field (Baseball Field).

CAP, GOWN, AND HOOD RENTAL

Students are required to wear academic regalia for commencement. No student will be allowed to participate in commencement without full academic regalia. Caps and gowns will not be available at the assembly site (Memorial Field).  You must rent regalia from the Bookstore, and you will need to present the following information order to do so:

1. Business Office Clearance (blue card).

  AND

2. Office of the Registrar Clearance (green card).

You can pick up your cap and gown from the Bookstore Monday May 12^th through Thursday May 22^th.  Regalia rental fees are payable to the Bookstore as follows:

a.     Bachelor's rental: $22.00 + tax
b.     Master's rental:  $47.00 + tax

Announcements will be available through the following web site:  herffjones.com/college.  All information about commencement from the Bookstore will be sent to your Whittier "poets" E-Mail address.  The Bookstore will have memorabilia available for sale at Memorial Field (Baseball Field) the day of commencement. 

The staff in the Office of the Registrar is available to answer questions about commencement. Feel free to contact us at 562-907-4241.

IMPORTANT REMINDER!

The Whittier College alcohol policy does not permit the drinking of alcohol while in line, in the amphitheater or in the quad. Any violations of this policy will result in your

IMMEDIATE REMOVAL

from the commencement ceremony