Harris Amphitheatre is located at the highest point of the Whittier College campus. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and carry water if you intend to walk to the amphitheatre from lower campus. For reference, it is a half-mile walk from Painter and Earlham to the amphitheatre, with an elevation gain of 118 feet.
Please give yourself ample time to park your vehicle, and walk. It is highly suggested guests bring a sweater or light coat.
We ask that guests avoid bringing air horns, noise devices.
In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the Graham Athletics Center, where seating is limited. Each graduate will receive four entrance tickets. These tickets are to be used only in case of inclement weather and are not needed for the ceremony in the amphitheatre. You may reserve tickets on the Ceremony’s PurplePass page. The password to access your tickets is Commencement 2025. You will be required to use your student email (@poets.whittier.edu) and enter your Student ID when prompted. Your tickets will be delivered to your email. It is recommended that you print these tickets and distribute them to your guests, but your guests will also be able to present them electronically.
Graduates must check in for the ceremony in the Science & Learning Center lobby. Check in opens at 8 a.m. and graduates should arrive no later than 9:15 a.m.
Students who have earned Latin Honors may pick up their cords at the check-in table. As a reminder, please do not forget to have your regalia. Graduates will not be able to walk in the ceremony without presenting their regalia. Faculty and staff should be at the amphitheatre no later than 9 a.m. The academic procession of graduating students, faculty, college officers, and members of the Board of Trustees will begin promptly at 9:55 a.m. As the ceremony will be outside, you may want to bring a pillow or cushion. Spring mornings can be chilly and we suggest bringing a sweater or light coat. Guests are not allowed in the stage area or in the aisles during the ceremony to take photos of graduates. The College will have professional photographers taking pictures of each graduate. More information is available on the Grad Images website.
