Commencement Ceremony

Graduate Schedule & Info#

11:30 a.m. Graduate Check-in Begins in Mesa Gymnasium

1:00 p.m. Graduate Check-in Ends

1:15 p.m. Mandatory Ceremony Rehearsal Begins

1:30 p.m. Lineup & Procession to Field

2:00 p.m. Commencement Ceremony Begins

4:30 p.m. Commencement Ceremony Concludes

Graduate Parking

• Parking is free. 
• Graduates must park in Lot 1 located in front of the I-400 Student Services Building. (see #maps section below) 

Cap & Gown Required

• Graduates must be in proper academic regalia (cap, gown and tassel) to participate in the ceremony. Please wear your tassel on the right side of your cap until you are instructed to move it to the other side.
• Caps and gowns are available for purchase at the Mesa bookstore (online and in person) along with other commencement items. Limited caps and gowns will be available for purchase on the day of the ceremony.
• Discounted Caps and Gowns are available in May during Grad Fest at the campus bookstore.
  • 2025 Grad Fest is May 14th and 15th in front of the Mesa Bookstore

Guest Schedule & Info#

12:30 p.m. Stadium will open, and guest seating will begin on a first-come basis.

Commencement ushers will be available to direct guests to accessible seating, if needed.

2:00 p.m. Commencement Ceremony Begins. 

4:30 p.m. Ceremony Ceremony Concludes 

Guest Tickets & Parking

• Mesa College Commencement Ceremony is free for everyone but tickets are required for all guests ages three and up.
• Please obtain your guest tickets from your graduate prior to the event.
• Guest parking is free. Guests are encouraged to park in PS 100, but may park in most of the lots around the perimeter of campus on Mesa College Circle (See #maps section below) Guests may park in student, staff, or flex parking spaces.
• Scroll down to view the ADA map.
• Guests who need disabled parking will be directed to designated areas by parking staff and posted signage.
• Bus Route 44 stops at Armstrong Place and Mesa College Drive.
• Graduation gifts will be available for purchase.
• Review Ceremony Details below:

Ceremony Details#

• The San Diego Community College Police department will be providing a sizable contingency working multi-layered security for the event, including traffic control, and overwatch.
• The entire event will take place outdoors. There will be no shade provided for graduates or guests. Please dress accordingly.
• For ease of viewing the ceremony, balloons, umbrellas, and pop-up tents are prohibited. All persons entering the stadium are subject to search.
• Graduates should leave floral bouquets, etc. with guests during the ceremony.
  
• Trained service animals-as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)  that are assisting individuals with disabilities are welcome at Commencement.  Service animals and their handlers must comply with AP 3105.2 -Service Animals.  All other animals including emotional support animals are not considered service animals and are not permitted at Commencement.
• There are no facilities for securing purses, backpacks, and/or other valuables.
• Out of respect for your fellow graduates and their families, please do not leave until the ceremony ends.
• American Sign Language interpreters will be available at the ceremony.
• If you have a disability that requires assistance to participate in the ceremony and you have not already done so, please contact the Student Affairs Office at (619) 388-2699 to make the appropriate arrangements.
• Only diploma covers will be distributed during Commencement. Diplomas will be mailed to you only after all graduation requirements have been verified and all financial holds have been cleared.
• Note: Participation in the commencement ceremony does not guarantee your application for graduation will be approved. You can view your graduation status in the mySDCCD portal under My Academics->View Graduation Status.

Maps of the Ceremony#

General Ceremony Map

Interactive Campus Map

ADA Ceremony Map

Social Media, Livestream, & Photography#

Let’s rock the social media world with our Mesa pride! (And get your family and friends to join in!) 

• Share with the world by using the hashtag #sdmesagrad
• Post directly on @SanDiegoMesaCollege Facebook wall: www.facebook.com/SanDiegoMesaCollege
• Tweet to @sdmesacollege: https://twitter.com/sdmesacollege
• Instagram @sdmesacollege: https://instagram.com/sdmesacollege

Livestream & Photography

• For your family and that can’t attend, the Commencement Ceremony will be streamed live at: www.youtube.com/sdmesacollege
• A professional photographer will take pictures of every graduate as degrees are conferred. Information about ordering photographs will be given to each graduate during check-in/ rehearsal.
• General pictures will be posted to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/SanDiegoMesaCollege and the Mesa College Flickr album.

Questions#

For any questions related to the Commencement Ceremony, please contact the Mesa Evaluations office and Student Affairs.

• Mesa Evaluations: mesaevaluations@sdccd.edu | 619-388-2680
• Student Affairs: mesastudentaffairs@sdccd.edu | 619-388-2699