• Undergraduate Students receiving a bachelor’s degree must file a petition to graduate with the Office of the University Registrar by Oct. 1 of the previous year if graduating in the spring/summer, and Feb. 1 of the current year if graduating in the fall. Visit the Graduation Advising website for additional details.
• Graduate Students must have filed petitions with the Office of Graduate Studies by Feb. 1 if graduating in the spring/summer, and by Oct. 1 if graduating in the fall. Contact the Office of Graduate Studies at grad_degreeservices@csus.edu with any questions.
• Teaching Credential Candidates do not petition to graduate. The Credential program provides information to the Commencement Office for inclusion of eligible Credential Candidates in the event program and for access to guest tickets. Contact your college coordinator, Debbie Santiago (916-278-3618 -or- santiago@csus.edu) with any questions.
• Please note, petitioning to graduate from the university and registering to attend commencement are two different things.

Only Fall 2024 graduates and Class of 2020 and 2021 Graduation Rewind Celebration registered graduates are invited to attend the 2024 Winter Commencement Ceremonies. At this time, we are unable to accommodate any requests for exceptions to the eligibility requirements to participate in 2024 Winter Commencement.

No, Fall 2024 graduates will be invited to participate only in Winter 2024 Commencement. Spring Commencement is reserved for students graduating in the Spring or Summer.

Here is a list of planned accommodations for commencement. Participating students who need additional accommodations should contact the Disability Access Center (formerly Services for Students with Disabilities) at dac@csus.edu. Be sure to have the subject line read "Commencement Request" and include your name, phone number, student ID, and requested accommodations in the body of the email. For best assurance of accommodation requests being met, please contact the DAC by December 6, 2024.

• No, tickets are only required for guests. Please visit our guest tickets page for further information.
• Below are some tips for mobile devices related to ticket-scanning:
  1. Take a screenshot of your QR Code so you do not have to search your emails at the time of the event.
  2. Turn the brightness of your phone screen all the way up when QR Code is being scanned.
  3. If phone screen is cracked, screenshot the QR Code and send it to another member of your party.
  4. Zoom into the QR code so it takes up the majority of your screen.

Tickets may not be sold or traded for anything of monetary value. Students may give unused tickets to peers who are participating in the same ceremony.

• If you are eligible for graduation in Fall 2024 and you have applied to graduate prior to October 14, 2024, your name will be included in the program. Otherwise, your name will not be included.
• If you have legally changed your name since applying for graduation, please contact the Registrar’s Office at registrar@csus.edu to update your student record.

• All graduates and their guests will have free access to a digital Commencement program. Keepsake hard copies of the Commencement program can be ordered through University Print & Mail. Order form will be available soon!

• Students' names will be pulled from their Student Center (including preferred name, primary name, and diploma name). During the commencement registration process, students will have the option of selecting which name they prefer to be read aloud, and which name they would like displayed on the screen during the ceremony.
• Students can update their preferred name in their Student Center. Click here for FAQ about changing preferred names. Once you have completed the process of changing your preferred name, you must log back into the commencement ticketing/RSVP system to assure the name change has been captured before the initial registration deadline.

• You may purchase regalia at Grad Fest, online at asi.csus.edu/services/student-shop or at the Associated Students, Inc. Student Shop in University Union, 3rd Floor, Room 3231.
• To find out if you are receiving academic honors or to purchase an honor cord, please check with the Student Shop office at (916) 278-7916 after Grad Fest 10/29.
• All students participating in commencement must wear academic regalia.

• Grad caps can be decorated, but please be respectful when doing so. Any caps deemed to have lewd, indecent, or offensive language or images on them by a Commencement Administrator, will be asked to remove the cap to continue participation in Commencement. If they do not, they will not be permitted to participate in Commencement.
• Please note that your graduation gown should not be decorated.

• Honors are computed by the Office of the University Registrar using information through Summer 2024. Bachelor’s degree candidates who have completed a minimum of 30 graded Sac State units (excluding CR grades) with a GPA of 3.50-3.74 will graduate Cum Laude, students with a 3.75-3.89 GPA will graduate Magna Cum Laude, and students with a 3.90-4.0 GPA will graduate Summa Cum Laude. Honors at Commencement are based on units and CSUS GPA completed prior to the term of graduation for Fall 2024 Bachelor’s degree candidates only. Students who subsequently improve their GPA, will have the honors at graduation noted on their diploma and official academic record. Graduate students are not eligible for honors.
• To find out if you are receiving academic honors or to purchase an honor cord, please check with the ASI office at (916) 278–7916.

• No. Graduation fees cover the cost of participation in one Commencement ceremony. Students with multiple majors will automatically be granted access to ticketing, and participation in their primary academic college as noted in their Student Center. If a double-major wishes to attend a different ceremony, they must contact the Commencement Office after tickets open (after tickets open on October 21, 2024).

• Visitors from other countries may need to apply for a B1/B2 visitor’s visa. For details on how to apply for a visitor’s visa and required documents, please refer to the Department of State’s website.
• Please note the Department of State has confirmed invitation letters are not needed to apply for a visitor visa. As a result, Sac State does not produce letters of invitation for the purpose of inviting student/scholar/employee family members to visit the United States.

• Jostens is the official class ring and graduation announcement company for Sacramento State students. Class ring and graduation announcement samples, pricing and ordering information are available at the Hornet Bookstore. Place your order online by visiting the Jostens website or by using Jostens toll free number, (800) 854-7464. Jostens representatives table at the Hornet Bookstore each semester as well as Grad Fest, to personally assist you with your order. Visit Jostens @ www.jostens.com for upcoming tabling days at the Hornet Bookstore.
• The Hornet Bookstore offers alumni items including diploma frames, apparel, hats, and gift items for graduates.
• You can shop in-store or online 24/7.

Ceremonies will be held at Golden 1 Center (500 David J Stern Walk, Sacramento, CA 95814).

Graduates should plan to arrive 90 minutes prior to their scheduled ceremony. Check-in will begin promptly 90 minutes before each ceremony start time. Please consider travel time, traffic, and parking, and plan accordingly. Once you arrive, you may enter here.

• Please visit Golden 1 Center's directions and parking webpage for more information. Graduates and guests can also book and pre-pay for parking spots nearby Golden 1 Center through the SacPark website.
• Here is a map of nearby Uber drop-off locations.

• Click here for information on SacRT routes and schedules.

• Sacramento State commencement staff and college commencement coordinators will direct graduates where to go once they arrive at Golden 1 Center. The graduate entrance can be seen here. Please keep in mind that students will descend multiple flights of stairs to the arena floor level. We recommend you wear comfortable shoes and save your special footwear for post-ceremony festivities. There's also an elevator for graduates who have accessibility needs.

• All graduates are required to bring their Sac State OneCard to check in to Commencement. If you do not have a OneCard, a valid picture ID (driver's license or passport) will suffice.
• Wear your cap and gown to the ceremony. Proper attire is required to participate. We encourage you wear comfortable shoes, as you will go down multiple flights of stairs to the arena floor level.
• For safety and security reasons, certain items are prohibited from being brought to the ceremony such as balloons, air horns, silly string and alcohol. Be aware of Golden 1 Center's prohibited items.

• Here is a list of Golden 1 Center's prohibited items.
• Please note that Golden 1 Center is now a bagless venue.
  Clutches and wallets smaller than 8” x 6” x 1” will be permitted and are subject to security inspection. Medical and parental bags will be allowed but must go through X-ray security screening.
• Balloons are also not allowed inside the Golden 1 Center.
• Please leave all personal belongings in your car or with family members or friends. There are no provisions for coats, large purses or bags or other valuable personal items that you do not plan to carry with you the whole time
• Cell phones are permitted, but please turn off the ringer before the ceremony begins.

• Yes. ASL-English interpreters will be available for program interpretation. They will be visible on screens throughout the arena.
• Captions will also be visible on screens throughout the arena, as well as on the livestream.
• Participating students who need additional personal accommodations should contact the Disability Access Center (DAC), formerly known as Services for Students with Disabilities office, at DAC@csus.edu. Be sure to have the subject line read "Commencement Request" and include your name, phone number, student ID, and requested accommodations in the body of the email. For best assurance of accommodation requests being met, please contact the DAC office by December 2, 2024.

• Please see Golden 1 Center's service animal policy.

• Yes. When eligible grads check in to Golden 1 Center, you will be given a card with your name, degree info, and a pre-printed scan-code. The card will be scanned when you cross the stage, and your name will be read aloud and displayed on the jumbo screen.
• DO NOT LOSE, TEAR, OR WRITE ON THIS CARD... THIS COULD RESULT IN YOUR NAME NOT BEING ANNOUNCED OR DISPLAYED.

• Students participating in Commencement must comply with the Student Conduct Code, including policies on public intoxication and alcohol.
• Commencement is an alcohol-free event. For the safety of everyone participating in Commencement, staff may deny entry to any student who appears intoxicated. Students removed for intoxication or possession of alcohol may also be referred to Student Affairs.

• Master’s degree candidates place the tassel on the left side of the cap.
• Bachelor’s degree candidates wear the tassel on the right side of the cap until after the conferring of the degrees.

• The hood is only included in the academic regalia for students earning a master’s or doctoral degree.
• Each college has its own protocol regarding hooding. Master's and Doctoral candidates should check with their academic college for information on their unique customs and procedures. Commencement coordinators at the arena will provide guidance on the day of the ceremony.

• No. Guests are not allowed on the arena floor.

• Graduates and Commencement audiences should be aware that Commencement ceremonies will be livestreamed, recorded, and photographed heavily for the University's use on social media channels, website, and future printed materials.
• Information on ordering photographs will be available soon.
• Guests are permitted to take photographs and video from the stands, but not on the arena floor.

• Diplomas are not handed out at Commencement.
• Please refer to the Graduation Advising website for information on diplomas. For questions, please contact the Registrar's office at (916) 278-3625 or registrar@csus.edu.

• In an effort to make the 2020/2021 Rewind ceremony as traditional as possible, we are requiring that all graduates in attendance wear regalia.
• You may purchase regalia online at csus.edu/services/student-shop or at the Associated Students, Inc. Student Shop in University Union, 3rd Floor, Room 3231.

• Your participation matters to us. To request accommodations, please email commencement@csus.edu by December 6.

• All graduate from the class of 2020 and 2021 should have already received their diplomas. At the Rewind ceremony, a commemorative certificate of participation will be handed to graduates as they cross the stage.

• ALL graduates from the classes of 2020 and 2021 were included in the 2020/2021 Commencement program.
• 2020/2021 graduates who register for the Rewind Celebration by the deadline will be included in the 2024 Winter Commencement digital program as well.