Ways to Participate

There is a myriad of details that go into running a successful Commencement. Employees are needed to assist on the day, whether it be participating in the procession or supporting Commencement "behind the scenes".

Processional Participation

Faculty and staff participating in the processional and who will be seated in the faculty and staff section during a Commencement ceremony are asked to register their participation by Friday, April 11. Participating faculty and staff for the on-campus ceremonies will receive further instruction from their College Coordinator. Faculty and staff who would like to participate in the processional at the Regional ceremony, should contact the Provost's Office for more information. 

Processional Registration

Those needing to rent regalia to participate in the procession can do so with Herff Jones Faculty Direct. The deadline to order faculty or staff regalia online to be received in time for Commencement is March 28 at 8:59 p.m. PST. Items ordered by the deadline will be available to pick up at The Campus Store's on campus location on the second floor of the Gutswurrak Student Activities Center building and will be available for pick-up around May 1. Faculty and staff can return regalia rentals back to The Campus Store during the week after Commencement. 

Order Faculty & Staff Regalia

If there are any questions regarding faculty or staff regalia orders, contact The Campus Store at (707) 826-3741.

Commencement Support

Staff who would like to provide support during Commencement should make arrangements with their supervisor and submit their interest and availability by Friday, April 11. Positions such as greeting, ushering, providing ADA shuttle and wheelchair support, providing parking and traffic support, supporting the graduate and faculty and staff line-up area, etc. are needed for the on-campus ceremonies. Information regarding shifts and assignments will be shared closer to the event. 

Staff Support Registration

If staff have questions about supporting Commencement, contact the Commencement Office at grad@humboldt.edu.

Check-in

Faculty or staff who are participating in the processional for the on-campus ceremonies, should arrive with their regalia at the West Gym (Recreation & Wellness Center 202) no later than 45 minutes prior to their ceremony start time. 

Staff who are providing support at Commencement will receive their shift and assignment closer to the event and will be asked to check-in and check-out at the Staff Check-In area at the start and end of their shift.

Accommodations

Faculty or staff in need of disability-related accommodations to participate in Commencement are asked to reach out to the Commencement Coordinator at grad@humboldt.edu. The Commencement Coordinator will work together with the Campus Disability Resource Center and the College Coordinator for the ceremony you will be participating in to arrange reasonable accommodations. Some accommodations may take several weeks to arrange. If you would like to contact the Campus Disability Resource Center, they can be reached at (707) 826-4678 or sdrc@humboldt.edu.

Order of Ceremony

Procession

The Mace Bearer and Student Marshals will lead graduates into the Commencement venue, followed by the Faculty Marshals, the general faculty and staff and the Platform Party. Graduates are asked to stay in line with their major as they exit the line up area and enter the venue to their seat. Student Marshals and ushers will direct graduates to their seats and Faculty Marshals will assist with general faculty and staff seating.

For the on-campus ceremonies, graduates will file out of the line up area in two single file lines.

For the regional ceremony, graduates will file out of the line up area in one single file line.

Ceremony

For the on-campus ceremonies:

• Following the cue, Student Marshals will direct graduates to exit their seats and line up near the stage one row at a time. Graduates will stop at two locations to take a photo before lining up at the stage ramp entrance.
• As they approach the stage, graduates will hand their name reader card to the stage manager, and as their name is read, they will be directed to cross the stage.
• Graduates will be directed to move to the floor marker in front of the podium and receive their diploma cover. They will pause and face the photographer for a photo centerstage. 
• After the photo, marshals and ushers will direct graduates to return to their seats.
• For master’s candidates, graduates will be instructed on how to hold their hood. They will be hooded on stage prior to receiving their diploma cover.
• Following the reading of the graduate names, degrees will be conferred, and graduates will be asked to switch their tassel from the right side of their cap to the left.  

Information about what to expect during the Regional Commencement ceremony is similar except that the graduates will take their posed photos after they receive their diploma cover and exit the stage. 

Recessional

For all ceremonies, after the closing remarks, there will be a musical cue for the Mace Bearer to lead the Platform Party, faculty, staff, and graduates out of the venue with the assistance of the marshals and ushers. Exiting will be prompted one row at a time. After graduates have left, guests will be directed to exit. 

Parking & Accessibility

For the on-campus ceremonies, graduates, guests, faculty and staff may park in all general lots on campus, but G11, G12, G13, and G14 are recommended. Parking permits are not required on the day of Commencement and all meters within campus are free to use except those on Rossow, Harpst and B streets. 

The green lots shown on the Commencement event map (coming soon) are open for graduate/guest/general parking and the blue lots are recommended for ADA and shuttle access. No general vehicle traffic, parking or drop-off will be allowed past the barricades at 17th and Union Streets or Laurel Drive and B Street due to pedestrian safety. Please note: 17th Street will have single lane west bound traffic only on Commencement day due to shuttle access needs. 

ADA parking is available in FS9 (the faculty/staff parking lot at the end of Rossow Street, between Gist Hall and Student Business Services). Shuttles for those with mobility issues will run continuously from the FS9 lot by Gist Hall at the end of Rossow Street and will drop off at the south entrance of Redwood Bowl in between the Recreation & Wellness Center and Forbes Gym. The number of shuttles available is limited which may result in lengthy waits at the shuttle pick up and drop off locations. If you do wish to utilize the shuttles, we encourage you to plan to arrive at the pick-up location early. If needed, graduates and guests can also utilize the accessible paths of travel (please see campus ADA map for details).

Due to the limited number of shuttles available for the on-campus ceremonies for those with mobility limitations, the shuttles will be prioritizing getting graduates and their guests to and from Redwood Bowl and the parking lots. Unfortunately, we will not be able to take anyone to receptions or celebrations. 

Watch Online

Can't be there for some reason? The on-campus ceremonies will be livestreamed so that families, friends, and the campus community can watch, and help graduates celebrate their big moment. Live captioning will be provided on the livestream in English and in Spanish. The links to the livestream will be available on the day of the event on the Commencement website and humboldt.edu. You can simply click on the link to view (no registration needed). A video will be available to watch online after the ceremony at commencement.humboldt.edu in the weeks following.