Faculty & Staff

Fall 2025 Commencement

Friday, December 19 | Lumberjack Arena

Graduation is a major milestone, and Commencement is just around the corner! Help us celebrate our graduates by participating in Commencement.

A photo of the Student Marshals leading the graduates into Lumberjack Arena for Fall Commencement.

Ceremony Schedule

Two ceremonies will be hosted for Fall 2025 Commencement. Graduates will participate in the ceremony associated with their major and college affiliation. Start times for each ceremony are listed below.

Graduates should arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to their ceremony start time for check in. Guests should arrive no later than 15 mintues prior to ensure seating.

Guest tickets to attend a commencement ceremony are not required for entry at this time. For planning purposes, graduates are asked to RSVP the number of guests attending as part of the commencement registration process. Registered guest counts are considered in the planning process as capacity at the indoor venue is limited.

1:00 p.m. - College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Show College Majors

Bachelor's Degrees

  • Anthropology
  • Applied Humanities
  • Art
  • Art History & Museum Studies
  • Cannabis Studies
  • Communication
  • Criminology & Justice Studies
  • Critical Race, Gender & Sexuality Studies
  • Dance Studies
  • English
  • Environmental Studies
  • Film
  • Fine Art
  • French & Francophone Studies
  • Geography
  • Geospatial Science & Technology
  • History
  • International Studies
  • Journalism
  • Media Arts
  • Music
  • Native American Studies
  • Philosophy
  • Political Science
  • Religious Studies
  • Sociology
  • Spanish
  • Theatre Arts

Master's Degrees

  • Applied Anthropology
  • English
  • Public Sociology
  • Social Science, Environment & Community

1:00 p.m. - College of Professional Studies

Show College Majors

Bachelor's Degrees

  • Business Administration
  • Child Development & Family Relationships
  • Child Development Elementary Education (Liberal Studies)
  • Community Health
  • Critical Agriculture Studies & Agroecology
  • Economics
  • Elementary Education (Liberal Studies)
  • Individualized Degree Plan (Interdisciplinary Studies)
  • Health & Medical Science
  • Kinesiology
  • Leadership Studies
  • Nursing
  • Psychology
  • Recreation Administration
  • Social Work

Master's Degrees

  • Business Administration
  • Counseling Psychology
  • Education
  • Kinesiology
  • Psychology
  • School Psychology
  • Social Work

Credentials

  • Administrative Services Credential (Educational Leadership)
  • Education Specialist Credential (Special Education)
  • Multiple Subject Credential (Elementary Education)
  • Single Subject Credential (Secondary Education)

3:30 p.m. - College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Show College Majors

Bachelor's Degrees

  • Applied Fire Science & Management
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Botany
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Data Science
  • Energy Systems Engineering
  • Environmental Resources Engineering
  • Environmental Science & Management
  • Fisheries Biology
  • Forestry
  • Geology
  • Marine Biology
  • Mathematics
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Oceanography
  • Physical Science
  • Physics
  • Rangeland Resource Science
  • Software Engineering
  • Wildlife
  • Zoology

Master's Degrees

  • Biology
  • Engineering & Community Practice
  • Environmental Systems
  • Natural Resources

Ways to Participate

There are 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 who plan to participate in the processional and be seated in the designated faculty and staff section during a Commencement ceremony are asked to register their processional participation by November 14. Registered faculty and staff will receive further instruction from their College Coordinator. 

Commencement Support

Employees are needed to assist at Commencement. This includes administrators, faculty, staff, students (and even volunteers). Roles include greeting guests, ushering, providing ADA shuttle and wheelchair escort support, assisting with parking and traffic, and helping in the graduate and faculty/staff line-up areas. Those who would like to work Commencement are asked to make arrangements with their supervisor about adjustments in their weekly work schedule and to submit their Commencement work interest and availability by November 14. Details about shift needs and assignments will be shared closer to the event. 

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 collaborate with the Campus Disability Resource Center for the ceremony you will be assisting in to arrange reasonable accommodations. Please note that 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.

Parking & Venue Accessibility

Parking is available in all general lots on campus, but G11, G12, G13, G14, and G15 are recommended.

Please note: The faculty/staff parking lots between Gist Hall and Student & Business Services, on Union Street, and behind the Student Recreation Center and the Wildlife Care Center have been reserved for commencement related activities and will not be available for general faculty or staff use. Parking permits are not required on campus the day of Commencement. 

The green lots shown on the Commencement event map are open to graduates, guests, and general parking. The blue lots are recommended for guests needing ADA parking or shuttle access. Please note that no general vehicle traffic, parking, or drop-offs will be allowed beyond the barricades at 17th and Union Streets due to pedestrian safety. On Commencement day, 17th Street will be restricted to a single westbound lane to accommodate shuttle service. 

Accessible (ADA) parking is available in Lot FS9, located at the end of Rossow Street between Gist Hall and the Student Business Services building. Shuttles for guests with mobility-related access needs will run continuously between FS9 and the south entrance of the Kinesiology & Athletics Building. Please be aware that shuttle capacity is limited and may result in wait times. We encourage early arrival for those planning to use this service. Accessible pedestrian routes are also available; please refer to the campus ADA map for details.

To prioritize access for individuals with limited mobility, shuttle service will be provided only between FS9 and Lumberjack Arena for graduates and guests. Shuttles will not be available for receptions or other campus celebrations. We kindly ask that only the guest with mobility-related needs and one accompanying guest use the shuttle service to help ensure availability for those who need it most.

Check-in

Processional Participation

Faculty or staff participating in the processional should arrive with their regalia and check in at the West Gym (Recreation & Wellness Center 202) no later than 45 minutes prior to their ceremony start time. If you bring a bag, you will be subject to the Clear Bag Guidelines and will be asked to go through bag check prior to entry. 

Staff Support

Staff assigned to support Commencement will receive shift and assignments closer to the event. Staff are expected to check in and check out at the Staff Check-In area (KA 106) at the beginning and end of their shift. If you bring a bag, you will be subject to the Clear Bag Guidelines and will be asked to go through bag check prior to entry. 

Watch Online

Can’t attend in person? Each ceremony will be livestreamed, allowing families, friends, and the campus community to celebrate alongside graduates from anywhere.

Live captioning will be provided in English and Spanish on the livestream. Links will be available on the day of the event at commencement.humboldt.edu and humboldt.edu. No registration is required—just click and watch.

Recordings of each ceremony will be posted at commencement.humboldt.edu in the weeks following the event.

Event Map

Fall 2025 Guest Map

Ceremony Overview

Processional

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 will process in one single file line from the line-up area with their major to the venue. Student Marshals and ushers will direct graduates to their seats and Faculty Marshals will assist with general faculty and staff seating.

During the Ceremony

  • At the appropriate cue, Student Marshals will direct graduates to exit their seats and line up near the stage one row at a time.
  • Graduates will pause at two designted locations to take a posed photo before lining up at the stage entrance.
  • As they approach the stage, graduates will hand their name reader card to the Stage Manager and will be directed to cross the stage as their name is read.
  • 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 an official photo centerstage. 
  • After the photo, marshals and ushers will direct graduates to exit the stage and 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.
  • Once all graduates have been recognized, degrees will be conferred. Graduates will be prompted to move their tassel from the right side of their cap to the left—a symbolic gesture of their achievement.

Recessional

Following closing remarks, a musical cue will signal the start of the recessional. The Mace Bearer will lead the Platform Party, followed by the faculty, staff, and graduates out of the venue. Marshals and ushers will assist in guiding rows out in an orderly manner, one at a time. Once all graduates have exited, guests will be directed to exit their seats and venue.