CALENDAR

Visit the calendar regularly for the latest information on current and upcoming application and/or registration deadline for graduation applications, Commencement 2025, and Commencement related and/or affiliated activities.

Commencement 2025

Commencement is the ceremony in which degrees are conferred and celebrates the achievement of the students who have graduated or will soon graduate during the academic year.

The diploma name used by the Graduation Office is the name that will be used for Commencement for the following:

Ticketing information
Name card during Commencement
Name display on the jumbo screen
Name announcement during Commencement

The diploma name is the primary (legal) name as it appears on the graduating candidate's GET account.

As noted on the Registrar’s Office website, graduates can submit a request for a Preferred First Name Change in GET to formally request a preferred first name be used by the University. Please note that this is not automatically used for your diploma and for Commencement. An approved preferred first name may be used on a diploma if requested by the graduating candidate on their graduation application, otherwise, the primary (legal) name will be used.

For the preferred first name change to be reflected on your diploma and Commencement, requests must be made by March 7, 2025 to the Graduation Office.

The diploma name used by the Graduation Office is the name that will be used for Commencement for the following:

Ticketing information
Name card during Commencement
Name display on the jumbo screen
Name announcement during Commencement

The diploma name is the primary (legal) name as it appears on the graduating candidate's GET account.

For any changes or updates to your primary (legal) name, including your middle and last name, to be reflected for your diploma and Commencement, please submit a Biographical/Demographical Change Request Form and the accompanying documents listed in the form by March 7, 2025 to:

Admissions and Record Center
Student Services Building, 1st floor

At the beginning of the spring 2025 semester, the Graduation Office will start to submit the names of the eligible graduating students to the Commencement Office for inclusion in the 2025 Commencement ceremonies. Graduating candidates must make any updates to their contact information in GET by March 7, 2025, to ensure receipt of Commencement-related notices.

For Commencement 2025, the Cal State LA email address, alternate email address, and the mailing address listed on the graduating candidate's GET account is the information that will be used for the following:

Commencement registration and ticketing (only Cal State LA email address)
Commencement notifications and reminders (Cal State LA email address and alternate email address)
Commencement photography (Cal State LA email address, alternate email address, and mailing address)

Please note that the Commencement Office will communicate via email using the following platforms:

Cal State LA Outlook email
Constant Contact
MarchingOrder

If graduating students do not wish to receive any Commencement notifications or have their name, degree, or honor (if any) listed in any program, please contact the Commencement Office by March 7, 2025 by emailing the Commencement Office.

All eligible graduating students planning to participate in the in-person ceremonies must register in advance to attend when registration opens in April, 2025.

The link to register will be emailed to graduating students and posted on this website before registration starts.

Graduation Application

The graduation application is used by the student to notify the university that they are ready to complete their degree program. All coursework for the degree program must be completed prior to the award date (end of term). Students will not be able to register beyond the expected graduation term so it is critical that the graduation application be accurate at the time of filing.

Important Notice from the Commencement Office

Graduating from the University and participating in Commencement are two different things.

Graduating students for fall 2024, winter 2025, spring 2025, and summer 2025 are eligible to participate in Commencement 2025. Students who have re-applied to graduate during the 2024/2025 academic year but have already participated in Commencement 2024 previously for the same degree are not eligible to participate again.

All eligible graduating students planning to participate in the in-person ceremonies must register in advance to attend when registration opens in April, 2025. The link to register will be emailed to graduating students and posted on this website before registration starts.

Students obtaining a bachelor's degree and graduating in Fall 2024 must submit a graduation application on or before March 1, 2024. A late filing fee will be collected by the Graduation Office when a graduation application is filed after the corresponding deadline.