COMMENCEMENT 2027

FOR COMMENCEMENT

Graduating students may now choose to use either their diploma name or their preferred full name for Commencement.

During the Commencement registration period, expected to take place from late March through late April 2027 (official dates will be announced in Spring 2027), graduating students will register through the online Commencement registration and guest ticketing system. As part of the registration process, you will be able to enter your preferred full name and record its pronunciation for use during your ceremony. The name you submit will be displayed on the venue screens and announced as you cross the stage. 

Please note that the name entered for Commencement is used only for the ceremony and does not change or affect the name that appears on your official diploma.

Important Disclaimer
Please note that during the Commencement ceremonies, last-minute name changes will not be accommodated. Name information need to be finalized in advance to assign unique barcodes to each student that will be used for name announcement and name display on the jumbo screen.

FOR DIPLOMA

The diploma name is the primary (legal) name as it appears on the graduating candidate's GET account. To view the diploma name, please follow these steps:

1. Log in to your GET account.
2. Click on the Self Service option.
3. Under the Degree Progress/Graduation section, click on the View Graduation Status option.
4. Under the Student Information section, you will see your diploma name that will be used for Commencement.

PREFERRED FIRST NAME
(Managed by the Graduation Office)

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. 

ADDITIONS/CHANGES TO MIDDLE NAME AND/OR LAST NAME
(Managed by the Records Office)

For any changes or updates to your primary (legal) name on your diploma, including your middle and/or last name, to be reflected for Commencement, please submit a Biographical/Demographical Change Request Form to the Admissions and Record Center on the first floor of the Student Services Building.

For Commencement, 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)

In spring 2027, the Graduation Office will start to submit the names of the eligible graduating candidates to the Commencement Office for inclusion in the Commencement ceremonies. Graduating candidates must make any updates to their contact information in GET by April 9, 2027, to ensure receipt of Commencement-related notices.

Please make sure to check your Cal State LA email address regularly for Commencement emails related to ticketing, important deadlines, and ceremony details. If you do not see any notifications, please check your spam folder.

Graduates obtaining a bachelor's degree, who maintain an outstanding academic record while earning their degree, are accorded special recognition upon graduation, and are given golden yellow double honor cords to wear during Commencement.

The criteria listed below were established by the Office of the Registrar / Graduation Office. The Commencement Office only distributes the honor cords based on the honors awarded / honors projected by the Graduation Office. For additional information on baccalaureate honors, please visit the Office of the Registrar’s website > Apply for your Degree > Honors at Graduation.

BACCALAUREATE HONORS CRITERIA

To be eligible for honors, graduating bachelor's degree students must have completed a minimum of 45 units in residence at Cal State LA and have attained the appropriate standing (cumulative grade point average earned at Cal State LA) as described below:

• Summa Cum Laude: GPA equal to or greater than 3.9
• Magna Cum Laude: GPA equal to or greater than 3.75 but less than 3.9
• Cum Laude: GPA equal to or greater than 3.5 but less than 3.75

These honors are designated on the diploma and permanent academic record.

For Commencement 2027, spring 2027 or summer 2027 graduating students must have obtained the GPA listed above for fall 2026 to be projected to receive baccalaureate honors. Projected honors are subject to change based on final grades at the end of the spring 2027 semester or summer 2027 term.

HONOR CORDS DISTRIBUTION

In mid-March 2027, information regarding the distribution of honor cords will go out to the following:

• Bachelor’s degree students who graduated in fall 2026 and have attained the status of graduating with honors based on the criteria listed above.
   
• Bachelor’s degree students who are projected to graduate in spring 2027 or summer 2027 and attained the status of graduating with honors based on the criteria listed above from completed courses as of fall 2026.