Details for Guests

COVID-19 UPDATES

The health and safety of the Cal State LA community is our top priority as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Please visit the Cal State LA’s Health Watch webpage as it provides the latest information about campus COVID-19 protocols, university messages, frequently asked questions, and more. The information on this website is current and will continue to be updated based on the latest public health protocols.

• All Cal State LA employees, students and visitors shall conduct a health self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms before arriving at Cal State LA. If you are experiencing any of the listed symptoms, please do not come onto the Cal State LA campus.
   
• You understand the risk of attending a large, crowded event where the vaccine status of others in attendance may be unknown.
   
• Masks are not required outdoors. The Commencement Pavilion is designated as an outdoor venue. Masks are required in classrooms, labs, and health care settings on campus, but are no longer required in other indoor spaces on campus, such as the University Library, offices, hallways, eateries, and other non-classroom spaces. Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are always welcome to wear a mask. Learn more about face masks. 

• The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health strongly encourages Californians to sign up for CA Notify in advance of large scale events like Commencement to receive alerts when you have been in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19 in public gatherings. If you test positive for COVID-19 after attending Commencement, CA Notify lets you alert those you may have exposed without using your name. 

SECURITY

For the safety of all our graduating candidates, guests, faculty and staff, all guests must pass through security at the entrance. The following items are not permitted inside the Commencement Pavilion.

• Alcohol
• Balloons
• Beverages
• Bicycles
• Bottles and cans
• Cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and vapes (the University is a tobacco and vape-free campus)
• Chairs
• Coolers
• Drones
• Drugs
• Fireworks
• Flags with poles
• Food (baby food permitted)
• Laser pointers
• Mega phones
• Mid to large size purses, backpacks, satchels, and duffel bags
• Pets (except for service animals)
• Rollerblades
• Signs larger than 16” x 20”
• Skateboards
• Strollers / car seats / bassinets (there are no designated check in locations for these items so please leave in your car)
• Weapons (including chains, firearms, knives, spiked jewelry and belts, sticks)
• Umbrellas

Parking for Commencement is complimentary but only available at the following designated parking structures:

• All levels of Structure E
• Blue levels of Structure C

All other lots require permits and are subject to ticketing. Students and guests with Accessibility placards will be directed by parking personnel staff to the closest and most accessible parking in both structures.

The Commencement Pavilion is a festive shaded structure that will be built on the north side of campus in Lot 5. There will be one (1) main guest entrance located across from Parking Structure E on Lot 5.

Guests are encouraged to arrive up to 90 minutes before the ceremonies to accommodate for traffic, parking, large crowds, and mobility. The Commencement Pavilion will open 75 minutes* prior to each ceremony. Five minutes before the scheduled start time, entrances will close and will not reopen until after the national anthem.

* Subject to change due to weather or if the previous ceremony runs late.

The University will be livestreaming the ceremonies, which will be able to be viewed through the Cal State LA website and the Cal State LA YouTube channel.

Cal State LA is providing an alternate on-campus viewing location where guests can watch the livestream of each ceremony during Commencement. The alternate viewing location is in the Golden Eagle Ballrooms. The Golden Eagle Ballrooms are located on the third floor of the Golden Eagle building across from the University Bookstore. This location will not require tickets, and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The majority of seating inside the Commencement Pavilion is stadium bleacher-style seating; however, several hundred chairs at the floor level will also be available. All seating is first come, first served. Due to capacity, guests can only hold seats for their companions for 15 minutes. If seats are still unoccupied after 15 minutes, crowd control personnel will direct other guests to those seats. 

Official graduation portrait photographers will be at Commencement taking photos.

For doctoral and master's degree candidates, photos will be taken while they are hooded onstage, and holding their diploma cover after they exit the stage.

For bachelor's degree candidates, photos will be taken when they are presented onstage, and holding their diploma cover after they exit the stage.

To ensure that photo proofs of the pictures taken on-stage are received after the ceremony, the back of the name card, received at student check-in, must be completed by the graduate.

University photographers will be photographing the ceremonies and candid photos will be available for free download on the Cal State LA Smug Mug webpage during Commencement week.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT THE REGALIA AND MERCHANDISE WEBPAGE.

Regalia (cap and gown) and other Commencement-related merchandise (sashes, etc…) will be available for purchase at the University Bookstore from April 4 (during Grad Fair) until Commencement week.

During Commencement, the University Bookstore will have a satellite location by the Commencement Pavilion with limited merchandise.

Out of respect for all our graduates and their family and friends, all attendees must stay for the entire duration of the event to not disrupt the ceremony. Please plan accordingly.

In the interest of creating a memorable Commencement experience for all, please be respectful and considerate with your applause when graduate names are read, so that all names are heard.

Please note that there is no smoking, including electronic cigarettes and vapes, on campus. Also, possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages is strictly prohibited during the Commencement Ceremonies and related activities.

After the ceremonies, graduates and their guests are encouraged to take photos at the designated photo locations outside the Commencement Pavilion.

Commencement will be photographed and/or recorded. By attending the ceremonies, you agree and grant irrevocable permission to have your likeness, image, voice, and appearance photographed and recorded for any University business-related purpose and that the CSU owns the images and all rights related to them. The images may be used in any manner or media without notifying you, such as university-sponsored websites, publications, promotions, broadcasts, advertisements, posters and theater slides, as well as for non-university uses. You waive any right to inspect or approve the finished images or any printed or electronic matter that may be used with them.