Commencement Frequently Asked Questions

Most Commencement Weekend events do not require tickets for guests. The one event that does require tickets is the Class Day Dinner, which takes place on Saturday, May 17, immediately following the Class Day Awards Program. For more information on the Class Day Awards Program and Dinner, including ticket purchase information, please visit our Class Day Information page.

In the event of severe rain, we may relocate the Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 18 into Bridges Auditorium. If this change occurs, tickets will be required and graduates will receive information on how many tickets they are allotted. This decision is usually made one week in advance based on the weather forecast.

Commencement Weekend consists of a number of events to recognize the accomplishments of our graduating class. Starting Friday, May 16, graduates and their families and guests can join in celebration with faculty and staff in a range of activities, culminating with the Commencement Exercises on Sunday, May 18. Please consult the full schedule of events for additional information.

With the exception of the Class Day dinner on Saturday, May 17, Commencement Weekend events do not require tickets.

Every graduating student can order up to three complimentary dinner tickets. Additional tickets can be purchased for $10 per adult (ages 13 and older) and $5 per child (ages 5-12). Children under the age of 5 do not need a ticket. There is no limit to the number of additional Class Day dinner tickets each graduate may purchase. Visit the Class Day page to reserve and purchase tickets for your group.

Yes, every person aged 5 or older needs a ticket to eat dinner. Tickets are not required for the award program portion of the event.

The Baccalaureate Service is hosted by the Chaplains Office for graduates of all of the undergraduate and graduate schools of The Claremont Colleges. Please contact the Chaplains Office for more information on this program.

"Class Day" is a Pomona College tradition, held on Saturday, May 17, the day before Commencement, for the Class of 2024. Class Day begins with academic department receptions in the morning and culminates in senior academic and leadership awards and a celebratory dinner for seniors and their guests on Marston Quad. Tickets are not required for the Class Day award program, only for the Class Day dinner that follows.

The Class Day dinner will take place on Marston Quad, immediately following the Class Day award program.

Yes, all individuals ages 5 and older must have a ticket to have a meal at the Class Day dinner. Children under the age of 5 do not need a ticket. Complimentary and paid tickets may be secured on the Class Day website.

No, there is no limit to the number of tickets a family can purchase for the Class Day dinner.

Yes, all meals served at Pomona College events include options for guests with varying dietary needs. If you have a less common dietary restriction, please email Commencement@bonaprinting.com so that we may be aware of your needs.

Most class award and prize winners are announced at academic department receptions on the morning of Class Day. A selection of major academic and service awards will be announced at the Class Day award program on Saturday, May 17. Additional awards and prizes will be announced at the Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 18.

The Pomona College Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, established in 1914, was the third (or, "Gamma") chapter established in California. Seniors and juniors "who are of good moral character, and who are distinguished for breadth of culture and excellence of scholarship" may be elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society. There is no application process for Phi Beta Kappa. Membership is invitation-only and contingent upon fulfillment of minimum requirements. Chapters are expected to determine the specific application of standards stated in these stipulations.

Yes, the graduation stage will be built to allow graduates who use wheelchairs to receive their diploma on stage in the same manner as their peers.

Yes, the live broadcast of the ceremony will be available on the Commencement webpage.

We have designated a number of campus locations to provide parking and drop-off options for guests who have difficulty with walking long distances or who use wheelchairs. Shuttle services are also provided between the South Campus Parking Structure and Marston Quad, where the Class Day awards program and dinner and the Commencement ceremony will take place. We have also designated seating areas for guests attending the ceremony in wheelchairs or using other mobility assisting devices, as the noted events take place on the all-grass Marston Quad. Additional information on services available for guests, including the Commencement Guest/Disability Services Request form, can be found on the Information for Families and Guests page.

Yes, the graduation stage will be built to allow graduates who use wheelchairs to receive their diploma on stage in the same manner as their peers.

All graduates must be out of the residence halls by noon on Monday, May 19. It is highly recommended and encouraged for graduates to begin packing and moving items out of their rooms, if possible, prior to Commencement Weekend to ensure they can meet this deadline.

Graduates who have gently used items to donate to the Office of Sustainability for the fall ReCoop sales may leave the items in the lounge of their residence hall. Nothing should be left in the graduates’ dorm rooms.

Graduates receive caps and gowns during the last week of classes at Smith Campus Center 235 and must return them immediately following the Commencement ceremony, in exchange for their leather diploma holder. Graduates should visit the Information for Graduates page of the Commencement website for additional information.

There is not a set dress code for any event during Commencement weekend. Most often, we have seen students and families typically wear attire that can be described as "smart casual." Each student makes their own decision regarding how formally or informally to dress for each event.

While graduates are allowed to use a preferred or chosen name on the diploma, they are advised to use the legal name they will use in future employment, especially if they plan to leave the country following graduation, as the diploma is a legal document that can be used to validate identity.

If an eligible graduate does not attend their Commencement ceremony, they should provide up-to-date mailing address information to the Registrar's office so that their diploma can be mailed to them. Diplomas that are not picked up during Commencement ceremony will be mailed at the Registrar's discretion after the celebration.

Pomona College confers degrees based on the academic year during which the candidate completes their degree requirements. Since Summer and Fall 2024 graduates completed their degree requirements during the 2024-2025 academic year, they should attend the Class of 2025 Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Summer and Fall 2024 graduates and their families should receive a formal invitation to the Commencement ceremony. Please contact Commencement@bonaprinting.com if you do not receive your printed invitation by the end of February.

Most requirements for Commencement participation may be completed online. Graduates should visit the Information for Graduates page for a list of important dates and deadlines. For tasks that are typically completed in person, graduates should contact the designated person to receive further instructions.

Pomona College confers degrees based on the academic year during which the candidate completes their degree requirements. Since Summer and Fall 2025 graduates will complete their degree requirements during the 2025-2026 academic year, they will be invited to attend the Class of 2026 Commencement ceremony in May 2026. Questions regarding degree requirements should be addressed to the Registrar's Office.

Find comprehensive instructions for visiting Pomona College, including local airports, driving directions and parking information on the Information for Families and Guests page. Signage will be posted throughout the entire weekend to direct guests to accessible parking and loading locations, as well as shuttle stops for guests with limited mobility.