Commencement

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Congratulations, Class of 2024!

Attend Washington State University Vancouver’s 2024 Commencement ceremony

1 p.m. Saturday, May 4
RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

17200 NE Delfel Road
Ridgefield, WA 98642

Free and open to all (no tickets required)
Parking is free

Guests of the amphitheater, including graduates, will walk through a metal detector at entry. Guns, pocketknives (including Leatherman-style tools) and other weapons are not allowed.

There is no secure place to store your belongings during the ceremony. Carry-in belongings will be searched. Only small clutches, wristlets or fanny packs no bigger than 4.5 x 6.5” or clear plastic bags no bigger than 12 x 12 x 6” will be allowed inside.

Guests who cannot attend in person may watch the livestream.

Commencement will be replayed at a later date on CVTV. CVTV and CVTV2 are available to Comcast cable subscribers throughout Clark County—channels 23 (323 HD) and 21 (321 HD). Programming is also available on demand at cvtv.org.


Graduates

Participate in Washington State University Vancouver’s 2024 Commencement ceremony

1 p.m. Saturday, May 4
RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

17200 NE Delfel Road
Ridgefield, WA 98642

Free and open to all (no tickets required)
Parking is free

Registration Open January 8 - April 3, 2024

Graduates, REGISTER TODAY

Guests of the amphitheater, including graduates, will walk through a metal detector at entry. Guns, pocketknives (including Leatherman-style tools) and other weapons are not allowed.

There is no secure place to store your belongings during the ceremony. Carry-in belongings will be searched. Only small clutches, wristlets or fanny packs no bigger than 4.5 x 6.5” or clear plastic bags no bigger than 12 x 12 x 6” will be allowed inside.

Rent regalia online from Herff Jones. See pricing online.

  • Early bird pricing is from Jan. 8 to 9 p.m. Feb. 16
  • The deadline to order for delivery to The Bookie (free shipping) is 9 p.m. March 8.
  • The deadline to order for home delivery ($18.10) is 9 p.m. March 22.
  • Express ship—second-day air guaranteed ($26.65)—is March 23 – 9 p.m. April 12.
  • Pick up regalia shipped to The Bookie 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning April 15.

Regalia scholarships are available. If renting regalia is an economic hardship, Associated Students of WSU Vancouver offer a limited number of regalia scholarships. Log in to Coug Presence and apply online by Feb. 9.

Return regalia by mail by May 10. You may keep your cap and tassel. Regalia shipped to your home will come with a prepaid return label and instructions to ship via UPS. Regalia shipped for free to The Bookie must be returned to The Bookie.

Graduates typically wear a black cap and gown and a WSU yoke. Graduates earning their master’s or doctorate degree also receive a hood.

Master’s degree candidates, you will wear your hood during the processional and the ceremony. Check out this tutorial for information on how to wear your master’s hood. There will be people in the gathering area to help you.

Doctoral candidates, you will carry your hood over your arm during the processional. You will be hooded when you receive your diploma. Check out this video about how to carry your hood and the hooding ceremony.


Do I have to wear regalia to participate in commencement?

Regalia is required. Members of the military—active duty, National Guard and reserve—may wear their dress uniforms in place of regalia.

Graduation announcements, class rings and other memorabilia (optional) are available online from Herff Jones.

3:45 – 4:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater

Attendance at rehearsal is optional.

  • Arrive at the RV Inn Style Resorts Amphitheater at 3:15 p.m. Free parking in amphitheater lots beginning at 2:45 p.m.
  • Pick up your name card and honor cord (if applicable)
  • Proceed to your lineup area and follow directions of the marshals
  • Rehearsal will conclude by 4:30 p.m.

If you have questions, contact the Registrar's Office at van.registrar@wsu.edu.

Why attend rehearsal?

  • Although rehearsal is optional, here are some reasons to attend:
  • You have never been to the amphitheater. It’s bigger and more confusing than you may think.
  • You don’t like surprises. If you have a need to be in the know, attend rehearsal.
  • You like to help others. Graduates who do not attend rehearsal will be asking questions of those who did.
  • You would like to meet with your name reader to practice pronunciation of your name.

Help your special day go smoothly by reviewing the Commencement day checklist.

Review dos and don'ts for grads.

Graduation is a multi-step process consisting of submitting an application for degree, completing all academic requirements for your degree and paying a graduation fee.

Commencement refers to the celebratory ceremony each May.

You must apply to graduate. Do this through myWSU. There is a $60 charge.

If you are a May graduate, you need to apply to graduate by March 1 to receive information about commencement and be included in the commencement program. After that date, the charge to apply to graduate goes up.

If you are a July graduate, you still need to apply to graduate by March 1 to receive information about commencement and be included in the commencement program. If you are not participating in commencement, summer graduates have until May 24 to apply before the fee goes up.

You are eligible to participate in commencement if:

  • You earned your degree in December 2023
  • You applied to graduate in May or July 2024
  • Doctoral (except Doctor of Nurse Practitioner) candidates must have permission from the WSU Pullman Graduate School to participate

Your name will be in the program, and you will receive information from us if:

  • You graduated in December 2023
  • You are graduating in May 2024 and you apply to graduate by March 1
  • You are graduating in July 2024 and you apply to graduate by March 1

Undergraduates who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance will graduate with honors in one of the following categories:

Summa Cum Laude—candidates for baccalaureate degrees who have completed at least 30 hours of graded work at Washington State University with a cumulative grade point average of 3.90 or better.

Magna Cum Laude—candidates for baccalaureate degrees who have completed at least 30 hours of graded work at Washington State University with a cumulative grade point average between 3.70 and 3.89.

Cum Laude—candidates for baccalaureate degrees who have completed at least 30 hours of graded work at Washington State University with a cumulative grade point average between 3.50 and 3.69.

Honors for commencement are based on fall semester hours and GPA. Final honors status (printed on your diploma and official transcript) will be based on all WSU-graded credits and grade point average through your last term as an undergraduate, degree-seeking student.


Honor cords at Commencement

Honor cords (distributed with name cards at rehearsal and commencement) are based on fall semester hours and GPA.

Only undergraduates are eligible for honor cords; graduate students receive hoods.

Commencement is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

Parking is free.

Guests of the amphitheater will walk through a metal detector at entry. Guns, pocketknives (including Leatherman-style tools) and other weapons are not allowed.

Carry-in belongings will be searched. Only small clutches, wristlets or fanny packs no bigger than 4.5 x 6.5” or clear plastic bags no bigger than 12 x 12 x 6” will be allowed inside.

Parking

  • Parking is free at amphitheater lots. The lots open at 11 a.m.
  • Vehicles equipped with state-approved disability placards will be directed to the VIP parking lot.
  • Reserved parking for mobility-impaired individuals not holding ADA placards will also be provided in the VIP parking lot.
  • Shuttle carts will travel between the VIP parking lot and the entrance to the amphitheater.
  • ADA/mobility-impaired parking is expected to fill. Plan to arrive early. Overflow ADA parking will be available in a grass lot, which may be difficult for some mobility-impaired guests.
  • To be sure of mobility accommodations, you’re encouraged to make private arrangements for wheelchair rental or transportation accommodations for guests before Commencement day.

Seating

  • The amphitheater has seating for disabled persons according to industry standards, including seating for persons using wheelchairs.
  • Because disabled seating is limited, please use it only for disabled individuals and one attendant each, so that space remains available for all persons in need.

Accommodations for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing

  • Sign-language interpreters will be positioned in front of section 101, and some seats will be set aside for guests requesting ASL interpreting. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Please limit these seats to guests using ASL interpreting and one guest.
  • CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) will be available for the ceremony.

Contact us

If you, a family member, or attendee in your party have a disability or condition that requires accessible materials, furniture, services or assistance, please complete the online event accommodation request form as soon as possible to help us better understand your specific access needs. If possible. If you have additional questions, contact the Access Center at 360-546-9739 or email van.access.center@wsu.edu.


Frequently asked questions about Commencement

The ceremony is about two hours. Be sure to plan additional time to walk from the parking lot to the staging area and line up.

After the ceremony, it will take time to find your family and friends, make your way to your car and exit the parking area.

We are quick, but not that quick! WSU needs time after final grades are posted to confer all degrees. Degree posting can take several weeks. Check myWSU to see if your degree has posted. Be sure your diploma and home address are correct in myWSU.

Yes! GradImages is the official photographer for commencement. Photos of you will be taken before you walk across the stage to receive your diploma cover, as you receive it and at the bottom of the ramp before your return to your seat. You will fill out information on the back of your name card that will allow GradImages to send you photo proofs for your review. You will order directly from GradImages.