Commencement

Rent regalia online from Herff Jones. See pricing online.

• Early bird pricing ends at 8:59 p.m. Feb. 14.
• The deadline to order for delivery to The Bookie (free shipping) is 8:59 p.m. Feb. 14.
• The deadline to order for home delivery ($18.10) is 8:59 p.m. March 21.
• Express ship ($26.65) is available — March 22 – 8:59 p.m. April 4.
• Pick up regalia shipped to The Bookie 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning March 17.

Regalia scholarships are available. If renting regalia presents a financial hardship, Associated Students of WSU Vancouver offer a limited number of regalia scholarships. 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.

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 7 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 7 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.

Commencement registration opens Jan. 6 - April 4.

You are eligible to participate in commencement if:

• You earned your degree in December 2024
• You applied to graduate in May or July 2025
• 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 2024
• You are graduating in May 2025 and you apply to graduate by March 7
• You are graduating in July 2025 and you apply to graduate by March 7

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

• Accessible parking is located just outside the East Plaza. A visible state-issued accessible placard is required to park in this lot.
• Accessible parking is limited, so arriving early is recommended.
• Turn on emergency flashers to help the venue's parking staff identity your needs. They will direct vehicles to the appropriate lot.
• The pathway to the east accessible entrance is paved.
• If you are dropping someone off with access needs, let the parking attendants know and they will let you drop off at the front of the accessible entrance.

Seating

• The amphitheater has seating for disabled persons according to industry standards, including seating for people 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 people in need.
• Ceremony viewing will not be available from the lawn seating area.

Accommodations for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing

• To download an assistive listening app onto your cell phone, visit a guest services tent located near the accessible entrance and the main gates.
• 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 attendant.
• CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) will be available for the ceremony.

Medication Needs

• If you need to take prescribed medication during the event, the medication must be in its original container with a name that is verifiable with a photo ID.
• If you do not have a container with a name on it, the venue staff may request documentation to confirm the need for the medication.
• Over-the-counter medication must be in its original packaging.
• Only bring what is required for the duration of the event.

For a complete list of venue accessibility information, visit the Cascades Amphitheater Accessibility Information webpage.

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 you have additional questions, contact the Access Center at 360-546-9739 or email van.access.center@wsu.edu.

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.