Commencement Frequently Asked Questions

  1. How do I apply to graduate and participate in commencement? Candidates must initiate the graduation process by completing the online Graduation Application Form.
  2. When do I apply to graduate?  Candidates should file their Application for Graduation by September 1 to attend December Commencement and file by February 1 to attend May Commencement (including Summer candidates).  PLEASE NOTE: Summer candidates in the School of Nursing and Health Professions are ONLY invited to participate in the December Commencement. Fall candidates in the School of Education are ONLY invited to participate in the May Commencement.
  3. When will I get notified that I am eligible to attend Commencement?  Candidates who file an Application for Graduation will be notified by email (send to student's USF email account) five to six weeks prior to their ceremony. Notification will include eligibility to attend the Grad Finale event and the Commencement Ceremonies.
  4. How do I obtain my regalia (cap & gown)? If eligible to graduate, candidates pick up their regalia at the Grad Finale event or on the day of Commencement. Please note these are the ONLY times students will be able to receive their regalia. 
  5. Can someone pick up my regalia for me?  Yes, however, it is required that you give your proxy a completed Proxy Pickup Authorization Form. This is the only acceptable document for picking up graduation items. The form must be printed, signed, and dated — no other forms or electronic signatures will be accepted.
  6. What do I do if I miss the Grad Finale?: Please visit the main Commencement site for the upcoming dates and times for when and where you are able to pick up your regalia (starting the first day of Commencement).
  7. Candidates and Guest with Disabilities: The Parker Street entrance to the Saint Ignatius Church is wheelchair-accessible and disabled parking is available on Parker Street. USF accommodates individuals with disabilities. Candidates or guests who need a disability related accommodation, please contact Will Vitagliano at wbvitagliano@usfca.edu at least 14 days before your ceremony. 
  8. When are degrees and honors official? Degrees and honors are considered official when all grades are received and all degree requirements are successfully complete and/or honors are met.
  9. Degree conferral dates reflect the semester in which all degree requirements are successfully completed. The deadline for completing all degree requirements (incomplete grades, dissertation defenses, final papers etc.) for each term are found below;
    1. Fall - December 31st.
    2. Spring - May 31st.
    3. Summer - August 31st.  
  10. How do I sign up to participate in one of USF's cultural and identity-based end of year recognition ceremonies? Please visit the USF Cultural Center webpage for registration and additional information. 
  1. Undergraduate students must be within 12 credits of completing all degree requirements in order to be eligible to participate in the May ceremony. For the Fall ceremony, Undergraduate students must be within 8 credits of completing all degree requirements in order to be eligible to participate in the December ceremony. All remaining credits must be completed in the next immediate semester. For example, to be eligible to participate in the May ceremony you must be completing your remaining credits during the Summer semester, and December commencement students must then complete their final coursework during Intersession.
  2. Graduate students must be registered for their final course in order to be eligible to participate in any commencement ceremony. Please note that School of Education students are only invited to the May commencement ceremony. In addition, School of Nursing and Health Professions students who complete their degree requirements during the Summer semester are only permitted to participated in the immediate December commencement ceremony and not the prior May commencement ceremony. 
  3. GPA - Undergraduate students must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA in order to be eligible to participate in commencement. Graduate students must have a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA in order to be eligible to participate in commencement. 
  4. Students are only invited to participate in one commencement ceremony. If an eligible student has outstanding degree requirements and is wishing to move their ceremony to a future date, it is their responsibility to contact the Graduation Center to move their application before the original commencement date. Students invited to a previous ceremony, and did not attend, will also not be eligible to participate in a future ceremony. 
  1. How do Candidates retrieve guest tickets? Eligible students will be able to log into the Marching Order portal to register for commencement, print their Grad Pass, and claim their guest tickets. 
  2. How many guest tickets do Candidates get?  Each student will receive 4 tickets to their ceremony. Please note that each student is only given one set of tickets regardless of how many degrees are being earned. (For example, a dual degree student gets 1 set of tickets, not 2) 
  3. How to get extra guest tickets?  Due to the large number of graduates, there will not be any additional guest tickets nor will there be any available at the door. Candidates may want to check with their classmates to see if anyone has guest tickets that they are not using and willing to give to you.
  4. Can guest tickets be purchased? Guest tickets are NOT for sale or resale. Candidates found selling guest tickets will face disciplinary sanctions, including withholding of their degrees until the next conferral period.
  5. Why are guest tickets required for Commencement?  Safety is the first and foremost reason for controlling the number of guests in St. Ignatius Church.  We give each candidate a designated amount of guest tickets by taking the maximum occupancy of the space, subtracting the number of expected candidates, and divided the remaining seats by the number of expected candidates at each ceremony to determine how many guest tickets each candidate receives.
  6. Do Candidates need a guest ticket?  No. The tickets candidates receive are for their guests. Candidates must print their Grad Pass in order to attend commencement/walk across the stage.
  7. Do children need a guest ticket to attend Commencement?  Children, ages two and under, do not need a guest ticket.
  8. If one of my guests is in a wheelchair, will a guest ticket be required?  Yes, since a wheelchair occupies the space of a chair, a guest ticket is required for an individual in a wheelchair and all accompanying guest and/or caregivers.
  9. Can non-graduating USF students attend Commencement?  Yes, but they need a guest ticket to enter the Church.
  10. Will seating be available for people without guest tickets?  Yes, there will be overflow seating available in Cowell 106/107. Further, guests without tickets can view the ceremony online via Live Stream.
  11. Is alcohol allowed? NO! Students and guests cannot consume or possess alcohol in St. Ignatius Church. Students found in possession of alcohol may face academic sanctions and may have their degree withheld. 
  1. Where and when do Candidates line up? Please arrive in the Atrium of Gleeson Library 45 minutes before your ceremony wearing your regalia.
  2. Will there be a place where Candidates can store their valuables during the ceremony?  No. Please leave valuables and personal possessions with family and friends; we do not have security or space to store them. We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or destroyed personal possessions.
  3. If a Candidate misplaces their Grad Pass Ticket, where can they pick up a replacement?  Candidates will be required to go to the Gleeson Library and print off their Grad Pass found in the Marching Order portal.  
  4. How early should guests arrive at the church?  The doors to Saint Ignatius Church will open 45 minutes prior to each ceremony.  Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.  
  5. Are seats reserved?  No, all seats are general admission and on a first-come, first-served basis.
  6. How long does the Commencement Ceremony last?  Each ceremony lasts approximately 90 minutes.
  7. Can children accompany Candidates on stage? No, children need to be seated in general seating with the candidate's guests.
  8. Is there a Professional Photographer?  Yes, we partner with Grad Images, who will take multiple photos of each candidate as they process across the stage. GradImages will email you a few days after commencement when your proofs are ready. Your information is never shared and privacy is guaranteed. Although there's never any obligation to order, you can get a 20% discount code on orders of $50 or more by registering your contact information at http://GradImages.com/registration
  9. Can someone videotape the ceremony?  Yes, the use of video cameras will be allowed to the extent that they do not obstruct the view of other guests in the audience.  Monopods, bipods and tripods are not allowed.
  10. Is there a live streaming video of the ceremony? Yes, on the dates of the ceremonies the following link will be live. Commencement Video. 
  11. Undergraduate Candidates who complete double majors. Will they participate in two ceremonies? No. Candidates who complete double majors participate in their primary major's ceremony.
  1. How to update diploma name and diploma address after filling for graduation? Candidates update their diploma name by emailing the Graduation Center at gradcenter@usfca.edu. Please include your student ID number current phone number, and the updated mailing address.
  2. When are diplomas mailed? Once all course work has been completed, and USF verifies all degree requirements have been met, degrees will be awarded within 4 to 6 weeks after commencement. Please allow an additional 3 weeks for diplomas to be mailed domestically and 4 months for international orders.

    1. Students needing to change their Diploma Mailing Address must update it in their myUSF Portal (or by emailing gradcenter@usfca.edu)  BEFORE their ceremony in order to ensure timely shipping.

  3. Undergraduate students who complete double majors. Will I receive two diplomas? No. Only one diploma is issued with both majors because candidates earn only one degree.
  4. Do concentrations or minors appear on the diplomas? No. Concentrations and minors no not appear on the diploma, however they do appear on the student's official transcript. 
  5. Can anything prevent the release of a diploma? Yes, diplomas will not be released for students who have outstanding financial obligations to the University, outstanding academic requirements, or a Library hold. It is the student's responsibility to notify the Grad Center once a hold has been removed.
  6. How do I get my diploma notarized/ apostilled?  To have your diploma notarized or apostilled, students must make arrangements with a notary (at your own expense) to come to the Office of the University Registrar to sign the necessary paperwork. We recommend SF Notary + Apostille (415) 655-9455 or sfnotary.com
  7. How to order a duplicate diploma: The form is at: Duplicate Diploma Form

            Diploma sizes: Undergraduate 7 X 9, Graduate 8 X 10, Doctor 8 X 10

To be recognized for academic honors at the commencement exercises, undergraduate candidates must have completed, or be in the process of completing, all courses required for their degree. Degrees and honors are considered official when all grades are received and all requirements for degree fulfillment and/or honors are met. 

University Honor, for commencement and regalia distribution purposes, is determined using the previous semesters Cumulative GPA (not including current coursework) on the census date of the semester the student's degree is being conferred. Honor sashes will not be distributed after the original commencement/degree conferral date to students who later become eligible for honors after final grades are submitted, regardless of when the student participates in a commencement ceremony. However, if the student later becomes eligible for University Honors, the appropriate honors designation will be indicated on both the transcript and diploma.

  1. University Honors: Are only for undergraduate students who completed at least 60 credits of eligible academic coursework (courses graded A-F) at USF and a minimum USF grade point average of:  3.85 for Summa Cum Laude, 3.75 for Magna Cum Laude, and 3.50 for Cum Laude. University Honors are noted on the diploma and transcripts.
  2. School of Management Honors: School Honors are awarded only to Undergraduate Professional Bachelor degree (BSM) students. To be recognized for School Honors at commencement, you must meet the following cumulative grade point average in courses taken at USF and you must have completed or be enrolled in all courses required for your degree. School High Honors for those earning a 3.90 GPA or higher.  School Honors for those earning a 3.70 to 3.89 GPA. School High Honors and School Honors are noted on transcript.
  3. School of Nursing and Health Professions Honors: School Honors are awarded only to Undergraduate Nursing and Health Professions students  with a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.50 in courses taken at USF. To be recognized for School Honors at commencement, you must meet these criteria and you must have completed or be enrolled in all courses required for your degree. School honors are noted on transcript.
  4. Honors at Commencement? University Honor, for commencement and regalia distribution purposes, is determined using the previous semesters Cumulative GPA (not including current coursework) on the census date of the semester the student's degree is being conferred. 
    1. Honor sashes will not be distributed after the original commencement/degree conferral date to students who later become eligible for honors after final grades are submitted. However, if the student later becomes eligible for University Honors (at the time of degree conferral), the appropriate honors designation will be indicated on both the transcript and diploma.
  5. Graduate Student Honors The University does not award honors to Graduate or Doctoral students. 
  1. Hotel Information?  Visit www.sftravel.com/explore/hotels
  2. How to order Commencement Photos: Visit www.GradImages.com
  3. How to order Personalized Commencement Announcements: Visit www.jostens.com
  4. How to order a USF class ring: Visit www.jostens.com
  5. Want to design and build a custom stole? Check out the NEW Stole Builder program at www.jostens.com
  6. How to order a Diploma Frame: Visit www.jostens.com. Diploma sizes: Undergraduate 9 X 7, Graduate 8 X 10, Doctor 8 X 10.
  7. Flowers and Leis? Commencement Flowers will sell flowers and leis on campus during all commencement ceremonies. Visit www.thecommencementgroup.com/uofsanfrancisco/ 
  8. Questions on the day of the ceremony: Contact University of San Francisco's main phone number at (415) 422-5555.
  9. Graduation degree requirements, regalia, diplomas, etc.: Contact the Graduation Center: Email gradcenter@usfca.edu or Telephone at (415) 422-3756.
  10. Driving Instructions and Campus Map: Or contact USF Public Safety at (415) 422-4222.
  11. Bon Appetit Market: Located in the University Center, will be open limited hours during the commencement ceremonies for food and beverage service; please call (415) 422-6294 for business hours.
  12. University Bookstore: Located in University Center, will be open limited hours during the commencement ceremonies. Diploma frames can be purchased here. Please call (415) 422-6493 for business hours.
  1. How do I obtain an official transcript, enrollment verification, or degree verification?  Visit the Student Records webpage for additional information.
  2. Can transcripts be ordered through the National Student Clearinghouse? Yes, you can order them directly at studentclearinghouse.org
  3. Can I get my diploma if I have a hold on my account? No, your diploma will not be released if a student or alum has any outstanding financial or library obligations with the University. 
  4. Does my USFCA email address expire? No, it is yours to have as an alumni. 

If you borrowed from the Federal Direct Stafford Student Loan Program, Federal Grad PLUS, Federal Perkins Loan or Nursing Student Loan for study at USF, you must complete exit counseling before graduation as stipulated by Federal regulations.

Exit counseling sessions for Federal Direct Stafford Student Loan Program will be available within thirty (30) days prior to your graduation. You will receive an invitation from the Office of Financial Aid. If you are unable to attend the workshop, please complete the exit counseling online at http://studentloans.gov.

Exit Interview for Federal Perkins or Nursing Student Loan Program is available online, but you must wait until you receive notification from University Accounting Service.

Students who do not fulfill their obligation to complete the exit counseling may have a HOLD placed on their academic records (no release of diploma).

For more information: Call the Financial Aid Office at (415) 422-3387 for Federal Stafford Direct Student Loan Program. Call the University Accounting Service at (800) 999-6227 for Federal Perkins and Nursing Student Loans.