Understanding Commencement
Graduation marks the completion of your degree requirements. Commencement is the celebration of that achievement. A moment to recognize how far you’ve come and all you’re prepared to do next.
Together, they mark an important milestone in your Spartan journey and defines how you shape the Spartan Edge.
On this page
- What is graduation?
- What is Commencement?
- What to expect
- Eligibility to participate as a graduating student
What is "Graduation"?
Graduation is the process of completing your required courses to obtain your diploma at the end of your tenure at an academic institution. When you complete your requisite courses and earn your required units towards a degree, your coursework and grades earned are reviewed and certified so that you can be permitted to be awarded a degree.
What is "Commencement"?
Commencement is the physical celebration most people associate with "graduations": speeches, stage-crossing, tassel-moving, photography with diploma frames and the wearing of academic regalia.
At San José State University, nine colleges hold Commencement ceremonies every fall and spring semester to celebrate the academic graduation of cohort of Spartans and to award their earned degrees.
What can graduates and guests expect at Commencement?
Graduating students and guests are invited to get to campus early, ahead of the start of their respective ceremonies to enjoy amenities on campus. Graduates will wear new SJSU Royal Blue regalia and additional apparel respective to their degrees to commemorate this academic achievements.
Primary amenities from food, merchandise, storage lockers and photo opportunities are located in the center of campus along the Seventh Street Paseo plaza. Campus artwork and photo opportunity stations are located throughout campus.
Doors will open one hour prior to the start of each Commencement ceremony and guests can take their time securing seats on a first-come-first-served basis. Half an hour before the start of the ceremony, a Grad Jam pre-show will begin with live audience interaction to build on your festive Spartan spirit. Livestreaming will begin for viewers not on campus at this time.
Commencement ceremonies begin at the posted time, followed by a faculty processional, speeches and stage crossing. Expect 90 minutes to up to two hours for each ceremony to conclude. At the end of the ceremony, graduates and their guests will reconnect outside the Provident Credit Union Event Center along the Seventh Street Paseo plaza.
Why does this distinction matter?
Students who desire to participate in their college's Commencement ceremony (to wear academic regalia and cross the stage to receive their degree) must complete a graduation application. The process to confirm that you are eligible to receive a degree is the graduation application.
However, the graduation application itself is not the application to participate in Commencement. Those graduating students who complete their graduation application will then receive an invitation via email to participate in Commencement festivities.
Note, students are not required to participate in Commencement in order to be awarded their degree. You can graduate from SJSU, provided you completed the requisite coursework with passing grades, and complete the graduation application, without also participating in Commencement ceremonies.
Commencement Eligibility
Eligibility is determined by the approval of your graduation application. Those applications are handled either by the Registrar (for undergraduate students) or the Graduate Admissions and Program Evaluations (GAPE) office (for graduate students).
If you need to postpone your graduation due to being short units or not completing classes, or confirm your eligibility, contact one of these offices:
- Undergraduates: Graduation Evaluator
- Graduates: graduate@sjsu.edu
