Information for Families and Guests

We are looking forward to celebrating your Sagehen graduate with you at Commencement 2024. See below for information and options to enhance your celebration.

Commencement Exercises for the Class of 2024 begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 12. Seating is available starting at 8 a.m. and is first-come, first-served. A number of services are available to guests, including hearing assistance, interpretation services and on-screen viewing. Please note that the ceremony takes place outdoors in a grassy area, rain or shine. Please prepare accordingly.

Guests who would like to reserve or request services to aid their participation in the ceremony should complete the Commencement Guest/Disability Services Request Form. Please keep in mind that some services require longer lead times, so please contact us as soon as possible to make your requests. Information on the standard services offered during the ceremony is listed below.

More questions? Please contact the Pomona Events Office at (909) 607-2241 or email Commencement@pomona.edu.

Attending Commencement

Tickets are not required for the Commencement ceremony, and there is no limit to the number of guests who may attend any of the weekend events. Tickets are, however, required for the Class Day Dinner on Saturday, May 11.

Each of The Claremont Colleges holds graduation on the same weekend, and accommodations for out-of-town guests are sometimes scarce. It is best to make reservations early. Consult the full schedule of events to plan your itinerary.

Local Accommodations

Consult our list of nearby hotels for lodging options. Please contact your preferred hotel directly for reservations.

Getting to Campus

Find comprehensive instructions for visiting Pomona College, including local airports and driving directions.

Parking is available in the South Campus Parking Structure all weekend. Some street parking is available, but please note that College Avenue between Fourth Street and Sixth Street will be closed for Class Day activities and during the Commencement ceremony. No-parking zones and reserved parking areas will be indicated with signage. Violators will be towed.

See below for information regarding accessible parking.

Rideshare Pick-up/Drop-off

Guests arriving on campus using a ride share service (e.g., Uber or Lyft) should use the address for Seaver House (305 N. College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711) for your drop-off/pick-up location. Seaver House is outside of the street closure area and will be accessible all weekend.

Commencement Photography

During the Commencement ceremony, a professional photographer will take photos of graduates as they cross the stage and receive their diplomas. These photos will be made available to graduates and families at no cost. Instructions for downloading print quality photos from the photographer's digital gallery will be emailed to the graduates following Commencement Weekend.

 

Guest/Disability Services

Services available to guests for the Commencement ceremony are listed below. Unless denoted with an asterisk (*), use of these services does not require a special request or reservation.

Request or reserve guest/disability services

Accessible Parking, Drop-Off Locations and Shuttle Services

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. Signage will be posted along the campus access route to direct guests to accessible parking lots and drop-off locations.

Golf cart shuttle services are also provided between the South Campus Parking Structure and Marston Quad, where Class Day programming and the Commencement ceremony will take place. Wheelchair accessible carts will be in service.

ADA-compliant seating areas*

We have designated seating areas for guests attending the ceremony in wheelchairs or using other mobility assisting devices, as our ceremony takes place on the all-grass Marston Quad. On arrival, signage will direct guests to the seating areas from designated campus parking areas and drop-off locations. Each person may bring one companion into the ADA seating section.

Please complete the Commencement Guest/Disability Services Request form to reserve seating in one of these areas. In your reservation request, please include the number of guests in your party who will use seating, as well as the total number of guests in your group.

ASL Interpreting*

American Sign Language interpreters are available upon request.

Please complete the Commencement Guest/Disability Services Request form to request ASL interpreting services. In your request, please include how many members of your party will use this service.

Closed Captioning, On-Screen Viewing and Live Streaming

  • Students and guests will have three options to access closed captioning during Commencement:
    • Closed captioning will be viewable on the overhead video monitors on Marston Quad.

    • Closed captioning is also available by streaming the live commencement ceremony (available from the main Commencement page) on a smart device. Attendees are advised to bring an iPad/tablet for enlarged access to captioning.
    • A large-screen, direct audio-visual feed with closed captioning will be available during the ceremony in air-conditioned Bridges Hall of Music.

Guests unable to attend the ceremony in person may view the live stream directly from the main Commencement page.

Hearing Assistance

Headsets for guests who would like hearing assistance will be available for checkout from the Information Booth on Marston Quad before the ceremony.

Language Interpretation Services

Guests may check out a complimentary headset from the Information Booth on Marston Quad to hear a simultaneous interpretation of the Commencement ceremony in Mandarin or Spanish.

Guests may complete the Commencement Guest/Disability Services Request Form to request interpretation in other languages. Please note, however, that other languages may not be available based on availability of and access to interpreters.

Wheelchair Rental

While the College does not provide wheelchairs, guests who would like to rent a wheelchair for use during the Commencement ceremony may contact the local providers listed below. Please note that the listed providers are not affiliated with Pomona College.

Pomona Medical Supply
733 E. Holt Avenue
Pomona, CA 91767
(909) 623-4378

Sun Medical Supplies
1394 W 7th St,
Upland, CA 91786
(909) 789-0229

Cucamonga Medical Equipment and Supplies
8400 Maple Pl Ste 104,
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
(888) 466-1651
Sierra Pharmacy Compounding & Medical Supplies
8661 Base Line Rd,
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
(909) 989-9800

Optional Items for Purchase

Commencement Announcements

Some families choose to send commencement announcements to families and friends who are unable to attend the ceremony. If you would like to purchase announcements for your student, you may do so on the Josten's website.

Diploma Frames

Special frames for your student’s Pomona College diploma are available for sale at the Coop Store. Order yours by calling (909) 607-2264 or visiting the Framing Success website.

Flower Bouquets and Leis

Sherwood Florist, a local Claremont establishment, provides a special assortment of leis and bouquets at a discount for Pomona College families who pre-order for Commencement. Flowers ordered by Friday, April 26 can be picked up on campus on Sunday, May 12, before the Commencement ceremony. Please note that flowers will not be available for sale on campus – only pick-ups of pre-orders. Sherwood Florist donates 10% of the proceeds from these sales to Pomona College's Student Emergency Fund.

Orders for leis and other flower arrangements can be placed directly with Sherwood Florist either through the online order form or by calling 909-625-3309.

Senior Portraits

Graduates are welcome to hire professional photographers to take their senior portraits on Pomona College's campus. Please note that we do require photo permits be issued for professional photographers on campus. Permit fees are waived for senior portraits; however, professional photographers must complete insurance requirements and liability waivers through the Office of Conference and Event Planning. Graduates should email EventServices@pomona.edu to inquire about obtaining a permit for their senior portraits. 

Pomona College's Commencement photographer is also available for private portrait sessions. Nancy Newman Photography has been providing services in Claremont for more than 30 years and can schedule portrait sessions for graduates in their academic attire: cap, gown and the Class of 2024 graduation stole. Call 714-317-1518 or email NancyNB@earthlink.net for information and rates.