Commencement Frequently Asked Questions

Most Commencement Weekend events do not require tickets or RSVP for guests. We do, however, request that families and guests RSVP for the Class Day Reception and Commencement ceremony. During the RSVP process, guests may indicate special requests, including accessible parking, ADA-compliant seating and interpretation services.

Outdoor Commencement Weekend events will take place rain or shine.

A live broadcast of the Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17 will be available on the Commencement webpage. At this time, no other scheduled Commencement activities will be live streamed or recorded.

Commencement Weekend consists of a number of events to recognize the accomplishments of our graduating class. Starting Friday, May 15, graduates and their families and guests can join in celebration with faculty and staff in a range of activities, culminating with the Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17. Please consult the full schedule of events for additional information.

Most Commencement Weekend events do not require tickets or RSVP for guests. We do, however, request that families and guests RSVP for the Class Day Reception and Commencement ceremony. During the RSVP process, guests may indicate special requests, including accessible parking, ADA-compliant seating and interpretation services.

The Baccalaureate Service is hosted by the Chaplains Office for graduates of all of the undergraduate and graduate schools of The Claremont Colleges. Please contact the Chaplains Office for more information on this program.

There is no limit to the number of guests that graduates can invite to the Class Day Reception or Commencement ceremony. The Class Day Reception and Commencement RSVP allows each household to register for up to 20 guests for each event (not including the graduate). Graduates who wish to bring more than 20 guests per household should email commencement@pomona.edu. Please consult hosting departments directly for RSVP requirements for other Commencement Weekend programming.

Department receptions and other community Commencement celebrations will be added to the full schedule of events by April 2026. Please check back for updates.

Each of The Claremont Colleges hosts Commencement activities during the same weekend. Commencement ceremonies occur at distinct times throughout the weekend, so that no two institutions’ ceremonies overlap.

"Class Day" is a Pomona College tradition, held on Saturday, May 16, the day before Commencement, for the Class of 2026. Class Day begins with academic department receptions in the morning and culminates in a celebratory reception for seniors and their guests on Marston Quad. RSVP is required to attend the Class Day reception. Information about attending specific department receptions can be obtained directly from the hosting department.

The Class Day Reception will take place on Marston Quad, immediately following the Class Photo and Parade.

No, there is no limit to the number of guests a graduate can bring to the Class Day Reception.

No, graduates should not be included in the Class Day Reception and Commencement RSVP.

Yes, all Pomona College events where food is served include options for guests with varying dietary needs. If you have a less common dietary restriction, please indicate it on your Commencement Weekend RSVP so that we may be aware of your needs.

The Commencement ceremony begins at 10 a.m. typically lasts about 2.5 hours. Any reservations for off-campus celebrations with family should keep this timeline in mind, as graduates must remain at the ceremony until its conclusion.

Being mindful of health and safety concerns of the campus community, Pomona College generally prohibits the presence of privately-owned animals on campus.

We recommend coordinating with your graduate to deliver any pre-ceremony gifts that will be used in the ceremony (e.g. leis, stoles/sashes, other wearable ceremony accessories) by 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 17. Gifts that cannot be delivered by that time or that graduates will not use in the ceremony (e.g. bouquets, posters, other items that need to be held) should be held until the ceremony ends.

The Commencement ceremony features several speakers, including remarks from the President of the College, the president of the graduating class and invited speakers, including honorary degree recipients. Invited guest speakers will be announced on the Commencement page.

Out of mindfulness for all families and guests, please coordinate your entire party’s arrival to avoid saving large numbers of seats. Generally speaking, please save no more than one additional seat per member of your party that is present.

Some families coordinate a post-Commencement ceremony meeting location prior to the Commencement ceremony to more easily connect with their graduate. As there is ample activity on Marston Quad, even after the ceremony officially concludes, some families choose a meeting location that is outside of the Commencement ceremony perimeter.

Most class award and prize winners are announced at academic department receptions on the morning of Class Day. Additional awards and prizes will be announced at the Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17, 2026.

There is no application process for Phi Beta Kappa. Membership is invitation-only and contingent upon fulfillment of minimum requirements. Chapters are expected to determine the specific application of standards stated in these stipulations. Graduates who are invited to join the Pomona College Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa will receive a direct invitation to the induction ceremony.

The Pomona College Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, established in 1914, was the third (or, "Gamma") chapter established in California. Seniors and juniors "who are of good moral character, and who are distinguished for breadth of culture and excellence of scholarship" may be elected to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

The College has designated several parking and drop-off options for guests who have difficulty with walking long distances or who use wheelchairs. We have also designated seating areas for guests attending the ceremony in wheelchairs or using other mobility assisting devices. Additional information on services available for guests, can be found on the Information for Families and Guests page. Guests may request services in the Class Day and Commencement Ceremony RSVP form.

Yes, the Commencement stage is accessible to graduates who use wheelchairs.

Several restrooms across campus will be open and available for guests to use throughout the weekend. Luxury portable restrooms, including ADA-accessible units, are also brought to campus and placed near Marston Quad for Commencement Weekend guests.

All graduates must be out of the residence halls and return their keys by noon on Monday, May 18, 2026. Graduates should have all personal items packed and removed from shared residence hall areas prior to Commencement Weekend to ensure they can meet this deadline.

Graduates who have gently used items to donate to the Office of Sustainability for the fall ReCoop sales may leave the items in the lounge of their residence hall. Nothing should be left in the graduates’ dorm rooms.

Graduates must place their cap and gown order by Friday, March 20. Regalia is provided to graduates at no cost and will be delivered to the College and distributed to graduates during the last week of classes. Graduates should visit the Information for Graduates page of the Commencement website for additional distribution information.

There is not a set dress code for any event during Commencement weekend. Most often, we have seen students and families wear attire that can be described as "smart casual." Each graduate makes their own decision regarding how formally or informally to dress for each event.

While graduates are allowed to use a preferred or chosen name on the diploma, they are advised to use the legal name they will use in future employment, especially if they plan to leave the country following graduation, as the diploma is a legal document that can be used to validate identity.

Graduates should have completed their Graduation Information Form (GIF) to confirm the name on their diploma, regardless of plans to attend the Commencement ceremony. Graduates who have not completed the GIF should contact the Registrar's office immediately.

If an eligible graduate does not attend their Commencement ceremony, they should provide up-to-date mailing address information to the Registrar's office so that their diploma can be mailed to them. Diplomas that are not picked up during the Class of 2026 Commencement ceremony on May 17 will be mailed at the Registrar's discretion after the celebration.

Pomona College confers degrees based on the academic year during which the candidate completes their degree requirements. Since Summer and Fall 2025 graduates completed their degree requirements during the 2025-2026 academic year, they should attend the Class of 2026 Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 17, 2026. Summer and Fall 2025 graduates and their families should receive a formal invitation to the May 17 Commencement ceremony. Please contact Commencement@pomona.edu if you do not receive your printed invitation by early March.

Most requirements for Commencement participation may be completed online. Graduates should visit the Information for Graduates page for a list of important dates and deadlines. For tasks that are typically completed in person, graduates should contact the designated person to receive further instructions.

Pomona College confers degrees based on the academic year during which the candidate completes their degree requirements. Since Summer and Fall 2026 graduates will complete their degree requirements during the 2026-2027 academic year, they will be invited to attend the Class of 2027 Commencement ceremony in May 2027. Questions regarding degree requirements should be addressed to the Registrar's Office.

Find comprehensive instructions for visiting Pomona College, including local airports, driving directions and parking information on the Visiting Pomona College page. Signage will be posted throughout the entire weekend to direct guests to accessible parking and loading locations, as well as shuttle stops for guests with limited mobility.