Commencement Frequently Asked Questions

RSVPs for the Commencement ceremony are required to ensure an accurate guest count for the reception to follow the commencement ceremony, and to ensure access to guest services. Please RSVP by completing the Pomona College Commencement 2025 RSVP Form. Please note: Commencement seating is unassigned. Plan accordingly to sit with your party.

Yes, the live broadcast of the ceremony will be available on the Commencement webpage.

No. RSVPs for the Commencement ceremony are required to ensure an accurate guest count for the reception to follow the commencement ceremony, and to ensure access to guest services. Commencement seating is unassigned. Plan accordingly to sit with your party.

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. Golf cart shuttle services are also provided between the South Campus Parking Structure and Marston Quad, where the Commencement ceremony will take place. We have also designated seating areas for guests attending the ceremony in wheelchairs or using other mobility assisting devices, as the noted events take place on the all-grass Marston Quad. To ensure access to resources, please complete the Pomona College Commencement 2025 RSVP Form.

Yes, the graduation stage will be built to allow graduates who use wheelchairs to receive their diploma on stage in the same manner as their peers.

All graduates must be out of the residence halls by noon on Monday, May 19, 2025. It is highly recommended and encouraged for graduates to begin packing and moving items out of their rooms, if possible, 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 should visit the Information for Graduates page of the Commencement website for detailed information.

There is not a set dress code for any event during Commencement weekend. Most often, we have seen students and families typically wear attire that can be described as "smart casual." Each student 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.

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 2025 Commencement ceremony on May 18 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 2024 graduates completed their degree requirements during the 2024-2025 academic year, they should attend the Class of 2025 Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

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 2025 graduates will complete their degree requirements during the 2025-2026 academic year, they will be invited to attend the Class of 2026 Commencement ceremony in May 2026. Questions regarding degree requirements should be addressed to the Registrar's Office.

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.

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. 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.

Find comprehensive instructions for visiting Pomona College, including local airports, driving directions and parking information on the Information for Families and Guests 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.