Frequently Asked Questions about Commencement

General parking for grads and guests

It is recommended that graduates and guests park in the Moorpark College Parking Structure or one of its surrounding lots. The other closest parking areas will be the Academic Center lot.

A shuttle will provide transportation from the Observatory parking lot (lot 14) to the ceremony site. You can view the Observatory parking lot on Google maps here, or you can click on the link below for additional guidance about shuttle parking for Commencement.

Click here to view the Shuttle Parking Map.

Accessible parking for grads and guests

Accessible parking will also be made available in the FLRs/Field Hockey Stadium lot closest to the Griffin Stadium (Lot-H), located off of Delfin St. and Campus Park Drive. You may view the Accessible parking lot on Google maps here, or click on the link below for a map of the parking and ceremony site.

Click here to view the Accessible Parking Map.

Closed or prohibited parking areas

Graduates and families should not park in the surrounding neighborhoods if they do not live off the streets of Delfen, Kernvale, Overly, Dracena, Linville, Grandsen, or Melray.

 The Commencement ceremony will take place in the Moorpark College Griffin Stadium (same location as football games and track and field meets).

Arrival time for graduates:

Graduates should arrive to the Graduate Check-in Area (the soccer field, next to the stadium) no later than 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 22, 2025 or else they risk being unable to participate in the ceremony. The Graduate Check-in Area will be marked by signs. Family and friends who are not participating in the ceremony are not permitted into the Graduate Check-in Area.

View ceremony map here to identify graduate staging area.

Arrival time for guests:

Stadium gates open at 8:30 a.m. for guest admission, and seating is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis. There is no charge to attend the Commencement celebration, and tickets are not required.

Guests in need of accessible seating are encouraged to arrive early to secure it, as there are a limited number of seats available. Guests in wheelchairs are encouraged to contact MCCommencement@vcccd.edu for additional guidance on wheelchair-accessible seating. 

The Thursday, May 22, 2025 Commencement will begin at 10:00 a.m. PST.

We invite graduates to attend the optional Commencement rehearsals. The run through will include arrival time and instructions; review the procession (the formal "parade" to the ceremony site); cover the program of events/speeches; and explain the process for crossing the stage during the conferring of the degrees, and other important details for graduates. 

• Rehearsal date: TBA in Spring 2025
• Rehearsal time: TBA in Spring 2025
• Rehearsal length: Rehearsals are anticipated to last an hour, depending upon attendance and the number of questions
• Rehearsal location: Griffin Stadium (view on Google maps here)
• Rehearsal parking: The next to the Flexible Learning Rooms off of Campus Park Road and Delfin Street
• Who should attend the rehearsal: Anyone who would appreciate additional guidance on what to expect from the ceremony

Can’t make it to either rehearsal? Contact us at MCCommencement@vcccd.edu or call 805-553-4831 with your Commencement-related questions.

Students who have submitted a graduation petition for a Certificate or Associate Degree for the Summer or Fall proceeding the ceremony, or students who submit a grad petition the Spring semester of the ceremony, will receive an email invitation to participate in the Commencement.

Please note that the Office of Student Life does not determine the eligibility for participation in the Commencement ceremony. If you are unsure whether you meet these requirements, please contact MCAdmissions@vcccd.edu to ask if you have submitted your graduation petition or are eligible to receive a degree or certificate.

Yes, graduates who wish to participate in the Thursday, May 22, 2025 Commencement will need to submit an RSVP. Registrants should also review the Conduct Expectations for Ceremony Participants.

Deadline to RSVP for the Thursday, May 22, 2025 Commencement is TBD. RSVP form will be released in February 2025.

Guests do not have to produce a physical ticket in order to enter the stadium and attend the Commencement ceremony.

Guests requesting accommodations, such as access to an ASL interpreter, should contact MCCommencement@vcccd.edu. 

Guest seating during the ceremony is free and is available on a first come, first serve basis. Gates open 90 minutes before the start of the ceremony, and the stadium bleachers are anticipated to provide ample seating for guests. Campus parking will also be free on the day of Commencement. The ceremony will last approximately 2 hours, and graduates participating in the ceremony are expected to stay for the entire duration and should not expect to leave early.

It is expected that graduates who sign up to participate in the annual Moorpark College Commencement will stay for the entire duration of the ceremony so as to not be disruptive to the other students and guests.

Graduates are asked to report to the Check-In Area no later than a half hour before the ceremony begins to receive last-minute announcements before the student processional starts.

The ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. promptly and is expected to last approximately two hours.

Graduates should bring with them to the ceremony as little with them as possible. Students usually only bring those things that they can carry in their pockets or hands, such as a cell phone, lip balm, car keys, or other small items.

• No backpacks, purses, or other large bags will be permitted in the graduate holding area. Students who arrive with these items will be asked to return them to their vehicles or ask their guests to hold on to them for the duration of the ceremony.
• Graduates may not carry anything to the stage with them other than their name card. Moorpark College is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
• Alcohol, including celebratory champagne, is not permitted at Commencement. Smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco or unregulated nicotine products (such as electronic cigarettes) is prohibited on and within the Moorpark College campus.
• No coolers or glass bottles are allowed. Limited food options are sold at the ceremonies for guests, and waters will be made available for graduates in the Graduate Staging Area before the ceremony.
• Weapons of any kind are not allowed in the ceremony or on the Moorpark College campus.
• Silly string is not permitted in the ceremony or Griffin Stadium.

A name card will be provided during the ceremony where graduates can write their name out phonetically. For example, if a student was named Wyatt Kohler, they could write on the card "WHY-AT COAL-ER" to ensure proper pronunciation.

This name card will be provided to the announcer, so that they can call their name correctly. 

Name cards are given to graduates as part of the regalia packages purchased from the Moorpark College Bookstore. However, students who do not have their name card with them the day of Commencement can pick one up in the Graduate Check-in Area when they arrive to the stadium the morning of the ceremony.

Graduates are not arranged by major or by name. Graduates are invited to line up in the processional with their friends and favorite classmates.

It is recommended that students be in the same line as their friends to increase the likelihood that they will be seated next to them, as graduates will be separated on two sides of an aisle. However, students are not guaranteed to be seated next to the person they are in line with, as each row has a finite amount of chairs or spaces.

Yes! Students are welcome to attend one of two optional Commencement rehearsals scheduled on the day before Commencement. No RSVP is required.

The Commencement rehearsal will cover information related to Commencement arrival time and instructions, review the procession (the formal "parade" to the ceremony site), cover the program of events/speeches, the process for crossing the stage during the conferring of the degrees and the grad photo opportunity, and other important details for graduates. 

• Rehearsal date: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 (the day before Commencement)
• Rehearsal times: 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.
• Rehearsal length: Rehearsals are anticipated to last an hour
• Rehearsal location: Griffin Stadium (view on Google maps here); rehearsals will start in the Soccer field, outside of the Stadium, as this will be the Graduate Check-in Area the morning of Commencement
• Rehearsal parking: It is recommended that rehearsal participants park in the lots next to the Flexible Learning Rooms off of Campus Park Road and Delfin Street

Balloons and noise makers of any kind are not allowed during the Commencement ceremony and are prohibited from entering the stadium. Guests should leave these items at home or in their vehicles.

Flowers may be brought in.

Guests who are not able to join and enjoy the ceremony person are invited to watch and/or listen to the ceremony via the Moorpark College YouTube channel.

The recording link will be updated by May 2025.

Yes, guests are allowed to bring food and drinks. However, alcohol is not permitted. 

There will be a snack bar on site for guests can purchase packaged food and beverages. Additionally, water and light snacks will be provided for graduates before the ceremony. 

Some campus departments or academic programs organize their own celebrations or recognition ceremonies to honor the students they serve. Read on to learn more.

Lavender Graduation (date TBD)
The Ventura County Community College District is hosting a district-wide Lavender Graduation to honor the accomplishments and achievements of our LGBTQIA+ graduates. 

Nursing Science Pinning Ceremony (date TBD).
Students graduating from the Nursing Science program participate in a ceremonial program where they receive their pins, signifying the community they are joining and that they are ready to serve society as healthcare professionals. This ceremony is open specifically to Nursing Science program graduates. 

No; however, memorabilia such as diploma frames, pride stoles, and "bling" tassels, are extra. Please contact the MC Bookstore website for information about pricing, hours and location. 

Students can learn more about Commencement by emailing questions to MCCommencement@vcccd.edu; by stopping at the Student Activities Office in the Campus Center (across from the MC Bookstore); or by calling the Student Activities Office at 805-378-1434.

Yes, graduates who wish to participate in the Commencement ceremony must have a Moorpark College-specific cap and gown.

These items can be purchased from the Moorpark College Bookstore and the date will be announced when they are available to be purchased. The Bookstore is located in the Campus Center. For more information about Bookstore hours and location, see Step 4 on the Information for Graduating Students page.

Graduates will not be permitted to wear pointy-heeled shoes, such as stilettos, kitten heels, cone heels or comma-heeled shoes, to the ceremony because these shoes can damage the AstroTurf field on which the ceremony is taking place. 

Shoes with heels that distribute weight, such as wedge heels or thicker Cuban or block heels, are permissible.

Graduates who arrive in stiletto or sharp-heeled shoes will be given a pair of disposable sandals to wear instead of their heeled shoes, or they may be turned away from participating in the ceremony.

Heeled shoes may also cause students to fall on the turf and may be uncomfortable during the procession, which requires students to process the length of a football field. 

Yes, students may personalize their caps (also called mortarboards) by decorating them. Graduates should refrain from including imagery or language that may be construed as offensive. Also, items affixed to the cap must be materials that will remain on the cap and that will not fall off.

Glitter, confetti, or other small materials that are subject to falling or shaking off are not permitted for use in decorating grad caps.

Class of 2025 graduates who plan to participate in the Commencement are required wear a Moorpark College gown, cap and tassel (also referred to as regalia) in the ceremony. 

Regalia packages will be available for purchase in the Moorpark College Bookstore and will be announced in Spring 2025. Purchasing regalia in person is the best option to confirm you get the right length and size robe. Visit the MC Bookstore website for information about hours and location. 

Students who already own a black graduation gown and black cap may reuse these items for the Moorpark College Commencement, but they should still submit an RSVP online.

They may also wish to purchase a 2025 tassel from the Moorpark College Bookstore. Visit the MC Bookstore website for information about hours and location. 

We do not believe the cost of regalia should prevent any eligible student from participating in the Commencement ceremony. Therefore, the Moorpark College Classified Senate (a campus representative group comprised of staff) is helping a select number of students who will face financial hardship with the $50 cost of regalia by providing them with a gown to borrow, and by purchasing for them the required cap, tassel, and diploma cover to keep.

Click on this link if you would like to request to borrow regalia.

Graduates should come to the ceremony wearing their robe. They can wear whatever attire underneath it. Robes are traditionally fully zipped up over one's clothes.

Graduates often bring sunglasses. Graduates are advised against bringing purses or backpacks.

Graduates cannot wear shoes with spiked or stiletto heels.

Commencement Parking Map for Guests

Accessible parking will be made available in the parking lots nearest to the Griffin Stadium, which is where Commencement is occurring. To navigate to these parking lots:

• Exit the 118 Ronald Reagan Freeway at Collins Drive and head toward Moorpark College (a right turn at the freeway exit if you are coming from the Simi Valley area, or a left turn at the freeway exit if you are coming from Moorpark)
• Turn right at the signal for Campus Park Drive
• Turn left at the Delfen Street signal, following the directional signs indicating that you are entering an accessible parking lot

Griffin Stadium has two sets of bleachers, one on either side of the field. The bleachers have identical view points to the stage on which Commencement will be occurring, and each set of bleachers will have visibility to an LED screen to provide close-up feed of the stage.

Accessible seating in the bleachers

The first few rows of each set of bleachers will be designated as Accessible seating to accommodate individuals with disabilities or mobility concerns. These accessible seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests needing accessible seating are encouraged to arrive at 8:30 a.m., when gates open, to secure optimal seating.

If you have a guest in a wheelchair, please contact MCCommencement@vcccd.edu to receive additional guidance on how family and friends in wheelchairs may be accommodated.

Seating for English ASL interpretation

Accessible seating will be located in proximity to the stage. This section will be blocked off for guests with hearing, vision, or other physical disabilities or impairments who, for these reasons, should be prioritized for accessible seating.

Guests who require visibility to the ASL interpreters must check in at the front Information Table at the entrance of Griffin Stadium to be guided to their seating area.

Yes! American Sign Language interpreters will be seated on the Commencement stage for student and guest viewing.

Guests who require visibility to the ASL interpreters are asked to check in at the front Information Table at the entrance of Griffin Stadium to be guided to their seating area.

Service animals specifically trained to assist a person with a disability are permitted on campus during the Moorpark College Commencement ceremony.

Pets are not allowed on campus.

Accessible parking will be made available in the parking lot closest to the Commencement ceremony site of Griffin Stadium. To navigate to this parking lot:

• Exit the 118 Ronald Reagan Freeway at Collins Drive and head toward Moorpark College (a right turn at the freeway exit if you are coming from the Simi Valley area, or a left turn at the freeway exit if you are coming from Moorpark)
• Turn right at the signal for Campus Park Drive
• Turn left at the Delfen Street signal, following the directional signs indicating that you are entering an accessible parking lot

A golf cart will be providing a courtesy shuttle from the parking lot to the Stadium entrance.

A limited number of wheelchairs will also be available on a first come, first serve basis to provide assistance from the Stadium entrance to the Accessible seating area. 

Accessible seating will be made available in the Stadium bleachers for guests on a first come, first serve basis. Guests in need of visibility to ASL interpreters are asked to check in at the Information Table at the entrance of Griffin Stadium to be directed to the seating designated for those in need of ASL English interpretation.

Degrees and certificates of achievement will be mailed to an address of your choosing. You will receive diploma-related information via your Moorpark College MyVCCCD email approximately 8-12 weeks after your academic term of graduation. The email will come from diplomaorder@michaelsutter.com asking for confirmation of your diploma name and mailing address.

When you provide a mailing address, please don't forget to review your diploma name carefully! Please be advised, we cannot make changes to your diploma name after you have placed your order. 

Email MCAdmissions@vcccd.edu or call (805) 378-1429 with any questions.

Graduating with honors could mean many things. Whether you receive something to denote your academic achievement depends on your involvement with honors societies, your cumulative Grade Point Average, and/or your formal registration with the Moorpark College Honors Program. 

Graduating with academic honors
Students whose cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) is a 3.5 or higher at the time their grad application was filed may request a gold tassel from the Moorpark College Bookstore in lieu of the traditional black one when they purchase their regalia package. Students with GPAs of 3.5 or higher will also be denoted in the Commencement Program.

Honors Program graduates
Graduating students enrolled in the Honors Program who have completed all requirements will receive a custom medallion. Please contact the Honors Program Coordinator for additional information about receiving it prior to the day of Commencement: gramirez@vcccd.edu. 

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) inductees
Phi Theta Kappa chapter members who have been inducted may request to receive a custom cords, denoting their academic achievement. Please contact the PTK program coordinator for additional information: krobinson@vcccd.edu. 

Delta Alpha Pi (DAPi) Honor Society members
Students who have been inducted into DAPi are eligible to receive formal cords to wear over their Commencement regalia. Contact the DAPi student organization advisor for more information: krobinson@vcccd.edu. 

Notify the Career Transfer Center as you receive your university acceptances by going online to www.moorparkcollege.edu/transfer and selecting “Student Spotlight” among the menu options.

Yes! The Moorpark College Alumni Association aims to keep the college’s graduates connected with the campus. We care about your success long after you graduate and would like to keep in touch! To register for free, visit www.moorparkcollege.edu/alumni.