Student Athletes pose for photo at 2022 Commencement.
Frequently Asked Questions about Commencement
You likely have lots of questions about Commencement! We have provided information below but know it's unlikely that we have answered every question. Please contact MCCommencement@vcccd.edu if you have a question that is not included on the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) list below.
Ceremony questions
Students who have submitted a graduation petition for the Summer, Fall, or the Spring semester and who will be earning a certificate or an Associate's Degree will be eligible to participate in the Commencement ceremony.
Yes! Graduates wishing to participate in the 2023 Commencement on Friday, May 19 at 10:00 a.m. must submit an RSVP no later than Friday, May 5.
No, guests do not need tickets to attend the ceremony, though you should have indicated how many guests you were bringing (up to 6 people maximum) on the Commencement Registration Formwhen you registered to participate.
Guest seating is free and is available on a first come, first serve basis beginning as early as 8:30 a.m. on Friday, May 19. 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.
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 beginning in April 2023. 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.
The ceremony is taking place outdoors Moorpark College’s Griffin Stadium. Masks will be optional for guests. While Moorpark College will not be enforcing vaccine requirements for graduates and guests at the ceremony, guests who feel ill or who experience COVID symptoms will be asked to forego attending the event.
Graduates should arrive to the Graduate Check-in Area inside the Stadium no later than 9:30 a.m., or else they risk being unable to participate in the ceremony.
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.
The Friday, May 19, 2023 Commencement ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m.
Accessible parking will also be made available in the FLRs/Field Hockey Stadium lot closest to the Griffin Stadium (Lot-H).
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.
Traditionally, the Commencement celebration lasts two hours from start to finish.
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 4:30pm to hear last-minute announcements before the student processional starts. The ceremony begins at 5:00pm and is expected to last approximately two hours.
There will not be a Commencement rehearsal. Students should regularly monitor their MyVCCCD emails for important information related to Commencement planning and day-of instructions. Questions about Commencement can be directed to MCCommencement@vcccd.edu.
No, majors and degrees will not be announced, just students' names.
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.
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.
Yes, guests are allowed to bring food and drinks. However, alcohol is not permitted.
There will be food trucks on site for guests can purchase food and drinks. Additionally, water and light snacks will be provided for graduates before the ceremony.
A name card will be provided during the ceremony where graduates can write their name out phonetically. This name card will be provided to the announcer, so that they can call their name correctly.
No, pets are not allowed at the ceremony. However, certified service animals are allowed.
Students can learn more about Commencement by emailing questions to MCCommencement@vcccd.edu or 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.
Congratulations again! We look forward to celebrating you in May.
Accessibility questions
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
Accessible parking lots are shown, as is an accessible seating area.
Yes! The image below shows where the 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.
Yes! American Sign Language interpreters will be seated on the Commencement stage for student and guest viewing. The image below shows where the accessible seating will be located. This section will be blocked off for guests who need direct access to this resource or who have mobility concerns.
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. (See "Where is accessible parking?" section above for map.)
A golf cart will be providing a courtesy shuttle from the parking lot to the Stadium entrance.
A wheelchair will also be available to provide assistance from the Stadium entrance to the Accessible seating area.
Accessible seating will be made available in the Stadium bleachers for guests (see "Will accessible seating be available?" section above for map).
Other common questions
If you completed your academic program at the end of last Summer or Fall and have not yet received your diploma or certificate, please check your MyVCCCD email for a message with the subject line ***Your Moorpark College Diploma(s)*** to find out how to pick up your diploma in person or to request to have your degree or certificate mailed to you.
Spring graduates will receive diploma-related information via their Moorpark College MyVCCCD email approximately 8-12 weeks after the academic term ends.
Students do not need to attend Commencement to receive their diplomas or certificates, as graduates do not receive these documents during the Commencement ceremony but rather can pick them up in person or request that they be mailed from the Moorpark College Admissions and Records Office.
Email MCAdmissions@vcccd.edu or call (805) 378-1429 with questions related to your degree or certificate.
To change the name on a diploma contact Admissions and Records at (805) 378-1429 or visit the office which is located in Fountain Hall.
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 honors (3.5 Grade Point Average or higher)
Students who earned a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher may request a gold tassel from the Moorpark College Bookstorein lieu of the traditional black one when they purchase their regalia package. Students who applied for graduation and who were identified by Admissions & Records as having a 3.5 GPA or higher received notification from the Moorpark College Bookstore, inviting them to pick up the gold tassel.
Honors Program graduates
Graduating students enrolled in the Honors Programwho 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: nbowen@vcccd.edu.
Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) inductees
Phi Theta Kappa chapter members who have been inducted may request to receive a custom graduation stole. Please contact the PTK program coordinator for additional information: raul_torres6@vcccd.edu.
Class of 2022 graduates are invited to submit their entry for inclusion in the Moorpark College virtual yearbook by clicking this link and following its instructions: https://bit.ly/VCCCDGradYearbook.
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.
Student Athletes pose for photo at 2022 Commencement.
