Two women dressed in regalia at their commencement

Congratulations, Class of 2024!

Congratulations Graduates!

National University invites you, your family, and friends to celebrate your remarkable accomplishment on Friday, May 18, 2024, at Petco Park.

Please review the important information necessary for your special day. Questions should be directed to graduation@nu.edu. It is our sincere desire to provide a memorable event that showcases your outstanding achievement.

Important Deadlines and Information for Graduates

Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in the commencement ceremony, students must have completed all program requirements or be within 3 classes of program completion 45 days before the day of the commencement ceremony.  
 
Doctoral students currently in their DIS sequence must successfully defend their dissertation by April 3rd to attend the commencement ceremony.
 
*Students who participated in Grad Walk 2024 are not eligible to participate in commencement.		Deadline Date:  04/03/2024
Commencement Ceremony Registration
A commencement ceremony registration must be completed on the Marching Order website to participate and walk in the ceremony. Students must register with Marching Order at least 45 days before the day of the commencement ceremony.

A Marching Order link will be emailed to eligible students in their NU student email or primary email address.
 
Due to space limitations, the event will only be available to the first 1500 eligible students (per ceremony). Failure to register for the ceremony by the deadline will result in students being unable to participate in the commencement ceremony.
 
If you did not receive an invitation to register and are eligible to participate in the graduation ceremony, please email us at: graduation@nu.edu		Deadline Date:  04/03/2024
Legal Name Change
Students’ legal names will be used on Commencement Day.  
 
To request a change to the name used in your Marching Order registration for commencement, please email graduation@nu.edu		Deadline Date:  04/03/2024
Regalia
Caps & Gowns are required for all students. To order your regalia, click on the link below: Academic Regalia by Jostens (Cap & gown, diploma frames and announcements) https://www.jostens.com/apps/store/customer/1006793/National-University/

· Military students may elect to wear their dress uniform in lieu of regalia.		Deadline Date:  04/10/2024
Tickets
Tickets are required for all students and guests over the age of 2.
· Students can reserve a maximum of 10 guest tickets.
· Tickets may be ordered via Marching Order website after successfully registering for the commencement ceremony.		Deadline Date:  04/10/2024

Ceremonies

10:00 am Ceremony Timeline

College of Law and Public Service, School of Health Professions, JFK School of Psychology and Social Sciences, and College of Business, Engineering and Technology

  • 8:00 am – Gates Open
  • 9:15 am – Graduates must be checked in
  • 9:45 am – All guests should be seated
  • 10:00 am – Ceremony
3:00 pm Ceremony Timeline

Sanford College of Education and School of Arts, Letters and Sciences

  • 1:00 pm – Gates Open
  • 2:15 pm – Graduates must be checked in
  • 2:45 pm – All guests should be seated
  • 3:00 pm – Ceremony

Graduate Information

  • Graduates must enter through the Gaslamp Gate
    • Look for “Commencement Graduates Enter Here” sign.
  • Tickets are required to enter the ballpark.
    • You can provide a printed ticket or, the QR Code from your phone.
  • Graduates will receive a card that lists their name as it will be announced and displayed during commencement. Do not lose your card.  
  • Honors Cords can be picked up at the Grad Check-In area.
    • Honors Cords are based on the following eligibility:  
      • Undergraduates with a GPA of 3.5 or higher
      • Graduate and Doctoral students with a GPA of 3.85 or higher
  • Once check-in is complete, Graduates will be guided to an assigned seating area. Graduate seating is assigned by college and degree level.
  • We recommend wearing comfortable shoes.
  • Your official diploma will be mailed to you approximately six weeks from your conferral date. If you have not received your diploma within this timeframe, please contact graduation@nu.edu.

Graduate Accommodation Requirements

If you are a graduate attending commencement and require accommodations, please email Student Accessibility Services (sas@nu.edu) with your request. Please allow as much notice as possible (no later than April 8, 2024) – last minute requests cannot be guaranteed.

Guest Information

  • Tickets are required for all guests over the age of two.
    • Guests under the age of two, who do not sit on their own, do not require a ticket.
  • Guests may enter at either Home Plate Gate or Park Blvd Gate.
    • You can provide a printed ticket or, the QR code from your phone.
    • Strollers can be checked at any Guest Entry Gates, but guests must retrieve stroller from the same gate it was checked in.
  • There are no assigned seats for guests, however, special seating can be arranged for those who need assistance. Petco Park Accessibility Guide

Planning for the Day

Petco Park is a major league baseball stadium and a wonderful venue for our Commencement. It is also a large space which often requires walking, climbing stairs, and/or standing for long periods while graduate and guests find their seats and take part in the festivities. Please make sure to plan ahead for those in your party who may have mobility concerns.  Some recommendations include:

  • Arrive early.
  • Review information on parking and stadium maps. Note, parking fees are subject to change without notice.
  • Bringing your own mobility aids (wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc.).


IMPORTANT: Petco Park offers limited access to mobility devices in the case of emergencies. If you believe you or another guest may require the use of any type of mobility aid, please bring the device with you to the event. Local Options for Mobility Aid Rentals include:

Interpreting/Captioning Services

To make our commencement accessible to as many persons as possible, real-time captioning and American Sign Language interpreting will be provided via the video monitors for the duration of the event.  If you require additional interpreting or other communication aids in navigating the stadium, please make sure to arrange individual services with your preferred provider. Also, consider reviewing the Petco Park Accessibility Guide prior to attendance. Local Options for Personal Interpreting/Captioning include:

Petco Park Information

Academic Regalia & Vendor Information:

You can opt to purchase regalia through another third-party vendor (ex. Amazon, Etsy). Reminder, caps, and gowns must be black. For a list of tassel and hood colors by school please click here.

Frequently Asked Questions