1. Commencement Ceremony
2. Broadcast Ceremony
3. Graduate Check-in
4. Tickets and Seating
5. Entrance to Arena
6. Bag Policy and Prohibited Items
7. Inclement Weather
8. Photography
9. Disability Access
10. Parking and Transportation
11. SDSU Campus Map
12. Concessions
13. Questions
1. Commencement Ceremony
When: Thursday, May 30, 2024
Where: Viejas Arena
Time: 9:30am - 12:00pm
The 63rd Annual Grossmont College Commencement Ceremony will two and a half hours. All graduates and guests should plan to remain until the ceremony is concluded.
The ceremony will include remarks from leadership of the college and other speakers. College leadership will also present and confer degrees during the ceremony.
Graduates will have their name read aloud as they cross the stage. A live video of each graduate crossing the stage will appear on the jumbotron. Graduates will receive a diploma cover after crossing the stage and a professional photo will be taken by GradImages Photography.
Graduates will exit Viejas Arena at floor level and guests will exit from the top gates. Guests will not be able to enter the arena floor. Please do not congregate in front of the arena exits.
2. Broadcast Ceremony
For individuals unable to attend the ceremony in person, the ceremony will also be viewable via Live Stream from the Grossmont College YouTube, Facebook, and commencement website at www.grossmont.edu/commencement.
3. Graduate Check-In
Graduates please check back for check-in time.
Once you have entered Lot 13 on the San Diego State University campus, you will be directed to tables staffed by the Grossmont College Admissions & Records team. At the table you will check-in for the ceremony and be provided the name reader card for you to complete prior to crossing the stage.
Due to stringent security measures, all graduates participating in commencement are required to present their Grossmont College Student ID or a valid, government-issued picture ID in order to be admitted to Viejas Arena. Students who do not bring valid ID will not be allowed to participate in commencement. Student Identification Cards and replacement cards are free and available as part of the registration process in the Admissions and Records office located in Building 10.
Once you have registered, College representatives will help to organize you in the
correct processional line.
Please check back for the processional start time. The ceremony is expected to last approximately two and a half hours. All graduates and guests should plan to remain until the ceremony is concluded.
4. Tickets and Seating
The Grossmont College Commencement Ceremony is open to all guests of the graduates—no admission tickets are necessary to attend or participate.
Guest seating is first come, first served and assigned seating is not available at this event.
Family members and guests should be encouraged to arrive early, as there may be delays with entry inspections and traffic.
The ceremony is expected to last two and a half hours. All graduates and guests should plan to remain until the ceremony is concluded.
5. Entrance to Arena
Graduates must access Lot 13 (north of Viejas Arena) from the ground level, across from Parking Structure 12. All guests must access Viejas Arena through the main entrance gates.
Family members and guests should be encouraged to arrive early, as there may be delays with entry inspections and traffic.
Due to stringent security measures, all graduates participating in commencement are required to present their Grossmont College Student ID or a valid, government-issued picture ID in order to be admitted to Viejas Arena. Students who do not bring valid ID will not be allowed to participate in commencement. Student Identification Cards and replacement cards are free and available as part of the registration process in the Admissions and Records office located in Building 10.
6. Bag Policy and Prohibited Items
Plan your visit accordingly. Viejas Arena is a clear bag venue. Bags must be clear plastic or clear vinyl and may not exceed 12" x 6" x 12" or a
one-gallon clear plastic freezer bag. Small purses, bags, or clutches (clear or non-clear)
no larger than 4.5" x 6.5" will be allowed.
Please arrive early and be patient as we work to ensure a safe environment. All bags
are subject to search prior to entrance and inside the facility.
Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: large bags/backpacks, strollers,
umbrellas, banners and signs larger than 20”x20”, balloons, weapons, alcoholic beverages,
glass containers, noisemakers of any kind, non-service animals, skateboards and roller
shoes. Visit the Viejas Arena A-Z Guide for more information.
Commencement is a joyous celebration. Throughout the formal portions of the ceremony, graduates and guests are asked to maintain appropriate decorum befitting the dignity of a college commencement. We will not tolerate inappropriate behavior, including, but not limited to, yelling, violence, intimidation, threats, harassment, aggression, swearing, damage, abuse, or sexual harassment. Individuals who are aggressive toward staff or other visitors will be expelled from the ceremony and escorted off the property.
7. Inclement Weather
In case of rain, graduates should arrive to Lot 13, across from Parking Structure 12, please check back for assembly time.
Once graduates enter through security and show their Grossmont College ID, they will proceed directly inside Viejas Arena where they will be seated.
Please note graduates will be unable to bring umbrellas inside the arena due to the limited mobility on the arena floor and potential tripping hazard. However, there will be bins located at the entrance to store umbrellas during the ceremony.
All guests will be allowed to bring umbrellas into the arena, but they cannot be larger than 20" and must be collapsible.
8. Photography
Guests must remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony. You will not be allowed to stand in the aisles or block the views of others in order to take photos or videos. Camera tripods are not allowed in Viejas Arena.
GradImages Photography will take photographs of each graduate on stage during the commencement ceremony. Each graduate will be sent no-obligation proofs of the commencement photographs via the manner (email, text, mail, etc.) selected on the name reader card. You will have the opportunity to purchase prints after you have seen your proofs.
Prior to the ceremony, graduates can also pre-register by visiting www.gradimages.com and clicking on “Pre-Event Email Registration.” There you will enter your email address and up to six emails for others to view and order your photos.
If you have any questions about your commencement ceremony photographs, please visit https://www.gradimages.com/ or call toll-free 1-800-261-2576
9. Disability Access
Visit the Viejas Arena Disabled Services A-Z Guide for specific venue information.
Graduate Accommodations
Graduates who need assistance (mobility, sign language interpretation, accessible formats, etc.) must contact the Accessibility Resource Center at 619-644-7112 prior to Thursday, May 16, 2024 to request accommodations. Please note: The College does not provide personal care attendants.
American Sign Language Interpreters
ASL interpreters will be on stage for each ceremony at Viejas Arena. The ASL interpreters will be on the right-hand side as you face the stage. Please contact the Accessibility Resource Center for additional information on seating for deaf guests.
Streaming closed-captions
If you would like access to the streaming closed-caption service available for commencement, please sign in to the Viejas Arena guest wifi on your smartphone. Once you have wifi access closed captioning will be available via the ceremony broadcast.
10. Transportation and Parking
Designated parking for events at Viejas Arena is in Parking 12 and Parking 7. Parking in Parking 12 and Parking 7 will be free for ceremony participants and guests. Please visit the Parking & Directions page for further information.
Viejas Arena is located on the San Diego State campus, where there is an MTS bus and trolley station roughly a quarter mile east from the facility. The SDSU trolley station lies on the Green Line that runs east and west. Visit the MTS website for further details, and visit our Parking & Directions page for directions from the SDSU MTS station to Viejas Arena.
Visit the Viejas Arena A-Z Guide for more information.
11. SDSU Campus Map
Below is a map of the SDSU campus. Guests should park in parking structure 12.
(On the map in grey above the words "Convocation Ceremony")
12. Concessions
There are concession stands located on the upper concourse – both inner and outer – and on the floor level. Visit our Concessions page for a list of menu items. Visit the Viejas Arena A-Z Guide for more information.
13. Questions
If you have further questions, please contact:
- For further questions about the 63rd Annual Commencement Ceremony please email graduation@gcccd.edu
- Graduates are encouraged to attend the Graduation Information Session – please check back for date and time.
- For questions regarding the status of your graduation application & the mailing of your degree please email Evaluations at Grossmont.Evaluations@gcccd.edu.
- For graduates in need of disability accommodations, please contact the Grossmont College Accessibility Resource Center at 619-644-7112.