Graduate & Professional Studies Commencement

Congratulations, Class of 2024!

As you approach the finish line of your Graduate and Professional Studies journey, Saint Mary’s College is planning a traditional, in-person Commencement this year to commemorate your hard work and dedication!

For questions pertaining to your student records i.e. GPA, Latin Honors, and Commencement eligibility please visit the Office of the Registrar or contact them via email at registrar@stmarys-ca.edu or via phone call 925.631.4214

Commencement Ticket Update

Tickets are required for entry to Commencement exercises in the SMC Stadium on Saturday, May 25th at 9:00 a.m. for Undergrads and Sunday, May 26th at 9:00 a.m. for Graduate & Professional Studies (& LEAP).

LEAP Baccalaureate, Master's and Doctoral candidates registered to participate in Commencement exercises in the SMC Stadium on Sunday, May 26th may request up to 25 guest tickets per graduand via the online Ticket Request Form which goes live at Grad Fair on Thursday, March 28th.  It will also be posted on the GPS webpage; tickets will be emailed on Tuesday, April 9th.

• Tickets for Commencement on Sunday, May 26, 2024 may be requested here
  • Requestors must be registered to participate on Sunday, 5/26/34 to receive extra tickets.

Commencement Regalia & Accessories

Regalia:

All Commencement participants are required to wear regalia to Commencement, and it is provided by the college for all graduates in good academic standing with no outstanding student account balances.

Regalia consist of a black cap & gown, graduating year red & navy tassel and a school-specific hood embroidered with the SMC logo. Hood colors are determined by the School in which you are graduating. See the below table for your hood color.

Regalia is available for pick up at Grad Fair on Thursday, March 28, 2024. We hope you can make it to the Grad Fair, but if you can’t you are able to order your regalia online and have it shipped to your preferred address between Friday, March 29 and Thursday, April 18, 2024.

Last Day to Order Regalia: Thursday, April 18, 2024

Requests for regalia after the deadline will incur additional fees; sizing and availability not guaranteed.

Grad Fair Savings: Purchase a discounted Diploma Frame, SMC Stole and SMC Zipper Pull at Grad Fair! Visit our Regalia vendor’s site for details. This discount offer is only available at Grad Fair. (details coming soon)

Rehearsal

There will be no rehearsal. Please review all the documentation sent to you via email from the Commencement Committee, so you are prepared. Ushers will direct you where to go during the ceremony.

Health & Safety

Accessible Seating and Accommodations

Students with disabilities who need accommodations to participate in the Commencement Liturgy, the College Commencement ceremony, and/or the Grad Grounds event should submit a request via the Google Form as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements.

Guests with mobility issues can proceed directly to the accessible seating section. This section is reserved for guests who use wheelchairs or have difficulty walking. Each guest may bring one additional person into the accessible seating section with them. Accessible parking is also available, as well as golf carts to transport guests to the ceremony location. Sign language interpretive service is provided as part of the ceremony.

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR COMMENCEMENT — March 1, 2024

How to apply

Log into GaelXpress 2.0, and click the Commencement Application button on the home dashboard. 

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Please follow the guidelines below to make sure that your information is accurate on the date of commencement.

Pronunciation Guide — How To

We will use your submission to pronounce your name(s) during the commencement ceremony. 

SAMPLE: MICHELLE LORENZ

How your name sounds:

Example: Mi-SHELL for Michelle.

(Use caps for stresses syllables if needed)

How your name sounds: 

Example: Lor-ENS  for Lorenz

(Use caps for stressed syllables if needed)

Hometown and State/Province:

This information will be printed on the commencement program as it is submitted. Please write out the information.

Moraga, California NOT Moraga, CA

San Francisco, California NOT San Fran, CA

Elmira, Canada NOT Elmira, CAN

Tumon, Guam NOT Guam

Diploma Mailing Address:

If your current address needs to be updated, please submit an address change form so your diploma and transcript documents are being mailed to the correct location.

Manual Access:

If you do not have immediate access to the Commencement Application on GaelXpress 2.0, you will view this message:

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This message is populated when your evaluation is not complete or pending complete.

In order to receive manual access, please contact your department to submit an evaluation change request for manual access to the application.

Graduate Business: Erinn Blaz ebb3@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-4738

Graduate Kines: Ilana Baer ilb4@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-8834

MFA in Creative Writing: Ilana Baer ilb4@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-8834

MFA in Dance: Ilana Baer ilb4@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-8834

MACOMM: Ilana Baer ilb4@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-8834

PSM BIOTECH: Ilana Baer ilb4@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-8834

LEAP: Stephanie Miller scb1@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-4538. Visit this site for more information.

KSOE: Counseling Department: Courtney Gordon cng4@stmarys-ca.edu

KSOE: Teacher Education Department: Mary Withers mlw7@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-4292

KSOE: Leadership Department: Constance Russell cvr2@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-8161

If you realize that the information you submitted is inaccurate, please resubmit/update the form prior to the deadline so we can have your most current information.