Graduation and Commencement

Information for Attendees

For those attending the event.

We hope you are excited for this year’s Commencement event on May 10^th at Porterville College! Here are some tips and information to make attending the event as smooth as possible. 

1. Arrival Times
   The ceremony will begin promptly at 7pm, but the graduates will enter the stadium prior to that time. It is a good idea to arrive early so that you are sure to get a parking spot and get settled in your seats with ample time for the ceremony to begin.  The Jamison Stadium gates will open at 5:00 pm for seating.
   
   
2. Parking Information
   Parking is available in the Jamison Stadium parking lot. Vehicles will only be permitted to enter the stadium parking from the COLLEGE AVENUE entrance to the lot.  No entry to the stadium will be permitted from MAIN STREET.  We will have Accessible Parking available in the EAST LOT of the stadium only.  Please plan accordingly.
    
3. Items not allowed at the event
   Several items WILL NOT be permitted in the stadium or on school grounds during the event. They include:  
   1. Balloons
   2. Artificial noise-making devices, horns, air horns, whistles, etc.
   3. Drones or other airborne flying devices
   4. Confetti or streamers
   5. Laser pointers
   6. Weapons of any kind
   7. Fireworks
   8. Alcohol
   9. Any Illegal substances

Please do not bring any of the above items to the stadium with you.

4. Food
   Several concession stands will be available on the south side of the stadium. Various food and drink items will be available for purchase.  These booths will be run by student clubs for fundraising purposes.  Cash only please.
    
5. Accessible seating.
   Accessible seating will be available on the east side of the stadium. If you or a member of your party has a wheelchair or faces mobility issues, please plan to enter on the EAST side of the stadium through the South Gate.
   
   
6. Closed Captioning for the Hearing impaired
   This event will be closed captioned for the attendees. You can access the captions by visiting https://www.streamtext.net/player?event=2024-Commencement-Ceremony-Porterville-College or scanning one of the QR codes present in the stadium.
   
   
7. ASL interpretation
   If you would prefer to use our on-site sign language interpreters, you should plan to sit on the west side of the stadium. An area will be blocked off to allow you to view the interpreters on the field.
   
   
8. Further Accommodations
   If you need additional accommodations that are not listed here, contact Frank Ramirez, Director of Student Services at 559-791-2278.
   
   
9. Assistance Getting Into the Stadium
   If you or someone in your party requires assistance getting into the stadium from your vehicle due to an accessibility issue, you can contact Porterville College Campus Security at 559-791-2440. 
   
   
10. Dealing with the sun/heat
    Please note that it will be hot and sunny while you wait for the ceremony to begin. Please plan accordingly.  Be sure to wear appropriate clothing, and a hat if possible and don’t forget to wear sunscreen.
    
    
11. Exiting the Stadium after the event
    Please be patient after the ceremony is complete. We will be escorting cars out of the parking lot and Porterville Police will be working to make the exit from the stadium as painless as possible. We ask that you leave the stadium as soon as possible after the event is completed so that our maintenance and operations staff have a chance to begin cleanup and teardown of the event quickly.
    
    
12. Event Live Stream
    This year, the event will be live streamed on YouTube for those individuals who cannot make it to the ceremony in person. Keep checking this page. We will post the link to the live stream on this page a few days before the event.
13. Event Map
    Below is a map of Jamison Stadium for the day of Commencement.  Click on the image to download a .PDF version of the map.

Information for Graduates

The Porterville College faculty, staff, and administrators are excited to honor the Graduating Class of 2024 at the commencement ceremony to be held on Friday, May 10, 2024, at 7:00 p.m. at the Porterville College Jamison Stadium. Listed below are important details you need to understand in order to participate.

GRADUATION PROGRAM – April 15^th will be the last day to request any name changes in the program that will be distributed during the ceremony. Please contact the Admissions & Records Office by April 15th with any name change requests.

COMMENCEMENT PACKAGES  AVAILABLE NOW – The PC Gear Shop (UGS) has Commencement packages available online now at https://porterville.getugear.com/s/shop.  UGS will offer your Cap Gown and Tassel for $64.95+tax. Individual Items are also available for sale: Regular Tassel - $8.95, Cap - $10.95, Bling Tassel - $16.95 Porterville College Regalia is required to participate in commencement.”  You may also purchase your cap and gown at UGS on campus during the Grad Fair on April 23rd and 24th. Porterville College caps and gowns are mandatory to participate in commencement.

GRAD FAIR, APRIL 23 & 24 – The PC Grad Fair will be held from 1:00 PM – 6:30 PM on Tuesday, April 23, and 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM on Wednesday, April 24. The Grad Fair will include opportunities for you to purchase regalia and other items, take graduation photos and participate in other activities including graduation cap decorating (as supplies last).
 

ASPC GRADUATE BRUNCH – A brunch, sponsored by ASPC, will be held in your honor Friday, May 10th from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. in the Student Center/Cafeteria. Brunch is free for graduating students only. Please visit https://tinyurl.com/ASPCGradBrunch to RSVP. Commencement Practice will be held right after the ASPC Graduate Brunch.

COMMENCEMENT PRACTICE – Practice will be held at the Stadium Friday morning, May 10^th at 10 a.m. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes. If you are unable to attend practice, call Enrollment Services at the number listed below to receive important information.

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY – Please arrive promptly to the Gym between 5:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. to check-in at the registration table. During check-in you will receive a Grad Card with a QR code and Graduation Picture instructions. Pictures will be taken during the Graduation Ceremony. During the commencement ceremony the Grad Card will be handed to the individual announcing the names of graduates. Please be sure to wear appropriate shoes for the stadium, i.e., no spiked heels. Dinner will be served to all graduates in the Gym from 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. the day of the ceremony.

In consideration of other graduates and attending guests, please inform family and friends to leave balloons in their vehicles until after the ceremony. Balloons in the stadium block the view of guests sitting behind them. Also, we ask that no noise-making devices (i.e., air horns, whistles, etc.) be used during the ceremony as this disrupts the commencement ceremony. Thank you in advance for cooperating.

PTK STUDENTS – PTK students may purchase their regalia (stole and tassel) directly from the website here, https://store.ptk.org/product-category/grad/. Students will need their PTK membership number to access and purchase graduation regalia.

VETERAN STUDENTS – If you are a military Veteran, you will be given a stole and rope to wear with your academic regalia. YOU MUST purchase your own graduation regalia: cap, gown, and tassel. Please see Katherine Figueroa in the Veterans Resource Center (AC 116) for distribution.

HONOR GRADUATES – Students who have completed at least 60 units in degree applicable letter graded courses with at least 12 of those units at Porterville College and who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Students will be identified in the Commencement Program as an Honors Graduate. Students receiving the Honors Graduate recognition will receive a separate email from the Admissions and Records Office with instructions to obtain the honorary tassel.

DIPLOMAS – Your diploma will not be issued to you until all grades are final. A notice will be sent to your college assigned email account notifying you when your diploma will be mailed and when the electronic version will be available in Certree.  All diplomas will be mailed.

CONCESSION STANDS – During commencement student activities will be selling drinks and snacks. Please let your families know that it will be cash only.

In consideration of other graduates and attending guests, please inform family and friends to leave balloons in their vehicles until after the ceremony. Balloons in the stadium block the view of guests sitting behind them. Also, we ask that no noise-making devices (i.e., air horns, whistles, etc.) be used during the ceremony as this disrupts the commencement ceremony. Thank you in advance for cooperating.

Please contact the Admissions and Records office concerning your degree, major, honor recognition or ceremony participation at (559) 791-2220 or pcar@portervillecollege.edu.

General Information

Although the college has three degree-granting periods, Porterville College holds only one commencement ceremony each year in May. Students do not have to participate to receive a degree or diploma.

All students who complete a degree in either Fall or Spring of that academic year are eligible to participate. Students must have submitted a Degree Evaluation Petition to the Admissions & Records Office by the posted deadline. Participation in commencement does not guarantee a degree. A final evaluation is done prior to the posting of degrees. It will take approximately two months for the diplomas to be printed although student records are posted sooner.

Candidates will receive a letter via their student email with important commencement information. 

Tickets are not required for graduation.