Commencement Ceremony

Please help us plan for your attendance and the accommodation of your friends and family by completing the RSVP form to let us know if you will be attending the graduation commencement this year. 

We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to celebrating your accomplishments with you! Please RSVP your attendance by May 16, 2025. You MUST sign in with your Insite email address to complete the RSVP form. 

4:00 p.m.: Viking Stadium gates will open for families, friends, guests to enter

4:00 - 4:30 p.m.: Graduates check-in and assemble in the gymnasium, dressed in cap and gown and ready to form the procession line.

Graduates need to check-in at the registration table to complete a “Name Card”.
No high heels permitted on the field. Anyone with high heels will be given a pair of “flip flops” to wear during the ceremony.

4:30 p.m. - 4:55 p.m.: Graduates will form two lines from the gymnasium and begin procession/entering the stadium through the “V” (4:55 p.m. promptly). The procession lines will be led by Marshals, Joe Gorga, VP Equity and Instruction and John Freytag, President of Academic Senate.

5:00 p.m.: Commencement Ceremony begins

• Speeches will be given by the college President, Faculty Keynote and Graduate Keynote to address the graduating class.
• Graduates will line up and proceed with their name card to the card reader and then to the dignitaries to receive diploma cover and professional photo. Two photos will be taken, one with dignitary and one head shot. Graduate will then return to their seat.
• Once all names are read, the ceremony will conclude, followed by recessional.
• Stage officials, followed by faculty and then graduates will exit the stadium and march directly to the reception at the Main Street Bistro.
• Guests will exit the stadium from the top and follow signs to the reception.

Reception: Light refreshments and musical entertainment will be provided immediately following the ceremony at the Main Street Bistro. Ceremony and reception activities will conclude by 8:30 p.m.  

In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the gymnasium with seating limited to guest ticketing.

Programs will be distributed to graduates at the grad line prior to the processional. Guests will receive programs as they enter the stadium at the gate entrance.

Graduates should park in lots 8, 9 (except ADA) and then line up in the gym.

There will be designated ADA seats available at the top of the stadium by the gate entrance, on a first come, first served basis, for guests with mobility limits, such as wheelchair users or people uncomfortable with stairs. Please have your guests ask a greeter or campus Police Services to direct them to designated seating.  

A portion of Parking Lot 1 will be designated for handicap parking/ADA access to stadium. There will also be a shuttle service from other parking lots to the stadium starting one hour before the ceremony begins and continuing through the ceremony.

Sign language interpreters will be working throughout the ceremony.

If you or your guests have questions about accommodations, please contact David Hagerty in Disability Support Services at 925-969-2176 or by email at: dhagerty@dvc.edu at least 10 days prior to the day of the ceremony.  

Due to the large number of guests in attendance, the stadium parking lots will be congested. Please encourage your guests to arrive one hour prior to the start of the ceremony (4:00 pm). There is no charge/permit required for parking. Guest parking is available in parking lots #1, #2 and #3 off Viking Drive.  

A portion of Parking Lot 1 will be designated for handicap parking/ADA access to stadium.  

Graduates should park in Parking Lots 8, 9 and line up in the gym.

For parking lot locations view the Pleasant Hill Campus map. 

• NO spiked/high heel shoes will be permitted. Graduates will not be permitted to enter the stadium with heels as they damage the turf and the track. To prevent safety issues, it will be necessary to wear low/flat shoes.
• Balloons, banners and signs will not be permitted in the stadium during the ceremony. Notices will be posted. Guests attempting to enter the stadium with these items will be asked to return them to their vehicles.
• Children will not be allowed in the processional line with graduates. Children must not be left unattended. If children will be attending, please arrange for them to be with guests during the ceremony.
• We know those caps and gowns can get warm! Wear lightweight, breathable clothing underneath, stay hydrated, and take advantage of water stations throughout the venue. Also consider hats, sunglasses and visors. Your comfort matters—pace yourself and celebrate safely!
• Cellular phones should be silenced to avoid disruption during the ceremony.
• Alcoholic beverages and smoking are not permitted on campus or in the stadium.  
• Dogs are not permitted on campus, except for service animals.

Diplomas are mailed mid-August to the student’s physical address on file at Admissions and Records. If your address has changed, please contact our Admissions and Records office as soon as possible at 925-685-1310. 

For more information or questions regarding Commencement contact Admissions and Records at admissions@dvc.edu.

Cap and Gown packages will be available for sale in the DVC Bookstore on the following dates/times:

• April 28 - May 22, 2025;  8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
• May 23 2025; 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Package price: $55.00 + tax ( Cash or debit/credit card accepted)

* Honor graduates will receive a medallion included in cap and gown package for 3.5 GPA or better in all college course work (all institutions). Must be listed as “Honor”. If honor graduates do not participate in the ceremony, the medallion will be available starting May 26, 2025 depending on supply. 
 

Professional photography will be provided by GradImages during the ceremony. Each graduate will be photographed twice, as they shake hands with the college President or other designated official and as they pose with diploma cover before returning to their seat.

Proofs will be emailed with an option to purchase for those graduates providing a valid email address and submitting the requested information. You may also opt-out of this offer if you choose not to purchase photos. Graduates may pre-register with GradImages before the ceremony.

GradImages will provide a ‘Reader Card’ for each graduate to complete and bring with them to the ceremony. Reader Cards can be found in the cap and gown packages. Please fill out the card completely and write legibly spelling your name phonetically for the reader if necessary. You must have this card to present to the reader for your name to be called during the ceremony.

Please visit GradImages for more information.

Celebrate DVC class of 2025 with fresh flowers! 

Preorders: 

Order fresh flower leis and more for graduation from Congratulei starting today! In addition to beautiful flower leis, they offer DVC logo kukui nut leis, ribbon leis, candy leis, money leis, and other fun and unique gifts for your graduate. 

Pre-order your items and pick them up at the DVC campus on graduation day, Friday, May 23rd, from 4:00-7:30 p.m. Preordering is available until May 15th at 7:00 p.m.

Same-day purchase: 

Same-day purchase will be available on-site for fresh flower leis and other selected graduation items on Friday, May 23rd, at the entrance to the field at the Green Congratulei Tent(Parking Lot 1) from 4:00-7:30 p.m.  

Don't risk the chance of them selling out! Get your preorder in today: Congratulei