Graduation Ceremony

70th Annual Diablo Valley College Commencement Ceremony

DVC will be honoring and celebrating our graduating students at an in-person commencement ceremony May 20, 2022.

All 2021 summer and fall graduates, 2022 spring degree and certificate candidate recipients are encouraged to participate!

Watch the 2022 Graduation Ceremony Livestream and Social Media Stream Here!

Schedule Accessibility & parking Info for graduates Items for sale Graduation speaker application Graduation requirements

Event details

Location: DVC Viking Stadium
Date: Friday, May 20, 2022
Time: 5 pm

COVID-19 safety protocols

In compliance with the 4CD mask mandate, masks are required indoors. The district and college, in alignment with local and state regulations, will not require masks to be worn outdoors even though it is highly recommended.

Schedule

DVC graduation student

4 pm: Viking Stadium gates will open for families, friends, guests to enter

4 - 4:30 pm: Graduates – please meet at the graduation check-in table between the Music and Math Buildings, next to the Lake and closest to Parking Lot 1 (see yellow star on the map at D-4). It is a bit of a walk so wear comfortable shoes.

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 pm - 4:55 pm: Graduates will form two lines from starting at the Music Building (near the Lake) and begin procession/entering the stadium through the “V” (4:55 pm promptly). The procession lines will be led by Marshals, Kim Schenk, Acting VP of Instruction and John Freytag, President of Academic Senate.

5pm: 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. Due to COVID-19 protocols, eating and gathering will be restricted to the outside quad area of the Bistro. Ceremony and reception activities will conclude by 8:30 pm.

Rain alternate plan

In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the gymnasium with seating limited to guest ticketing. District and CDC COVID-19 protocols will be followed.

Printed programs

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.

Accessibility, special accommodations and stadium access

If you or your guests have need for any 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.

There will be designated seats available at the top of the stadium at the gate entrance for guests with mobility challenges. Please have your guests ask a greeter or campus Police Services to direct them to designated seating.

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

Parking

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 pm). There is no charge/permit required for parking.

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

Important information for graduates

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 will not be permitted in the stadium during the ceremony. Notices will be posted. Guests attempting to enter the stadium with balloons 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.
For possible cold and windy temperatures, alert guests to bring jackets, sweaters or blankets with them into the stadium to minimize disruption during the ceremony.
Cellular phones should be silenced to avoid disruption during the ceremony.
Alcoholic beverages and smoking will not be permitted on campus or in the stadium.

Degrees and certificates

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.

Questions

For more information or questions regarding Commencement contact the Vice President of Equity and Student Services office at dvcvpstudentservices@dvc.edu.

Commencement items for sale

Cap and gown packages

Graduates may purchase a package including cap, gown, tassel, and diploma cover (diploma cover presented during ceremony) from the DVC Book Center. Graduates are encouraged to purchase packages early for best selection of gown sizes.

Cap and gown package sales

May 9 - 19, 2022
9 am - 5 pm
May 20, 2022
12 pm - 5 pm

Package pricing: $55.00 + tax (only cash or debit/credit cards accepted)

Note: single items will not be sold or available for sale until after May 23, 2022, depending on supply

* 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) as of March 1, 2022. If honor graduates do not participate in the ceremony, the medallion may be purchased at a later date.

Photographs

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 at gradimages.com/preregistration before the ceremony.

GradImages will provide a ‘Reader Card’ for each graduate to complete and bring with them to the ceremony. 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.

Flowers, gifts and refreshments

Fresh flowers and leis will be available for purchase outside the Viking Stadium during the ceremony through Congratulei. Pre-orders are available now!