71st Annual DVC Commencement Ceremony

Congratulations Class of 2023! DVC is honored to celebrate our graduating students at an in-person commencement ceremony on Friday, May 19, 2023. 

The ceremony will commence at 5 pm promptly in Viking Stadium. All 2022 summer and fall graduates, 2023 spring degree and certificate candidate recipients are encouraged to participate.

Watch the 2023 Graduation Ceremony Livestream and Social Media Stream Here!

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

Event details

Location: DVC Viking Stadium
Date: Friday, May 19, 2023
Time: 5 pm

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

RSVP

Please help us plan for your attendance and the accommodation of your friends and family by completing this brief 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 12. You MUST sign in with your Insite email address to complete the RSVP form. 

Schedule

DVC graduation student

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

4 - 4:30 pm: 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 pm - 4:55 pm: Graduates will form two lines from the gymnasium and begin procession/entering the stadium through the “V” (4:55 pm promptly). The procession lines will be led by Marshals, Joe Gorga, VP Equity and 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. 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.

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 

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 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.   

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.   

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.

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 are not permitted on campus or in the stadium. 
  • Dogs are not permitted on campus, except for service animals.

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 8 - 18, 2023 
    9 am - 5 pm 
  • May 19, 2023 - Friday
    2 pm - 6:30 pm 

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

Note: For students who are not attending the ceremony -  single items will be available for sale starting May 23, 2023, 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). Must be listed as “Honor”. If honor graduates do not participate in the ceremony, the medallion will be available starting May 23, 2023 depending on supply.   

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

Celebrate DVC class of 2023 with fresh flower leis! 

Preorders: Purchase fresh flower leis for graduation from Pixie Pop Ups now! Pre-orders your flower leis and then pick up your order on the Commons (near Parking Lot 8) at the DVC campus on graduation day Friday, May 19 from 2:30-7:30 pm. Preorders are available until Thursday at 9 pm and are $10 less than same-day purchases.

Same-day purchase: Pixie Pop Ups flower truck will be on site for fresh flower leis purchase Friday, May 19 on the DVC campus Commons (near Parking Lot 8) and at the entrance to the field (Parking Lot 1) from 2:30-7:30 pm.

Social media from our 2023 graduation:

DVC honored and celebrated our graduating students at an in-person commencement ceremony May 20, 2022. View photographs from the event!

Watch the 2023 Graduation Ceremony Livestream and Social Media Stream Here!