Merced Ceremony

When you arrive, please sit on the home side of the stadium. Practice will last less than one hour. Do not bring your cap and gown to practice. If you are not able to attend practice, you will still be allowed to walk in the ceremony, but it is highly advised you participate in this practice.

• Graduates begin lining up at the baseball field at 5:15 pm. Main gates for guests open at 5:15 pm. The ceremony will last approximately 2 hours. Tickets ARE NOT required. If you are not able to attend, you do not have to notify anyone.
• You will be given a name card at check-in before the ceremony as this is how they will announce your name. Be dressed in your cap and gown when you arrive (see Cap/Gown information below). Gowns must be fully zipped up during the ceremony. We do not provide any pins, needle, thread, bobby pins, or extra tassels and are unable to hold anything for you that night (i.e., purses, flowers, sweaters, children, etc.).
• Students who require assistance in the commencement line will need to identify themselves at/by practice if they have not done so already. They may bring one escort to assist them in the process. This may be a family member as staff are not available to provide physical accommodation for the evening.

• Caps, gowns, and tassels are available for purchase from the Merced College Bookstore in Merced or online starting March 2nd, 2026. You may also purchase diploma covers. The last day to order for home shipping is April 16, 2026.
• If you are part of a program that is providing a stole to you, please contact the program manager or lead.

• Honor students will receive a gold tassel from the Bookstore when purchasing their cap and gown.
• President’s Honors Recipients will receive a medal at check-in on graduation day.
• If you believe you should have received Honors but did not, please review the 2025–2026 Merced College Catalog for details on how Honors are calculated. If you still have questions, contact your evaluator in the Admissions Office or email: A&[email protected].

• PTK members pick up your honor society stole from Professor Caitlyn Serpa.
• AGS members pick up your honor society stole from Professor Jacqueline Alvarez.
• MILITARY PERSONNEL may pick up their stole which recognizes your military services from Dustin Thompson in the Veterans Resource Center.

[Note: Participatory membership in PTK, Lambda Nu, or AGS does not automatically entitle you to be awarded our institutional Honors or Superintendents Honors.]

• Campus Candids, a professional graduation photography company, will be at the ceremony to take a picture of each graduate as they receive their Certificate of Participation. The photographer will mail you a sample of the print and you can order directly from them. If you have questions regarding the purchase of Campus Candids photographs, please call 1-800-453-0335 or email [email protected] to release your email address to their company and express your interest in purchase.
• Your family and friends WILL NOT be allowed on the field during the ceremony to take photographs.

• Do not bring air horns, laser pointers or other devices into the stadium or onto the field. Do not bring balloons as they block visibility for attendees. Please make your guests aware of these rules.
• Police are on site in the event of an emergency. Please contact event staff for assistance or call 911 if an emergency should arise. Parking permits are not required the night of graduation.

This is an important ceremony; we encourage appropriate dress attire. Shoes are required to be worn by all graduates in the ceremony. We encourage flat heeled shoes as it is hard to walk on the grass or uneven ground in high heels. Regalia must remain zipped up once on the stadium field.

• After the Spring 2026 grades are verified, degrees will be posted, and diplomas will be mailed out. If you owe fees, your degree and other official documents may be held until your balance is paid in full. Contact the Merced College Student Fees office (209-384-6212 or 209-384-6216) for payment information. All degrees and certificates will be mailed by July 15th.
• ADA/Handicap seating is available on the upper tier of the stadium (Merced Campus). It will be marked as reserved if students have guests that need this accommodation and have requested this to Ambrose Soto, [email protected] by April 27th. General seating is limited and cannot be reserved.
• The Parking Lot P5 & P6 will have designated Disabled parking.
• Please be advised that strollers will not be allowed inside the stadium. We have designated a special stroller parking area for your convenience.