Commencement

Please ensure you go through the security check process before putting on your regalia to avoid any delays.

All bags must be clear and transparent for security inspection. No exceptions.

For safety and visibility reasons, flags and umbrellas are not permitted.

No children or family members will be allowed on the commencement floor. Access is limited to participants and authorized personnel only.

Please be aware that the ceremony will begin promptly at 2:00 p.m. and will end promptly at 4:00 p.m. To ensure everything runs on schedule, we MUST vacate the premises no later than 4:30 p.m. Your cooperation in adhering to this timeline is greatly appreciated.

For your safety and to stay informed, please carefully review the "Know Before You Go" site.

A parking garage is available directly across the street from the venue. However, students are encouraged to park at the GateWay Community College Washington campus and take the light rail for added convenience, especially in the event that venue parking becomes overly congested.

Credit students must apply to graduate regardless of ceremony participation.

Yes, graduates (clock and credit) will receive communications by email to their Maricopa email account with invitations to participate in the ceremony. Information will also be posted on this webpage when available. Graduates will receive information on how to register and what information is needed to participate in the ceremony. Deadlines to register will be included in the communications.

No. If students choose not to take part in any ceremony and their academic requirements are met, similar to prior years, students will receive their diplomas in the mail.

At the end of the term, all graduation applications are reviewed to ensure all academic requirements have been met. Once the review is complete, the award will be posted to the student account and will be posted the student transcripts. Diplomas will be printed and mailed 4-6 weeks after final grades are posted. Graduates will receive an email notification via their Maricopa student email account when the award has been posted to their account. Diplomas are mailed to the graduate’s home address. Graduates are requested to keep their home address in their Student Center at portal.maricopa.edu current and accurate.

*Please note, diplomas are printed with the primary name on your student record. Please visit gatewaycc.edu/students/registration-forms if you need to update your primary name.

Honor cords are presented to graduates who participate in the in-person commencement ceremony. Honor Cords are distributed based on graduating GPA:

• Distinction: 3.5-3.69
• High Distinction: 3/7-3.89
• Highest Distinction: 3.9-4.0

Please note: Honor cords are for students who are applying for an Associate Degree, Certificate Programs are not eligible.

Stoles

PTK students should visit this site to order their stole before commencement.

Veteran students should register at this site to receive their stole.

There is no fee for applying to graduate. The commencement fee for participation in the ceremony has been waived for Spring 2024.

Regalia can be purchased online at https://www.buildagrad.com/gcc. Balfour will close the site for purchasing on April 2 to allow time for processing and shipping.