The Commencement Ceremony is a special time to celebrate your accomplishments with family, friends, mentors and classmates. We look forward to recognizing your outstanding efforts as you join the ranks of our proud and successful alumni network.
Please visit this page often for updates and watch for our communications from Graduation@pennwest.edu
View Commencement details for:
If you have not yet applied to graduate, please visit our page here to learn how to apply. Deadline is March 15th, 2023.
Students who are able to graduate in Spring and Summer 2023 will walk in the May commencement ceremonies for all three campuses.
California Campus – March 23 10am-4pm at the Campus Bookstore, Natali Student Center
Edinboro Campus – March 28 and 29, 1am-6pm at the Mutli-Purpose Room, Pogue Student Center
Clarion Campus – April 4, 10am-5pm, Campus Bookstore 109 Gemmell Student Complex
Commencement Ceremony
The ceremony will last approximately 1 1/2 – 2 hours and includes a welcome address, conferral of degrees, recognition of individual graduates by name and presentation of diploma covers. Doctoral candidates will be hooded during the ceremony.
Ceremony Breakdown
Please see below as to which ceremony you are to attend according to your major. NOTE: The ceremony times according to major are the same for all three PennWest campus ceremonies.
10:00 am:
AH College – College of Arts & Humanities
BU College – College of Business, Communication & Information Science
SS College – College of Social Science and Human Services
2:00 pm:
ED College – College of Education
HS College – College of Health Sciences
NS College – College of Natural Science & Engineering Technology
If you are unsure as to which college you be long to, you can find that information in your Degree Works audit or in your Student Profile.
Graduation Attire
Each graduate must wear an academic robe and matching cap. Caps and gowns must be ordered in advance of the ceremony (see details under campus information).
Master’s degree students: Please wear your hood to the ceremony.
Doctoral degree students: You will be hooded during the ceremony.
We kindly ask that personal modifications to the mortarboards (caps) be limited to those expressing well-wishes and gratitude or affiliation with sanctioned organizations. Students are not permitted to have unacceptable decorations, offensive language or inappropriate images on the mortarboards. Students not following these guidelines will be given a new mortarboard to wear.
Graduates will receive a diploma folder during the ceremony which contains information regarding their official diploma. Diplomas will be mailed in June after grades have been finalized and degrees are conferred. Please note that all financial obligations must be met before the diploma will be mailed.
Tickets are required for commencement ceremonies. Information to follow regarding the quantity and distribution of tickets.
Graduates who have achieved honors are identified at commencement by honors cords or stoles, which are worn with the traditional academic attire. If you qualify for academic Latin Honors at graduation and/or are in the honors program, you may pick cords and/or stoles up at your the campus Graduation Fairs, or campus bookstore during regular business hours.
This year – PennWest’s first official year as an integrated university – is the right time to institute new university-wide standards.
PennWest takes great pride in its graduates and all they have achieved. These university-wide standards now apply, with the one-year exception for California students as noted below:
Bachelor’s degree-seeking students who have completed a minimum of 30 credits at PennWest (excluding credit by exam) and who have achieved the following cumulative grade-point averages as of the last graded term of their enrollment are eligible for Latin honors.
Please note: Because grades from a student's final term of enrollment are not officially posted and recomputed until after graduation, honors cords or stoles, are awarded based on the cumulative GPA at the end of the previous semester. Honors for the final transcript are based on cumulative grade point average, including grades for the final semester.
To receive a white honors Associate Degree with Distinction cord, a minimum of 15 credits must be completed at PennWest (excluding credit by exam) and you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher.
Graduates meeting the requirements of PennWest’s Honors Program will receive a gold cord.
Need some assistance before or during the ceremony? Look for our staff members who are easily identified by their PennWest lanyards.
Convocation Center
250 University Avenue
California, PA 15419
Want to share with extended family? They can livestream the event online during the ceremony.
Doors open at 8:30 am and 1 pm
Driving Directions to PennWest California Campus
PennWest California Campus Map
PennWest California Convocation Center
The deadline for ordering caps, gowns, and hoods is April 5, 2023 to accommodate for processing and mailing time. Doctoral gowns can only be ordered online.
Masters, Bachelor and Associate caps, gowns and hoods are available at the campus bookstore or online.
All guests should park in Lot 4, the River Lot, behind the Convocation Center. (Convocation Center is letter Y on the map.)
We are unable to accommodate any advanced reservation of parking or seating for guests with disabilities. University staff will be available to help.
For guests with disabilities who require seating, please look for individuals wearing a blue PennWest lanyard in the Convocation Center lobby for assistance to limited seating on the first floor.
Lodging closest to campus:
Lodging near California, PA:
*Special rates for California University visitors.
PennWest California contracts with Grad Images Photography, which will contact graduates via their PennWest email after the ceremony with proofs for review and purchase information.
Please be aware that members of the PennWest California communications staff will also be taking photographs for general marketing purposes throughout the ceremonies.
The campus bookstore will offer a variety of gift items, flowers and balloons available for purchase at the Convocation Center.
Waldo S. Tippin Gymnasium, Coach Cal Court
Greenville Avenue
Clarion, PA 16214
Want to share with extended family? They can livestream the event online during the ceremony.
Doors open at 8:30 am and 1 pm
PennWest Clarion Driving Directions
PennWest Clarion Campus Map
Academic attire must be purchased online through Jostens. Full attire and separate items can be purchased through the website. Note that cap and gown shipping follows a lead time of at least 21 days.
Order Deadlines:
On campus students: Attire will ship to the Clarion Bookstore and be available for pick-up at the Bookstore Grad Fair on April 4th. If students do not pick up at the Grad Fair, they can pick up at the bookstore up to commencement day.
Doctoral & Masters Ordering Deadline: February 20, 2023
Associate & Bachelors Ordering Deadline: March 6, 2023
Students unable to pick up on campus and/or Online students: Can purchase their cap and gown through Jostens and select home shipping. The deadline for those orders are listed below.
Doctoral & Masters Ordering Deadline: March 30, 2023
Associate & Bachelors Ordering Deadline: April 04, 2023
Graduates should arrive at the Tippin Auxiliary Gym Room at 9-9:15 am for the 10 am ceremony and 1-1:15 pm for the 2 pm ceremony to pick up their name card and robe. Name cards must be picked up no later than 9:45 am and 1:45 pm for each respective ceremony.
Those not requiring special accommodations are asked to park in one of the following lots:
We are unable to accommodate any advanced reservation of parking or seating for guests with disabilities. University staff will be available to help. Please look for individuals wearing a blue PennWest lanyard for assistance.
Wheelchair seating is available in the upper and lower levels and in the back of the gymnasium. Seating may not be available near other family members.
There will be a designated parking section for guests with disabilities in Lot 12 near Marwick Boyd.
University police officers will also be on hand that day to direct you.
PennWest Clarion contracts with Grad Images Photography, which will contact graduates via their PennWest email after the ceremony with proofs for review and purchase information.
Please be aware that members of the PennWest staff will also be taking photographs for general marketing purposes throughout the ceremonies.
McComb Fieldhouse
455 Scotland Rd.
Edinboro, PA 16412
Doors open at 9 am and 1 pm
PennWest Edinboro Driving Directions
PennWest Edinboro Campus Map
Orders for regalia can be made beginning March 28th and 29th during the Grad Fair. Unit purchases (cap, gown and tassel) are discounted $15 during the 28th and 29th (this includes online purchases).
Online orders are processed within one business day of the order being placed on the bookstore website (www.edinborobookstore.com). The orders are shipped USPS Priority Mail and take a maximum of three business days to arrive. Caps & gowns will be sold in the bookstore up to, and including, the day of commencement.
Row and seat numbers for the graduates will be provided, via the students @pennwest.edu email a week prior to the commencement ceremony.
Adequate parking is available in the parking lot directly across from the entrance to the McComb Fieldhouse.
We are unable to accommodate any advanced reservation of parking or seating for guests with disabilities. University staff will be available to help. Please look for individuals wearing a blue PennWest Edinboro lanyard.
Lodging in Edinboro:
Additional lodging and dining options
Graduates will be photographed as they receive their diplomas and again as they descend the ramp from the stage. If students, family members or friends wish, they may purchase copies of these photographs from Ultimate Exposures, or www.ultimateexposures.com. Students will be contacted directly by Ultimate Exposures regarding the photos.
Please be aware that members of the PennWest staff will also be taking photographs for general marketing purposes throughout the ceremonies.
PennWest Contact Information
If there are any questions please contact us using one of the methods below.
Office of the Registrar
Email: Graduation@pennwest.edu
Phone: California Campus – 724-938-4435
Phone: Clarion Campus – 814-393-2229
Phone: Edinboro Campus - 814-732-3501
Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
