What's the difference between graduation and commencement?
College graduation marks the official completion of a students' degree requirements, while commencement is a ceremonial event that celebrates those accomplishments and looks toward the future.
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.
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 and Master’s candidates will be hooded during the ceremony. Sign language interpreting services will be provided at all PennWest ceremonies.
Commencement Event/Ceremony Questions:
commencementceremony@pennwest.edu
Academic Graduation/Degree Questions:
graduation@pennwest.edu
Please check your PennWest email often for the latest information from commencementceremony@pennwest.edu and graduation@pennwest.edu to prepare for the Commencement Ceremony, and for your graduation (completion of your degree requirements). Be sure to check back to this site for updates as we get closer to celebrating your graduation!
Saturday, December 14, 2024, at 10:00 a.m.
California – Convocation Center - Directions to PennWest-California
Clarion – Marwick Boyd Auditorium - Directions to PennWest-Clarion
Edinboro – McComb Field House - Directions to PennWest-Edinboro
The Pittsburgh International Airport is the closest airport to each PennWest Campus.
All guests must have a ticket to attend Commencement on each campus (guests 2 years old or younger do not need a ticket). The maximum amount of guest tickets available to each graduate is based on the size of the graduating class and the size of the venue on each campus and will be announced at a later date.
Graduates will receive guest ticketing allotment and ordering information from commencementceremony@pennwest.edu sent to their PennWest email later this fall. (guest tickets are no charge and can only be ordered/provided by the graduate)
On-line LIVESTREAM broadcast links will be posted later in the semester for each ceremony so your family and friends can watch Commencement from the comfort of their own homes! Only those attending Commencement in person will have their name announced during the ceremony, and all eligible graduates will have their names in the printed programs.
Each campus will have a commencement rehearsal prior to Commencement (times per campus TBD). Rehearsal is not mandatory but may be helpful to assist some students with getting more comfortable with the Commencement venue and the program.
All graduates walking at Commencement will receive all needed information and details via their PennWest email the week prior to Commencement and will also be directed when they arrive at the Commencement venue and during the ceremony.
Graduates will receive a diploma cover during the Commencement ceremony, which contains information regarding their official diploma. Diplomas will be mailed approximately one month after completion of degree requirements and degrees are conferred.
PennWest contracts with GradImages® for official graduate photos taken during the ceremony. GradImages will contact graduates via their PennWest email after the ceremony with proofs for review and purchase information.
Keep checking your PennWest email for updated information and instructions for your special day!
All graduates will receive an online survey sent to their PennWest email after Commencement so you can let us know how we did and to help us strive for continuous improvement.
Congratulations and we hope you enjoy your special day and will participate in the survey afterwards!
