Commencement

ORDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you’re interested in ordering graduation announcements (i.e., announcements, thank you notes, envelope seals, address labels, etc.), you may use this website: https://www.cbgrad.com/

ORDER CAP, GOWN AND TASSEL

Students can purchase their caps, gowns and tassel at the Rocklin campus bookstore starting Tuesday, April 1, 2025.

Approximate cost for the package (cap, gown, and tassel) is $56.98. Items can be ordered individually and online at: https://sierra.bncollege.com/ (search Graduation):

• Gown: $36.98
• Cap: $10.98
• Tassel: $8.98

Note: Stoles are sold separately.

ORDER BOUQUETS, LEIS, CUSTOM CLASS T-SHIRT AND MORE (ROCKLIN CAMPUS ONLY)

Pre-order these items ahead of time and pick them up at the Sierra College commencement ceremony. To order, visit: https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/sierra/

To retrieve your order, please stop by the booth located outside the gym entrance before the ceremony begins.

COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL: Friday, May 23, 2025

It is highly recommended that you attend commencement rehearsal. Rehearsal will be on Friday, May 23, 2025 at 10 am at the Sierra College Football Stadium. Breakfast burritos will be served.

• FREE parking in Lots J, K and the parking garage; no need to pay meter
• Rehearsal will last about one hour
• You can pick up a graduation yard sign and other goodies at rehearsal
• You do not need to wear Commencement attire at rehearsal
• Heels are not allowed on the football field (wedges are OK)
• Please share the guest information with your guests

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY CHECK-IN: Friday, May 23, 2025

Please arrive at 5:30 pm for commencement check-in outside the gym entrance. All graduates must be checked-in by 6:45 pm. View Rocklin Campus Commencement Map

• Check-in at the Sierra College Gym Entrance
• FREE parking in Lots J, K and the parking garage; no need to pay meter
• Arrive dressed in commencement attire (View Dress Code below)
• Graduates will be seated in the order they are lined up. Note: If you wish to be seated next to a particular person or group, make sure to line up next to them in the Gym Lobby
• If you do not wish to shake hands with President Willy Duncan or members of our Board of Trustees on stage, briefly place your hand on your heart to let them know to refrain from shaking your hand
• Please share the guest information with your guests
• Commencement will last about 2 hours

DRESS CODE

• Graduates must be dressed in a cap and gown to participate in commencement
• Please wear pants, a dress or a skirt under your gown
• Flip flops should not be worn to commencement. Heels are not allowed on the football field; wedges are OK
• Decorating your cap is permitted, but please do not use profanity, make political statements, or add anything that could be construed as inappropriate
• The tassel should be kept on the right side of your cap

PRE-ORDER BOUQUETS, LEIS, CUSTOM CLASS T-SHIRT AND MORE (ROCKLIN CAMPUS ONLY)

Pre-order these items ahead of time and pick them up at the Sierra College Commencement Ceremony. To order, visit: https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/sierra/

To retrieve your order, please stop by the booth located outside the gym entrance before the ceremony begins.

Seating in the Sierra College Football Stadium may be limited and cannot be reserved, but there is no limit to the number of guests allowed. All guests should be seated by 6:45 pm. Commencement will last about 2 hours.

• Please silence your phone throughout the ceremony and keep all valuables with you
• If it is a warm day, we recommend bringing bottled water
• Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase at the snack bar
• No pets allowed – Service animals welcome
• No drones allowed – Sierra College is a no-fly zone
• Unable to attend commencement at the Rocklin Campus? You can also livestream the event on May 23 starting at 7pm. A recording of the event will also be available after the ceremony concludes.

View the Rocklin Campus Commencement Map to find:

• Accessible and general parking
• First aid and cooling station (Athletic Room 146 in the Gym)
• Gift shop to purchase flowers, 2025 grad t-shirts and more (cash and credit cards accepted)
• Photography area
• Public restrooms
• Snack bar and more!

PARKING AND ACCESSIBILITY

Parking will be free on the day of commencement in the Sierra College parking garage and Lots J or K near Sierra College Blvd/Stadium entrance.

Disabled parking is located on floors 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the Sierra College parking garage near Sierra College Blvd/Stadium entrance. Mobility carts will be available on the first floor of the parking garage. Guests who require mobility cart services should arrive by 5:45 pm.

A wheelchair drop-off and pick-up zone will be available next to the Parking garage.

Free shuttles will run from Lots B and next to Dietrich Theatre (Building T), which will take guests to the Sierra College Blvd/stadium entrance. Free parking is available in Lots B, E or G.

Seating in the mobility section will be available for the guest and up to three companions. An interpreter will be near the mobility seating area for the duration of commencement.

View Rocklin Campus Commencement Map for parking, shuttle/accessibility points and event entrance.

PRE-ORDER BOUQUETS, LEIS, CUSTOM CLASS T-SHIRT AND MORE (ROCKLIN CAMPUS ONLY)

Pre-order these items ahead of time and pick them up at the Sierra College Commencement Ceremony. To order, visit: https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/sierra/

To retrieve your order, please stop by the booth located outside the gym entrance before the ceremony begins.

REGALIA

• You will receive an email when your faculty regalia is ready for pick up at the Rocklin Bookstore.
• Regalia that has not been picked up by Thursday, May 22, will be available at the Commencement faculty check-in area of the gym (new location) in the Kinesiology lab (N-124). View map for faculty check-in route.

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY DETAILS

• On Friday, May 23, please arrive by 6 pm and meet at the designated area in the gym (N-124). View map for faculty check-in route.
• After the ceremony, return to the same location to drop off your regalia.

Students with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher (based on fall term grades) will be given a gold tassel at commencement check-in. Please note that gold tassels are only given to those students who participate in the ceremony. If you qualify, your gold tassel will be given to you when you check in the evening of the ceremony.

Phi Theta Kappa Honors Stoles, Honors Tassels, Honors Cords and Key Medallions are worn by members of Phi Theta Kappa (Sierra College’s chapter of Beta Mu Zeta). Membership verification is necessary for all Regalia orders.

HOW TO ORDER

You must have your username and Phi Theta Kappa Honors membership ID number to order any graduation regalia. To order, visit https://store.ptk.org/

QUESTIONS?

Contact Jason File, Honors/PTK faculty advisor, at jfile@sierracollege.edu.

Professional photography will be provided by Ultimate Exposure.

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY PHOTOGRAPHY

Each graduate will be photographed as their diploma is received and sent a free copy of the proof.

• Make sure to complete an information card at the check-in table and hand it to the designee as you walk on stage.
• Proofs will be viewable at www.ultimateexposures.com

Note: There will be a designated photography area located on the football field for families to take pictures during the ceremony.

PRE-COMMENCEMENT DAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Professional portrait sittings will be available before Commencement at the Rocklin Campus on Thursday, May 8, 2025 from 9 am – 3:30 pm in Winstead Center (L-193). Appointments are required.

How to Schedule an Appointment

• Sign up by visiting www.ultimateexposures.com
• Select “Schedule a Sitting”
• Click on Cap & Gown and Select your school
• Select time
• Select “Traditional Sitting (cap and gown only)” or “Supreme Sitting (cap and gown + business attire)
• For questions, please contact Mary at Ultimate Exposures at mary@ultimateexposures.com or (877) 858-3976

To join the Sierra College Alumni Association, complete this membership form (which will also be available at the ceremony) and submit it to foundation@sierracollege.edu. A Gold Membership is FREE for the first three years (and $25 annually after that). Platinum Membership is: $50 annually, or $150 lifetime.

ORDER ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you’re interested in ordering graduation announcements (i.e., announcements, thank you notes, envelope seals, address labels, etc.), you may use this website: https://www.cbgrad.com/

ORDER CAP, GOWN AND TASSEL

Students can purchase their caps, gowns and tassel at the Rocklin campus bookstore or at the Nevada County Campus popup bookstore (specific dates listed below). 

Approximate cost for the package (cap, gown, and tassel) is $56.98. Items can be ordered individually and online at: https://sierra.bncollege.com/ (search Graduation):

• Gown: $36.98
• Cap: $10.98
• Tassel: $8.98

Note: Stoles are sold separately.

POP-UP BOOKSTORE HOURS

Purchase regalia on campus on the following days:

• Tuesday, April 22, 10:30am – 2:30pm (The bookstore will have a table at the NCC Earth Day event).
• Thursday, May 22, 10:30am – 4:30pm (closed 1:30 – 2pm)

BOUQUETS, LEIS, ETC. NOT SOLD AT NCC

The Nevada County Campus does not offer an on-site service for purchasing flowers, bouquets, leis, etc. Please contact your local florist if you would like to purchase these items for graduates.

CAP DECORATING STATION

The NCC Counseling Center (N1-208) will be hosting a cap decorating station in their office the week of graduation. Graduates are invited to personalize their graduation cap on May 19-21, 8:30 am – 5pm and May 22, 8:30 am – 3 pm.

Provided supplies will include items such as ribbon, sequins, paint pens, foam lettering, and stencils. Students are invited to bring their own supplies, too.

COMMENCEMENT REHEARSAL: Thursday, May 22 at 9:30 am

It is highly recommended that you attend commencement rehearsal. Rehearsal will be on Thursday, May 22 at 9:30 am at the Bell Tower Quad.

• The rehearsal will last about one hour
• A light breakfast will be served
• You can pick up a graduate yard sign at rehearsal
• You do not need to wear commencement attire at rehearsal

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY CHECK-IN: Thursday, May 22 at 5 pm

• Please arrive between 5 and 5:30 pm for commencement check-in. View Campus Map
• Check-in will take place at the Multipurpose Center (N12-103).
• Commencement will last about one hour.
• You should arrive dressed in commencement attire (see Dress Code below).

DRESS CODE

• Graduates must be dressed in a cap and gown to participate in commencement
• Please wear pants, a dress or a skirt under your gown
• Flip flops should not be worn to commencement.
• The tassel should be kept on the right side of your cap

Guests may arrive no sooner than 4:30 p.m. for Commencement, located at the Bell Tower Quad by N-4. Seating may be limited and cannot be reserved, but there is no limit to the number of guests allowed. All guests should be seated by 5:50pm. View Nevada County Campus Map

• Please silence your phone throughout the ceremony and keep all valuables with you
• If it is a warm day, we recommend bringing bottled water
• No pets allowed – Service animals welcome
• No drones allowed – Sierra College is a no-fly zone
• Enjoy refreshments at the reception immediately following Commencement
• Unable to attend commencement at the Nevada County Campus? You can also livestream the event on May 22 starting at 6pm. A recording of the event will also be available after the ceremony concludes.

BOUQUETS, LEIS, ETC. NOT SOLD AT NCC

The Nevada County Campus does not offer an on-site service for purchasing flowers, bouquets, leis, etc. Please contact your local florist if you would like to purchase these items for graduates.

PARKING

Parking will be free on the day of commencement.

If needed, please arrive early to use the drop-off location outside of N12, N1 or N2 and, if possible, have a friend or family member park the car in another location. View Nevada County Campus Map

ACCESSIBILITY

There are 7 ADA stalls in front of the N12/N13 buildings. In front of N1, lots 7 and 8 will be reserved for ADA parking. Please arrive early to use the drop-off location outside of N12, N1 or N2 and, if possible, have a friend or family member park the car in another location.

If any of your guests need wheelchair or special access, we recommend they park in lot 7 or 8, and use the elevators in buildings N1 or N2.

Note: The Bell Tower elevator will be inaccessible.

Students with an overall GPA of 3.5 or higher (based on fall term grades) will be given a gold tassel at commencement check-in. Please note that gold tassels are only given to those students who participate in the ceremony. If you qualify, your gold tassel will be given to you when you check in the evening of the ceremony.

Phi Theta Kappa Honors Stoles, Honors Tassels, Honors Cords and Key Medallions are worn by members of Phi Theta Kappa (Sierra College’s chapter of Beta Mu Zeta). Membership verification is necessary for all Regalia orders.

HOW TO ORDER

You must have your username and Phi Theta Kappa Honors membership ID number to order any graduation regalia. To order, visit https://store.ptk.org/.

QUESTIONS?

Contact Jason File, Honors/PTK faculty advisor.

Professional photography will be provided by Ultimate Exposure.

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY PHOTOGRAPHY

Each graduate will be photographed as their diploma is received and sent a free copy of the proof.

• Make sure to complete an information card at the check-in table and hand it to the designee as you walk on stage.
• Proofs will be viewable at www.ultimateexposures.com

PRE-COMMENCEMENT DAY PHOTOGRAPHY

Professional portrait sittings will be available before Commencement at the Rocklin Campus on Thursday, May 8, 2025 from 9 am – 3:30 pm in Winstead Center (L-193). Appointments are required.

• Sign up by visiting www.ultimateexposures.com
• Select “Schedule a Sitting”
• Click on Cap & Gown and Select your school
• Select time on May 8, 2025 between 9am and 3:30pm
• Select “Traditional Sitting (cap and gown only)” or “Supreme Sitting (cap and gown + business attire)
• For questions, please contact Mary at Ultimate Exposures at mary@ultimateexposures.com or (877) 858-3976
• Rocklin Campus Map

The Nevada County Campus Council of the Sierra College Foundation will be hosting a reception in honor of this year’s graduating class immediately following the ceremony in the West Quad. Please invite your guests to join you at the reception to enjoy refreshments and photo opportunities.

To join the Sierra College Alumni Association, complete this membership form (which will also be available at the ceremony) and submit it to foundation@sierracollege.edu. A Gold Membership is FREE for the first three years (and $25 annually after that). Platinum Membership is: $50 annually, or $150 lifetime.