San Diego and Irvine 2013 Commencement

Commencement Ceremony Location & Date

Hilton Bayfront | Sapphire Ballroom
One Park Blvd.
San Diego, CA 92101

Friday, May 24, 2013
8:30/11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Checklist for Graduates

Step 1 - Correspondence

Read all correspondence from the University regarding Commencement and contact your Academic Advisor or Program Director for any program-specific graduation requirements.

Step 2 - Register for Commencement

To participate in the spring 2013 graduation ceremony on May 24, 2013, students must meet the below Registrar's Office minimum requirements:

Undergraduate students: Must have no more than 15 units to be completed in the summer term (18 if qualified). Students must be registered in advance for these units.

Terminal Master's degree students: Must have completed all degree requirements by the end of the term of graduation (spring 2013).

Doctoral students: The Registrar's office requires that students defend their dissertations by Friday, May 3, 2013 to walk in the ceremony and have their name/dissertation title published in the Commencement Program. To walk in the ceremony but not have your name/dissertation in the Commencement Program you must defend your dissertation by Friday, May 17, 2013. (Please be aware that a student's program may have more stringent deadlines requiring that students not only defend but turn in their completed dissertations to the library by a specific date to participate in the ceremony.)

If you meet the Registrar's Office minimum requirements, you must then register for Commencement. Registration ensures that your name appears in the Commencement Program and allows you to walk in the ceremony. You must give the Registrar your full name, program, degree, name of your chairperson and dissertation title (if a Doctoral student), and number of guests attending. You can notify the Registrar's Office by clicking here.

Step 3 - Order your Cap and Gown

Students purchase their Commencement regalia through Oak Hall. Orders can be placed online at: https://college.oakhalli.com/college/alliant/. Orders placed after April 26, 2013 will incur a $20 late fee. Orders placed on or after May 5, 2013 will incur a $25.00 rush fee and must be made over the phone by calling 1-800-456-7623. The last day to place your order to ensure delivery before Commencement is May 5, 2012.

Step 4 - Order Personalized Announcements (optional)

Personalized graduation announcements, thank you cards, and certificates of appreciation are available for purchase through NRP. Announcements should be ordered several weeks before Commencement. Click here to order your Personalized Alliant Graduation Announcements.

Step 5 - Commencement Ceremony

Students arrive at the Hilton Bayfront on Friday, May 24, 2014 no later than 8:30 AM for Commencement. The procession begins at 10:30 AM and the ceremony begins at 11:00 AM. Guests should arrive at 10:00 AM.

Grad Fair

Attending the Grad Fair will provide you with an opportunity to: try on your cap, gown, and hood before you order; view/order announcements and diploma frames; and take cap and gown portraits. The fair will be held in Green Hall over two days.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Thursday, March 28, 2013 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Graduation Regalia

Visit https://college.oakhalli.com/college/alliant/ to place your order.

Those receiving a Doctoral degree will carry their hoods to the ceremony for hooding on the stage by their chairperson and Dean. You will hold the hood over your arm as you walk across the stage, and hand it to your chairperson. Those receiving a Master’s degree will wear their hoods to the ceremony. There are no hoods for Bachelor regalia.

Orders placed after April 26, 2013 will incur a $20 late fee. Orders placed after May 5, 2013 will incur a $25.00 rush fee and must be made over the phone by calling 1-800-456-7623. The last day to place your order to ensure delivery before Commencement is May 5, 2013.

Important Information

The Commencement ceremony will take place on Friday, May 24, 2013 at the Hilton Bayfront in the Sapphire Ballroom.

Students must arrive by 8:30 AM. There will be no rehearsal for this event; therefore, students must arrive promptly by 8:30 AM to allow for preparation time.

Guests can begin to arrive at 10:00 AM, enter the main lobby, and follow signs to the Sapphire Ballroom. The Sapphire Ballroom is on the 4th floor of the hotel. Absolutely no alcoholic beverages may be brought into the Hilton Bayfront and there is a $10.00 per car fee for self-parking.

Students will receive a diploma cover during the ceremony. The ceremonial certificate you receive at Commencement is not a diploma. Degrees take several months to process. Your diploma will be sent to the address that you list on your degree paperwork.

Students who request that their diploma be held for pick-up will be notified when the diploma is available.

Commencement Photographs

California Candids will take photographs at the stage area as you receive your diploma. California Candids will also be available during the reception outside the Sapphire Ballroom for still photographs. Graduates may also go back into the ballroom during the reception to take personal photos. To contact California Candids, call (858) 571-7370.

Ceremony Instructions

8:30 AM - Graduates, faculty, and administrative staff arrive

Graduates will meet on the 3rd floor of the hotel in Aqua room 306B for the formation of the academic procession. Light refreshments will be provided. You will obtain a reader card printed with your name on it from a Registrar's Office representative in this area. You will then line up with other students in your cohort for the processional, with assistance from the Marshals.

Below is a map of the 3rd floor of the hotel. Please meet in Aqua 306B.

Hilton Bayfront Hotel - 3rd Floor map

10:00 AM – Guest seating

Guests may begin to find seats in the Sapphire Ballroom. The Sapphire Ballroom is located on the 4th floor of the hotel. There are no tickets or guest limits for Commencement. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Disabled seating will be available and will also be on a first-come, first-served basis.

If you or a member of your family requires accommodations, please contact Accessibility Services at 858-635-4471 no later than May 7th.

Hilton Bayfront Hotel - 4th Floor map

10:30 AM - Processional Begins
The processional will begin promptly at 10:30 AM. Wear the tassel on your mortarboard on the right side. The procession will proceed to the seats directly in front of the stage. When you reach your seat, remain standing until you are instructed to be seated. The ceremony will begin at 11:00 AM.

After the speeches listed in the program, the Presentation of the Class of 2013 will be announced. Please stand upon the request of your Dean, along with the others in your group who are receiving the same type of degree. Your Dean will present you as a group to the President.

When instructed by the Marshal, walk to the faculty member who will be reading names at the base of the stage.

As you approach the reader lectern, hand your card to the reader who will announce your name. Then walk to the stage. A Marshal will direct you across the stage. Doctoral degree graduates, please note that after your name is announced, you will walk to your Program Director and Dissertation Chairperson, hand the hood to your Chairperson, and turn to face the audience to have the hood placed over your head. Then walk across the stage to receive your diploma case from the President.

Upon being handed the diploma case, accept it with your left hand and shake hands, with the President with your right hand; at this point your graduation photo will be taken with the President. You will need to turn slightly to face the photographer who will be facing the stage.

Proceed across the stage, down the ramps, and have your individual photo taken a second time. A Marshal will direct you to your original row to be seated.

Please respect the ceremonial process for your fellow graduates by remaining in your seat throughout the entire ceremony.

Your degree will be conferred upon the President’s proclamation at the conclusion of the ceremony. After his proclamation, move the tassel on your cap to the left side.

The Recessional March down the main aisle will begin at the direction of the Marshals. The President’s party will leave the stage first, followed by the faculty and then by the graduates.

Note to Our New Alumni

Congratulations! Commencement is an inspirational and exciting time for you and your family! You are now joining over 30,000 alumni of Alliant International University. We are sure you will make a difference in the world, just as many other Alliant alumni have done and continue to do.

Your fellow alumni have gone on to become world-renowned psychologists, couples and family therapists, educators, government leaders, international entrepreneurs, leaders of universities, authors, television stars and even academy award winners. You are in great company when you proudly state you are a graduate of Alliant International University.

The Alliant Alumni Association, which includes graduates from a rich 84 year history at Balboa University (1926-1959), Cal Western (1959-1973), United States International University (1973-2001), California School of Professional Psychology (1972-2000), and now Alliant International University (2001-present) are excited to welcome you to this incredible worldwide network.

You are important to us, and we want to stay connected!

A key part of your future is being a member of the Alliant Alumni Association. Keep the Office of Alumni Relations up-to-date with your most recent address, both physical and electronic, as well as career successes and personal developments and achievements. We want to tell others how proud we are of you! You can reach us anytime at alumni@alliant.edu to keep us up-to-date. Check out the alumni benefits page for additional discounts and opportunities.

Another efficient way to keep current with your friends, both internationally and domestically, is through e-mail and the university’s on-line community, Alliant Connect (www.alliantconnect.org). Join in; it’s free, and you can use this page to connect with alumni as you continue to enrich your Alliant International University experience.

Our Alumni Association wishes you great success as you travel through life with the valuable knowledge and experience you have gained at Alliant. Stay connected!

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