Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below will be updated as we have new information to share with our graduates and their family members.
We will be reviewing all feedback and working with student leadership and our campus planning partners to make this year’s Commencement as meaningful and joyful as possible under the conditions of the pandemic.
Email your suggestions and questions to commencement@stmarys-ca.edu.
- General Information
- Regalia, Diplomas, & Programs
- Class of 2021 Website
- CARmencement - Registration and Participation
- CARmencement - Time
- CARmencement - Driving & Parking
- CARmencement - Friends & Family
- CARmencement - Photography & Live Stream
- CARmencement - Health & Safety
- Commencement 2022
- Graduate and Professional Studies
Saint Mary’s Commencement 2021 will be the weekend of May 21–23, 2021.
- Undergraduate Class of 2020 & 2021: Friday, May 21, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Undergraduate Class of 2021: Saturday, May 22, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Graduate and Professional Studies 2020 & 2021: Sunday, May 23, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Our Commencement celebration will include both an in-person experience (CARmencement) and a virtual live streaming event (for family members unable to attend in person).
Saint Mary’s will host a CARmencement, a parade-like celebration through campus, including individual graduate recognition for the Classes of 2020 and 2021.
We are delighted to announce that students will have the opportunity to hear their names read aloud, walk across the stage, and pose for an individual photo in front of the Chapel.
More information about esteemed speakers for the virtual event will be coming soon. Visit the Commencement page often for up-to-date information.
See the letter from the President.
Graduates (2020 and 2021) can participate in the graduation celebrations in a two ways:
1. Attend CARmencement, a drive-through celebration
Register between April 7 and May 6 (at noon) to participate in the CARmencement event on campus. Drive through campus with your COVID bubble buddies in one vehicle, wave to faculty and staff, walk across the stage, and have your photograph taken with the Chapel as the backdrop.
- Undergraduate Class of 2020 & 2021: Friday, May 21, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Undergraduate Class of 2021: Saturday, May 22, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Graduate and Professional Studies 2020 & 2021: Sunday, May 23, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
2. Visit the Commencement Website—watch the livestream & view your grad profile
Visit the Commencement website on your Commencement day to watch a livestream of messages from the President, Provost, Valedictorian, and more. Watch a livestream of CARmencement, and see graduates have their names read as they walk across the stage. Visit personalized grad profile web pages where students can share their favorite memories and grad photos. View a live thread of our social media, and read all the congratulatory messages from friends, family, and the community.
No, we will not have a traditional in-personal Commencement this year. The university is committed to holding an in-person CARmencement celebration on-campus for 2020 and 2021 graduates on the following dates:
- Friday, May 21: Undergraduate Class of 2020
- Saturday, May 22: Undergraduate Class of 2021
- Sunday, May 23: Graduate and Professional Studies 2020 and 2021
Students will have the opportunity to hear their names read aloud, walk across the stage, and pose for an individual photo in front of the Chapel while their guests remain in the vehicle. The timing and format will depend on the COVID-19 situation and the health and safety requirements at that time.
No, due to county COVID-19 regulations, there will be no plot parties this year.
Yes! Regalia can be ordered here until April 26.
You will need your SMC ID to order. If you are unable to order, please contact commencement@stmarys-ca.edu with your name and SMC ID.
No. There will be no sales of any kind on the day of the celebration. Eligible students have received information on how to order regalia; please refer to your email for more information on how to order. The deadline to order regalia is April 26, 2021.
All graduates will receive their diplomas by mail. Diplomas are mailed during the months of June, July, and August. For more information, contact the Registrar’s office.
This year, we are forgoing the traditional program in lieu of a special memory program that will include a list of all graduates. This program will be mailed to graduates with their official diplomas in August.
Yes! We will have a special program mailed with your diploma later this summer.
The Class of 2021 Commencement website will feature a personalized graduate profile web page for each undergraduate and Graduate and Professional Studies student participating in Commencement. The pages will include their name, major, and honors. Class of 2021 students will be given the opportunity to submit additional information to their page, such as a photo, personal quote, a favorite SMC memory, and links to their social media accounts. Students will receive the link to update their grad profiles via email.
Fill out your Class of 2021 profile here.
Profiles from Class of 2020 can be visited here.
The Class of 2021 Commencement website will feature a personalized graduate profile web page for each undergraduate and Graduate and Professional Studies student participating in Commencement. The pages will include their name, major, and honors. Class of 2021 students will be given the opportunity to submit additional information to their page, such as a photo, personal quote, a favorite SMC memory, and links to their social media accounts. Students will receive the link to update their grad profiles via email.
The profiles from Class of 2020 can be visited here.
The 2021 graduate profiles will be open for editing on Tuesday, April 20, 2021. Graduates should look for an email with more information closer to this date.
Students will be able to upload one square-sized photo for their profile page. The file can be no larger than 3MB.
No. Students will only be able to upload one photo.
Yes. For each of the three questions on the student form, you will be allowed 400 characters.
Yes, you have until May 14 to add to or change your submission.
Please note: Submissions will not be edited; however, any submissions deemed inappropriate will not be published.
If you do not want to provide a photo or other additional information, you do not have to submit the form. However, your name, major, and honors will still appear on the website unless you previously submitted a request to the Registrar’s Office to not appear in the Commencement program.
If you have questions about participating in the website, please contact the Registrar’s Office at commencement@stmarys-ca.edu.
Friday, May 14, 2021.
- Undergraduate Class of 2020 & 2021: Friday, May 21, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Undergraduate Class of 2021: Saturday, May 22, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Graduate and Professional Studies 2020 & 2021: Sunday, May 23, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Starting April 7, graduates can register for a time slot to attend. Registration will close May 6 at noon.
Yes. Due to COVID restrictions from the county, traditional in-person Commencement ceremonies will not be possible this year.
CARmencement is for the eligible undergraduates and graduates in the classes of 2020 and 2021. Only graduates with an expected graduation term of fall 2019, spring 2020, summer 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021, or summer 2021 who have applied to graduate will be allowed to RSVP and attend the event.
Yes. Registration is mandatory in order to participate. The CARmencement registration is now closed and at full capacity.
CARmencement is completely optional. Eligible graduates who do not or cannot participate in CARmencement can watch the livestreamed event on the Commencement website and personalize their graduate profile.
Yes, graduates should be dressed in regalia for their photos on the stage. Regalia is available to order at no cost. Eligible students have received information on how to order regalia; please refer to your email for more information on how to order. The deadline to order regalia is April 26, 2021.
A professional photographer will be on site taking photos that will be available for purchase at a later date.
Yes. When graduates RSVP for the event, they will be asked for the phonetic pronunciation of their name.
No. Students with multiple majors will automatically be granted access to RSVP and participate in one time slot.
Please arrive 20-30 minutes prior to your scheduled time to allow plenty of time to get your registration card and file into the correct queue. Your registration card is what you will take to the stage to hand to the announcer.
Please show us a copy of your confirmation when you arrive on campus. Click here if you need to quickly find your CARmencement confirmation details (date and time).
By pre-scheduling ahead of time we are not anticipating long wait times.
It could take about 30 minutes total by the time you enter the sports fields, drive through the campus main gate, exit your vehicle, have your photo taken on stage by our photographer, and follow the engagement loop around campus.
The celebration route will begin at the entrance to the College near the Chapel Lawn and follow De La Salle Drive around the campus.
No. Due to a strict time schedule, multiple celebration routes cannot be accommodated.
Graduates can drive themselves; however, we highly recommend graduates experience the drive-through celebration as a passenger, so they can focus on the celebration fully.
Yes, you may, as long as the driver knows he/she may not exit the vehicle at any time.
No bicycles, motorcycles, buses, golf carts, party trolleys, or floats will be permitted onto the route. Convertibles will be allowed, but passengers are encouraged to wear face coverings at all times.
Participants are encouraged to decorate their vehicles (while complying with all California laws). All vehicles must be under 11-feet tall and under 30-feet long.
As you are entering campus near the Bus circle where the stage located , we will ask that you turn down your music because names of students will be read aloud as they are crossing the stage for their photograph. Once you depart from the Chapel Lawn staging area and reach the Alioto Recreation Center, you will be allowed to play music in your vehicle. As you are finishing the loop near Brother Jerome West Hall, you will again be asked to lower your car music so the names of students can be heard at the stage area.
No. California Law does not allow passengers to ride in beds of trucks.
It is up to the graduate who is allowed in their vehicle; however, we highly recommend only members of the graduate's immediate COVID bubble be in the vehicle. Please adhere to all California driving laws. Every person in the vehicle must have a fastened seat belt while in motion. We encourage all members to wear a face mask.
No. You must remain in your vehicle at all times, and faculty/staff must maintain appropriate social distance from your vehicle.
Aside from using the restroom facilities, participants must remain in their vehicle at all times. The only additional place graduates will be allowed to exit is at the stage to have their photo taken with their diploma cover.
Students will be entering through the front sports fields. If you are early, there will be sufficient space to wait until your pre-scheduled time. If we are ahead of schedule and our time allows, we will add you as you arrive.
No, on campus students will be asked to walk to the front parking lots to join their family in the car.
Please email commencement@stmarys-ca.edu with your request.
No. Only one vehicle is allowed per graduate. Guests from the same household unit may join a graduate in their one vehicle.
If you and your family choose to travel to Saint Mary’s for this occasion, one vehicle will be allowed to participate. The student will be invited to exit the vehicle and cross the stage, where a professional photograph will be taken. The event will also be livestreamed so that families can attend remotely if they are not able to participate in the in-person experience.
No. Only faculty, staff, and university employees who have been approved may stand along the celebration route. All will maintain appropriate social distance and wear face coverings. A livestream of the celebration will be available on the Commencement website for friends and family to watch and enjoy.
For a list of local hotels, please visit our website.
The graduating student is the ONLY member of the family who can exit the car, walk to the stage, and take an official photograph with the Saint Mary's photographer.
Yes, professional photographers will be stationed as graduates walk across the stage to receive their diploma cover. You will be able to remove your face covering at this time. These photos will later be available for purchase online. Additional photography of CARmencement will be available to download shortly after each event. The entire event will be livestreamed here.
Both photography and livestream video will be taken during the course of this event for use in Saint Mary’s College publicity materials.
The campus-wide Commencement celebration will be available via livestream on the Saint Mary’s Commencement webpage. After the livestream, the recorded event will be available to watch.
Emergency vehicles and tow trucks will be available on site.
The safety of our students, faculty, staff, and guests is our highest priority. We have coordinated with health officials to ensure that all safety guidelines and regulations are followed.
No, you will not be required to take the LiveSafe quiz. We are amending our requirement for everyone to take the LiveSafe quiz before CARmencement. The only individuals allowed to exit a vehicle will be the graduate at the stage for their photograph. At that time, they will be allowed to remove their face covering for the photograph.
Graduates and guests are not required to wear masks or face coverings while in their enclosed vehicle, although may do so. However, any time windows are rolled down or visitors are interacting with staff (for instance, during check-in), masks will be mandatory.
For safety, sustainability, and security reasons, certain items are prohibited from the celebration, such as silly string, sparklers, confetti, and alcohol.
Graduates must adhere to the Student Conduct Code during the event.
Yes. Portable restrooms will be accessible prior to entering the main route. Face coverings, social distancing, and all other COVID safety guidelines must be followed while utilizing the restrooms.
Students participating must comply with the Student Conduct Code, including policies on public intoxication and alcohol. The celebration is an alcohol-free event. For the safety of everyone participating, staff will deny entry to any student or drivers who appear intoxicated.
Unfortunately, no. The pandemic has forced the College to make many tough decisions, including this one. We wish it were different this year, but unfortunately it isn’t.
Eligibility is determined by individual schools. Please refer to your program office for additional information.
Please contact your department for information on how to become eligible for commencement.
Graduate Business: Catherine Barbagallo cab11@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-8716
Graduate Kines: MAKin@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-8834
MFA in Creative Writing: Krista Varela Posell; kdv1@stmarys-ca.edu; 925-631-4762
MFA in Dance: Roberta Chavez rmc5@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-8183
LEAP: Stephanie Miller scb1@stmarys-ca.edu 925-631-4538
KSOE: ksoe_ess@stmarys 925-631-4700