What to expect on your big day
We’re thrilled to celebrate your achievements at SPC’s Commencement! To help make your day unforgettable, we’ve put together all the important details you’ll need.
All graduation candidates are invited to participate in the formal commencement ceremonies held in the Fall and Spring semesters. Eligible students will receive an email invitation with registration information sent to their SPC email account. Registration for each ceremony is approximately four to six weeks before the event.
We can’t wait to celebrate this important milestone with you
Pre-ceremony Instructions
Plan to arrive at least 60 minutes prior to the start of the event..
- Bring your Name Card. You should have received a card in the mail with your name on it. This card is your "fast pass" to avoid checking in. Upon arrival you may proceed directly to the field. If you do not bring your name card look for the designated table as you enter the venue.
- Arrive Early. Allocate time for travel, parking, and special accommodations (if requested). College staff will direct you to the appropriate area where you will be able to pick up honor cords and Veteran cords. These cords are distributed 30-45 minutes ahead of the event.
- Dress in Your Regalia. You should be dressed in your cap, gown, and tassel. The campus bookstore will be onsite if you need to purchase regalia prior to the ceremony.
- Honor cord. Honor distinctions are given to the students in a Bachelor's or Associate degree program with a qualifying cumulative GPA can be found on your unofficial transcript in MySPC. Certificates are not eligible for honors. Check the SPC website to determine if you qualify.
- Photos. Formal photos may be purchased through Information on purchasing photos will be sent to graduates after the event.
If you requested accommodations, meet your Accessibility Services coordinator at the designated location. When attending Commencement in Spring, Fall plan to arrive one hour before the ceremony begins. This will allow you to conduct a walk through with Accessibility Services staff, to secure your seat and have a professional graduation photo taken in advance.
Decorum
Both Commencement are ceremonies that recognize your achievements and you are encouraged to bring as many guests as you like to celebrate.
Because the Commencement ceremony is a formal event, decorum is very important for graduates, candidates, and guests. Please use good judgement and celebrate your accomplishment in a way not to disrupt others.
As a courtesy to fellow classmates and their guests do not exit the venue until the entire ceremony has concluded.
Programs
To support sustainability and reduce waste, the official Commencement program will be available in digital format only. Graduates and guests can access the program by scanning a QR code displayed at the ceremony.
The digital program will be available for viewing and download. Programs are available for download and viewing.
Official graduation photos
A professional photographer from Grad Images will be on stage to take your picture as you greet the president. To see proofs and order copies of professional photos taken, log in with your last name and the year of the ceremony at the Grad Images website or email ecc.giservice@gradimages.net.
Photos taken by Grad Images are not posted on SPC social media. If you have questions about photos taken by Grad Images, please visit gradimages.com/Home/EmailUs.
Candid graduation photos
A selection of candid graduation photos taken by SPC’s Marketing & Strategic Communications staff are shared on the college’s Facebook page. Graduates can freely save and download any candid photos from this posted album.