Ceremony Details & Directions

Ceremony Time & Location

The Commencement Ceremony will begin promptly at 9 am at Plaza of the Sun (Building 36, Amphitheater) on Friday, May 22, 2026. The event will be held outside. Graduate check-in will begin at 8 am at parking Lot M.

Graduation Photos
Professional photographers will be on hand throughout the ceremony. To make sure you receive your personal photo gallery, please complete the Selfie Check-In before Commencement Day. For questions, contact Tracy Portrait Studio at contact@tracyportrait.com or (209) 834-2052.

Flow of Traffic & Parking

Free guest parking for this event is available in all designated student parking lots. A clockwise flow of traffic around campus is recommended to help improve circulation and reduce congestion. Please see the map below for additional details.

Handicapped Parking

Handicapped parking is located in Lot Q and Lot S, closer to the ceremony, for those with DMV placards.

Balloons, Signs, & Blowhorns not permitted

No balloons, signs, blowhorns, coolers, mini tents, umbrellas, illegal drugs, etc., are allowed. Please leave these items in your car. Guests with any of these will be given warnings before being asked to leave the Amphitheater.

Weather

Please be prepared for cool, breezy weather and plan on wearing layers. If you would like to watch the ceremony indoors, it will be livestreamed in our overflow area in College Center Building 10, Bayview Dining Room.

Commencement Ceremony Livestream

You can watch the livestream of the Commencement Ceremony on CSM’s YouTube Channel starting at 9 am. Guests who wish to watch it indoors rather than going down to the Amphitheater may view it on monitors in Bayview Dining Room (Building 10, second floor) during the ceremony.