Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I have to file two forms to walk in Commencement?
The Application for Degree Conferral in WebAdvisor tells the University that you plan to finish your course of study by a certain date. Once you have completed all your academic requirements and met all institutional obligations, you will be awarded a diploma, which will be sent to you in the mail a few weeks after your degree is officially verified.

The online Commencement RSVP Form is submitted to the Office of the Chancellor to tell the institution that you plan to walk in the Commencement ceremony. Chapman University does not assume that all students will want to participate in the ceremony. Since the Chancellor's Office is responsible for implementing academic events, that office needs to know if you will be attending in order to provide space and related graduation items especially for you, including your personalized card for identifying yourself to the reader onstage.

Will I need tickets for my guests at Orange Campus Commencements?
Tickets will not be required for Commencement Ceremonies

Is there rehearsal for Commencement?
No. This is why it is important for you to be on time to your procession lineup. You will receive your graduation card, be placed in order by major, and receive instructions for the ceremony at that time.

What will happen if it rains or is hot on Commencement Day?
There is no rain plan for Chapman Commencements. Ceremonies will take place as scheduled unless a downpour creates a safety hazard. Commencement ceremonies have been scheduled for early in the morning and late in the afternoon to avoid the heat of the day. Grads should plan apparel beneath their gowns according to weather conditions. Guests are also requested to dress comfortably for the weather. The artificial turf on Holly and David Wilson Field can be very warm on a sunny day, and all participants should plan accordingly.

What should I wear to Commencement with my cap and gown?
Your academic gown is black and made of a synthetic fabric blend. Your cap comes with elastic in the hat for a flexible fit, so count on it to give you “hat hair.” Footwear should be comfortable enough to tolerate standing for a long time, walking on uneven surfaces, and going up and down stairs. Bare feet are not permitted.
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Is it okay to wear flowers with my cap and gown?
Yes. At Chapman, student senior representatives and university administrators have agreed that this custom may continue, although some schools have banned this practice in the interest of solemnizing the occasion.

May I decorate my cap before graduation?
Yes. Obscene or offensive words and images are not permitted.

May I keep my cap and gown after graduation?
Absolutely! At Chapman, students purchase souvenir-quality caps and gowns through the bookstore. (This does not apply to doctoral students, who rent custom regalia.)

Who wears an Honors Cord?
Seniors who are candidates for “Latin Honors at Commencement,” have a 3.50 overall GPA (including transferred grades) or higher as of the end of the 2010 Interterm, have accumulated 54 Chapman-in-residence units by the end of Spring 2010, and have completed all academic requirements for graduation (no "walk shorts"). These students are eligible to purchase a cardinal and gray all-university honors cord from the Argyros Bookstore. One cord signifies all levels of honors. Purchase and wearing of the honors cord is entirely optional. Graduate students do not wear Honors Cords.
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What do the hoods signify?
Over the centuries, academic tradition has fashioned a uniform code for apparel which identifies a wearer’s academic status. Gowns and hoods feature different sleeves, lengths, trims and colors that identify the level of degree, field of study, and college or university attended. Graduate students earn hoods that identify their academic concentration by the color on the velvet collar and a lining of Chapman’s colors. Seniors do not wear hoods at Chapman.
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How do we line up?
Upon arrival at the lineup location, each grad will receive a card from the Registrar that contains your name and major. Don’t lose this card! You will carry it onstage with you and hand it to the reader so that the reader can announce you.

During lineup, you will be shown to a lineup area assigned to your major. Seating within the major is random, so you may sit next to friends, if you wish. Departments march in alphabetical order.

What will I receive on Commencement Day?
When you cross the stage, you will receive a diploma cover only. Your diploma will not be handed to you on Commencement Day. The Registrar will mail your diploma to you upon certification that all degree requirements have been satisfied.

How can I make sure my name is pronounced correctly?
All Chapman readers sincerely desire to say your name correctly and often practice with a list of grads’ names in advance. To insure that Chapman has this information, contact the department office of your major and provide the department with a phonetic pronunciation of your name well in advance of Commencement. On Commencement Day, if you wish, you may also write the phonetic pronunciation of your name on your grad card to assist the reader.

I am receiving two degrees (or have two majors). Do I cross the stage twice?
No. If you are earning two majors or two degrees, you will be assigned to walk with the first major and/or degree listed in the University's data system. If you choose to walk with the second listed group, you must notify the Registrar's Office of that intention no later than March 1, 2010.

Can I leave Chapman as soon as I cross the stage?
No! Graduates are required to remain for the entire Commencement ceremony and may not leave early.

How are we expected to behave at the ceremony?
Chapman Commencement is not a somber occasion, but it is one that the institution takes very seriously. Commencement is the largest publicly attended event on campus. Families, friends, alumni and honored guests from all over the world attend this momentous event—how we present ourselves on that day is, for many of our guests, the only impression of Chapman they ever have. It should be a favorable one.

In addition, safety is a major consideration. With over 10,000 individuals present for this event, we must provide an orderly and respectful environment. It is incumbent on the university to insure that students and guests will feel confident that they are safe at all times. To do this, all students must abide by Chapman Commencement requirements when they are on campus or at off-campus venues during Commencement activities. Guests also will be requested to behave in an appropriate manner while on university property or off-campus at any university-sponsored event.

My dad wants to take my graduation pictures. Can he stand at the stage to take them?
No. Guests may not be near the stage during the ceremony for any reason. A professional graduation photographer, GradImages, will be on hand to take a posed portrait and a photo of each graduate. The studio will mail photo proofs directly to graduates shortly after Commencement with ordering information.
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How big is the diploma so I can buy the right frame?
Chapman Bachelor's and Master's diplomas are 8 1/2 by 11 inches in size, in a landscape format.

What is the Class of 2010 Gift?
Every year the graduating class leaves a bestowal for the use and appreciation of subsequent classes, as well as to advance the university’s mission overall. For example, the Class of 2003 funded a group study room in the new Leatherby Libraries, and the Class of 2004 provided children's books to the School of Education library and a garden bench at the Fish Interfaith Center.
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What is Baccalaureate, and do I have to go to it?
Baccalaureate is an interfaith prayer and worship service that has been a part of Chapman custom since the founding of the institution. Tickets are not required, and all students and their guests are invited. Attendance for graduates is optional.
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How do I get my yearbook?
Each senior is entitled to one complimentary yearbook, distributed by Associated Students. For information, please call (714) 744-7693.

How can I stay connected with Chapman after graduation?
As long as a current e-mail and home address is on file, the Chapman Alumni Association will keep you abreast of Chapman news and alumni events.

How do I let Chapman know if my address changes after I graduate?
Update your record online by filling out the address change form. You may also call 714.997.6681, e-mail alumni@chapman.edu, fax to 714.628.7240, or write to Alumni Relations, Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, CA 92866.

How do I join the Chapman Alumni Association?
Joining is free. Pick up your Alumni Association Membership card in Telecommunication Services in Bhathal Student Services Building, Room 111. To start receiving news and event information now, take a moment to sign up online for the Alumni Connection e-newsletter. Otherwise, you will begin receiving regular communication from the Chapman Alumni Association within a few months after graduation.