Congratulations to our Graduates!

Tag us on Instagram @skyline_college with your Commencement celebrations!

 Friday, May 24

 1:00 pm

 Track and Field*

Commencement is a significant occasion to celebrate our students' scholastic accomplishments with family, friends, and the Skyline College community. We look forward to celebrating your achievements!

We recommend dressing warmly and with layers. No heels please.

Questions? Read the FAQ or Contact Us.

*Location may change, dependent on weather.

side view of 4 graduates sitting at commencement in regalia watching the stage

Check-in Process on May 24

There is no rehearsal for commencement.

We recommend graduates wear layers and nicer attire underneath their cap and gown, and ask that graduates and attendees please wear flat shoes (no high heels) for safety and maintaining the integrity of the field.

We also recommend wearing layers for weather that may be cool and breezy.

Drop-off and Check-in:

  • The best way to get to the baseball field entrance:
    • Get dropped off at the roundabout by Building 2 or Building 4
    • Walk towards the stairs by Building 3
    • Walk towards baseball field entrance
  • 11:00 am - 12:30 pm: Arrive, dressed and prepared, at the Graduate Assembly Area
    • Check-in with the staff to receive your name card. Keep this card with you.
    • Leave your other belongings with loved ones
    • Line up in this area to save your spot in the procession
  • 12:40 pm: All graduates will move to the field
  • 1:00pm: Ceremony begins. The estimated time range is 1 - 3 pm.

Purchase Your Regalia

Anyone can purchase regalia, diploma covers, and other commencement items from the Skyline College bookstore.

Shop Regalia  
graduate holds up diploma and grins

Let's Celebrate!

Congratulations to the Class of 2024! Celebrate with printable themed yard signs, printable held signs, and Zoom backgrounds!

Yard & Handheld Signs   Zoom Backgrounds  

Graduate To-Do List

Make an appointment to see your counselor by April 5, 2024 to complete a petition for graduation.

You must see a counselor and complete a graduation petition in order to graduate.

After completing the Petition for your Degree/Certificate, students who are eligible to graduate will receive an email invitation to participate in Commencement. The email will be sent from Student Life and Leadership to your my.smccd student email account and will contain information and steps to participate.

If you are eligible for graduation, you will receive an email from the Student Life team to confirm walking in Commencement.

Purchase regalia from the Bookstore. Online ordering is available, and regalia can be picked up in the bookstore.

Celebrate the Class of 2024 with printable themed yard signs, printable handheld signs, and Zoom backgrounds!

Yard & Handheld Signs   Zoom Backgrounds  

Invite your guests! Use our calendar event link for easy sharing.

There is no guest limit since the ceremony is taking place outdoors. Seating will be first come, first served, so encourage your guests to arrive early. We can start welcoming your guests at 12pm.

If Commencement is moved indoors, only two guests per graduate may come inside due to space capacity. If the venue changes, everyone will be notified via email one week prior to Commencement.

There will also be a live streaming of the ceremony on the Skyline College website so your loved ones can watch you graduate from anywhere in the world. The link will be provided on the Commencement homepage on May 24.

To request or confirm ADA requests - Ryan Samn: samnr@smccd.edu

Emotional Support Animal Accommodation: to request or confirm emotional support animal accommodation requests - Educational Access Center (EAC): skyeac@smccd.edu

As the date approaches, check our website for information on more instructions, details, and festivities.

Any questions?

About the Ceremony: Contact the Center for Student Life

About eligibility to graduate: Contact the Counseling Office


Response Summary for Demonstrations and Protests During Commencement

We anticipate a beautiful and uninterrupted Commencement Ceremony.

Skyline College is being proactive and transparent about our safety preparation. All commencement participants are asked to help us have a safe and peaceful ceremony.

Skyline College honors and respects the tenets of free speech and views peaceful demonstrations as a vital part of civic and public education.

  • Skyline College supports students, staff, and faculty in nonviolent protests and demonstrations.
  • Skyline College encourages the advance planning and notification of such events to help the administration be aware and work together to ensure peace and safety.

It is important to understand the kind of speech that is not allowed. Examples include:

  • Speech that causes disruption to instruction or the educational process in the classroom, or disrupts college/district activities or operations, such as commencement.
  • Speech cannot advocate for violence, the use of force, or incite (or be likely to incite) lawless action.

Skyline College’s duty includes:

  • Ensuring that demonstrations do not infringe on the right of speech of others
  • Minimizing disruptions to operations and damage to college property
  • Working with event organizers and demonstrators to safely facilitate events and allow for freedom of expression
  • College/District employees and Public Safety will use their discretion and judgment in determining when free speech crosses the line from peaceful to disruptive such that commencement proceedings cannot continue
  • Skyline College will ensure pre-show announcements encouraging respectful and peaceful behavior

In general, outdoor locations are available for protest or demonstration. However, Commencement is an important part of our educational process, and thus, for purposes of Commencement, locations for protest and demonstrations will be limited to ensure:

  • Safe ingress and egress of graduates and attendees
  • Safe and uninterrupted processions of students and employees
  • Speakers or performers can be seen and heard by the audience
  • Free flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic and parking
  • No imminent health threats or safety hazard violations
  • Maps are available to bring awareness to the outdoor commencement ceremony boundaries that set aside areas for the smooth flow of the procession and observation by family and friends. View the Commencement Map.  

The College has assigned a campus team of Vice Presidents, Deans, and Student Life managers/assistants to de-escalate any observed nonviolent disruptive behavior. Examples of disruptive behavior include:

  • Blocking the view of commencement observers with signs
  • Amplifying sound or yelling that disrupts speakers, reading of the names, or performers
  • Blocking the flow of vehicles
  • Blocking the procession of graduates and employees

The campus team will have conversations with the person(s) involved in the disruption and make efforts to cease the disruptive behavior. If the behavior continues beyond these efforts of the campus team, public safety will be asked to intervene and continue to speak to the disruptor to de-escalate.

If the disruption is preventing the continuance of the commencement ceremony and after all efforts to de-escalate have been exhausted, then the disruptor(s) will be asked to leave campus.

If the disruptor(s) refuses to leave and continues to disrupt to the extent that commencement cannot proceed, there will be a series of pauses of the event and potential cancellationt

  • Violence requires immediate police engagement and action
  • Event may be canceled if there is a high risk for damage to property or physical harm
  • Authority to cancel rests with the District Chancellor, College President, or designee