Commencement FAQs

Eligibility for commencement is on the Graduation page.

Please note, conferral of degrees will still be posted on official transcripts 12 to 15 weeks after the end of the semester in which you applied. You can check your unofficial transcripts on InsideBC to see your degree pending status. Email BCRecords@kccd.edu if you need further information.

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If you have at least 30 degree-applicable units for your degree, it is time to submit your graduation petition to the Admissions & Records office via your BC Student Email address to BCrecords@kccd.edu. We will not accept the petition via any personal email accounts.

The process on submitting the Graduation Petition and seeing if you are eligible for graduation can be found at Graduation Requirements for filing deadline dates and other requirements.

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The graduation petition and the RSVP form must both be submitted by April  2025 in order to be eligible to participate in the May 2025 commencement ceremony.

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No, students that complete their graduation requirements in Fall 2025 and later semesters will be eligible to participate in the 2026 commencement ceremony.

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Students who complete their degree requirements during the fall, summer or spring prior to the ceremony or who will complete them in the following summer, are eligible to participate. When you file for Graduation, you will receive notification about commencement.

For the 111th Commencement, students are required to RSVP for participation in commencement. If you are eligible for commencement, you can complete the RSVP form. The RSVP form will be sent to all eligible students at their BC email address.

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Students who have completed at least 60 units in degree applicable letter graded courses, have taken at least 12 of those units at Bakersfield College, and who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher are eligible for graduation with honors.

The honors designation will appear on the diploma and transcript as follows:

Grade Point Average	Honor Designation
3.50-3.69	Cum laude
3.70-3.89	Magna cum laude
3.90-4.00	Summa cum laude

If your degree is pending for Spring or Summer 2025, we will use the Fall 2024 grades to determine if you qualify for honors at commencement.

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You will see a confirmation page that says, "Congratulations your RSVP is confirmed!." This page will also give you the option to print or save a PDF of your answers.

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No, you cannot edit your responses on the RSVP form. You may email BCrecords@kccd.edu with any updates you may have.

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You can email BCrecords@kccd.edu for review of your eligibility for commencement.

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In order to have graduate names printed in the official Commencement Program, the deadline to make the commencement program is April 8th to ensure physical programs are available at Commencement.

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Graduates who submit an RSVP form after April 8th will not have their name appear in the official commencement program. Graduates will still be able to walk during the commencement ceremony if they choose too.

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We will not use tickets for the 2025, 111th commencement ceremony. Both sides of the memorial stadium will be open and the stage will be centered for optimal viewing. We do ask that students limit their amount of invited guests to a maximum of 10.

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We are aiming for the ceremony to conclude within two hours. The ceremony will commence promptly. Graduates partaking in the ceremony will not be able to exit the field until the full ceremony has been completed. Check in for graduates begins two hours prior.

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Livestream will be determined closer to the date of the 111th BC Commencement.

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Yes, hence, we are adhering to stadium occupancy with letting graduates know to invite at maximum 10 guests.

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Only students who have submitted the RSVP form AND show up in person the day of commencement will have their names called live as the graduates traverse the stage. Graduate proxies are not allowed.

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Go to the Pre-Commencement webpage for more information.

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Yes, traffic flow will be restricted on the surrounding streets. More details will be available closer to the day of commencement.

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Yes, there will be a professional photrapher at commencement and at the Grad Fair to take pictures.

For pictures in your cap and gown at the Grad Fair, you must schedule an appointment.

To schedule an appointment for portraits:

1. Visit Ultimate Exposures: Schedule a Sitting
2. Click "2025 Cap and Gown"
3. Enter your email address
4. Select the time and date that works best for you

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For pictures in your cap and gown at the Grad Fair, you must schedule an appointment.

To schedule an appointment for portraits:

1. Visit Ultimate Exposures: Schedule a Sitting
2. Click "2025 Cap and Gown"
3. Enter your email address
4. Select the time and date that works best for you

Caps and Gowns are not provided for the professional picture. Students would need to purchase regalia in order to participate in the professional pictures during the established BC Grad Fair events.

To schedule an appointment for portraits:

To schedule an appointment for portraits:

1. Visit Ultimate Exposures: Schedule a Sitting
2. Click "Cap and Gown"
3. Select Bakersfield College and the time, date and location that works best for you
4. Keep track of which location you are choosing to take your professional graduation photos.

On the day of commencement, we will also have a professional Photographer and the photos are released on the Graduation page.

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This year graduates do not need to submit graduation pictures. Pictures taken at Grad Fair are for the graduates.

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Students will be able to purchase their regalia at our "Early Bird Grad Fair Event" starting in March 2025, in the Renegade Campus Store, which is located on the main campus. Regalia will continue to be sold up until graduation day at the Renegade Campus Store. The official Grad Fair will be held late March or early April in specific locations. The Grad Fair offers everything in one place, a one-stop shop. If needed, you can have someone else pick up your regalia; however, they will be required to verify your name is spelled correctly for the graduation program.

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Grad Fair Dates will be determined in February/March, check back in March for times and dates held at these locations:

• Bakersfield College Southwest Center
• Panorama Campus 
• Panorama Campus 
• Delano Campus 

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Yes, you may decorate your cap to show pride in your accomplishments. Please keep your decorations tasteful. No foul language allowed. It must meet our Student Conduct Guidelines and be respectful of others. You will not be allowed to participate if your cap violates our community guidelines.

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Look at the different meanings on Commencement Traditions.

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Visit the Renegade Campus Store on campus or the Bookstore website to purchase your regalia and other BC memorabilia. For the official BC class ring, email Amanda Sigwing at alsigwing@herffjones.com or visit the Herff Jones website. Promotional information is available at the Renegade Campus Store as well.

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Participants of the EOPS, CARE, NextUp and CalWORKs programs may request a cap and gown, please email eops@bakersfieldcollege.edu for instructions. The priority deadline to request a cap and gown is March 29th.

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BC graduates can purchase their Honor Cords for $10 from the Office of Student Life located in the new Campus Center Building or purchase Honor Cords online. Students must have received confirmation regarding their Honors status to purchase Honor Cords.

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Knowing that the weather will be warm at the start of the commencement but will get cooler towards the middle to end of the ceremony, it is advised to wear long pants/dress/leggings and bring a light jacket. Also, heels or shoes with spikes are not allowed to be worn. It is best to wear COMFORTABLE clothes and shoes as graduates will be standing, walking, and sitting for longer periods of time.

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Graduates may decorate their cap or tassel to show pride in your accomplishments. Please keep your decorations tasteful. No foul language allowed. It must meet our Student Conduct Guidelines and be respectful of others. You will not be allowed to participate if your cap violates our community guidelines.

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Yes, graduates may wear additional official BC commencement regalia which have been given to them through their area of study, program service, or student organization involvement. Graduates will be asked to remove items that are not officially sanctioned by the College.

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No, diplomas are mailed to graduates. Attending the commencement ceremony will not affect receipt of your diploma. However, if you attend commencement, you will be given a diploma cover. The covers are not available for purchase. To receive the diploma cover, you must attend commencement.

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It is a tradition at BC that graduates who walk in commencement and show up for the event will receive an official BC Diploma cover. Graduates will only receive one diploma cover. Graduates who wish to purchase diploma covers may do so from third party vendors.

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Diplomas are mailed to graduates approximately twelve (12) weeks after final grades have been posted in which the student applied to earn their degree. Example, if you applied to earn your degree in Spring, your diploma will be mailed out 12 to 15 weeks after final grades have been posted.

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If you have not received a diploma, do not worry. Diplomas are mailed to graduates after all graduation petitions have been reviewed after the semester is over. Diplomas are not given at the commencement ceremony; you will only receive the diploma cover in which to put your diploma in. If you do not meet graduation requirements, you will be notified via your BC student email address of what requirements are missing. If you do not meet certain requirements, you are advised to meet with a counselor or advisor for next steps to earn your degree.

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The Scholarship Celebration will be determined closer to May 2025. For more information, email the BC Foundation Office: foundation@bakersfieldcollege.edu.

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There will be carts making stops at various parking lots to pick up guests and drop them off at the Visitors Entrance. At the end of the program, they will return trips to parking lots. Please note, availability is limited.

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There is ADA seating available at the top of each side on the East end of the stadium.

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Email us at bcrecords@kccd.edu from your BC student email address.

Please allow 24-48 hours (excluding weekends) for a response to your email.

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