Undergraduate Commencement

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• Participation forms are due by November 30, 2026.

If you are a Global Online student, you are encouraged to select the California campus in the participation survey due to its proximity to the major transportation hubs and venue size that allows for more guests and graduates, unless you prefer to participate at the Clarion campus or Edinboro campus ceremonies, or if your academic program encourages your participation at a specific campus. Please reach out to your advisor or faculty to assist , but the location is your choice! Be sure to indicate your preferred ceremony location on the participation form. All students including on-campus learners and online graduates participate in one ceremony together on each campus as we are one institution, there is no designated campus for online students.

View our Colleges and Schools page.

The ceremony typically lasts approximately 1.5 to 2 hours. It includes a welcome address, conferral of degrees, recognition of individual graduates by name, and the presentation of diploma covers. Doctoral and Master’s candidates will also be hooded during the ceremony.  

No, attendance at commencement is optional and does not affect the awarding of your degree or diploma.

Participation in a commencement ceremony does not guarantee confirmation of your degree completion.

The closest large airport to each PennWest campus is Pittsburgh International Airport. For those traveling to PennWest Edinboro, Erie International Airport is a smaller option nearby.

• Applications are being accepted for the December 12, 2026 Student Commencement Ceremony Speakers beginning Tuesday, September 15 and will remain open through Friday, October 2 until 4 p.m. for each PennWest campus. Candidate interviews will take place the second and third weeks of October. All eligible students must be a graduating senior in the fall 2026 Commencement class.

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Graduates will receive a diploma cover during the Commencement ceremony, which contains information regarding their official diploma. Diplomas will be mailed to graduates approximately one month after completion of degree requirements and degrees are conferred.

Participation in a commencement ceremony does not guarantee confirmation of your degree completion.

There is considerable amount of walking to the Commencement venues and during the ceremony. Alternate accessibility arrangements for Commencement activities should be made to your campus Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD).

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California    Clarion    Edinboro

All guests must have a ticket to attend Commencement on each campus (guests 2 years old or younger do not need a ticket). The maximum amount of guest tickets available to each graduate is based on the size of the graduating class and the size of the venue on each campus.

‍Graduates will receive guest ticketing allotment and ordering information from commencementceremony@pennwest.edu sent to their PennWest email. (Guest tickets are no charge and can only be ordered/provided by the graduate through the electronic ticketing process.)

Are your guests unable to attend? No problem! Your family and friends can livestream the commencement ceremony from anywhere!

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Guests With Disabilities

There is considerable amount of walking to the Commencement venues and to the venue seating. Our Commencement guests are offered parking closer to the venue as it is available and offered accessibility seating at the ceremony in order of arrival (one companion per guest in accessibility seating). Guest accommodations cannot be reserved in advance. University Police will be available to direct guests where to park and where to drop off those who need assistance.

Each campus will have a commencement rehearsal and a President’s Celebration event the day before Commencement. Rehearsal and Celebration events are optional for graduates but may be helpful to assist students with getting more comfortable with the Commencement venue and program order.

Can’t attend? No problem! All graduates walking at Commencement will receive all needed information via their PennWest email prior to Commencement and will also be directed by our staff and faculty when they arrive at Commencement and throughout the ceremony.

Commencement celebrations are formal events for our graduates, staff, faculty, and honored guests.

Undergraduate graduates must purchase and wear an academic robe and matching cap with tassel. Active U.S. Military and Veterans are welcome to wear their Military uniforms.

Each campus Follett Bookstore can answer all your regalia (cap, gown, tassel, hood) questions, will have approved undergraduate and master’s regalia available on site and during the Grad Fair (see Grad Fair information below), as well as offers a convenient online ordering option for purchasing/delivery to your residence or campus Bookstore.

Regalia Online Ordering Deadline: November 15, 2026

Regalia Ordering

Bookstore contacts for regalia questions:

• California: 724-938-5575 or 0358mgr@follett.com
• Clarion: 814-393-2696 or 2363mgr@follett.com
• Edinboro: 814-732-2456 or 2364mgr@follett.com

PennWest Grad Fairs

Associate and Bachelor's degrees, get your Commencement caps, robes, tassels, and more at the Grad Fair or order online. Representatives from across university departments and regalia consultants will be in attendance to aid with your academic graduation and Commencement ceremony questions, as well as games, refreshments, and prizes!

Decorating Caps

We kindly ask that personal modifications to the mortarboards (caps) be limited to those expressing well-wishes and gratitude or affiliation with sanctioned organizations. Students are not permitted to have unacceptable decorations, offensive language, or inappropriate images on the mortar boards. Students who do not follow these guidelines will be given a new mortarboard to wear.

Latin Honors

Latin Honor’s stoles will be available at your campus Bookstore for undergraduate students. Those eligible will receive an email from the Office of the Registrar or you can check with the Bookstore to see if you are on the eligibility list:

• California: 724-938-5575 or 0358mgr@follett.com
• Clarion: 814-393-2696 or 2363mgr@follett.com
• Edinboro: 814-732-2456 or 2364mgr@follett.com

Bachelor’s Degree Seeking Students

Students who have completed a minimum of 30 credits at PennWest (excluding credit by exam) and who have achieved the following cumulative grade-point averages as of the last graded term of their enrollment are eligible for Latin honors to be worn at Commencement. (Current semester grades are not included.)

• Summa Cum Laude (3.80 - 4.00) – Gold stoles
• Magna Cum Laude (3.60 - 3.79) – White stoles
• Cum Laude (3.40 - 3.59) – Red stoles

Associate’s Degree Seeking Students

To receive a white honor Associate’s Degree with Distinction cord, a minimum of 15 credits must be completed at PennWest (excluding credit by exam) and you must have a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or higher as of the last graded term. (Current semester grades are not included.)

Please note: Grades from a student's final term of enrollment are not officially posted and recomputed until after graduation, honors cords, or stoles, are awarded based on the cumulative GPA at the end of the previous semester. Honors for the final transcript are based on cumulative grade point average, including grades for the final semester.

Those enrolled in the PennWest Academic Honors Program will receive a separate recognition medallion available through the Honors Program Department office.

Contacts:

• California: honors-cal@pennwest.edu
• Clarion: honors-cla@pennwest.edu
• Edinboro: honors-edn@pennwest.edu

PennWest will offer a digital commencement program for ticketed guests. This program will be available below before the ceremony. QR codes will also be available at the event for easy access. We encourage guests to download the program in advance for their convenience. Each graduating student attending the commencement ceremony will receive a printed program.

PennWest contracts with GradImages® for official graduate photos taken during the ceremony. GradImages will contact graduates via their PennWest email after the ceremony with proofs for review and purchase information.

Questions about photos? Contact GradImages® directly on their Contact Us page or email.