This is a ticketed event and RSVP is required. You must follow all COVID protocols to participate. Please read on for more details:

Arriving At Mariners

• Mariners Church Irvine - Google Map Directions
• Leave yourself plenty of travel time. 
• Park in the upper parking structure where indicated on the map here for Graduate Parking
• Graduate check in will begin 1 hour and 15 minutes before each Baccalaureate-Commencement Ceremony (8:45 am and 12:45 pm)
• Each ceremony will last approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes 
• If you need any assistance walking to the stage, please notify disabilityservices@vanguard.edu

Check-in

• Click here for the Mariners Check-In Map
• Graduates are to report to the Graduate Check-In Tent with your printed or digital GradPass
• Once checked in you will be directed to your graduate lineup number which coincides with your seating number
• Stay in place until the processional lineup begins 15 minutes before each Baccalaureate-Commencement Ceremony (9:45 am and 1:45 pm)
• Plan to keep your hands free by leaving personal items in the car. A small purse or fanny pack worn inside your regalia is appropriate

COVID-19 Safety

We urge you to be considerate of fellow graduates and guests. If you are showing any COVID-19 related symptoms, please stay home. While we have an abundance of safety measures in place it is your responsibility to self-check before arriving.

• You are required to complete the Titan App prior to arrival. (Click here to view the questions)
• If you do not have the app, please download the Titan HST App from the Apple or Google Stores
• You will need to complete the registration online by clicking here and you can view the Titan instructions here
• Post-event celebrations need to take place off-site to avoid excessive gathering. Please plan accordingly with your guests
• To maintain safety, social distancing will be enforced, and masks will be required for all graduates at this outdoor event hosted by Vanguard University regardless of vaccination status

Attire

VU approved regalia is mandatory for participation in all ceremonies. There is significant walking and standing for this outdoor event. Keep this in mind when determining your shoe selection. Shoes must be able to withstand walking down ramps and upstairs, and also through lawn and dirt areas.

• You will be asked to remove unapproved attire or forfeit walking in the ceremony.
• VU requests that each graduate abstains from carrying or wearing any signs or messages on their person. Commencement is not the time to promote any particular message or philosophy.
• Please note and respect tradition: Students should dress fairly formal (please no jeans, shorts, athletic shoes, or flip-flops), but not truly inhibited. It is advised that you wear comfortable shoes, as you will be doing a lot of walking and standing. Sunscreen and sunglasses are also encouraged.
• Social distancing will be enforced, and masks will be required for all graduates at this outdoor event hosted by Vanguard University regardless of vaccination status.

During The Ceremony

Graduation caps shall be worn in academic processions and during the ceremony of conferring degrees. Please look to President Beals for cues for when to remove cap, when to stand, when to be seated, etc.

• When it’s time to confer degrees, our staff will direct you when to stand and how to proceed to the stage. Be sure to have your GradPass!
• Your GradPass will be scanned as you get close to the stage. This will prepare your name for announcement and prompt the slide with your name and major to be shown on the main screens as you proceed across the stage
• You will receive your diploma cover before proceeding on stage
• Once at the stage you will remove your mask until your name is called
• Proceed to the marker with your diploma to have your photo taken and then head off stage for a second photo. Ushers will direct you back to your seat

Guest Check-In

• Please be sure your guests have tickets in advance. Detailed guest check-in information is included in the ticket message. The Ticketing Portal closes on May 5th.
• All seating is pre-assigned
• Seats will be available 1 hour before each Baccalaureate-Commencement Ceremony (9:00 am and 1:00 pm). We ask that all guests be seated 20 minutes before each Baccalaureate-Commencement Ceremony (9:40 am or 1:40 pm) as ticketing will be paused for the processional line-up
• If your guest has specific accessible accommodation needs, please email disabilityservices@vanguard.edu. We will send specific details regarding accommodations to those graduates that have requested such services
• Closed-Captioning in English and Spanish will be available via this webpage (check back for links and program on May 6th)

Dear 2021 Graduates,

Tickets are now available in Marching Order. Please login here and assign tickets to each of your guests no later than May 6th.

Each student will receive (3) tickets for his/her household guests and will be required to adhere to all COVID-19 safety protocols including masks and social distancing.
 
Grad Pass is also now available. Your Grad Pass will be required to check-in for Commencement, the Grad Pass has your graduate flag zone and graduate line-up number. You will need a printed copy of your Grad Pass to scan before walking across the stage – this QR will bring up your personalized slide with your name and degree as well as read your name aloud while walking across the stage for the diploma presentation.  
 
Detailed graduate information will be sent out on April 30th so keep a look out for the Know Before You Go email.

>> Regalia orders are still available through the Bookstore. Please send an email to l.jones@follett.com or call 714-966-6722. The deadline to order through the Bookstore is April 30th.

>> Affinity celebration details are up on the Commencement webpage here. Please register online or with the program coordinator for the event. The deadline to register for the Cultural Graduations is this Friday, April 23rd (see the flyer below).

More details on what to expect on the day of the ceremony, safety protocols and ticketing requirements for your guests are forthcoming. Please understand that programming is subject to modifications or changes due to COVID-19 and in accordance with state and local guidance.

Dear 2021 Graduates,

Our countdown to graduation continues.

This is your reminder that RSVPs for Commencement are due by Friday, April 16th!

Electronic tickets will be distributed after April 20th. Keep an eye on your email for more details about attending the Baccalaureate-Commencement.

>> Submit your RSVP here with your Vanguard email and password. Even if you don't plan on participating, please let us know either way.

If you are having issues with the password and login, email helpdesk@vanguard.edu. For other questions regarding event registration, email commencement@vanguard.edu. 

>> Regalia orders are now being processed through the Bookstore. Please send an email to l.jones@follett.com or call 714-966-6722. The deadline to order through the Bookstore is April 30th.

>> Affinity celebration details are now up on the Commencement webpage. Please register online or with the program coordinator for the event.  

More details on what to expect on the day of the ceremony, safety protocols and ticketing requirements for your guests are forthcoming. Please understand that programming is subject to modifications or changes due to COVID-19 and in accordance with state and local guidance.
 

Dear Class of 2021 Graduates,

The time is almost here. We're about four weeks away from our combined in-person Baccalaureate Service and Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 7th. We thank Jesus for the opportunity to be able to do this with you after all we've gone through this past year.

By now you should've received your approval to graduate, if not, please look for it in your email or contact your academic coordinator to confirm you have submitted your graduation application.

>> Starting today through April 16th, you'll be able to RSVP and add your commencement info on Marching Order. You will login here with your Vanguard email and password to RSVP. Even if you don't plan on participating, please let us know. Students that do not RSVP by April 16th will not be allocated tickets. If you are having issues with the password and login, email helpdesk@vanguard.edu. For other questions regarding event registration, email commencement@vanguard.edu. 

Also, if you haven't already, get your regalia order in at Jostens ASAP by clicking here. 

Affinity celebrations will take place this year, events are listed on the Commencement webpage. Cultural stoles will also be available to order starting on April 12th through the day of the commencement ceremony. Please visit the bookstore to place your order. 

Details regarding safety protocols and ticketing requirements for your guests are forthcoming. Please understand that programming is subject to modifications or changes due to COVID-19 and in accordance with state and local guidance.
 

Dear Class of 2021 Graduates,

Vanguard University is pleased to announce a combined in-person Baccalaureate Service and Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 7th, on the outdoor lawn at Mariners Church in Irvine, California. The program will include two ceremonies at 10:00am and 2:00pm and will allow up to 3 guests per household. The event will be live-streamed for guests and families to join remotely. Here are the scheduled ceremonies:

10:00am
Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Division of Theology
Division of Education, Arts & Humanities

2:00pm
Division of Business and Communication
Division of Natural, Physical and Health Sciences

All eligible graduates are required to register in advance and will agree to adhere to all safety protocols for participation. Details regarding registration, safety protocols, and ticketing requirements are forthcoming. Please understand that programming is subject to modifications or changes due to COVID-19 and in accordance with state and local guidance.

To order your regalia today at Jostens, Click here

Special promotions offers are available here.

• Please contact your academic coordinator to confirm you have submitted your graduation application.
• Once approved to graduate you will receive a confirmation email from the Registrar’s Office. You must have all requirements cleared for graduation before April 19th to participate.

Please refer to the degree list here to determine your division and ceremony time.

All eligible grads must RSVP to attend the in-person ceremony. The registration link can be found here. You will need your Vanguard email and password credentials to access the Marching Order registration site. Deadline to RSVP is Friday, April 16th.

• The bookstore is open to take Regalia orders. Please send an email to l.jones@follett.com or call 714-966-6722.

• Only 3 family members per household will be able to attend.
• Each guest will have an electronic ticket and all tickets are non-transferable.
• Also, infants and toddlers count towards the total guest count for each graduate's household.

• The event will be live streamed to our Commencement Home Page on Friday, May 7, 2021.
• We are working on additional viewing areas. Details are still pending.

Graduates that are registered for the in-person ceremony will receive more information regarding their electronic tickets after April 20th.

• No additional tickets are available.
• Due to capacity requirements, we are not allowing additional occupancy in the outdoor venue.
• All tickets are non-transferable. Any student caught soliciting or selling tickets online will have all tickets revoked.

There are only two approved Vanguard branded stoles for Commencement:

• VU100 Graduation Stole – You can order online from Jostens with your regalia or order through the Vanguard Bookstore.
• Vanguard Cultural Stoles – Kente, Serape, Native American, and Asian Pacific Islander will be available in the Bookstore in mid-April. The costs for each stole is $35.
• No other stoles are permitted.
• Academic honor cords are permittable for approved academic honor societies.  Please contact your department coordinator for availability.

Graduation caps shall be worn in academic processions and during the ceremony of conferring degrees. Men should remove their caps during prayer, playing of the alma mater, during the baccalaureate sermon and commencement address. Please look to the President for cues for removing and replacing the cap. Mortarboards are properly worn flat on the head with the pointed under-cap pulled onto the wearer's forehead. It should be parallel to the ground, not tilted back on the head, so the tassel can fall straight down the wearer's face. 

Decorating caps is permitted as follows: Modest personal embellishments are allowed on the cap but MUST lay flat and not exceed the height of the center cap button to not block/distract line of site for others. Embellishments cannot extend over the edge and must be appropriate. Lights are not permitted. Violations of these guidelines will result in removal of cap.

Tassels: Baccalaureate eligible candidates can wear navy tassels on the right front side of the cap before degrees are conferred and shift to the left in unison as the President instructs during the ceremony. Master's eligible candidates can wear tassels on the left side of the cap. The color of the tassels for master’s degrees are determined by the academic program color.

Click here to view the Graduate Guidebook in the student portal.

• We will honor graduates in the May 7th Baccalaureate-Commencement Service if he/she does not want to attend an in-person event.
• Graduate will need to confirm this request in the RSVP form to notify the Commencement Office that he/she does not wish to participate in person.
• Graduate will be able to submit a headshot and still have name read aloud during the ceremony. All graduation items will be mailed to address as list on the diploma mailing.

No, there will not be an in-person Grad Fest on campus.

• When final grades are posted, all eligible graduates will be evaluated for the conferral of their degrees. After the evaluation is complete, conferred student will receive a confirmation email sent to their Vanguard email address notifying them that their degree has posted. Conferred graduates can expect a diploma within 4-6 weeks from this email confirmation.
• Diplomas are batch printed and sent by Parchment. Conferred graduates will receive an email from Parchment with a link to their electronic diploma copy and, a confirmation notice that their diploma has been mailed to them.
• Please ensure all contact information remains up to date on your academic record.

Please complete the Change of Address Form and submit to records@vanguard.edu.

We have diligently been working with Mariners Church, our commencement venue, for an in-person event which allows for guests to attend. Due to their ongoing church event calendar, we were approved for Friday, May 7th to host an in-person commencement. We in no way want to distress our graduates or student families, but in an aim to create an equitable commencement experience due to COVID-19, we had to officially change the date of commencement to Friday, May 7th.

Our intent as a Commencement Council is to provide a celebration experience that reflects the intimate connected academic student learning experience you had before it was altered by COVID-19. Adjusting our traditional Commencement for elements in a Baccalaureate worship service will create both the intimacy we desire for you and your faculty and, enable us to hold our ceremony at Mariners Church with up to 3 guests. The Blueprint for a Safer Economy allows places of worship to gather outdoors with modifications which we have been careful to adhere to.  

The program elements in the in-person Baccalaureate-Commencement will include a processional, welcome, scripture reading and invocation, student communion and commissioning, commencement address from the President, and diploma presentation where graduates will cross the stage. The program will conclude with the benediction and recessional at approximately 1 hr and 30 minutes in length.