Commencement

• CSU Monterey Bay is committed to providing a safe and enjoyable commencement ceremony. This event provides an opportunity for friends, family members, and supporters to honor graduates as they receive their degrees. 
• Ticket requests may only be made by candidates.
• The number of tickets will be determined by the number of graduates and the stadium’s capacity as determined by the State Fire Marshal in conjunction with CSUMB’s Risk Management Department.
• Tickets for the May ceremony are for Fall 2021, Spring 2022, and Summer 2022 graduates only. 
• By order of the State Fire Marshal and for safety purposes, all attendees age 2 or older are required to have a ticket to enter the stadium.  
• Tickets are complimentary and may not be purchased or sold.
• Any candidate who has extra tickets may share them with other participating candidates. However, the sale of commencement tickets is expressly prohibited by the Student Conduct Code.
• There are specific tickets for each of the three ceremonies, and they are not interchangeable. 
• All of the tickets are clearly marked with the ceremony date and time. 
• Any candidate and attendee requiring special accommodations to participate in commencement are invited to contact Student Disability Resources.

A rehearsal for all participants will be held on Thursday, May 19, 2022. The rehearsal will begin at 2 p.m. and is expected to take approximately one hour. Please gather at the gates to the CSUMB Baseball Field.

The annual commencement ceremonies for the Class of 2022 will be held on Friday, May 20, and Saturday, May 21, 2022. The ceremonies will be held in CSUMB’s stadium.

College of Business | College of Health Sciences and Human Services
Friday, May 20, 2022
Ceremony begins at 3 p.m.
Graduate Arrival Time: 1 p.m.
Candidate Arrival Location: CSUMB Baseball Field

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Ceremony begins at 10 a.m.
Graduate Arrival Time: 8 a.m.
Candidate Arrival Location: CSUMB Baseball Field

College of Education | College of Science
Saturday, May 21, 2022
Ceremony begins at 3 p.m.
Graduate Arrival Time: 1 p.m.
Candidate Arrival Location: CSUMB Baseball Field

Transportation, traffic, parking and directions

Traffic will be heavy on both Commencement days. If driving, it is recommended that graduates enter the campus using the Lightfighter Drive exit and utilize General Jim Moore Blvd. at Lightfighter Dr. Graduates need to be at the Student Gathering Area (the Baseball Field) two hours prior to the start of your ceremony. If you are living off-campus, allow at least an extra 45 minutes for parking due to heavy traffic. Below is an overview of transportation and parking options. 

Take the (new) WAVE Shuttle! 

This shuttle is available for everyone to ride and is FREE. There are over 12,000 people on campus for Commencement on May 20 and 21. Avoid the traffic by riding the WAVE Shuttle. Service will be offered on a 15-minute continuous loop between East Campus, the CSUMB Stadium, Alternate Viewing, and Lot 59 (as well as other campus stops) on both Friday, May 20 and Saturday, May 21. Shuttle service begins at 6:30 a.m. and runs through 7:00 p.m. 

WAVE Shuttle Map

Transportation & Parking Options

1) Be Sustainability Minded

Think green. Walking, biking, and carpooling are encouraged. 

2) Park in Commencement Parking

Commencement Parking Permits only. Only vehicles displaying a Commencement Parking Permit can park directly adjacent to the CSUMB Stadium. Directions to Commencement parking will be clearly marked, follow the directional parking signage to the Commencement Parking Lot. Please view the Circulation and Traffic map here. 

Note: Parking in this lot requires Commencement Parking Permits which were provided to graduates ONLY with their Commencement tickets.  These parking permits can be used by graduates and/or their guests at their discretion. No other parking permits are valid in the Commencement Parking Lot. 

3) Park in Lot 59 and take the WAVE Shuttle: Graduates or attendees without Commencement Parking Permits are encouraged to park in Lot 59. A parking permit is required for this lot. Please purchase a parking permit in advance, or upon arrival. Lot 59 is serviced by the free WAVE Shuttle and is located outside the heaviest Commencement traffic. This shuttle is available for everyone to ride and is FREE. 

• WAVE Shuttle Map
• Circulation and Traffic Map

4) ADA Parking:  ADA parking is available for those attendees and/or vehicles with state issued ADA placards. There is no official drop-off location adjacent to the Commencement site (the CSUMB Stadium). Directions will be clearly marked.  For more information on ADA, click here.

• Graduating students should assemble on the Baseball field at least 2 hours before their ceremony starts. It may seem early, but the time goes very quickly.
• Arrive at the Baseball field dressed and ready to go, including cap, gown, tassel, hair, make-up, and appropriate clothing complete.
• There will be bathrooms and mirrors available for last-minute touch-ups.
• Complimentary light snacks and beverages will be provided.
• Graduates will receive directions from commencement officials. Please give them your attention for instructions.
• The Campus Store will be on-hand for last-minute purchases. Planning ahead and not buying gowns on the morning of Commencement is highly advised.
• Graduates will line up according to college and degree programs.
• Faculty marshals will direct the procession to the commencement platform site located at the east end of the stadium field.
• The procession to the stadium begins 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

• All commencement ceremonies are held outdoors, rain or shine, with no shade. Attendees should be prepared both for heat and inclement weather.
• Umbrellas, balloons, glitter, rice, streamers, and confetti are not permitted in the stadium.
• No outside food or beverages are permitted in the stadium except as medically necessary.
• Alcohol, smoking, and the use of tobacco products is not permitted in the stadium. 
• No animals (except approved certified service dogs).
• In support of CSUMB’s commitment to sustainability, three waste sorting bins will be provided for use by attendees. CSUMB requests attendees properly sort their waste.
• Clear bags and backpacks are subject to search upon entrance: Clear bags and backpacks under 14” x 14” x 6” are allowed. Non-clear bags are limited and not to exceed 5”x9”x2”. Please note: On a case-by-case basis, security may make exceptions to the Clear Bag Policy for parents of babies/toddlers with diaper bags, breastfeeding mothers, and those with documented medical needs.
• No weapons or incendiary devices of any kind. No laser pointers.
• No professional camera equipment, including but not limited to tripods, battery packs, large commercial video cameras. 
• No remote controlled aircraft or unmanned aircraft systems (drones).
• No strollers or car seats.
• No umbrellas, beach balls, frisbees, sports equipment and toys.
• No metal, plastic or glass water bottles or containers of any kind. No hard or soft sided coolers of any kind.
• No illegal substances, drugs or chemicals of any kind.
• No poles and sticks/staffs including but not limited to metal, plastic or wood. 
• Noisemakers, plastic horns, air horns, whistles or musical instruments of any kind. 
• No skates, skateboards, scooters, hoverboards or bicycles.
• No aerosol cans (e.g., sunblock, pepper spray, mace, hairspray, silly string, etc.).
• Any items deemed by Management to be inappropriate, offensive or potentially hazardous may be confiscated. 

• Candidates for degrees and credentials will be recognized individually by being called to the platform.
• Each candidate’s name will be read from a card that candidates will find inside commencement programs located on their seats.
• Reader cards should be filled out as soon as the attendees arrive at their seats and prior to crossing the stage.
• Hands should be free and clear while crossing the stage as there will be handshakes.
• Sunglasses should be removed prior to crossing the stage.
• Master's Degree Students: Please advance to the stage with your hood folder over your right arm. Once on stage, you will be hooded by a faculty member from your program. 
• There will be photo opportunities before and on stage.

• Guests, family members, and/or supporters are not permitted at the Otter Soccer Field.
• Guests, family members, and/or supporters should head directly to CSUMB’s Stadium to get their seats.
• Seats in CSUMB’s Stadium are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
• All guests over the age of two years old must have a ticket to enter CSUMB’s Stadium.
• Gates open at 8:30 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 1:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremonies.
• Candidates are advised to make arrangements to meet their family and friends at a location outside the stadium after the ceremony is concluded AND after all students, faculty, and the platform party has left the seating area.
• Please keep in mind this is an outdoor ceremony with no shade and attendees should be prepared both for heat and inclement weather.

ADA Information

ADA Parking:  ADA parking is available for those attendees and/or vehicles with state issued ADA placards. There is no official drop-off location adjacent to the Commencement site (the CSUMB Stadium). Follow the directional parking signage to the ADA Parking Lot. Directions will be clearly marked. 

ADA Tickets: ADA tickets may be obtained by the graduate for their attendees. A general admission ticket must be exchanged for an ADA ticket. Each ADA ticket allows for a maximum of 2 caregivers to sit on either side of the guest in the ADA seating area.

ADA Seats: The newly renovated stadium has ADA seating built into the stands. An ADA ticket is not required for those seats. 

ADA Paths of Travel: All access to the stadium is ADA grade compliant.

Distance from Gate entrance to ADA seating:

• Gate 1 Entrance to ADA Seating: 893 ft.
• Gate 2 (closest to ADA Parking) Entrance to ADA Seating: 612 ft.

Service Animals: Service animals will be admitted as provided by law. Emotional support animals are not required to be admitted by law and will NOT be admitted entrance to the stadium. 

ADA Shuttle and Transportation: The WAVE Shuttle is the campus official ADA transportation and has space for wheelchairs to be locked down. Please click here to view the WAVE Shuttle Map. There will also be limited cart service from the ADA Parking Lot to the top of Gate 2 Ramp. Please look for directional information in the ADA Parking Lot on how to obtain a cart ride, if needed. 

• WAVE Shuttle Map
• Circulation and Traffic Map

• An Alternate Viewing Site will be available on both May 20 and May 21. 
• The Alternate Viewing Site is located at the World Theater on campus at 5260 Sixth Avenue, Seaside, CA 93955.
• Attendees can view the livestream on the big screen indoors in a climate controlled environment.  
• No tickets are required for the Alternate Viewing Site. 
• Parking is available adjacent to the World Theater. A parking permit is required. Please purchase a parking permit in advance or upon arrival.
• The World Theater is served by the free wave shuttle and is located outside the heaviest Commencement traffic. 

WAVE Shuttle Map

• More information on social media supporting Commencement 2022 will be forthcoming.