After four or more grueling years of blood, sweat and tears, the payoff is finally here for more than 7,000 senior and graduate students who are participating in commencement ceremonies this spring.
Nine colleges will host graduation ceremonies from May 19 to 22 to commemorate and offer congratulations to the students on their achievements.
To be a part of the ceremonies, students have to turn in a graduation evaluation application to the Office of Admissions and Records and pay a filing fee of $47, said Bea Turner, assistant director of the graduation evaluations office.
Turner said an acknowledgement letter is then sent to the student’s address on file at CSUN.
After the graduation evaluations office reviews students’ applications, and if all requirements have been met, students will receive information via mail about Gradfest, said Turner.
“The Gradfest mailing has already been sent out,” said Turner. “Students should have received the information already.”
“Gradfest is like a one-stop shop for all your graduation needs,” said Ian Alexander, graduation office assistant.
At Gradfest, students can verify that their name is spelled correctly for the commencement program. Students can also rent their cap and gown and find out about other graduation perks such as photos, class rings and announcements. Representatives from the CSUN Alumni Association, honors societies and cultural graduation organizations will be in attendance, states the CSUN Commencement Graduation Office website.
Gradfest will be hosted from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on March 12 at the Matador Bookstore.
Turner said students will also receive a commencement handbook.
“The commencement handbook is mailed sometime in April,” she said. “It has all the information regarding commencement ceremony.”
Turner said the diplomas are mailed four to six weeks after the degree is granted. In order for the students to receive their diplomas in time, Turner said students need to be sure their addresses are up to date with the Office of Admissions and Records.