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Commencement Giving Day

General Information for Commencement 2023

Fuller's 74th in-person Commencement ceremony will take place at Lake Avenue Church (393 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101) on Saturday, June 10, 2023, beginning at 10:00 am (PT). Other events are scheduled in the days before Commencement, beginning with Baccalaureate, which will be held on May 31st, in Travis Auditorium on campus.

This page will be updated as details become known.

For questions, please contact the Registrar's Office.

Family and friends of graduating students who are not able to attend in person can watch the Baccalaureate and Commencement livestreams at fuller.edu/watch.

COVID RESTRICTIONS: Masking is required for Fuller employees working the ceremony. For graduates and their guests, masks are strongly encouraged, and deeply appreciated, but will not be required. Proof of vaccination will not be required. Masks will be available at the venue for those who wish them.

As there is no rehearsal for Commencement, it is imperative that graduates are present at the Student Lineup area at 8:30 a.m. for final instructions. Late arrivals will be able to pick up regalia in this area at that time. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m., and is expected to last until around 12:30 p.m.

Information about doctoral hoodings, graduation banquets, and any other events will be found below as it becomes known. Hooding ceremonies will take place in person on the Pasadena campus during the week before Commencement.

Change of Plans or Requests for Accommodation

Commencement Disability Service Request if you or your guests need accommodation at the service.

Change of Plans: Not Attending if you are certain you will no longer be attending

Baccalaureate/Commencement Photo/Video Opt-Out if you need to be certain you do not appear in photos or video

Baccalaureate Attendance Plans to help give us an idea of how many will be in attendance

 

Tickets

No Family Early Admission Passes (tickets) will be required at any time to enter the ceremony. This is a change since plans were first announced. Feel free to invite your guests and there will be seating for them. Families and friends not able to be present can use fuller.edu/watch to enjoy the livestream of the Commencement ceremony.

Regalia, Announcements, and Memorabilia

ACADEMIC REGALIA

Fuller provides rental regalia free of charge for all graduates, for all events of the Commencement season. This includes Baccalaureate, doctoral hoodings, and Commencement itself. This is the only regalia that can be worn for these events. It will be collected after Commencement and returned to Herff-Jones for cleaning and storage. Please do not rent or purchase your own regalia to use at these events.

          2023 Regalia Distribution
Payton Hall Lobby - 135 North Oakland Ave

Day                                                 Hours
Monday, May 22                 11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 23                11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 24         11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, May 25             11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.


Saturday, May 27               11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.


Tuesday, May 30                 11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, May 31             8:00 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Baccalaureate takes place at Wednesday at 10 a.m.


Thursday, June 8                 11:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Friday, June 9                          8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
All doctoral hoodings take place Friday


Saturday, June 10                   8:30 a.m.
Distribution at Lake Ave Church

 

When you arrive to pick up your regalia, you will have the opportunity to try it on to ensure a proper fit and make any needed adjustments. Please make every effort to get your regalia early, especially if you want to schedule formal portraits.

For those arriving at the last minute, regalia will be available the morning of the ceremony.

For those who need to purchase custom-made regalia for other purposes, please request an information sheet about purchasing regalia from the Registrar's office. Please do not rent or purchase your own regalia to use at Fuller's Commencement events.

 

DIPLOMA FRAMES

Customized diploma frames can be purchased online at any time from Herff-Jones.

 

FLOWERS

Flowers, leis, or bouquets are available for pre-order from The Commencement Group.

 

GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS

Plain or customized graduation announcements can be purchased online at any time from Herff-Jones.

 

PHOTOS

GradImages is providing professional photography at Commencement. Photos of graduates and the President will be taken as graduates cross the stage. Additional photos are taken backstage with the diploma cover. GradImages will contact graduates directly after the ceremony to provide an opportunity to purchase copies of these photos. Shortly after the ceremony, the images will be available on the GradImages website.

 

RINGS

Fuller class rings with the official Fuller Theological Seminary seal are available for purchase online from Herff-Jones.

 

REGIONAL CAMPUS IN-PERSON EVENTS

Arizona Campus

Saturday, June 10
6:00 - 8:00 pm

Offsite
Valley Presbyterian Church
6947 E McDonald Dr
Paradise Valley, AZ  85253

Questions? Contact Naomi McDonald

 

TEXAS CAMPUS

Saturday, June 17
10:30 am

Offsite
Access Church
1888 Stebbins Dr
Houston, TX  77043

A brief reception to immediately follow the service.

Questions? Contact Michael Murray, or Raquel Toledo

 

OTHER EVENTS AND HOODINGS

These events are listed here in chronological order. As details become finalized, this list will change order.

Baccalaureate

Baccalaureate will take place in Travis Auditorium as 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 31st. There will be a video overflow room in case we exceed capacity. The final chapel of the academic year, Baccalaureate is an in-house celebration, a special service of worship and commitment for graduating students and the community that is "sending them out", and at which the Fuller community honors the graduating class, reflects on their time here, offers words of advice and encouragement, and wishes them farewell. Academic regalia is worn, and the faculty will be in attendance. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to be a part of this special service. Attendance at Baccalaureate and Commencement are unrelated. There is no processional at Baccalaureate, so there is no need to arrive in time for a graduate lineup. All offices are closed for Baccalaureate. There is a reception in the Breezeway after the service, hosted by the Strategic Events Office.

Those who are not able to attend in person can watch the livestream on YouTube.

Questions? Contact Brad Strawn , Julie Tai

 

Pannell Center’s Annual Black Graduate Celebration

The William E. Pannell Center for Black Church Studies' Black Graduate Celebration will take place in Payton 101 on campus. All graduates who plan to participate, whether in-person or virtually, need to register by Friday, May 19 in order to receive stoles [and a spot in Black Grad]. Supplies are limited, so please CLICK HERE TO REGISTER as soon as possible.

Saturday, June 3
2:00 pm
Payton 101

Questions? Contact The Pannell Center.

 

Asian American Center's Graduation Celebration

The Asian American Center will host an event for graduating Asian American students and a family member. Attendees may get their tickets through Eventbrite

The Asian American Center will also be gifting AAC stoles to graduating students of Asian descent. Send requests to AAC.

Saturday, June 3
5:00 - 7:00 pm
3rd Floor Balcony of the David Allan Hubbard Library

Questions? Contact AAC .

 

Centro Latino's Graduation Celebration

Centro Latino will host their Graduation Celebration for graduating Latino/a students 

Thursday, June 8
6:00 pm:   Group Photo (graduating students & faculty)
7:00 - 9:00 pm:   Appetizer Reception in the SOP&MFT Breezeway followed by ceremony in Travis Auditorium

Questions? Contact Wendy Masias

 

Korean Studies Center's Hooding Ceremony and Celebration

The Korean Studies Center will host a doctoral hooding ceremony for Korean Doctor of Ministry, Korean Doctor of Ministry in Global Ministries, and Korean Doctor of Intercultural Studies graduates, and a celebration of Korean MA/ThM graduates.

Friday, June 9
11:00 am - 12:30 pm (Graduate Lineup and rehearsal begins at 10:00 am)
Travis Auditorium
Questions? Contact: Helen Lim

Korean Studies Center's Luncheon

The Korean Studies Center will host a luncheon following the hooding.

Friday, June 9
1:00 - 3:00 pm
Arol Burns Mall

Questions? Contact: Helen Lim

 

Professional Doctorates' Hooding Ceremony (Doctor of Global Leadership, Doctor of Intercultural Studies, Doctor of Ministry)

The Professional Doctorates' Office is hosting a Hooding event for DGL, DIS, and DMin graduates.

Friday, June 9
1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Offsite
First Baptist Church of Pasadena
75 N Marengo Ave
Pasadena, CA  91101

Questions? Contact: Cindy Lee

 

The Center for Missiological Research, and The Center for Advanced Theological Studies Reception and Hooding Ceremony

CMR and CATS are hosting a reception

Friday, June 9
1:30 - 2:30 pm
Garth

followed by a hooding ceremony for PhD graduates.

Friday, June 9
2:30 - 4:00 pm
Payton 101

Questions? Contact: Erik AaslandKirsteen Kim , Eugen Matei

 

 

The School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy PhD and PsyD Hooding followed by a Reception

The School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy hosts a doctoral hooding ceremony for Clinical Psychology graduates.

Friday, June 9
4:00 - 5:00 pm Hooding
Travis Auditorium

5:20 pm Photos with Graduates (location To Be Determined)

5:30 -6:30 pm Reception
SOP&MFT Breezeway

Questions? Contact: Beth Smith

 

The School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy MFT and DMFT Hooding

The School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy hosts a hooding ceremony for Marriage and Family Therapy graduates.

Friday, June 9

5:10 pm Photos with Graduates (location to be determined)

5:30 - 7:00 pm
Reception to be determined

Questions? Contact: Miyoung Yoon Hammer , Kenicha Yoshida , Cameron Lee

 

Swing by the Alumni Relations table after Commencement, update your contact info with the Alumni Relations Office, and stay connected by joining the Fuller Alumni Network.

FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY ADDRESS AND CAMPUS MAP

Fuller Theological Seminary
135 N. Oakland Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91182

CAMPUS MAP

Click the map image to view a PDF of the campus map.

Directions and Parking for on-campus events

Click "Directions" on the map to get driving and public transportation directions from your location.

Parking

Complimentary parking is available in the exterior lot (185 N. Madison Ave.) behind the School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy throughout the commencement weekend. Limited street parking may also be available on Oakland Ave. Please be sure to read city parking signs carefully.

PARKING FOR COMMENCEMENT

Complimentary parking for guests at Commencement is at Gateway Plaza, on the southeast corner of the intersection of the 210 Freeway and Lake Avenue (the church is on the northwest corner of the same intersection). The entrance to the parking structure is from Mentor Ave. Several shuttle vans will run from the south side of Gateway plaza to the pedestrian ramp on the south side of Lake Avenue Church before, during and after the ceremony.

The Gold Line's Lake Avenue stop is a three-minute walk from Lake Avenue Church, for those using Light Rail for transportation.

Lake Avenue Church is located at 393 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA 91101

WHERE TO STAY

Westin-Pasadena

The Westin Pasadena

(.2 miles from campus)

191 North Los Robles
Pasadena, California 91101
Phone: (626) 792-2727

Access our corporate rate: $197/night in a Standard Room

Hilton_Pasadena

Hilton Pasadena

(.5 miles from campus)

168 S. Los Robles Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 577-1000

Hilton Pasadena corporate rate: 10% off the lowest advertised rate
Reservations can be made using our Corporate ID #2975411

Hyatt Place Pasadena

Hyatt Place Pasadena

(.4 miles from campus)

399 E. Green St
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 788-9108

25% off with Corporate Rate Code 138793 or FTHS

sheraton pasadena hotel

Sheraton Pasadena

(.6 miles from campus)

303 Cordova St
Pasadena, California 91101
Phone: (626) 469-8100

$169/night (single or double occupancy, standard room) off lowest rate advertised.
Add Booking Code E3B under Special Rates Section when reserving a room.