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Commencement Giving Day

General Information for Commencement 2024

Fuller's 75th Commencement ceremony is currently scheduled to take place on Saturday, June 08, 2024, beginning at 10:00 am (PT). Commencement will be held at Lake Ave Church, 393 N Lake Ave, Pasadena, CA  91101.  Other events are scheduled in the days before Commencement.

This page will be updated as details are finalized.

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 Commencement livestream at fuller.edu/watch.

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 is finalized. Hooding ceremonies will take place in person on the Pasadena campus during the week before Commencement.

COVID RESTRICTIONS: 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.

Change of Plans or Requests for Accommodation

Commencement Disability Service Request if you or your guests need accommodation at the service. Please respond by May 5.

Change of Plans: Not Attending if you are certain you will no longer be attending. Submit any time.

Commencement Photo/Video Opt-Out if you need to be certain you do not appear in photos or video. Please respond by June 1.

 

Family Early Admission Passes

Based on the size of the venue and the number of graduates, it has been decided that we will not need to limit graduates to a certain number of guests. Invite your friends as well as your family. Please do not invite large groups ("all the member of my church", etc.) or there will not be enough seating.

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 doctoral hoodings as well as 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.

DISTRIBUTION SCHEDULE

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.

Payton Hall Lobby - 135 North Oakland Ave

Day                                       Hours

Tuesday, May 28             11:00 am  – 6:30 pm
Wednesday, May 29       11:00 am  – 6:30 pm
Thursday, May 30           11:00 am  – 6:30 pm
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Saturday, June 1              11:00 am  – 2:00 pm
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Monday, June 3               11:00 am  – 6:30 pm
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Thursday, June 6             11:00 am  – 6:30 pm
Friday, June 7                     8:00 am – 2:00 p.m
     All doctoral hoodings take place Friday


Saturday, June 08
    Distribution at Commencement itself

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 8, 2024 from 6:00-9:00 pm MT

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

Questions? Contact Naomi McDonald

 

 

TEXAS CAMPUS

Saturday, June 15, 2024 from at 10:30 am - 12:30 pm CT

Fuller Theological Seminary @ Houston
10200 Richmond Ave
Houston, TX   77042

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.

Pannell Center’s Annual Black Graduate Celebration

The William E. Pannell Center for Black Church Studies' Black Graduate Celebration.

Saturday, June 1, 2024 from 2:00-4:00 pm PST
online and in-person in Payton 101

Questions? Contact The Pannell Center.

 

Asian American Center's Graduation Celebration

An event for graduating Asian American students, their families, and guests. Graduating Asian American Students will receive a stole at this event.

Thursday, June 6, 2024 from 5:00-7:00 pm PST
Fuller Pasadena campus (exact location to be determined)

Questions? Contact AAC .

 

Centro Latino's Graduation Celebration

Centro Latino will host a Graduation Celebration for graduating Latino/a students and guests, with an appetizer reception following the event.

Thursday, June 6, 2024 from 6:00-8:30 pm PST
Travis Auditorium & Breezeway

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 7, 2024 from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm PST

Lineup and rehearsal beginning at 10am.

Questions? Contact: Helen Lim

 

Korean Studies Center's Luncheon

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

Friday, June 7, 2024 from 12:30-2:00 pm PST
Lawn of the Arol Burns Mall

Questions? Contact: Helen Lim

 

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

CMR and CATS are hosting a reception followed by a hooding ceremony for PhD graduates.

Friday, June 7, 2024
Reception in the Garth, 1:30-2:30pm PST
Hooding in Payton 101, 2:30 pm PST

Questions? Contact: Erik AaslandKutter CallawayKirsteen Kim , Eugen Matei

 

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

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

Friday, June 7, 2024 at 2:00 pm PST
First Baptist Church of Pasadena.

Questions? Contact: Cindy Lee

 

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 7, 2024. Expected to begin at 5pm
Travis Auditorium

Photos with Graduates (location To Be Determined)

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.

Photos with Graduates (location to be determined)

Friday, June 7, 2024 Time to be announced.
Vintage Church, at the intersection of Los Robles and Walnut.

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.