Day-of Information for Graduates
Stanford Ceremony Information
http://commencement.stanford.edu
SUSE Diploma Ceremony Information
Location
The SUSE Diploma Ceremony will be held in the West Oval Grove, located between the Oval and Herrin Hall.
Parking
Arrive early to get the best parking and ensure that you are not late to line-up. If parking around the Oval and in the surrounding areas (Lomita Drive, Roth Way, Museum Way) is difficult on Sunday, you may find parking in the parking structure on the corner of Campus & Roth or in the Tresidder parking lot. For information on any available Marguerite Shuttle routes for that Sunday, click here.
Procession Line-Up
Procession line-up is at 12:00 p.m. (see map below for location).Your line-up leader will be holding a sign with your degree/program name. All doctoral students line-up together in alphabetical order, then all master's students line up by program area/ alphabetical order (CTE, ICE/IEAPA, Joint Degree, LDT, POLS, STEP Elementary and STEP Secondary).
- Check-in with your line-up leader. They will have your name card, snacks, and instructions about your place in line. Hold on to your name card.
- Please do not switch your order in line as your diplomas will be in the same order we place you.
- Unbutton your hoods and carry them on your right arm.
- Tassels should be on the left side.
Order of Procession:
- Flag Bearers: Matt Kloser, Jane Kim, and Gabriel Lomeli
- Marshals: Rachel Lotan, Ira Lit, Arnetha Ball
- Faculty and invited guests
- Doctoral degree candidates
- Master's degree candidates
- Line-up location
View Stanford School of Education Commencement Map in a larger map
SUSE's commencement speaker this year is Professor Emeritus Edwin Bridges.
Conferral of Degrees and Hooding Instructions
Your row will be asked to stand and file towards the stage entrance. Right before you walk onto the stage, you will give your name card to Associate Dean Eamonn Callan who will announce your name (and dissertation title for doctoral students). Give your unbuttoned hood to your advisor/director and turn to face the audience. Your advisor/director will place the hood on you (please squat a bit, if necessary, so the advisor/director can place the hood over your cap). Dean Steele will hand you your diploma and you will exit the stage and return to your seat. Doctoral students will be hooded by their advisor and master's students by their Program Director.
Reception
Warm hors d'oeuvres, champagne and non-alcoholic beverages will be served immediately following the ceremony, in the oak grove behind the seating area.
Some Tips to Make the Ceremony More Enjoyable…
- Dress comfortably under your gown and for the heat. Sun block is recommended.
- Comfortable, close-toed shoes are recommended for walking across campus and in the oak grove (there is debris from the trees in the diploma ceremony site).
- We recommend that graduates eat a hearty breakfast. Your line-up leader will have some snacks for you. A champagne and hors d'oeuvres reception will follow the SUSE ceremony at 2:00 p.m.
- Water will be available at both ceremony locations.
- Plan to be at the SUSE ceremony by 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.
- Walk by the locations of the SUSE and University ceremonies a few days before commencement weekend in order to plan how you will get there and where you will park.
- You may want to drop off your guests before parking just in case you do not find parking close to the site.

