Congratulations Class of 2022!

Important Dates

• April 20 & 21 Grad Fair
  April 20 & 21 10am to 4pm 
  At the Main quad in front of the OCC Bookstore
  Come to meet various vendors, take your graduation photo, preorder regalia, and enjoy special discounts!
• May 26   Rehearsal

  May 26  12:00pm to 1:30pm 
  Pacific Amphitheatre, 100 Fair Dr. Costa Mesa, CA 92626
  Free parking is available at Lot E (enter from Student Gate #4 on Arlington & Fairview)
  Check-in at lot F.

  Come and prepare for the big day. Free lunch included! 

• May 27  Commencement Ceremony

  5:30pm to 8:00pm 
  Pacific Amphitheatre, 100 Fair Dr. Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (see below for map)
  Celebration for your great achievement!

  See below for detailed instruction for graduates and guests. 

Commencement Preparation Check List

Graduates Information

• Regalia & Gifts

  Order your regalia today!

  Regalia (Cap, Gown, Tassel) is required for graduates to participate in Commencement. Graduates can visit the OCC Bookstore to purchase regalia now through noon May 27, 2022.

  Purchase your regalia early! Sizes of regalia become limited closer to the day of event. Remember to bring your "Regalia Purchase Card" that were mailed to you. Regalia purchase cards are also available at the Graduation Office in Watson Hall 1st Floor.

  Students in Special Programs may contact your program’s office for instructions on acquiring regalia:

  • EOPS (714) 432-5817
  • Guardian Scholars (714) 432-6877
  • Student Equity (714) 432-6847
  • Veterans (714) 432-0202 x25836

  Students may also order personalized graduation announcements and diploma frames through Herff Jones at www.collegegrad.herffjones.com. Type in Orange Coast College in the search field and the school will show as School Name, click the school name link to continue to the ordering site.

• Grad Fair

  

  Shop at the Grad Fair for all your Graduation & Alumni essentials. 

  Wed. April 20 and Thurs. April 21, 2022  

  10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

  • Purchase your Cap & Gown, Diploma Frames, Announcements, Class Rings, and Alumni Gifts.
  • Come camera ready to take your Grad Portrait.
  • Visit the Graduation Table or the Graduation Office at Watson Hall to pick up your "Regalia Purchase Card" for a 20% off coupon for the bookstore when you purchase regalia.
  • Visit EOPS, Student Equity, Guardian Scholar, or Veteran's Office tables for regalia for your program.
  • Visit the Honors Program table for information on Honors regalia.
  • Talk to Financial Aid staff about questions you may have for payment after Graduation.
• Guest Invites
  

  Graduates, share the exciting news!

  Invite your family and friends to join you to celebrate your special moment! Share the invitation card which include many details relevant for guests. Click the image on the left or here for the Guest Invitation Card. 

  Tickets are not required, there is no limit to the number of guests graduates may invite.

• Grad Attire

  All graduates should wear regalia. 

  See the Regalia & Gifts tab on the left for instructions on how to order regalia. The academic regalia consists of a gown, a cap with tassel, and a stole (if applicable). The gown should fall midway between the knee and ankle. The cap is worn flat on the head with the tassels on the right side.

  Refer to How to Wear Your College Graduation Cap and Gown video for instructions on how to wear your regalia.

  Under the gown, graduates can wear a dress, skirt or dress pants, neatly-pressed dress shirt, and a pair of comfortable dress shoes. High heels and platforms are not recommended as you will be walking on stairs.

• Rehearsal

  Commencement Rehearsal

  Thursday May 26, 2022 12:00 noon

  • 12:00 pm – 12:45 pm Free Lunch
  • 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm Rehearsal Practice & Presentation

  Arrive by 11:30 am to check-in.

   

  Attendance at rehearsal is highly encouraged but not required for you to participate in the Commencement ceremony.

  Rehearsal is held at the same location as the Commencement Ceremony. Please refer to Direction and Parking tab for more information. 

• Commencement Day!

  74th Orange Coast College Commencement

  DATE AND TIME

  Friday, May 27, 2022
  
  

  Graduates will be at the event be from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Please plan your time accordingly.

  • 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm Check-in and Line Up (Lot F)
  • 4:45 pm – 5:30 pm Line Up, ready for procession (Lot F)
  • 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm Commencement Ceremony
  • 7:30 pm - 8:00 pm Light Reception & Photo with Guests

  Read the Graduating Student Instructions Letter throughly to make sure you are ready for your big day. 
• Direction and Parking

  Event Direction and Parking

  The Commencement Ceremony and the rehearsal for the ceremony will both be held at the Pacific Amphitheatre. 

  Address:

  Pacific Amphitheatre
  OC Fair & Event Center
  100 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

  
  

  • Graduates Parking/Drop-off at Lot E, enter through gate #4 on Arlington and Fairview
  • Guest Parking at Lot B or Lot C, enter through Gate #2 on Fair and Vanguard.

Guest Information

• Ceremony Date and Time

  74th Orange Coast College Commencement

  Friday, May 27, 2022

  EVENT TIME

  • 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm Commencement Ceremony
  • 7:30 pm - 8:00 pm Light Reception & Photo with Guests

  The ceremony will start at 5:30 pm and lasts roughly 2 hours.
  Plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the ceremony start time. Seating begins at 4:15pm.

  Guests should plan on reuniting with their graduates and special guests after the recessional out of the Amphitheatre into the Box Office Plaza, where all are invited to a reception to celebrate.

  If you are making plans to continue your celebration offsite, it is highly recommended that any dinner reservations are planned for after 8:30pm, as it may take 15-30 minutes exit the parking lot.

   

• DRIVING DIRECTION AND PARKING

  GETTING TO COMMENCEMENT

  Pacific Amphitheatre
  OC Fair & Event Center
  100 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

  DRIVING DIRECTION

  FROM THE 55 FREEWAY

  Southbound: Exit at Del Mar/Fair Drive, turn right at Fair Drive, proceed to Gate 2 (on the right).   Northbound: Exit at Newport Blvd, continue on Newport Blvd, turn left on Del Mar Avenue/Fair Drive.  Proceed to Gate 2 (on the right).  
   
  FROM THE 405 FREEWAY

  Southbound: Exit at Fairview Road, turn right, continue 1.3 miles to the OC Fair & Event Center, turn left at Merrimac Way to enter at Gate 3.  

  PARKING

  Graduates who are riding with guests can be dropped Drop-off at Lot E (Grad Parking Lot), enter through gate #4 on Arlington and Fairview.
  

  Free guest parking is available from Gates 2 in Lots B and C. Enter through Gate #2 on Fair and Vanguard.Please do not move any physical barriers located in the parking lots. 

  Accessible Parking

  Accessible parking will be available in Lot B for persons with disabilities.

  

• Other Information

  Flowers and Gifts

  On-site sales of flower bouquets and leis will be available before the ceremony begin, you may also visit the Commencement Groups webpage for Orange Coast College to order bouquets and orchid leis, alumni gifts, or other graduate essentials.  

  Attire

  Comfortable shoes are highly recommended since there will be considerable walking from the parking lot and there are stairs inside the Amphitheatre.  Temperatures fluctuate, so dressing in layers is advisable. 

  CEREMONY ETIQUETTE

  Given the celebratory nature of commencement and in consideration of others, guests and participants are asked to follow some basic rules of etiquette for the event.

  • Items that detract from the ceremony are prohibited.
  • Graduates and special guests are expected to remain present for the entire ceremony.
  • Please remain in your seats for the duration of the ceremony.
  • Do not block the aisles or passageways by attempting to greet or take photos with graduates and special guests.

   

2022 Commencement Program and Video

Event Program

---

View Program

View Commencement Program (PDF)

Rewatch the Ceremony

---

Event premiered on

May 27 @ 5:30 p.m.