Facebook pixel Instructions for Graduates | Pepperdine Graziadio Business School Skip to main content
Pepperdine | Graziadio Business School

Instructions for Graduates

Graduate Instructions

RSVP Deadlines

Opens - March 2, 2026

Closes - March 22, 2026

To- Do List

  1. RSVP and create your graduate profile in Tassel. (A link to Tassel will be emailed to eligible grads starting March, 2026.) 
  2. Rent or purchase your regalia from Herff Jones by the deadline.  
  3. Attend one of two identical commencement informational webinars on March 4th or March 9, 2026.

TASSEL

  • Provide your full, preferred name. This is the name that will be read aloud at graduation. Please carefully proofread your name to check for any typos or accidental autocorrections.
  • Provide a phonetic spelling of your name.
  • If you wish, you may also provide a voice recording of you saying your name to better help the voice actor with the pronunciation. 

Student Arrival (8:30AM)

  • Bring your regalia with you to commencement. CAPS AND GOWNS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE ONSITE.
  • Head to student check-in near the pond on Alumni Park. At check-in, you will receive your military cord (if ordered in advance) or any honors award.  You must have your digital stage pass to cross the stage.
  • Visit the robing tent to receive assistance in putting on your regalia.
  • Please do not bring purses, backpacks, bags, and other non-essential items to the graduation ceremony, as there will be no place to securely store them.
  • Find a seat in the staging area. Grads must sit in their academic program section, but do not have to be in alphabetical order. The line of march will be organized by academic program. Please remain in order as you are ushered to the graduation area. No one may enter the line of march after it leaves the staging area. Watch staff ushers for cues during your march into the graduation area.
  • The graduation area may be warm, and there is no shade, so be sure to wear sunscreen.

Receiving Your Diploma

  • The Dean will ask the respective candidates to rise.
  • Remain standing until the President has conferred your degree, then sit in your chair.
  • When instructed by the staff ushers, stand in your row, then march forward to the stage to receive your diploma. Take your digital stage pass with you to the stage.
  • Enter the stage on the right, present your digital stage pass to be scanned, shake hands with the president, exit to the left, and return to your seat.  Be aware of the photographers who will take your picture upon receipt of your diploma cover and when you exit the stage.

Graduation Recessional

  • Following the benediction, the platform party will exit, followed by the graduates and then the faculty

After Graduation

Before you leave campus, please deposit your rental gown at the Herff Jones table in Alumni Park. The cap and tassel are yours to keep, as well as the sash if you purchased it in advance.
On the lawn in Alumni Park, graduates may take this time to introduce their family and friends to the faculty and administration.

Guest Information & Ticketing

Tickets are required for all guests attending the commencement ceremony. To efficiently welcome guests onto our Malibu campus, each guest must possess and display their individual ticket to attend the ceremony. 

Student Allotments: Once registration opens, up to eight (8) tickets will be available to graduates to disseminate to their guests. 
Waitlist: Students who require extra seating may join a waitlist to request additional tickets. Once the initial ticketing window has closed, we will begin reviewing the possibility of fulfilling these requests based on availability. If additional tickets are granted, they will be sent to you in a separate email.

Restrooms & Concessions

Regular and ADA-accessible restrooms will be available on Alumni Park. Limited concessions will also be available for purchase in a designated tent near the ceremony area.

Security & Prohibited Items

To enhance public safety, please observe the following restrictions for all commencement activities on the Pepperdine University Campus. Patrons will not be allowed to bring the following items onto Alumni Park. These policies are subject to change without notice.

  • No firearms, knives, explosives, or other weapons
  • All commencement staff have the authority to prohibit any items deemed a security risk.
  • No large bags, backpacks, or large purses
  • No large signs, flags, poles, banners, or laser pointers
  • No artificial noisemakers, air horns, or megaphones may be used
  • No balloons
  • No pets are allowed except trained service animals

Consistent with University policies, pets are not allowed at commencement services except for guide, service, or signal dogs.

Weather

In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony venue will change. Please note that indoor seating is limited; if the venue moves, guest ticketing will be adjusted based on the capacity of the new location.

Please email pgbs.commencement@pepperdine.edu with any additional event related questions.