2025 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY | Whatcom Community College

Commencement Ceremony Live Stream

When: June, 2025

Where: Whatcom Community College Orca Field

Who: Grads, Family and Friends

Student Check-In: 4:45pm-5:45pm.

Check-in is located outside Cascade Hall in the rear north parking lot.

Graduates must line up at 6:00 p.m.
(Ceremony last about 1.5 hours)

Reception following the ceremony on Orca Field.

Graduates smiling and waving in their caps and gowns

3 STEPS to participate in the Commencement Ceremony

Be a 2024-25 graduate, Apply for Graduation.
Online ordering from Josten's is now closed. Opening soon for 2024-25 commencement
Reserve your seat, RSVP to the commencement ceremony.
Use your MyWCC login, follow the prompts.
For MyWCC login help contact the studenthelpdesk.

Deadlines:

BAS graduate cap and gown online ordering deadline is May 13, 2025.
All other graduate cap and gown online ordering deadline is May 27, 2025.
RSVP deadline is June 4, 2025.

Other commencement Information

Cap and Gown

Honor Cords

Honor cords are given to all degree graduates who have earned a cumulative college-level GPA of 3.5 or higher in at least 45 WCC credits or have a combined GPA of 3.5 or higher with transfer credit and participating in the commencement ceremony.

Spring and summer graduate applicants' honors GPA is based on completed course work and will be calculated after winter grades are posted.

Students that have earned honor cords will be notified of times and dates for picking up cords.

Honor cord pick up dates: to be announced

Where: Orca Central (Heiner Building)

Time: to be announced

WCC Graduation Announcements

Program Information

For a student's name to be listed in the commencement program and other commencement publications, students need to submit their RSVP and graduation application by June 4, 2025.

The student's primary name will be used in the commencement program and other commencement publications, unless a preferred name is on their record. When a student has a preferred name, it will be used instead of the primary name.

Student with a FERPA block in the "Privacy Restrictions" tab on their "Student Profile" will not have their name listed in the program or other commencement publications. This applies to students that have requested at any time in the past for records to be hidden, for WCC not to release information, or have a "Notice of Non-Disclosure Form" on file.

For more information contact the Graduation Department at graduation@whatcom.edu .

After the Ceremony

Graduation is the awarding of a degree or certificate. This happens at the end of every term. Students are awarded a degree for the term that they finish the requirements for the degree/certificate.

Commencement is the ceremony honoring students' accomplishments. Commencement Ceremony happens once a year on the last day of Spring term.

Diplomas are issued separately each term. Diplomas are not issued at commencement ceremony. See our Diploma Information page.

FAQs

Who is qualified to walk in this year’s celebration?

WCC Graduation Announcements

Will I receive Commencement tickets for my family and friends?

What if there's inclement weather?

When is graduate check- in time?

Can I decorate my cap?

What time do the graduates line up?

When do I get my photo taken?

GradImages is the professional photographers of WCC Commencement graduates. Photos will be taken during the Commencement Ceremony. WCC photographers will also be on sight for fun interactive photos while you are checking-in or lining up. As well as other photo options and booths in the check-in area.

GradImages will send communication to your email listed on the graduation information card used during the ceremony. You can opt out of this communication see information on the card or ask at time of check -in. Photo proofs will be sent out about 5-7 days after the ceremony by GradImages.

What if I want to sit by a friend?

What to do with my gown?

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