Commencement

Commencement 2026 Details

Commencement 2026 will be on the Oklahoma City Community College campus at the Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC) on Saturday, May 16.

OCCC will host division-specific ceremonies at the following times:

• 10 a.m. Science, Engineering, and Mathematics; Associate in Science in Diversified Studies (livestream)
• 1 p.m. Arts, English, and Humanities (livestream)
• 4 p.m. Business and Information Technology; Social Sciences (livestream)
• 7 p.m. Health Professions (livestream)

Graduates who have informed the Graduation office that they want to attend the Commencement ceremony via their graduation application have received an email with an RSVP link to the appropriate ceremony.

RSVPs are required for graduates to participate. You will not be on the list to purchase your cap and gown from the OCCC bookstore without an RSVP.  The RSVP is due no later than Friday, March 27.  Late RSVPs will be accepted; however, we encourage students to submit as soon as possible. If your RSVP link shows that we no longer are accepting responses, please contact us for more information about how to RSVP by emailing us or calling (405) 682-7522.

Once we receive all RSVPs, the list of students will be provided to the OCCC bookstore so you may purchase your cap and gown for the ceremony. You must wear a black cap and gown. Caps and gowns will go on sale in the OCCC bookstore in April.

Tickets will be required for family and friends. Seating within the theater will be on a first-come, first-served basis for ticket holders. There will be a limited number of tickets per graduate available for pickup from the Graduation office between April 6 and May 1. Further information regarding ticket pickup will be available after all RSVPs are collected in April.

If you believe you should have received an RSVP email and did not or have any other questions regarding the ceremony, please email us  or call (405) 682-7522.

Graduates, stay connected to O-Triple-C through our Alumni Association! Membership is free. Sign up here.

Graduates: What to Expect at Commencement

Commencement will be held on the OCCC campus at the Visual and Performing Arts Center (VPAC). Graduates should plan to arrive with their robes for check-in 45 minutes prior to the start of your Commencement ceremony (9:15 a.m. for 10 a.m. ceremony, 12:15 p.m. for 1 p.m. ceremony, 3:15 p.m. for 4 p.m. ceremony, 6:15 p.m. for 7 p.m. ceremony).

Robing

• Graduates are required to wear black caps and gowns for Commencement and they may be purchased in the Bookstore. You may wear one purchased elsewhere so long as the cap and gown are black. Tassels can be purchased separately in the Bookstore as well.
• If you wear your gown straight out of the package, it may be wrinkled — we recommend ironing or at a minimum hanging your gown ahead of time!
• Wear shoes that are comfortable for walking, as you will be walking and standing for prolonged periods.
• Wear your cap so the mortarboard is flat on your head, not tilted. Your tassel should hang on the right.

Name Cards

• When you arrive, you must obtain your name card at the check-in station designated by your last name. Check the card to make sure your name is correct.
• Your name card is very important. Do not lose or destroy your card. You will give this card to the reader to announce your name as you walk across stage.
• If you would like to clarify the pronunciation of your name, speak to the reader prior to the lineup. The reader will be stationed in front of the robing room.

Lineup

• Twenty minutes before the ceremony, Commencement marshals will arrive to organize graduates for the processional. Graduates will be instructed to make two parallel lines.
• When it is time to begin, the marshals will lead the lines of graduates out of the robing room to the theater entrance. The processional music will begin, and the marshals will lead you to your seats in the arena.
• Please be aware that we cannot guarantee preferred seating arrangements.

Ceremony

• Remain standing once you have arrived at your seat. There will be an invocation, and then you will be instructed to take your seat.
• The college designee will ask graduates for the various degrees to stand. The president will announce graduates for conferral. You will move your tassel from the right side to the left.    
• After the conferral is announced, all graduates except the first row will be seated.  Marshals will begin leading the first row out to the stage. Marshals will continue to direct graduates to the stage row by row until all graduates have walked.
• When it is approaching your turn to go on stage, you will hand your name card to the reader. Marshals will guide you onto the stage.
• Once on stage, you will be given a diploma cover. Your diploma will not be in the cover. Diplomas are mailed directly to you.
• Next, you will walk across the stage and have your picture taken with the president. You then will exit the stage. A marshal then will direct you to the photography station for a professional photo. You then will be led back to your original row.
• At the end of the ceremony, the marshals will lead you out of the theater, at which time you can return to the robing area or find your family/friends to celebrate!  
• As you’re leaving the theater, you’ll receive a bag that will include tickets for a free item from each of the dessert trucks (located in the east VPAC parking lot) and a ticket for a free OCCC license plate frame, which can be picked up at the table in the lobby.