Commencement

Spring Commencement Ceremony Details

We are looking forward with anticipation to our Spring commencement ceremony in May! Please see below for updated information regarding this year’s Spring commencement:

  • The live stream of each ceremony is available for viewing. Each ceremony will also be recorded and available for viewing at a later date by using the link.
  • We will be hosting two separate commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 10, 2025.
  • The first ceremony will honor our traditional undergraduate and degree completion students. This ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. with doors opening for guests at 8:30 a.m. See this map to view available entrances to the arena.
  • The second ceremony will honor our graduate students. This ceremony will begin at 3:00 p.m. with doors opening for guests at 2:00 p.m. See this map to view available entrances to the arena.
  • Both ceremonies will be held at Selland Arena in Downtown Fresno located at 700 M. Street, Fresno CA, 93721.
  • No air horns, balloons or glass vases are permitted inside of the building.
  • For information on security and policies related to the convention center please visit this webpage.


Line Up Information

  • Line up for graduates and faculty will take place in Valdez Hall, located directly across the outside concourse from the Selland Arena. Please view this map to see the location of where line up will take place.
  • Students participating in the first ceremony need to be in line up area no later than 8:45 a.m. The lineup area is where you will pick up your name card and line up prior to walking into the arena. Please plan accordingly and wear appropriate shoes.
  • Students participating in the second ceremony need to be in line up area no later than 2:00 p.m. The lineup area is where you will pick up your name card and line up prior to walking into the arena. Please plan accordingly and wear appropriate shoes.
  • There will not be a secure place to store valuables so plan to have a discrete way to carry your personal items with you.
     

Parking

  • Parking is $25/car in the main parking lot. Please view this map to see locations of nearby parking garages.
  • Parking is also available in the nearby parking garage and metered parking on the street will also available.

Credential Celebration

  • Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
  • Ceremony Start Time: 7:00pm
  • Doors open at 6:30pm
  • Location: Fresno Pacific University Special Events Center, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno CA 93702
  • For more information, please contact Jan Zoller (jan.zoller@fresno.edu)
  • This year's Credential Celebration will be livestreamed and can be viewed here.

Multicultural Celebration

  • Date: Thursday, May 8, 2025
  • Ceremony Start Time: 6:00pm
  • Doors Open at 5:30pm
  • Location: Fresno Pacific University Special Events Center, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno, CA 93702
  • For the current graduating class of Fresno Pacific, we want to invite you and your family to the Multicultural Celebration. All graduates are asked to be dressed in their graduation robe (without a cap), and if desired, have an ethnic sash present with them. At this ceremony will be a special presentation of ethnic sashes - We invite you to have a mentor, a family member, or a significant ally with you during the presentation. Dessert reception to follow. Please RSVP for family members and yourself!
  • For more information, please contact Cyinna Drotos, Assistant Director of DEI at cyinna.drotos@fresno.edu or 559-453-2074
  • This year’s Multicultural Celebration will be live streamed and can be viewed here.

Seminary Gala

  • Date: May 9, 2025
  • Program Start Time: 6:00 p.m.
  • Doors Open at 5:15 p.m.
  • Please join us in celebrating our 2025 seminary graduates at the annual Seminary Gala. This year's formal dinner program includes an address by a faculty member, student speeches and student awards. All attendees must RSVP.
  • For more information, please contact Amaris Garces at amaris.garces@fresno.edu.

Social Work Celebration 

  • Date: May 9, 2025
  • Program Start Time: 6:30 p.m.
  • Doors Open: 6:00 p.m.
  • Location: Fresno Pacific University Special Events Center, 1717 S. Chestnut Ave., Fresno CA 93702
  • Please join us in our first celebration honoring graduates of the Social Work program, including undergraduate and graduate degrees. This year’s celebration will include an address, student awards, and special performances.
  • For more information, please contact Patricia Salas at patricia.salas@fresno.edu.

BSN Pinning Ceremony

  • Date: May 12, 2025
  • Program Start Time: 5:00 p.m.
  • Doors Open: 4:30 p.m.
  • Location: Warkentine Culture & Arts Center, 4838 E. Butler Ave., Fresno CA 93727
  • Please join us in celebrating the 2025 graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. The BSN Pinning Ceremony is a symbolic event where nursing students receive a ceremonial pin, marking their transition from academia to professional practice and celebrating their commitment to compassionate care.
  • For more information, please contact JoAnna Crocker at joanna.crocker@fresno.edu.
  • This year’s BSN Pinning Ceremony will be live streamed and can be viewed here.

Commencement Medallion

Commencement medallion zipper pull

Show your FPU pride with a unique zipper-pull medallion to wear on your grad gown. Make a gift to the university of $20.25 or more in honor of your grad year, and we’ll thank you by giving you a medallion. Your small gift will have a big impact on students next year through the Scholarship Fund. You will be able to pick up your medallion before the hooding ceremony or in the graduate line-up area before commencement.

Make your gift

If you have any additional questions, please contact Morgan Schlesselman, Director of Alumni Development, at morgan.schlesselman@fresno.edu.

FPU Bookshop

The bookshop is located on our main campus and they are open Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. They can be reached by phone at 559-453-2078.

Purchasing Regalia

Regalia is now available for purchase on Josten's Website. To purchase regalia, please visit this webpage.

Please Note:

Online ordering deadline: March 30, 2025 (You need to place your order by this date in order to ensure you receive it in time for commencement.)

Decorated caps and unapproved regalia (unapproved stoles, cords, etc.) worn to the ceremony will be confiscated and will not be available for pickup until the week following the ceremony from the main Fresno campus. After one week, any unclaimed items will be forfeited. Please visit the links below for approved regalia and ethnic sash guidelines.

The Bookshop will have limited supply available for purchase in store. For custom sizing, ordering on Josten’s website is encouraged.

You can also order your Souvenir tassels, (these are not to be worn during Commencement) Diploma Frames, FPU Yard signs, and approved Ethnic Sashes on our campus bookstore site.

Students wear the traditional black cap and gown with appropriate colored tassel or graduate hood. Personal embellishments on caps/gowns will not be allowed to be worn during the ceremony, including flower or money leis.

Photo the 2022 tassel

Approved Commencement Regalia
Ethnic Sash Outline & Criteria
Shop bookstore online

 


Returns

Regalia returns if purchased through Josten’s website may be returned within 30 days of purchase with receipt. All returns must be unopened and in their original packaging. When returning items, please include the following information:

  • Include name, address, phone number, school name and reason
  • Write the information on the original package slip if possible
  • Return to address: Jostens Returns, 501 Lynn Avenue, Laurens, SC 29360
  • Call or email Jostens Consumer Contact Center with your tracking number at 800-854-7464 or email tracking number to collservpaperwork@jostens.com.
  • Credit will be issued after receipt of return. No refund on shipping costs.


If you purchased your regalia in store, if may be returned within 30 days before the ceremony and only if unopened. No returns are accepted after Friday, May 3, 2024.

Virtual Ring Events

Dates to be determined.

Honors Cords

If you have received Latin honors, you will receive an email in March from the Registrar’s office with information about when and where to pick them up. If you have questions about honors cords, please contact the Registrar's office at registrar@fresno.edu

Flower Purchases

Flowers will be available for purchase on the day of Commencement. The Bookstore and Flower vendor will be set up at both entrances of Selland Arena. Flowers as well as FPU merch/gifts will be available day-of and can also be preordered here.

Commencement Ceremony Photographer

Campus Candids Graduation Foto by Collegiate Studios will take a photo of each graduate as they cross the stage and receive their diploma. Once the images are available (approximately 3 weeks later), they will send you an image link to view your proofs. They offer a variety of picture packages, individual prints, display products and digital downloads.