Graduation Information

Caps and Gowns:

Order your cap and gown from the bookstore online or in-person. Regalia will be available soon in the bookstores; however, sizes for walk-ins (especially at the last minute) are not guaranteed. If you have questions, please call the Pensacola or Warrington Campus. Pensacola Campus (850) 484-1515 / Warrington Campus (850) 484-2233.

Bookstores:

Pensacola Campus  / Warrington Campus

Tassels:

Tassels should be worn on the right side. At the end of the ceremony, once you have officially been conferred your degree, you will be directed to move your tassel from the right to the left.

Caps and Gowns:

Graduates must be attired in full academic regalia (cap/gown) to participate in the ceremony.

• Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science graduates wear black gowns.
• Associate in Arts and Associate in Science graduates wear green gowns.
• Advanced Technical Certificate, Advanced Technology Diploma, and Career and Technical Certificate graduates wear navy blue gowns.

Please remember to purchase honor cords and/or stoles from the bookstore, if applicable.

Suggested Attire:

Male graduates should wear dark slacks and shoes and females should wear dark slacks or dress with dark shoes. Please, no flip flops or beach-type sandals. There is no storage for purses, back packs, etc.

Contact graduation staff at graduation@pensacolastate.edu with any questions.

Graduation Protocol:

The Commencement ceremony is a dignified event; therefore, decorum and courtesy are very important for graduates and their guests. All graduates and members of the general audience should stand and remove hats following the lead of the stage guests.

Out of respect for all graduates, no air horns, balloons, bubbles, beach balls, or similar items are allowed in the ceremony. The use of noisemakers may be intended to show one person’s pride in a graduate, but it can also ruin the chance for another family to hear the name of their graduate announced.

Rehearsal:

There is no rehearsal at Pensacola State College for commencement. Therefore, it is very important for students to arrive on time to check in and receive instructions. Students should arrive at the Bay Center no later than 4:30 p.m. in order to be placed in line according to degree type. Students will be guided to and from the stage by degree type by Commencement Marshalls. Students should pay attention to these Marshalls immediately following the ceremony for details on the recessions (how graduates walk out of the facility).

Name Card:

At registration, you will be given a card with your name on it (if you saved your seat in advance). If you did not save your seat in advance, you will need to complete a card – each graduate must have a card! When you approach the stage, you will release your card to the college representative so that they may announce your name. Please keep the card in good condition so that it is easily read by the Emcee. The photographers will also use this card to keep the graduate photos in the proper order.

Special Assistance

If you need special assistance, please email graduation@pensacolastate.edu so that arrangements can be made prior to the ceremony.

Photography

Professional photos will be taken as you receive your diploma cover. Proofs will be mailed to the address provided on your name card and packages will be available to purchase from Grad Images. Please make sure that your address is listed correctly in Workday. You may pre-register so that photo proofs will be provided promptly after the event.  Pre-register at http://www.gradimages.com/Preregistration to receive a 20% discount.

Diplomas

Digital diplomas will be available approximately a week after the Final Grading deadline. Please be sure to check your PirateMail for the link to your digital diploma. Diplomas will be mailed to the address on file in Workday 4-6 weeks after graduation.

Printed Program

Please note that if you did not  RSVP by the deadline (November 29, 2024), your name will not appear in the printed program.

Security

Due to changes in security at the Pensacola Bay Center, all attendees will be required to go through security screening with metal detectors. Please only bring essential items to graduation. Plan to arrive with enough time to go through Pensacola Bay Center Security.

Parking

All graduates who arrive from 9th Avenue and park in the back of the building will walk down the Gate #3 & 4 stairwells. All others will walk down the North Fire Lane to the back of the building. All students must be screened in order to enter. Please note that friends and family members are not able to accompany graduates to this level. Please see this map for additional information.

Patching & Pinning Ceremonies:

These ceremonies are separate from Commencement. Contact the program directors for details.

Contact graduation staff at graduation@pensacolastate.edu with any questions.

Robes

The academic regalia including robes, caps or mortarboards, and medallions found in most colleges and universities is derived from the academic and clerical dress common throughout the medieval universities of Europe.

The modern academic gown is a garment resembling a long black cape. In early medieval times, all students at the universities were required to wear the robes to class. The colors of velvet and piping on robes represent the degree or discipline of the wearer.

The hood was originally a functional garment, worn to shield the head from the elements. It has developed to an often bright and decorative garment worn only on special academic occasions. The interior lining of the hood displays the colors of the institution from which the wearer received a degree.

• Bachelor of Applied Science and Bachelor of Science graduates wear black gowns.
• Associate in Arts and Associate in Science graduates wear green gowns.
• Advanced Technical Certificate, Advanced Technology Diploma, and Career and Technical Certificate graduates wear navy blue gowns.

Presidential Chain of Office

The chain of office worn by the President is a celebration of the College’s history. From September 1948 to July 2010, the College was named Pensacola Junior College. In July 2010, the College became Pensacola State College. The large bronze medallion on the center of the chain is the College seal. The right side of the chain recognizes the past presidents of Pensacola Junior College, and the left side of the chain recognizes the current president of Pensacola State College.

The Mace

The ceremonial academic mace originated in 1385 at the University of Vienna. An academic mace is traditionally carried in ceremonial occasions at colleges and universities. In commencement exercises, the mace indicates the authority of the College’s president to confer degrees, certificates, and diplomas. The Pensacola State College mace was crafted by Mr. Fred Bond of Pensacola. To commemorate the history of the college, one side of the ornament at the top of the mace has the Pensacola Junior College seal which was taken into space aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery that was launched in April 2010, and commanded by deceased Alumnus Alan Poindexter. The other side of the ornament displays the seal of Pensacola State College.

Caps

The academic cap, commonly known as the mortarboard, is symbolic of academia. It is a flat square hat with a tassel suspended from a button in the top center of the board. Graduates wear the tassel on the left side. Holders of doctorates and the current and past chairs of the District Board of Trustees wear a rounded headpiece known as a Tudor bonnet or tam.

Academic Honors

The determination of honors for commencement is based on the cumulative grade point average at the end of the student’s last term of enrollment prior to the term of graduation. Grade point averages are based on all credits attempted at Pensacola State College, combined with transfer credits from other institutions, including courses not used towards the degree awarded.

Associate and Baccalaureate students graduate have three honors categories: Cum Laude: Cumulative GPA of 3.50 to 3.74; Magna Cum Laude: Cumulative GPA of 3.75 to 3.99; and Summa Cum Laude: Cumulative GPA of 4.00.

The commencement program is printed prior to the recording of final grades. For this reason, the commencement program, as well as eligibility to obtain honors cords from the bookstore, will be based on the cumulative grade point average achieved at the end of the term prior to the ceremony. The official Pensacola State College transcript and diploma will be based on the cumulative grade point average of the student at the time of official graduation. An appropriate notation will be placed on the student’s transcript and the diploma will be marked accordingly.

Stoles and Honor Cords

• African American Student Association — green, red, and black honor cord
• Alpha Beta Gamma — gold stole
• Dental Hygiene — purple and white honor cord
• Kappa Delta Pi — teal and purple honor cord
• Military Veterans — red, white and blue honor cord
• National Technical Honor Society — purple stole and white and purple honor cord
• Phi Beta Lambda — blue and gold stole and honor cord
• Phi Theta Kappa — gold stole and blue and gold honor cord
• Presidential Scholarship Award — medallion with gold ribbon
• Robinson Scholars — gold stole
• Sigma Beta Delta — gold and green stole and honor cord
• Student Ambassadors — silver stole
• Student Government Association — blue stole
• TRIO Student Support Services — red and black honor cord

Contact graduation staff at graduation@pensacolastate.edu with any questions.