College of Arts and Letters

Due to stringent security measures, all students participating in commencement are required to present their SDSU RedID card or a valid, government-issued picture ID for admittance to Viejas Arena.

Students who do not bring valid ID to Viejas Arena will not be allowed to participate in commencement.

Commencement Ceremony

When: Friday, May 16, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Viejas ArenaDean Todd Butler will preside over the ceremony, which will begin promptly at 1:00 p.m. and last approximately two hours.

All graduates and guests should remain seated until the ceremony is concluded by Dean Butler.

Graduates will exit Viejas Arena at floor level and guests will exit from the top gates. Guests will not be able to enter the arena floor. Please do not congregate in front of the arena exits.

Processional

All candidates participating in the College of Arts & Letters ceremony should arrive to Lot 13 at 11:30 a.m.

Once you enter Lot 13, college representatives will assist in organizing you into the correct processional line based on your major.

During this time, make sure to have your Stage Pass ready! The Stage Pass is an electronic name reader card for your phone or smartwatch that, when scanned, allows us to announce your name and display your details on the jumbotron.

Your Stage Pass will be available for access in early May—be sure to check your @sdsu.edu email for updates!

The processional will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m.

Tickets and Seating

Candidates whose applications are approved for graduation will have the opportunity to claim guest tickets for their commencement ceremony at Viejas Arena. All guests one (1) year of age and older require a ticket to attend commencement. The only exception to this rule are babies under the age of one who must be seated on an adult’s lap. Commencement guest tickets are for assigned seating at Viejas Arena.

The number of tickets available to each student is determined by the number of candidates graduating in each college. The ticket allotment by college will be available in late February on the commencement website. Get more information about tickets.

Commencement tickets are provided at no charge to all graduates. SDSU does not authorize the sale of complimentary tickets.

Departmental Receptions

Inclement Weather

In case of rain, candidates should arrive to Lot 13, across from Parking Structure 12, at least 45 minutes before the processional start time, unless otherwise noted for your college.

Once candidates enter through security and show their RedID, they will proceed directly inside Viejas Arena where they will be seated according to their department.

Please note candidates will be unable to bring umbrellas inside the arena due to the limited mobility on the arena floor and potential tripping hazard. However, there will be bins located at the entrance to store umbrellas during the ceremony.

All guests will be allowed to bring umbrellas into the arena, but they cannot be larger than 20" and must be collapsible.

Photography

Guests must remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony. You will not be allowed to stand in the aisles or block the views of others in order to take photos or videos. Camera tripods are not allowed in Viejas Arena. There will be ample time after each ceremony to take photographs on campus with a wide variety of backdrops.

Graduation portrait photographers will be available during GradFest, March 18-20.

GradImages Photography will take photographs of each graduate on stage during the commencement ceremonies. Each graduate will be sent no-obligation proofs of the commencement photographs via email and text after the event. Proofs will also be sent via postal mail. You will have the opportunity to purchase prints after you have seen your proofs.  

Prior to the ceremony, graduates can also pre-register by visiting www.gradimages.com and clicking on “Pre-Event Email Registration.” There you will enter your email address and up to six emails for others to view and order your photos.

If you have any questions about your commencement ceremony photographs, please visit www.gradimages.com/sandiegostateuniversity or call toll-free 1-800-261-2576.

Questions

If you have questions, please contact:

Michelle Lenoue
[email protected]
(619) 594-2333