DETAILS FOR GUESTS

The Cal State LA Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) do not provide assistance to guests. For guests who require mobility equipment, please make arrangements on your own according to specific needs.

University Bookstore

Here is a list of items that can be purchased at the University Bookstore:

• Cal State LA Sash
• Diploma frames
• Announcements
• Class rings
• Other Commencement related merchandise

Store Hours:

Monday - Thursday | 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Friday | 8 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday | Closed

For more information, please visit the University Bookstore website.

University Bookstore

Commencement Group

Class T-shirts, sweatshirts, flower bouquets, Cal State LA custom Kukui Nut Lei and more! Graduation gifts are available for pre-order and on-site purchasing on the day of the ceremony. Pre-ordered items will be available for contact-free pick up on-site at the Commencement Group booths.

Pre-Order Page

Shrine Auditorium
665 W Jefferson Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90007

Information about parking and transportation options for Commencement 2025 at the Shrine Auditorium will be posted on the Parking and Transportation webpage.

Additional Information Coming Soon

The University will be livestreaming the ceremonies, which will be able to be viewed through the Cal State LA website and the Cal State LA YouTube channel.

Cal State LA Website
Cal State LA YouTube

Guests are strongly encouraged to arrive 75 minutes, or more, before the ceremony to accommodate for traffic, parking, and large crowds. Doors will open 75 minutes before each ceremony start time. 

Guests will line up at the front of the Shrine Auditorium on Royal Street off 32nd Street. For safety and security, all guests must pass through security protocols including metal detectors and possible bag check.

After security, guests must have their ticket ready to be scanned via their phone or printed paper. To expedite ticket scanning, please have each guest have their own ticket. Guests using their phone must have the bar code enlarged for easy scanning.

Once guest tickets are scanned, there are no in-and-out privileges.

Information about safety and security for Commencement 2025 at the Shrine Auditorium, including prohibited items, will be posted on the Safety and Security webpage.

Additional Information Coming Soon

Commencement welcomes service animals. A service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability.  The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability.

Animals whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act cannot be brought inside the event venue.

University Bookstore

During Commencement, the University Bookstore will have a satellite location at the Shrine Auditorium lobby, on May 19, 20, and 21, 2025, with limited merchandise.

Commencement Group

Class T-shirts, sweatshirts, flower bouquets, Cal State LA custom Kukui Nut Lei and more! Graduation gifts are available on-site to purchase on the day of the ceremony. Pre-ordered items will be available for contact-free pick up at the Commencement Group booths.

For convenience, the Shrine Auditorium concession stands will be open. Attendees can have food and refreshments at the lobby, but they are NOT allowed inside the auditorium. Please note that the Shrine is a cashless venue. They are unable to accept cash for concession purchases. 

All guest seating is first come, first served. Due to large crowds, guests can only hold seats for their companions for 15 minutes. If seats are still unoccupied after 15 minutes, Shrine personnel will direct other guests to those seats. 

The doors to the Shrine Auditorium will temporarily be closed five minutes before the start of the ceremony to prepare for the academic procession of the faculty and platform (stage) party. All guests who arrive late will be seated after the national anthem.

ACCESSIBILITY SEATING

Wheelchair accessible spaces and designated accessible seating will be marked in the guest seating areas. Shrine personnel will be able to assist and direct guests to these spaces.

Sign language interpreters will be projected on the jumbo screen during each Commencement ceremony.

Closed captioning in English and Spanish will be available to all attendees during the ceremonies via their mobile devices. The closed captioning link will be active during the ceremonies.

Each ceremony will be between 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours in duration. The order of events may vary per Commencement ceremony and will include most of the activities below.

• Academic procession of faculty and stage party
• National anthem
• Welcome greeting by the college dean
• President's remarks
• Honorary Doctoral Degree
• Honorary Doctoral Degree remarks
• Academic honors
• Hooding and presentation of doctoral degrees
• Presentation of master's degrees
• Presentation of bachelor's degrees
• Conferral of degrees by the president (including the traditional turning of the tassel for baccalaureate degrees)
• Closing remarks by the college dean
• University hymn
• Recessional of stage party, faculty and conferees of doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees

Out of respect for our graduating students and their family and friends, guests attending Commencement must stay for the entire duration of the ceremony to not disrupt the event.

Grad Images, the official graduation portrait photographers, will be at Commencement taking photos when they cross the stage. Graduating students will receive their photo proof after the ceremony via email.

University photographers will be photographing the ceremonies and candid photos will be available for free download on the Cal State LA Smug Mug webpage during Commencement week.