Commencement
Contact Information
If you have questions that were not answered above, please email commencement@dccc.edu
Commencement 2024
Commencement is scheduled for Thursday, May 16, 2024, at West Chester University’s Hollinger Field House. We will be holding two ceremonies:
- 10 a.m.-Noon: Allied Health & Nursing, Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics, and Workforce & Economic Development
- 2-4 p.m.: Business, Computing & Social Science and Communication, Arts & Humanities
Students must attend the ceremony for the division of the degree you are earning (i.e. Business Administration majors belong in the Business, Computing, and Social Science division). Both ceremonies will feature the same speakers, singer, and main stakeholders. The ceremonies will also continue to be live streamed to allow for viewing access for those unable to attend. To access the livestream, please visit dccc.edu/live. You can also view the livestream through Vimeo and YouTube.
PLEASE NOTE: Students must apply to graduate in order to process the completion of their degree and receive their diploma. Questions regarding the application, transcripts, and/or diplomas should be directed to records@dccc.edu.
Am I eligible to graduate?
We encourage all prospective graduates to confirm their eligibility with the Career & Counseling Center. For an appointment with the Career & Counseling Center, please visit www.dccc.edu/dropin. Once you confirm your eligibility, you must apply to graduate.
Applying for graduation
In order to participate in Commencement and have your degree audited for completion/get your diploma, you MUST apply to graduate. The spring graduation deadline is March 15. To apply, please click here. For any questions about your application, please email records@dccc.edu.
Ordering your tickets
Graduates are eligible to order up to five (5) tickets beginning at noon on Friday, April 5, via the link that mailed and emailed to eligible graduates. You must be logged in to delaGATE to access. Tickets are free, but required, and are delivered with the reservation confirmation. Each guest, including a child/infant, must have a ticket either printed or available electronically for presentation at the door for admission to your specific ceremony (one scanning opportunity for one entry for one individual). A participating graduate does not require a ticket for entry but must RSVP in the ticket ordering form. Ticket ordering closes at noon on Tuesday, April 30. We cannot guarantee ticket availability after April 30. If you have reserved five (5) tickets but seek more, you can email commencement@dccc.edu with your name, P00#, major, ceremony time, and number of additional tickets requested for first-come, first-served consideration if tickets remain; accommodation is not guaranteed
Students with Disabilities
Students or guests with disabilities needing accommodations should contact Simone Richardson at 610-325-2748 or srichardson26@dccc.edu.
Parking
Parking is available in the New Street or Sharpless Garages. For a map of WCU, visit https://www.wcupa.edu/campusmap/
Day of Details
You should arrive 60-90 minutes prior to the start of your ceremony. Graduates report to the Ehringer small gym entrance for check-in. Guests report to the Hollinger Fieldhouse main entrance to be seated.
Caps and Gowns
A cap & gown set with tassel is free for an approved graduate for pick up at the Marple Campus Bookstore (or Downingtown Campus or Southeast Center) starting April 15. Any outstanding account balance must be cleared prior to pick up. Contact the Campus Store at 610-359-5309 or alawson10@dccc.edu with attire questions.
The Colleges official attire consists of a cap, gown, hood and black tassel. If you are a member of the following groups, you are eligible to wear the following:
Phi Theta Kappa
The official Phi Theta Kappa commencement attire is the gold honors stole. PTK students may purchase the stoles by going to the PTK website at www.ptk.org.
National Technical Honors Society
The official National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) commencement attire is the white honors stole. NTHS students may purchase the stoles directly through the NTHS website. Please be aware that the stole must be purchased prior to graduation as they will not be available at the ceremony site. If you have any questions pertaining to the NTHS honors stole, please contact Professors Anne-Marie Verenna at averenna@dccc.edu or Dr. Michael LaMagna at mlamagna@dccc.edu.
** In the event that a student is a member of both Phi Theta Kappa and the National Technical Honors Society, students may only wear one stole and one cord (one to signify each organization). Student should wear the stole of their primary organization affiliation and an honors cord to signify the secondary affiliation (Purple/White cord for NTHS and Blue/Gold cord for PTK).
Student Veteran
In recognition of our students that have served or are currently serving in our armed forces, Student Veteran official commencement attire is the red/white/blue honors cord. Please be aware that the cord must be obtained prior to the night of graduation, they will not be available at the ceremony site. If you have any questions pertaining to the Student Veteran honors cord or to obtain this cord, please contact Graf Eggers at eeggers@dccc.edu.
First Generation
In recognition of our first-generation students, the Office of the First-Generation Student Success (FGSS) issues a cord. Please be aware the cord must be obtained prior to graduation, they will not be available at the ceremony site. First-generation students can stop by FGSS office in Room 2333 (around the corner from the Art Gallery) on the Marple Campus to pick up their cord. If further assistance is needed, please email the FGSS office at firstgen@dccc.edu.
LGBTQ+ Club
Students that are part of the LGBTQ+ Club on campus may wear a Rainbow Cord.
LatinX Student Association
Students that are part of our LatinX Student Association may wear a LatinX stole.
Diploma Distribution
The binder typically received at the ceremony does not contain your diploma. Commencement is exclusively ceremonial and participation is not required to receive your degree. All degrees are mailed to students following the process below:
After final grades are submitted by professors for the term, coursework for graduation applicants is audited to make sure that the graduate did complete all requirements. Once that part is complete, transcripts will be denoted as graduated in our system and will appear as such in DegreeWorks (in case you need proof of graduation for an employer, transfer institution, etc.) and information submitted to the vendor that prints our diplomas. At that point, the Records Office team will be back in contact with grads about when diplomas should be expected in the mail. For questions about the diploma distribution process or to request a diploma cover if you could not attend the ceremony, please email records@dccc.edu or phone
If proof of graduation is needed in the meantime, official transcripts can be requested at www.dccc.edu/transcripts.
Diploma Frames
Frames to fit your diploma may be purchased in the Campus Store.
If you have questions that were not answered above, please email commencement@dccc.edu.
