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2025 Commencement Information

Community College of Philadelphia Commencement Ceremony

Important Graduation Application Deadlines

  • March 31, 2025: Deadline to ensure graduate's name will appear in the Commencement program

Graduates will receive a separate email from studentdevelopment@ccp.edu inviting you to log in to our RSVP website to confirm your participation in the ceremony, provide your preferred name for the display screen on the jumbotron, and provide/review/record the phonetic pronunciation of your name so we get it right when you cross the stage to receive your diploma. All of this will be done through our MarchingOrder website, our external partner for Commencement.

Table of Contents

Pre-commencement Activities

Commencement

Post-commencement

Alumni Association

Career Connections

Questions and Contact Information

 

Pre-commencement Activities

Spring Career Fair

April 8 | 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Bonnell Building Lobby

Get a jump start on your career search at the career fair! Join Career Connections to speak with representatives from more than 40 local organizations and companies. You'll meet with employers who are looking to hire for full-time positions—remember to dress professionally and bring several copies of your résumé to share with employers throughout the day.

Following are a few of the employers who will be joining us: Acclaim Autism, multiple departments and offices from the City of Philadelphia, Concentra, PA Department of Corrections, Prime Healthcare, PwC (Pricewaterhouse Coopers), SPIN, TEKsystems and dozens more!

Register for the Career Fair

    Graduation Fair

    Tuesday, April 22 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Wednesday, April 23 from 12 to 5 p.m. | Main Campus, Pavilion Building, Bookstore

    Join us for the Graduation Fair to pick-up your caps, gowns, tassels and honor cords (if eligible)—and have graduation photos taken. Graduates do not pre-order regalia. You will also receive six (6) complimentary announcements with envelopes to invite friends and family to Commencent, and reader cards to be brought to the ceremony. Announcements are not tickets and are not needed to enter the ceremony. At the Fair you can meet representatives from Career Connections, the Alumni Association, Financial Aid, Single Stop and more. 

    Graduation Fair Highlights

    • First 50 people to arrive get an exclusive doorbuster gift!
    • Enter the raffle for your chance to win a grand prize valued up to $150!
    • Special in-store discounts on April 22-23 for featured graduation merchandise and selected apparel items.
    If you can’t attend one of the Graduation Fair events, regalia can be picked up at the Main Campus Bookstore between Thursday, April 24 and Friday, May 2. The Bookstore hours are Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you cannot pick up regalia during business hours, you should call 215-751-8152 or email 2198mgr@follett.com to make arrangements for regalia to be shipped.

    Invitation Only Graduation Activities

    The following events are invitation only, you will be notified by your Community College of Philadelphia email if you are eligible.

    Latine Graduate Celebration

    April 23, 2025
    5 to 7 p.m.
    Winnet Student Life Building, Great Hall, Room S2-19

    Medical Laboratory Technician Pinning Ceremony

    May 1, 2025
    12 to 3 p.m.
    Center for Business and Industry, Room C2-28

    Catto Graduation Ceremony & Reception

    April 28, 2025
    5 to 7 p.m.
    Winnet Student Life Building, Great Hall, Room S2-19

    Nurses Pinning Ceremony

    May 2, 2025
    10 a.m.
    Athletics Center

    Caps and Gowns (Regalia)

    Your cap, gown, tassels (and honor cords, if eligible) are mementos of the Ceremony and are yours to keep. You will have the first opportunity to pick up your regalia at one of the Graduation Fair events on Main Campus in the Pavilion Building Bookstore on the following dates:

    • Tuesday, April 22
    • Wednesday, April 23

    If you are unable to attend one of the Graduation Fair events, caps and gowns must be picked up at Main Campus in the Pavilion Building Bookstore between Thursday, April 24 and Friday, May 2. The Bookstore hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you cannot pick up your regalia during normal business hours, please call 215-751-8152 or email 2198mgr@follett.com to make arrangements for regalia to be shipped

    Commencement Announcements

    Announcements are not tickets and are not needed to enter the ceremony. When picking up regalia from the Bookstore, graduates will receive six (6) announcements with envelopes to send to your family and friends.

    Name Cards

    You will be given one (1) name card to participate in the graduation ceremony. The card will be given to the College announcer who will read student names during the ceremony. Please bring the name card with you on Commencement day.

    Honor Societies

    Students who are members of College-sponsored honor societies may purchase Commencement regalia signifying membership. Honor cords and sashes or stoles from these honor societies are approved Commencement Ceremony regalia. Please note: Special tassels from these honor societies may be available for purchase but may not be worn at Commencement; only the College tassel may be worn. Also, students who are members of more than one honor society may only wear regalia from one society.

    Phi Theta Kappa 

    Graduates who are members of Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society may purchase Phi Theta Kappa regalia (sash and cord) through the Phi Theta Kappa website at www.ptk.org. Please note that tassels are also available for purchase through the website, but may NOT be worn during Commencement. Contact the Phi Theta Kappa chapter officers in Room S1-12 or the chapter faculty advisor, professor Diane Brisbon, at dbrisbon@ccp.edu for more information.

    Veterans Honor Cords

    In recognition of your military service to the United States of America, Community College of Philadelphia would like to honor your graduation by authorizing you to wear red, white, and blue honor cords to your Commencement Ceremony. These cords may be worn in addition to any other honor cords that you may be eligible to wear. Veterans will need to bring a copy of their DD-214 to pick up a veteran cord. The veteran cords can be picked up with your regalia at the Main Campus Bookstore.

    Financial Aid Exit Interview

    Students who received a Federal Direct Loan are required to complete exit counseling when they cease to be enrolled for at least 6 credits or graduate. Please complete the exit counseling online. You will
    need your FSA ID to access the session. Click here for the exit counseling instructions.

    Commencement

    Community College of Philadelphia's 59th Commencement will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Temple University's Liacouras Center. Please note the following:

    • No backpacks or handbags will be allowed into the Liacouras Center
    • No balloons are allowed in the Liacouras Center
    • All bags are subject to search
    • Gifts should NOT be brought into the Liacouras Center

    Thank you for your understanding.

    Enjoy Your Special Day

    The 59th Commencement Ceremony for Community College of Philadelphia will be taped and rebroadcast on the College’s cable channel, CCPTV, Comcast Chanel 53 and FIOS Channel 21.

    The Ceremony

    The fifty-ninth Commencement exercise, recognizing the achievements of the students who have completed their degree requirements in fall 2024, and those who will be completing graduation requirements in spring and summer 2025, will take place on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 10 a.m. at The Liacouras Center, 1776 North Broad Street. The ceremony is expected to last approximately three hours, and you are required to stay for the entire ceremony. Tickets are not required for attendance. Doors will be open to the public at 8:30 a.m. Please note: Only clear bags are permitted in the Liacouras Center.

    Directions and Parking

    Directions and parking information are available on the Liacouras Center website. Parking must be pre-paid through ParkMobile. Reserving your parking space for $30 through ParkMobile will guarantee you a space in the garage for the ceremony. When entering the garage, please have your ParkMobile QR code ready to scan.

    ParkMobile allows you to make a reservation in the app or visit their website to reserve a parking space using the Liacouras Center ParkMobile page, where you can download the app. It can also be downloaded directly via the iPhone App Store or Google Play. The entrance to the Liacouras parking garage is on 15th Street, between Montgomery and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Other parking options are available. Also, the Liacouras Center is located at the Cecil B. Moore station on the Broad Street Subway Line.

    Proper Decorum

    A Commencement ceremony is an occasion honoring important educational accomplishments held primarily for graduates and their families, an event worth celebrating. It is a formal affair that requires dignity and professionalism. Courtesy, attention and decorum are important and expected by you and your guests. If students arrive to Commencement intoxicated or dressed inappropriately, they will not be allowed to participate.

    The ceremony is formal out of respect for the effort you have put into earning your degree. Your understanding and cooperation in keeping the ceremony formal and free of distractions; such as pranks, unwarranted behavior and vocal disruptions, will help make the event worthy of the time everyone has committed to its success.

    The College maintains the proud tradition of announcing each graduate’s name. The last graduate is as important as the first. Once you have entered the main auditorium please:

    • Remain seated until the student marshals signal you to proceed to the stage.
    • After returning to your seat, you are expected to remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony, marked by the recessional.
    • If you should need to leave your seat, please notify one of the student marshals or ushers for assistance.
    • All mobile phones are to be turned off once the ceremony begins.
    • Do not use mobile phones and devices during the ceremony.

    Proper Attire

    All students must be dressed in business casual attire or better and prepared for this occasion.

    Suggested Attire for Men: Dress pants and shirts, tie is optional; dress shoes and socks; no sandals.

    Suggested Attire for Women: Business casual dress or pants, cool fabric; low heel or flat shoes; no corsages or jewelry on the gown.

    It is required that each graduate come to Commencement already robed in the appropriate attire and regalia. You are permitted to carry only your name card.

    Approved Commencement dress consists of your black robe, black mortarboard (cap) and gold tassel (and any eligible honor cords).

    Caps should be placed on the head so that the mortarboard is level. This would place the crown approximately one inch above the eyebrows. Caps should not be tilted to the back or side of the head.

    Tassels should be worn on the right side of the cap hanging naturally over the right temple. Only one tassel may be worn. The tassel is switched from right to left in unison—on cue—when the President formally confers degrees on the graduating class. This act symbolizes each graduate’s new and well-earned status.

    Allowable gown adornments include Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Beta Gamma, Delta Psi Omega or Veterans regalia and honors cords only.

    All other ornamentation is not permitted, including but not limited to signs on the top of mortarboards, buttons, corsages, ethnic sashes and ribbons, etc., and are considered extraneous. You will be required to remove these items. No sorority/fraternity scarves or other accessories may be worn.

    You will not be permitted to carry anything; such as, balloons, flowers, food, handbags, etc. Please be prepared to leave these items with a family member or friend. You will not be able to leave items behind in the Student Assembly Area.

    Persons with Disabilities

    The Liacouras Center is fully compliant with all ADA accessibility guidelines. Additionally, Community College of Philadelphia is furnishing sign language interpreters and closed captioning services to provide communication access to the Commencement ceremony.

    Guests requiring seating near the sign language interpreters should identify themselves to the Liacouras Center staff, and they will direct you and your accompanying guest to your seat. There will also be designated seating areas for guests who require consideration due to mobility concerns. Up to three family members who accompany guests with mobility considerations may sit with them in the designated seating area. All other guests will need to find other seating in the main auditorium. The Liacouras Center staff will be available to direct guests to designated seating areas.

    Graduates who require accommodations to participate in Commencement or who require ramp access to the ceremony stage should contact the Center on Disability at 215.751.8050 or cod@ccp.edu as soon as possible.

    Family Members, Guests and Children

    During the recessional, please ask your guests to remain at their seats until all graduates have exited the Center.

    • Family and guests will not be permitted to enter the Student Assembly area. If you wish to leave your belongings with them, do so before you enter the area.
    • Children will not be allowed to sit or walk across the stage with graduates. Please make arrangements for their care during the ceremony. Remember, because of fire regulations, even young children must be seated individually. Do not leave young children unattended.
    • Please note: Balloons are not allowed in the Liacouras Center.

    Student Assembly and Procession

    Graduates must arrive at the Liacouras Center at 9 a.m. and enter through the Loading Dock (alongside the building to the left of the main entrance on Broad Street). Once checked in, you will immediately be seated and wait for the ceremony to begin; there will not be a graduate or faculty processional.

    Graduates participating in the ceremony must:

    • Arrive no later than 9 a.m. to the loading dock for check-in
    • Be fully robed in cap, gown and honor cords (if eligible)
    • Bring your name card (provided with regalia)
    • The ceremony will begin promptly at 10 a.m.

    Commencement Photographs

    Arrangements have been made with a professional photographer from GradImages to take photographs of you at the ceremony. Proofs of these pictures will be emailed to you. You should receive an email containing your proofs within two (2) weeks after the ceremony. You may decide if you wish to purchase pictures.

    If you require any information about your pictures or do not receive your proofs, please visit the GradImages website or call 1.800.261.2576.

    Graduation Dates

    Graduation dates are determined by the term you complete all courses required for your degree and not the date you attend Commencement.

    If you attend Commencement and have not completed all degree requirements, do not indicate that you are a graduate as the College will not certify completion until all requirements have been satisfied and your degree has been posted.  

    • Listing yourself as a graduate before you officially receive your degree may be considered fraudulent information.
    • Graduates should use the following dates as graduation dates or expected graduation dates when completing employment or college applications rather than the Commencement date:

    Fall 2024 – December 14, 2024
    Winter 2025 – January 10, 2025
    Spring 2025 - May 1, 2025
    Early Summer 2025 – June 25, 2025
    Late Summer 2025 – August 19, 2025

    Post-commencement

    Diploma Distribution

    Students are graduated only after successful completion of all curriculum requirements. Participation in Commencement does not constitute evidence that you have graduated or that you will graduate.

    Fall and Winter graduates (completed all course requirements) should have already received diplomas.  

    • Spring diplomas will be mailed no later than the end of June
    • Summer diplomas will be mailed no later than the end of July and September

    If diplomas are not received within the specified time, please contact the Graduation Evaluation Unit at grads@ccp.edu. Diplomas will not be issued to students with any financial holds. It is the student’s responsibility to check with Student Tuition Services, Financial Aid, the Library, and Athletics Offices to make sure all obligations have been satisfied.  

    Invitation Only Graduation Activities

    The following events are invitation only, you will be notified by your Community College of Philadelphia email if you are eligible.

    Respiratory Care Technology Graduation

    Thursday, June 26, 2025
    5 to 7 p.m.
    Pavilion Building, Klein Cube

    Diagnostic Medical Imaging Pinning Ceremony

    Thursday, June 26, 2025
    5 p.m.
    Bonnell Building, Large Auditorium, Room BG-20

    Alumni Association

    Alumni Reception for the Class of 2025

    Wednesday, May 7, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m.
    Library and Learning Commons, Absalom Jones Courtyard

    The Community College of Philadelphia Alumni Association invites you to a special reception welcoming you as our newest graduates. Join us for music, appetizers, and drinks while meeting and mingling with alumni. This event is free for the Class of 2025. To attend, register at alumni.ccp.edu/2025grads by Monday, May 5, 2025.

    Let's Stay Connected

    We want to stay connected with you. Share your story with us, attend a College event, network with others in the College community, get reacquainted with fellow alumni, and take advantage of the many benefits and services available to you. An Alumni Association lifetime membership shows your support for Community College of Philadelphia. Membership entitles you to a host of benefits for a one-time membership fee of $50. Upon enrollment, alumni are provided with the College’s Alumni ID card.

    Lifetime membership in the Alumni Association is open to all alumni who have obtained a credited certificate or associate’s degree, or to students who have completed 30 or more credit hours at the College.

    BENEFITS OF BEING A LIFETIME MEMBER

    • Library, Computer and Learning Lab Access
    • Subscription to the alumni e-newsletter
    • Exclusive access to special events
    • Free professional workshops
    • Third-party discounts
    • Dental examinations and cleaning
    • and much more!

    Career Connections

    Career Connections is ready to help you plan for and achieve your career goals. We provide the tools needed to help you prepare, empower and connect to the world of work. Our dedicated team identifies and engages employers who have an interest in recruiting you for employment opportunities.

    Career Connections offers traditional career counseling in conjunction with innovative methods to prepare alumni for career readiness and professional development through:

    • Events for job seekers, such as employers recruiting on campus, job search workshops, interview and career fairs
    • Career guidance offering individual coaching and consultation with our staff
    • Tools for career seekers for interview preparation, online job boards, career exploration and planning (NOTE: make sure you are logged in to MyCCP to access our tools—Handshake, Big Interview, Focus2Career and Forage)

    Alumni requesting assistance, please email careerconnections@ccp.edu.

    Questions and Contact Information

    If you have any questions regarding the ceremony, please contact studentdevelopment@ccp.edu. For regalia-related questions, contact the Bookstore at 215-751-8152 or 2198mgr@follett.com. For all other graduation-related inquiries (including application and eligibility), contact grads@ccp.edu. If you need to request special accommodations for yourself or your guests due to a documented disability, contact the Center on Disability at cod@ccp.edu. Congratulations! We're looking forward to celebrating with you. Go #CCPLions!