Guest Information
Palo Alto University's commencement ceremony will be held at the Santa Clara Convention Center on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 10 a.m. PT
Commencement will begin promptly at 10 a.m. PT and is expected to last approximately two hours. The ceremony will take place at the Santa Clara Convention Center in halls C & D.
Location & Directions
The address to the Convention Center is:
5001 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, CA 95054.
Directions to the Convention Center and public transportation information can be found here.
Day of Ceremony Information
The ceremony hall (Halls C&D) will open at 9 a.m. Seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Guests who require ADA accommodations should complete this form by June 1. This will ensure we will do our best to accommodate your requests on the day of the ceremony. When you check in at the entrance of the ceremony hall there will be signage and an usher will be available to assist with your needs.
Important! Guests arriving after 9:55 a.m., when the graduate procession begins, must wait to enter the ceremony hall. will not be allowed to enter the ceremony hall until after the procession ends.
Frequently Asked Questions for Guests
When is the ceremony?
The ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at 10 a.m. PT.
Where is the ceremony being held?
The 2024 commencement ceremony will be held at the Santa Clara Convention Center in Halls C & D.
Where can I find parking and transportation Information for the Convention Center?
Where can I find a map of the Santa Clara Convention Center?
How do I request accommodations for guests with a disability?
How can I order Commencement photos of my graduate?
Photos taken by our professional photographer can be ordered through Grad Images to commemorate the special day!
Where and when do candidates line up?
Graduates should arrive at Hall B in the Santa Clara Convention Center, 45 minutes before the start of the ceremony already dressed in their regalia.
Will there be a place where Candidates can store their valuables during the ceremony?
No. Graduates should leave personal possessions with family and friends; we do not have security or space to store them. We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or destroyed personal possessions.
How early should guests arrive at the Santa Clara Convention Center?
The doors to Hall C & D where the ceremony will be held, will open 1 hour prior to the ceremony. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, tickets are not required to enter the cermony. If you require ADA accommodations, please complete this request form by June 1, 2024.
Are seats reserved?
No, all seats are general admission and on a first-come, first-served basis, unless requesting ADA accommodations.
How long does the Commencement Ceremony last?
The ceremony will last approximately 90 to 120 minutes.
Can children accompany candidates on stage?
No, children need to be seated in general seating with the candidate's guests.
Will there be a professional photographer onsite?
Yes, PAU partners with GradImages, who will take multiple photos of each candidate as they process across the stage. GradImages will email graduates a few days after commencement when proofs are ready. Graduate nformation is never shared and privacy is guaranteed.
Are there any areas that are restricted or off-limits?
Areas will be blocked off during the ceremony for visibility and safety reasons. We ask that everyone respects these blocked areas and comply with commencement volunteers that may ask you to move away from these designated areas.
Can guests record the ceremony?
Yes, the use of video cameras will be allowed to the extent that they do not obstruct the view of other guests in the audience. Monopods, bipods, and tripods are not allowed.
Will the ceremony be live-streamed?
Yes, the link to access the live-stream will be added as we get closer to the ceremony.
Who can attend the commencement ceremony?
Family, Friends, and guests of a graduate are welcome to attend. Graduates are required to register their guests in advance.
Is there a limit on the number of guests that graduates can invite?
Graduates can bring up to 8 guests to the ceremony.
Are guests required to have a ticket to attend the ceremony?
Graduates are required to register their guests via Eventbrite, however, a ticket is not required to enter the ceremony.