MY PORTAL

Academic Commencement

2026 Commencement – Saturday, May 16, 5PM
UWest hosts Commencement every May, celebrating our degree graduates for the academic year.

Guest Information

Commencement 2026: Celebrate Your Achievement 

A student’s journey to graduation is paved with dedication, late nights, and a deep commitment to personal growth. Commencement is UWest’s most cherished tradition, a time to gather as a community to honor the hard work of our graduates and recognize the families and friends who have supported them every step of the way.

Join Us Near or Far

We want to ensure that every member of our global University of the West family is able to share in the celebration of this important milestone. Whether guests are joining us on campus or online from across the world, we invite everyone to be part of the celebration.

Virtual Broadcast

Time:   Time: May 16, 2026 05:00 PM Pacific Time
(US and Canada)
 https://zoom.us/j/95435715550?pwd=DUJlj8Gf9HAerdJ9wV7xBwuDdju8Kd.1

  Meeting ID: 954 3571 5550
   Passcode: uwest2026

If you or your loved ones are unable to travel, you can experience the entire ceremony through our Live Virtual Broadcast. We invite you to tune in so you don’t miss the moment your graduate crosses the stage.

Guest & Travel Resources

To make the trip as smooth as possible for your supporters, we have compiled local resources for those traveling to Rosemead:

Commencement Process & Eligibility

Students intending to participate in Commencement 2026 must first complete the Graduation Petition and pay the Commencement fee to order their Caps & Gowns from Herff-Jones. 

Who is Eligible to Participate?
You are eligible to participate in Commencement if you graduated or are graduating with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree during the academic year in which the ceremony is held.
If you are a graduate student, you must successfully complete any required comprehensive exam, thesis, capstone, or defense at least two weeks prior to the ceremony.
You may request approval to participate if you are scheduling your final courses in summer or fall immediately following the ceremony.
You are eligible if at the time of the ceremony you will have no more than the following requirements remaining:
• Bachelor’s degree students: 9 units
• Master’s degree students: 6 units
• You pass any required comprehensive exam, thesis, capstone, or defense at least two weeks prior to the ceremony (graduate students)
To request early participation, submit your Petition to Graduate to the Registrar’s Office no later than the first day of the spring semester, and submit a Commencement Confirmation form.