Commencement 2024

Commencement will take place at 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at ShoWare Center in Kent

If you’ve graduated during the 2023-24 academic year, this Commencement celebration is for you!

Grad Week, May 20 – 24

Times: Monday–Thursday: 8:30am – 5pm | Friday: 8:30am – 3pm
Location: Highline Bookstore (Building 8, 2nd floor)

Join us for Grad Week where you can purchase commencement regalia, pick up your online cap & gown orders, join the Alumni Association, check in for Commencement, visit a cap decorating station, and more.

Cap Decorating Event

Join in on the fun and customize your Commencement cap! This event is sponsored by the Associated Students of Highline College (ASHC) and supplies and guidance will be provided.
Date: May 23 from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Location: Building 8, Mt. Skokomish

Join the Fun on Social Media

• Connect with Highline College on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook. Use/follow #Highline24 for all things Commencement-related
• Follow along with our Commencement Countdown as we post daily weekly/daily reminders Commencement is almost here!
• Leading up to Commencement, post your decorated caps using #Highline24 and tag @HighlineCollege for a chance to be featured
• Post photos and video of Commencement on social media and use #Highline24 and/or tag @HighlineCollege for a chance to be featured

Commencement Checklist: Get Ready!

Your to-do list for the big day:

1. RSVP to Commencement. This is required and ensures we will have check-in materials ready for you!
   • Note: you will be asked to sign into the RSVP form with your Highline username and password (same as Canvas) if you are not already signed in.
   • For your name to appear in the Commencement Program you must RSVP by June 3.
2. Apply to Graduate (Required – Complete this after you have enrolled in your final quarter classes).
   
3. Get your Cap and Gown (Required). In order to participate as a graduate, you need to wear a black cap and gown in the traditional college graduation style. Caps and gowns will need to be planned for in advance, they will not be available for purchase at the event. Caps and gowns will be available for pre-order purchase at the Highline Bookstore starting in Spring of 2024.
   • Emergency Funds are available to help students for whom purchasing a cap and gown is a financial burden. Please fill out the request form using your ctcLink student log in.
   • You can also buy or borrow a cap and gown from somewhere else. Reusing/recycling is great, as long as the color of your cap and gown is black.
   • Students graduating with a degree and 3.5 GPA or higher can purchase Honor Cords from the Highline College Bookstore. Grades are measured as of the end of Winter 2024 because Spring grades will not be posted before Commencement.
4. Pick up your “pre-check” card in the at Grad Fair (Recommended). After receiving a confirmation of RSVP from the Highline Graduation team, your name card will be available for pick up at Grad Week. Pick it up to skip the line on the day of the big event!
5. Join the Highline Alumni Association (Recommended) Check out the Alumni Relations page, stay connected to the college and have a source of support for your future educational or career goals!

Once you have applied to graduate and RSVP’ed, all you need to do is show up in your cap and gown on June 13 at ShoWare! Grads please arrive by 3:30 pm.
Scroll down for more about checking-in at Commencement.

Checking in at Commencement on June 13

You have two options for how to check in as a Graduate on the big day:

Option 1: Pre-Check

We are offering graduates a chance to pick up the commencement materials that they would usually get on the day of the event and skip the check in line. If you “pre-check” and hang on to your commencement materials, you can cut your wait time down from an hour to as little as 30 minutes.

Pre-check by following these steps:

1. RSVP for Commencement.
2. Visit Grad Week to pick up your check-in materials. After receiving a confirmation of RSVP from the Highline Graduation team, your name card will be available for pick up during Grad Fair. Pick it up to skip the line on the day of the big event!
3. Hold on to your envelope! It has your name card so the commencement reader can call your name and on the back is your photo card (please fill it out).
4. Show up on June 13 at 3:30 p.m.. Enter through the north side of ShoWare Center in the loading dock area. If you have your check in items with you, you can head straight into the commencement seating lineup and skip the check in line.

Option 2: Checking in on June 13

1. RSVP for Commencement.
2. Show up on June 13 at 3:30 p.m. Enter through the north side of ShoWare Center in the loading dock area for the graduate lineup. There will be tables with letters A-Z. Line up by the first letter of your last name and a volunteer will check you in. Then you will be directed to the commencement seating line.

The Commencement Ceremony

What to Expect During the Ceremony:

The Commencement Ceremony is a historic tradition that celebrates the transition for a graduate between student and their after-college life. The commencement ceremony varies in time from 2 to 3 hours depending on the number of graduates participating. Out of respect for tradition and for your fellow graduates, plan to stay through the full event.

Commencement has four basic parts:

1. Processional, Marching and Seating: Graduates who have been checked-in are led by commencement marshals to the seating area. Be sure your tassel is draped over the right front quarter of your cap. Please refrain from talking once you are in the arena. Upon reaching your seat, please remain standing until you are directed to be seated by the Commencement Master of Ceremonies.
2. The Address: Various speakers including the President of the college, the Chair of the Board of Trustees, a student selected Class Speaker and/or a noted Alumnus of the college will speak.
3. Conferral of Degrees: After The Address, Highline College’s President will ask all students and faculty to stand for the conferral of degrees. He will then ask that all but the first row of graduates be seated. Graduates in the first row will then be directed to proceed, on signal from the marshals, in a line to the platform stairs. Present your name card to one of the presenters, wait for your name to be announced, proceed across the stage to receive the diploma cover and be directed to exit the platform. Please return to your seat immediately. The remaining rows will follow as directed by the marshals.
4. The Recessional: During the recessional, the people sitting on the stage will exit the stage first, followed by the faculty. Graduating students will remain standing and leave the seating area in a line when the marshals give the appropriate signal. Graduates will be led to the south exit doors and onto the concourse area outside of ShoWare to meet friends/family.

Information for Guests

Welcome Family and Friends!

The Commencement Ceremony will take place at ShoWare Center in Kent. Doors open at 3:30 p.m. The ceremony will begin at 5:00pm and end at 7:00pm. The end time is estimated because it depends on how many graduates attend. No guest tickets are required.

Guest Etiquette

Commencement is a time of celebration and recognition of academic success and is regarded as an important rite of passage for student and their families. We ask that when you attend this respected tradition please plan on staying for the duration of the ceremony.

• Graduate Gifts: Leis and bouquets are permitted. Balloons are not permitted inside the venue.
• Guest Seating: Seating is on a first come, first serve basis. ShoWare is an accessible facility (see below for details).
• Box Seating: Paid box seating will be available at an additional cost. See information below.

Rent a Suite for Commencement

Graduates and guests may rent a suite at ShoWare Center for the Commencement ceremony. View this PDF for additional information and pricing or visit this link on the ShoWare Center website. Reservations will be accepted starting May 1. Email tickets@accessoShoWareCenter.com if you have questions.

Security Information

ShoWare Center has a clear bag policy in place for all events, including graduation ceremonies. Lockers are not available onsite for prohibited items.

Clear Bag Policy: All guests will go through a security checkpoint prior to entering the facility. Security checks can include wanding, metal detectors and pat-downs.

Guests may bring:

• Clear bags no larger than 12″ x 12″ x 6″ are allowed.
• One-gallon clear plastic Ziploc bags are also allowed.
• Small clutches no larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ are allowed.

ShoWare will not allow entry to guests and graduates bringing the following items in the facility:

• No Backpacks, multi-compartment bags, duffle bags and purses larger than 4.5″x 6.5″. Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items or single compartment diaper bags (a child must be present).
• No Cans, bottles, glass or other beverage containers (plastic water bottles are allowed)
• No Outside Food and Beverage
• No Helium Balloons
• No Laptops, Tablets, or portable video game consoles
• No Noisemaking Devices (i.e. whistles, air horns, cymbals, bugles, drums and horns)
• No Camera tripods and monopods (“selfie-sticks”)
• No Stickers
• No Umbrellas that are too large to fit in your clear bag or under your seat
• No drugs
• No alcohol
• No weapons

For a complete list of prohibited items visit accesso ShoWare Center Entry Requirements.

Parking and Transportation

Parking at ShoWare is free. You and your guests should park in the parking lot located at ShoWare Center, at the Municipal Court parking garage across the street, or the Kent Park and Ride lot, just West of ShoWare.

Detailed parking information directions are available on the ShoWare Center website. There are many bus lines that serve the area. For more information, visit the Metro King County site.

After the Ceremony

Please plan to meet your friends/family outside of the ShoWare Center near the main entrance on James Street. Plan for a lot of people doing the same thing, stay in cell phone contact or pick a landmark to meet next to so you don’t lose your loved ones in the crowd.

Ability Related Accommodations

ShoWare Center recognizes the needs of differently able guests and the arena has been carefully designed to meet the needs of guests with disabilities.

If you have specific concerns, please visit the ShoWare center policy page regarding ADA Access. For guest accessibility services, please contact the ShoWare center. For graduate accessibility services at commencement, please contact Highline College Access Services.