Seaver Spring 2023 Commencement FAQs

The Class of 2023 commencement ceremony will take place Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:30AM in Alumni Park, Malibu, CA.

Please complete the Request to Walk form if you are a former Seaver College student who has graduated prior to 2023 but were unable to walk in your commencement ceremony and would like to request to walk this year. (If you are a December 2022, Spring 2023, or Summer 2023 grad you do not need to fill out this form). 

Please email SeaverGraduation@Pepperdine.edu with any questions. 

The President, Provost and Dean will present and confer degrees at this ceremony. Remarks will be given by the commencement speaker. Graduates will have the opportunity to process across the stage, hear their name announced, receive their diploma covers, and have photos taken by a professional photography service. Guests are encouraged to stay in their seats for the duration of the ceremony.

The Pepperdine University Covid response team is following LA County’s best practices for mega events. As guidelines change, we recommend checking back to the Seaver Graduation webpage frequently.

Seaver College’s Commencement Ceremony, held at Alumni Park, is open to all guests of graduating students. In the unlikely event that the weather requires us to hold the ceremony somewhere other than Alumni Park, this may change. We recommend checking back to the Seaver graduation webpage frequently.

Graduated seniors of 2023 may apply to speak at commencement. Two student participants are needed for each graduation: 1) Graduation Speaker; 2) Graduate to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. For additional information, please visit the Senior Speaker page. 

Due to the current county guidelines, there will not be concessions available at the ceremony, but water bottles will be made available for all graduates. Guests are welcome to bring their own water to the graduation ceremony.

Yes, for those who cannot join us in Malibu, all in-person activities will be broadcast online, live, and on-demand for future viewing. The link will be available on the commencement website. Livestreams will begin 15 minutes prior to the start of each commencement ceremony.

No, graduates do not need to attend to have their degree conferred. Diplomas will be mailed to you at the diploma address on file approximately 90 days after you graduate. Make sure you have a valid mailing address recorded with OneStop to ensure you receive your diploma.

Pepperdine Diploma Policy: Pepperdine University awards one diploma for each level of academic degree earned (e.g. bachelor, master). This diploma reflects all majors/program completed for that level of degree.

Full details on the program and graduate participation may be found on the Loqui website.

If you are graduating "in absentia" but would still like to have your name read at the commencement ceremony please fill out this Google form no later than April 5, 2023.

On-campus parking is available and Public Safety Officers will be direct traffic on the day of commencement. Shuttles will be in service, available at any marked campus shuttle stop. Special parking arrangements have been made for guests with special accessibility needs at convenient locations, and guests with accessibility needs can be directed to these locations by Public Safety Officers. Carpooling is recommended due to possible traffic delays. For more information, contact the Department of Public Safety at the information booths or call 310.506.4700.

In the event of rain, commencement will be moved to Firestone Fieldhouse. All graduates will take their seats prior to the start of the ceremony. Due to extremely limited indoor seating, tickets will be required for admission. Rainy Day tickets will be distributed to students at the time that a weather decision is made. Each graduate will receive two guest tickets for entrance to Firestone Fieldhouse. Graduates’ additional guests are strongly encouraged to view the ceremony via livestream from the convenience and comfort of their preferred off-campus location.

It is important to clear all financial obligations with the Library, the Student Health Center, the Student Accounts Office, and the Financial Aid Office prior to graduation. For Student Accounts information, call 310.506.8000. If you have borrowed a Federal Direct Stafford, Federal Perkins, or Pepperdine Institutional loan at any time while at Pepperdine, please complete an online Loan Exit Counseling session prior to graduation. For additional information, visit seaver.pepperdine.edu/admission/financial-aid/undergraduate/types/loans/loan-exit.htm.

Graduates will be photographed as they receive their diplomas during the commencement ceremony by GradImages (gradimages.com). In the past, GradImages has been able to deliver proofs by email within 24 hours to graduates who indicate an email address on cards available at regalia pick up on the day before graduation. Please use this photography service and remain seated during the ceremony.

Yes. Graduation regalia distribution will be held at Grad Fest on Friday, April 28, on the Malibu Campus.

Graduates attending the ceremony in person can reserve graduation regalia during Graduation Kickoff, held on the Malibu campus at the bookstore on Thursday, February 16 and Friday, February 17 from 10 AM-4 PM. 

Regalia will be available for pickup at Grad Fest on Friday, April 28, on the Malibu Campus at Mullin Town Square.

A limited amount of regalia will be available at Alumni Park on the day of your ceremony; however, to avoid waiting in possibly long lines, we strongly recommend picking up your regalia at Grad Fest on Friday, April 28, on the Malibu Campus at Mullin Town Square.

All rented regalia should be dropped off in the return bins located at Alumni Park following your ceremony.

Please use the return shipping label that was included in your original delivery to ship back to Herff Jones.

Yes, the cap, tassel, and purchased stoles/sashes are yours to keep.

Honor cords are only given to undergraduate students who have a minimum 3.5 GPA. You will be contacted by your school’s commencement coordinator or academic advisor during the spring semester if you are eligible to receive one. They are free of charge.

Honor cords will be available for pickup prior to your commencement at the Graduate Check-In area. Honors students are asked to arrive at Alumni Park at 9am on the morning of the ceremony.

Diplomas will be mailed to your permanent address approximately eight to twelve weeks after degrees are conferred on April 30. Make sure you have a valid mailing address recorded with OneStop to ensure you receive your diploma.

Pepperdine Diploma Policy: Pepperdine University awards one diploma for each level of academic degree earned (e.g. bachelor, master). This diploma reflects all majors/program completed for that level of degree.

If you have worked with OneStop to confirm that your requirements are complete, you will be listed in the program (more details can be found here). Get cleared by Wednesday, April 5, 2023 to guarantee your name in the program.

The commencement printed program will be handed out to students and guests at the in-person ceremonies at Alumni Park. You will also be able to download a copy of the program from the commencement website.