Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2020
2020 Virtual Commencement Ceremony
Friday, August 7, 2020
12:00 p.m. PST
We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you and your family and friends!
Important Information for Graduates
Order of Virtual Ceremony
- Introduction/Welcome
- National Anthem and Presentation of Colors
- Welcome Address from President Dr. Glenn R. Roquemore
- Keynote Address from Larry Broughton, Founder/CEO, Broughton Hotels
- Address from Vice-President of Instruction/ALO Dr. Bonny Nickle
- Presentation of Candidates for Degrees by Deans and Department Chairs
- Recognition of Degrees and Closing Remarks from President Dr. Glenn R. Roquemore
How to Watch the 2020 Virtual Commencement Ceremony
This year’s commencement ceremony will be a pre-recorded virtual event that can be viewed on Facebook and YouTube. Links will be provided to participating graduates via email on Wednesday, August 5, 2020. Following the virtual event, the recording will be available for public viewing on Facebook, YouTube, and the CalSouthern Commencement webpage.
Family and friends can celebrate their graduates and loved ones throughout the recording with the chat and comment sections. Be advised, CalSouthern reserves the right to remove any comments at its discretion.
Share and Celebrate the CalSouthern Class of 2020 on Social Media!
Use #CalSouthern2020 and tag @CalSouthern on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter to share photos and stories of your educational journey at CalSouthern and your post-graduation plans!
Stay in Touch and Join the CalSouthern Community of Alumni!
The CalSouthern Alumni Association provides a great opportunity to network with other alumni. Build your business, cultivate professional relationships, or simply take advantage of the alumni tuition discount and other benefits. Visit the Alumni page here or learn more by emailing alumni@calsouthern.edu.
FAQ’s
Why did CalSouthern choose to transition to a virtual commencement ceremony for 2020?
With COVID-19 and its impacts both locally and globally, California Southern University remains resolute in maintaining the health and safety of our learners, faculty, and staff. The County of Orange, in following state orders, does not currently allow for large social gatherings or in-person commencement ceremonies. As a result, CalSouthern leadership made the difficult decision to transition the 2020 Commencement Ceremony to a virtual celebration that remains in alignment and follows the guidelines of local and state authorities.
What will the 2020 Virtual Commencement Ceremony look like?
The virtual ceremony will have many of the same components as a live ceremony. There will be speeches made by our President and academic staff along with our 2020 Keynote Speaker. Instead of walking across the stage, we have created a slide for each graduate with a photo, the degree earned, relevant honors, and any personalized messages that have been provided.
Will there be a live commencement ceremony in 2021 and can the Class of 2020 participate?
CalSouthern intends on hosting a live 2021 Commencement Ceremony; however, details have not been discussed or finalized quite yet.
We understand the importance of graduation for our learners. It is for that reason we will allow any graduates from the class of 2020 who are eligible and decide to participate in this year’s virtual event to also participate in next year’s commencement, should they choose.
Also, if someone forgoes participation this year, they will still be eligible to participate next year. However, graduates do not have to forego participation this year to be eligible for next year’s commencement.
In what order will names be read?
Graduates will be recognized by school and names will be read alphabetically based on the respective degree programs.
I have questions not covered by the responses above, who do I contact?
Should you have any questions or require additional information regarding the 2020 Virtual Commencement Ceremony, please email us at commencement@calsouthern.edu.
Highlights from Past CalSouthern Commencement Ceremonies
While you wait for the big day, we invite you to take a look at videos from our past Commencement ceremonies.