Commencement

SOJC COMMENCEMENT 2024

Matthew Knight Arena  |  Monday, June 17, 2024  |  4 p.m. PT

Congrats, SOJC Grads!

We’re sooooo excited to celebrate commencement with our graduating seniors and graduate students in June! This year the SOJC ceremony will take place in the afternoon following the main UO ceremony. To participate, graduates will need to complete the steps outlined below.

two SOJC graduates wearing green regalia pose with a third person outside of Matthew Knight Arena
Motor board that says Thanks Mom & Dad
An SOJC student receiving a PhD is hooded by a professor at the 2022 commencement ceremony

Are you a family member or guest of one of our graduates? Check out our FAQ.

Commencement Guest FAQ

Student Commencement Checklist

Calling all 2024 grads! Make sure you complete all the steps below to receive your degree and participate in the commencement ceremony.

DO THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

#1. Apply for your degree: by April 12 (grad) or April 28 (undergrad)

Applying for your degree is different than opting in to participate in commencement. (See #3 below for more information.) Anyone who graduates during 2024 can participate in this year’s ceremony, but make sure to note the term you are actually graduating (winter, spring, summer, or fall) in your degree application.

  • Graduate students must apply for Spring 2024 degrees using GradWeb by April 12.
  • Undergraduates must apply for Spring 2024 degrees via DuckWeb by April 28. (DuckWeb ➞ Student Menu ➞ Apply for Undergraduate Degree)
  • All Summer/Fall 2024 graduates must apply for a summer or fall degree by May 15 if they wish to walk in the 2024 Commencement ceremony.

COMPLETE THESE STEPS IN MAY

#2. Check your name for the SOJC Commencement program: by May 20

Make sure your name is in our program the way you want it to appear. This is required in addition to #1 above.

#3. Register in Marching Order to participate in the SOJC Commencement Ceremony: by May 20

When our Marching Order site goes live on May 1, you will receive an email and/or text prompting you to complete your registration online and confirm the information you want to appear on the Jumbotron at Matthew Knight Arena. This step is mandatory.

#4. Order your regalia (cap, gown, tassel, stole, cords): by June 5

This is optional. The Duck Store is your one-stop shop for all commencement gear. Order by June 5 to use standard shipping, and by June 11 for next-day shipping.

ON GRADUATION DAY, JUNE 17

#5. Check in at Matthew Knight Arena: June 17, 3–3:30 p.m.

  • Go to the West Entrance of Matthew Knight Arena by 3:30 p.m. on graduation day in your regalia (if you choose to wear regalia). 
  • Then go to the check-in table inside that’s aligned with the first letter of your last name. Give our volunteers your name to get your Marching Order card, which you will hand to staff before you walk across the stage. 
  • Commencement volunteers will direct you to the staging area beginning at 3:40 p.m. 
  • The ceremony will begin promptly at 4 p.m.
  • If you need accommodations, please contact Angie Whittington at acanaday@uoregon.edu.

AFTER THE CEREMONY

#6. Purchase photos from GradImages

If you registered in Marching Order, you should receive a message from GradImages to the email you provided in Marching Order with options for purchasing your ceremony photos. You can also search for your name on the GradImages website.

#7. Get your diploma

The dean will hand you an empty diploma cover during the ceremony, and you’ll receive your official diploma in the mail about six weeks after commencement (fall and summer grads will receive their diplomas six weeks after they complete their degree requirements). Be sure to include the mailing address where you want your diploma sent in your graduation degree application.

Undergraduate Details

Graduate Details

Three students wearing green graduation caps and gowns throw the O in front of Autzen Stadium
UO Commencement Ceremony

The main UO ceremony is separate from the SOJC ceremony and will be held in Autzen Stadium at 9 a.m. PDT on Monday, June 17. You can find more information about UO’s 2024 ceremony on the UO Commencement website.

Show Your SOJC Pride

Commencement will be one of the biggest days of your life! Don’t forget to share photos, videos, and well wishes with your friends on social media.

icon representing gifs

Download some SOJC grad GIFs to celebrate with style!

icon representing hashtags on a phone screen

Use the hashtags of your choice: #LifeAsaJGrad, #SOJCgrad, #SOJCgrad24

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After graduation, stay connected on our SOJC LinkedIn page and SOJC Career Network LinkedIn group.

a photographer takes a photo of a student wearing commencement regalia and posing in front of a backdrop
Graduation Etiquette

Please remain in the auditorium for the duration of the event, even after you have received your diploma, to avoid disrupting the ceremony and out of respect for your fellow graduates. SOJC staff will dismiss you by row so you can join in the recessional at the end of the ceremony.

We know it’s an exciting day, but we expect our graduates to maintain reasonable and appropriate behavior at all times during the ceremony to ensure it is enjoyable for all participants, family members, guests, and staff.

We kindly request that all graduates limit their consumption of alcohol and other substances prior to the ceremony. Graduates who arrive under the influence may be refused the opportunity to participate, and the staffs of Matthew Knight Arena and the SOJC reserve the right to relocate or remove anyone who is creating a disturbance.

For more guest guidelines, please consult our Commencement Guest FAQ.