Graduate Checklist

Graduation is a huge achievement, and Commencement is your chance to celebrate all the hard work that brought you here. To make sure the big day goes smoothly, it’s important to stay on top of key deadlines and requirements. Review the information carefully so you’re fully prepared to cross the stage and enjoy this milestone moment.

Commencement To-Do List

Complete the Commencement Ceremony Clearance (C3) Form.
Register for the Commencement ceremony.
Secure guest tickets.
Order regalia.
Order announcements.
Pick up regalia.
Prepare for Commencement.
Day of ceremony: Check in at the event venue.

Commencement Ceremony Clearance (C3) Form

All students who plan to attend and walk in the Commencement ceremony must complete the Commencement Ceremony Clearance (C3) Form. The form is also used to confirm that all requirements for graduation have been met.

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Registering for the Ceremony

Tassel is the official system used to manage commencement operations, including graduate RSVPs, communications, and grad passes. All students who plan to participate in Commencement must log into Tassel and indicate their intent to attend. Students who do not plan to participate in Commencement must still complete the Tassel registration process.

Important: You will receive an email from Student Affairs Events via Tassel when the portal is open for reservations.

Tassel Portal

By completing the RSVP, graduates will:

Confirm their attendance at Commencement.
Receive guest tickets.
Ensure their name is pronounced and listed correctly for the ceremony.

Please note: students who do not RSVP may be unable to participate in commencement and will not receive guest tickets.

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Guest Tickets

Graduates are responsible for distributing guest tickets through the Tassel website.

PCOM students will receive six (6) tickets.
PCOM Georgia students will receive eight (8) tickets.
PCOM South Georgia students will receive 10 tickets.

You will secure your guest tickets when you register to attend the ceremony in Tassel.

After securing tickets, you must communicate and distribute them directly to your guests via Tassel.

Ticket Policies

Children three and over need a ticket for admission.
Each ticket will be individually scanned for entry.
Due to fire code and venue capacity limits, please do not bring extra guests without tickets.

Important Reminders

This event follows the same capacity rules as concerts or sporting events.
If there are issues with a ticket, the guest will be redirected to the help desk to resolve the matter.
To prevent problems, ensure that each ticket is sent only once and to the correct guest.

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Order Regalia

For any issues with your order, contact Oak Hall directly:
Phone: 540-378-7001
Email: customercare@oakhalli.com

Check Your Order

Open your package upon arrival to confirm you have:
- cap (tam or mortarboard)
- tassel
- hood
- gown
Steam or lightly iron the gown before the ceremony to remove creases.

Caps

Tam (velvet cap)—for doctoral students

Includes a small elastic section for stretch.
If you need a larger size, consider purchasing from another vendor.
Some students use bobby pins to secure the tam.

Mortarboard (square cap)—for all graduates (standard cap included in every regalia package)

Tassels

Gold: doctoral students
Black: master’s students

Gowns

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.): black gown with kelly green velvet stripes
Other doctoral degrees: black gown with black velvet stripes
Master’s degrees: solid black gown with longer sleeves

Hoods

Doctoral hoods: wide 6-inch color band
Master’s hoods: narrow 4-inch color band

Hood Colors by Program

Program	Hood Color
Applied Behavioral Analysis (MS)	science gold
Biomedical Preclinical Sciences (MS)	science gold
Biomedical Sciences (MS)	science gold
Educational Psychology (PhD)	royal blue
Educational Specialist in Psychology (EdS)	light blue
Forensic Medicine (MS)	science gold
Medical Laboratory Science (Pre and Post) (MS)	science gold
Mental Health Counseling (MS)	light blue
Osteopathic Medicine (DO)	kelly green
Pharmacy (PharmD)	olive green
Physical Therapy (DPT)	teal
Physician Assistant Studies (MS)	kelly green
Psychology in Clinical Psychology (PsyD)	science gold
Psychology in School Psychology (PsyD)	science gold

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Order Announcements

Commencement announcement orders may be placed through PCOM Printing Solutions.

The cost for 25 announcements with envelopes is $38.25 for pick ups and $44.25 for shipping.

Email Printing Solutions at printingsolutions@pcom.edu to place an order or request assistance.

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Pick Up Regalia

All graduating students are required to follow designated procedures to receive their regalia before commencement. Instructions differ by program, so please review the section that applies to you carefully.

DO and Pharmacy Students

Before picking up regalia, students must complete the required surveys and follow the steps outlined below.

For DO students

Complete both the AACOM and Georgia Workforce surveys.
Be prepared to take a picture of your survey completion page as proof.
Denise Curran, division director of Student Affairs, will send an email confirming your regalia pickup date.
Allow 48 hours from the time you submit your surveys to receive the confirmation email.

For pharmacy students

Complete the AACP survey before picking up regalia.
Be prepared to take a picture of your survey completion page as proof.
Erin Lee, office manager for PCOM School of Pharmacy, will send an email confirming your regalia pickup date.
Allow 48 hours from survey submission to receive the confirmation email.

Additional details

Links to the surveys will be sent in late March or early April.
Regalia will be sent to the Office of Student Affairs for pickup.
Deadline to pick up regalia: TBD.

All Other Program Students

Your regalia will be shipped directly to the address you provide when placing your order.

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Prepare for Commencement

The following guidelines will help you plan your attire, coordinate meeting arrangements, and be ready for the day’s events.

Choose Your Attire

Dress Code: Business casual is recommended.
Academic Regalia: Bring your gown, hood, tam or mortar board, and tassel with you to the ceremony.
Footwear: Choose shoes carefully. There may be multiple stairways to navigate the day of the event.
Clear Bag Policy: All Commencement venues have a clear bag policy. Please plan accordingly.
Weather: Be mindful of the forecast and plan accordingly.

Arrange a Meeting Place

Prior to the event, designate an appropriate location where you and your guests will meet before and/or after the ceremony. This helps ensure a smooth and stress-free experience on Commencement Day.

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Checking in for Commencement

To help ensure a smooth and timely ceremony, please review the following arrival expectations and procedures carefully.

Arrival Time

All students must arrive no later than 12 p.m.

Punctuality is essential to ensure an orderly ceremony. Upon arrival, there will be a run-of-show discussion, and students will be seated in alphabetical order.

Late Arrivals

It is imperative that you arrive on time, especially if you have a guest hooder.

Students who arrive after 12 p.m. will be seated in the last row at the end of their program and will not be seated alphabetically. Late arrivals disrupt the ceremony flow and cannot be accommodated in assigned seating.

Guest Hooders

Students with guest hooders will be seated in the front rows of their program, in alphabetical order according to their guest hooder assignment. Please arrive early to allow time for coordination.

Waiting Area

A student holding area will be available prior to the ceremony. Water will be provided, and students may bring their own snacks or light food if needed. Please plan accordingly, as there may be an extended waiting period before the ceremony begins.

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