Commencement

Commencement is scheduled for Thursday, May 14, 2026, at West Chester University’s Hollinger Field House. We will be holding two ceremonies:

Students must attend the ceremony for the division of the degree they are earning (i.e., Business Administration majors belong in the Business, Computing, and Social Science division). Both ceremonies will feature the same speakers, singer, and main stakeholders. The ceremonies will also continue to be live streamed to allow for viewing access for those unable to attend. To access the livestream, please visit dccc.edu/live.

PLEASE NOTE: Students must apply to graduate in order to process the completion of their degree and receive their diploma. Questions regarding the application, transcripts, and/or diplomas should be directed to records@dccc.edu.

Graduation Eligibility
We encourage all prospective graduates to confirm their eligibility with the Career & Counseling Center. For an appointment with the Career & Counseling Center, please visit dccc.edu/dropin. Once you confirm your eligibility, you must apply to graduate.

Applying for Graduation
In order to participate in Commencement and have your degree audited for completion/get your diploma, you MUST apply to graduate. The spring graduation deadline is March 15. To apply, please click here. For any questions about your application, please email records@dccc.edu. 

Ordering Your Tickets
Tickets are free, but required for entry. Commencement Tickets are currently available for ordering through DCCC Engage via the link sent to graduates for their specific ceremony. Each graduate is eligible for four (4) tickets. The tickets are for your invited guests and must be presented at the door for admission to the ceremony at West Chester University. All guests need a ticket. Initial ticket orders will close on Thursday, April 23 at 12:00 p.m. Each guest must have a ticket (including infants) either printed or available electronically and be presented at the door for admission to your specific ceremony at West Chester University. A graduate must RSVP for 1 graduate ticket. Please note that a guest ticket will only provide one entry for one individual to this specific ceremony. This ticket cannot be scanned more than once. We cannot guarantee ticket availability after the deadline. If you have reserved four tickets but seek more, you can complete an extra ticket request form (link located in the original communication sent to graduates) within the regular ticketing period. Requests for extra tickets will not be reviewed until Monday, April 27, with notification of any award by Tuesday, May 5; additional-ticket accommodation is not guaranteed.

Students with Disabilities
Students or guests with disabilities needing accommodations should contact Commencement@dccc.edu.

Getting to Commencement
Commencement is held inside the West Chester University Hollinger Fieldhouse.  Graduates report to the Ehringer Gym entrance from Church Street and Guests report to the main field house entrance.  If driving to West Chester University, guests and volunteers can park for free in both the Sharpless Parking Garage and the

Day of Details
You should arrive 60-90 minutes prior to the start of your ceremony. Graduates report to the Ehringer small gym entrance for check-in. Guests report to the Hollinger Fieldhouse main entrance to be seated.

Caps and Gowns
A cap & gown set with tassel is free for an approved graduate for pick up. Cap & Gowns sets area available now.  Any student with an outstanding account balance must clear the balance prior to pick up.  Pickup locations:

Marple Campus – Bookstore

Southeast Center – Learning Commons

Downingtown Center – Student Services Suite

The College’s official attire consists of a cap, gown, hood and black tassel.  Please be aware that you must arrive to Commencement with your garb, specialty garb (cords, stoles, etc.) will not be available at the ceremony site. If you are a member of the following groups, you are eligible to wear the following:

The College’ss official attire consists of a cap, gown, hood and black tassel. If you are a member of the following groups, you are eligible to wear the following:

Phi Theta Kappa
The official Phi Theta Kappa commencement attire is the gold honors stole. PTK students may purchase the stoles by going to the PTK website at ptk.org. 

National Technical Honors Society
The official National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) commencement attire is the white honors stole. NTHS students may purchase the stoles directly through the NTHS website. Please be aware that the stole must be purchased prior to graduation as they will not be available at the ceremony site. If you have any questions pertaining to the NTHS honors stole, please contact the Academic & Student Affairs suite at 610-355-7169.

** In the event that a student is a member of both Phi Theta Kappa and the National Technical Honors Society, students may only wear one stole and one cord (one to signify each organization). Student should wear the stole of their primary organization affiliation and an honors cord to signify the secondary affiliation (Purple/White cord for NTHS and Blue/Gold cord for PTK).

Student Veterans
In recognition of our students that have served or are currently serving in our armed forces, Student Veteran official commencement attire is the red/white/blue honors cord. Please be aware that the cord must be obtained prior to the night of graduation, they will not be available at the ceremony site. If you have any questions pertaining to the Student Veteran honors cord or to obtain this cord, please contact Mike Shultz at mshultz1@mail.dccc.edu.

LGBTQ+ Club
Students who are part of the LGBTQ+ Club on campus may wear a Rainbow Cord.

LatinX Student Association
Students who are part of our LatinX Student Association may wear a LatinX stole.

First Generation Student Cords
Students who are First Generation College Students may wear the provided blue and green twist cord.  To obtain this cord, please contact, please contact Dr. Kendrick Mickens at kmickens@dccc.edu.

Student Government Association
Students who are part of our Student Government Association may wear the provided blue and gold twist cord.

Arab & South Asian Union
Students who are part of our Arab & South Asian Union may wear the provided black and white twist cord.

Dual Enrollment Students
Students who are part of our Dual Enrollment Pathways program may wear a the provided medallion.

Diploma Distribution
The binder typically received at the ceremony does not contain your diploma. Commencement is exclusively ceremonial and participation is not required to receive your degree. All degrees are mailed to students following the process below:

After final grades are submitted by professors for the term, coursework for graduation applicants is audited to make sure that the graduate did complete all requirements. Once that part is complete, transcripts will be denoted as graduated in our system and will appear as such in DegreeWorks (in case you need proof of graduation for an employer, transfer institution, etc.) and information submitted to the vendor that prints our diplomas. At that point, the Records Office team will be back in contact with grads about when diplomas should be expected in the mail. For questions about the diploma distribution process or to request a diploma cover if you could not attend the ceremony, please email records@dccc.edu or phone 610-325-2838.

If proof of graduation is needed in the meantime, official transcripts can be requested at  dccc.edu/transcripts.

Diploma Frames
Frames to fit your diploma may be purchased in the Campus Store.

If you have questions that were not answered above, please email commencement@dccc.edu.