Commencement 2019

Welcome to the Pacifica Graduate Institute 2019 commencement information page.
SATURDAY, MAY 25, 2019
11:00 a.m.

I would like to take a moment to congratulate you on the completion of your graduate degree here at Pacifica Graduate Institute. We appreciate all of the hard work and dedication that you have devoted to your journey here with us. May the heart and soul of Pacifica carry through to the next chapter of your life and into the work that you will be doing out in the world. We are looking forward to hosting you and your loved ones at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort, across from the seashore in beautiful Santa Barbara on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at 11:00 am, to celebrate this meaningful day.

Commencement Eligibility:

Please refer to the Registrar Commencement Letter on the Commencement website for more information. If you have specific questions, a list of who to contact and their phone and email information is included at the end of this memo.

Graduation Arrival

Please arrive at the hotel in time to pick up your cap and gown on Saturday, May 25th between 9:00 a.m. and 10:15 a.m prior to lining up for the processional at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will take place at 11:00 a.m. inside the Ballroom, to the left as you enter the lobby of the hotel.

Cap and Gown

Graduates may pick up their cap and gown in the gowning room located near the Ballroom. The gowning room will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. for picking up and returning gowns and hoods. Ushers will be present to show you where this room is located. Please remember to return your gown to this room immediately following the ceremony.

Directions to the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

From the North: Take 101 southbound to Santa Barbara. Take the Garden Street exit and make a right onto Garden Street, which will end at the waterfront (approximately 3 blocks). At the waterfront, turn left onto Cabrillo Blvd. Follow Cabrillo appx. ¼ mile. At Calle Puerto Vallarta, turn left at the light and then again left into the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort parking lot. Come in the driveway, and head left, following the signs to the hotel lobby. Once you register, you can park close to where your room is located.

From the South: Take 101 North to Santa Barbara. Exit the freeway at exit 94C Cabrillo exit (this is a left side exit ramp). At the bottom of the off-ramp, turn left onto Cabrillo Boulevard. Follow Cabrillo about 1 ¾ miles. Turn right onto Calle Puerto Vallarta. The Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resortentrance is the first driveway on the left. Come in the driveway, and head left, following the signs to the hotel lobby. Once you register, you can park close to where your room is located.

From the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport: COMPLIMENTARY AIRPORT TRANSPORTATION IS AVAILABLE 5 AM TO 9 PM BY CALLING THE HOTEL DIRECTLY UPON ARRIVAL AT 805-564-4333. Turn right out of the airport onto William L. Moffet PL / Sandspit Road. Follow this road appx. 1/4 mile, which will curve towards the beach and under a bridge. Merge onto Ward Memorial Blvd/CA 217 North for appx. 1/2 mile. Merge onto US-101 South via the exit on the left toward Santa Barbara for appx. 10 miles. Take the Garden Street exit and make a right onto Garden Street, which will end at the beach. Turn left onto Cabrillo Blvd. Turn left onto Calle Puerto Vallarta and left into the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort parking lot.

Parking

There is ample parking space in the hotel lot and on the street. 

Guests

Remember there is a limit of four (4) people who may attend as your guests. Due to space limitations, it is not possible for us to expand this number. A letter will be mailed to you at a later date, indicating the number of guest(s) you have registered.

Lodging

Unfortunately, due to the Holiday weekend, we were unable to get discounted rates at the surrounding hotels. We will open registrations to the Residence Hall at Ladera Lane campus. Please note, due to Pacifica’s Conditional Use Permits for the Ladera Campus, no persons under the age of 18 may stay overnight in the campus rooms.

To reserve a room on Ladera Lane campus, please follow this link:

https://pacifica.secure.retreat.guru/program/pacifica-commencement-2019-lodging/?form=1&lang=en

Holiday Traffic

Santa Barbara area roads and highways can become quite congested during the days surrounding Memorial Day.  Allow yourself plenty of time to arrive to receive your cap and gown and please remind your guest(s) to also plan accordingly.

Processional, Ceremony, And Recessional

As graduates pick up their caps and gowns, they will receive a place card with their name, program, track and a number on it. At 10:30 a.m. graduates will line up numerically down a hall near the Ballroom. The faculty will begin the procession promptly at 11:00 a.m., followed by the graduates. Faculty and graduates will remain standing until after the invocation.

During the ceremony, a faculty member will call your name. You will receive your diploma at that time. Following the recessional, please return your gown and hood to the gowning room before going to the reception. All gowns and hoods must be returned by 1:30 p.m. After the commencement ceremony, the faculty will lead the recessional.

Reception

A light reception will take place immediately following the ceremony outside on the beautiful Upper Rotunda, looking over the beach-side.

Thesis Presentations

On Friday, May 24th thesis presentations will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Please No Pets:

Please do not bring pets to any of the commencement events, as they are not allowed in or around the premises during these events. An exception is made for documented service dogs.

Important Contact Information

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or require special accommodations regarding commencement please contact Stacy Sroka at 805.879.7398 or ssroka@pacifica.edu or Nicole Kitzmann, Guest Service Coordinator at 805.879.7368 or nkitzmann@pacifica.edu.