Commencement 2018

Welcome to the Pacifica Graduate Institute 2018 commencement information page.
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2018
10:00 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 beautiful Fess Parker Hotel in Santa Barbara on Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 10:00 am, to celebrate this meaningful day.

Graduation Arrival

Please arrive at the hotel in time to pick up your cap and gown on Saturday, May 26th between 8:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. The ceremony will take place at 10:00 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 a room near the Ballroom between 8:00 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. prior to lining up for the processional. Ushers will be present to show you where this room is located. Please remember to return your gown to this room after the ceremony, where you will also pick up your diploma.

Directions to the Fess Parker Hotel

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 Doubletree 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 hotel entrance 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 Doubletree 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.

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 9:30 a.m. graduates will line up numerically down a hall near the Ballroom. The faculty will begin the procession promptly at 10:00 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 holder with a welcome letter inside. After the ceremony, you will pick up your diploma from representatives of the Registrar’s office in the room you return your cap and gown. After the commencement ceremony, the faculty will lead the recessional.

Reception

A light reception will take place immediately following the ceremony outside in the beautiful Plaza near the beachside.

Thesis Presentations

On Friday, May 25th thesis presentations will begin at 9:00 a.m.

Important Contact Information

If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or require special accommodations regarding commencement please contact Cindy Christensen at 805.879.7330 or cchristensen@pacifica.edu or Nicole Kitzmann, Guest Service Coordinator at 805.879.7368 or nkitzmann@pacifica.edu.