SANDRA CHALMERS
EDITOR IN CHIEF

Photo courtesy of Kellogg Library at CSUSM

After nearly a decade of hosting commencement off campus, Spring 2011 graduates will now enjoy the honor of celebrating their graduation ceremony on home ground.
On May 2011, three graduation ceremonies will be held at the Mangrum Track and Field allowing seating for approximately 3,000 guests.  Guests do not require tickets, but students are suggested to bring immediate family only or no more than 10 guests each.  Seating is on a first come, first serve basis.
Each graduate needs to fill out an RSVP form confirming attendance to walk for graduation and informing the Commencement Office of how many guests each graduate anticipates will attend.  Submit an RSVP form by visiting www.csusm.edu/commencement.
Although graduation may seem months away, making early preparations help the big day run smoother. Gradfest, a special “Grad only” event offers graduates cap and gown sales, photo frames for diplomas, class rings, photography packages and everything that a graduate would need. Gradfest will be held March 15, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., March 16, 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and March 17, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Clarke Field House in the Grand Salon. The University Store will also sell caps and gowns later on in the semester.
Graduation announcements may be also purchased online through Herff Jones by visiting
www.herffjones.com/college/csusm.
Graduates earning academic honors receive a gold cord on the day of their ceremony. These honors are calculated based on the semester prior to graduation. Overall grade point average (GPA) and institutional GPA, the lower of the two, determine eligibility for academic honors.

Cum laude 3.50 – 3.69

Magna cum laude  3.70 – 3.89

Summa cum laude  3.90 – 4.00

Ceremony schedules vary depending on major. For a complete list of times, please visit the commencement website.
Though graduation inspires celebratory behavior, CSUSM prohibits the consumption of alcohol on campus property, including all parking lots.