Graduation Application
Questions? Contact Us.
Office of Registration
Yakima Campus
Deccio, Building 8
509-574-4700
Grandview Campus
Main, Building 56
509-882-7015
Email
registration@yvcc.edu
Graduation Application Submission
Important Information & Cut-off Dates
All candidates for a certificate or degree must submit a graduation application for review approval by an advisor and followed by the submission steps below.
Students are encouraged to submit their application more than one quarter before they plan to graduate so any graduation deficiencies can be resolved prior to the final quarter of enrollment. Specific degree application deadline dates can be found in the college’s quarterly class schedule, under Important Dates or call the Registration & Records Office at 509.574.4700. However, all degree applications must be submitted no later than the quarter in which the student plans to graduate.
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with their advisor on a quarterly basis to ensure completion of specific degree requirements.
FAQs
Rehearsal will be Thursday, June 13 2024 from 12:00pm – 1:00pm in the Sherar Gym. Your attendance is essential to ensure a smooth commencement ceremony.
Graduates with exceptional academic qualifications who are completing a bachelor/
associate degree or a certificate requiring 45 or more credits are eligible to receive
honor cords based on their YVC cumulative
college-level grade point average (GPA) as of Winter Quarter 2024.
Honors: 3.40 – 3.84
High Honors: 3.85 – 4.0
There is no charge for honor cords.
They will be distributed after Commencement rehearsal on June 13 in building #9, the Hopf Union Building (HUB), from 1:00 – 2:30 pm. They will also be available before the ceremony on June 14 at the check-in table in the SunDome.
Graduates will be primarily in two colors of gowns. The bachelor degree graduates in black, and the associate degree and certificate of achievement graduates in maroon. Running Start Students can choose to wear YVC’s maroon or their high school gown. Caps & gowns are not required to participate in the commencement ceremony.
In addition to the cap and gowns, you will also see some students wearing cords, medallions, and stoles which recognize outstanding academic achievement. The cords recognize Honors and High Honors. Phi Theta Kappa members wear gold stoles and student government officers wear white stoles. Finally, two students selected for the All-Washington Academic Team wear their medallions.
In order for these to be special and meaningful, we ask that students refrain from wearing other unauthorized cords, medallions or stoles that are unrelated to student achievement. We want to maintain the traditions that have made commencement a special milestone of success for college graduates throughout history.
Guests can start arriving at 4:00pm. Children are welcome, but please keep in mind that the ceremony is lengthy. If your guests have difficulty climbing stairs, please make sure they arrive early for better seating.
Important: Be sure to let your guests know that, for safety reasons, strollers are not permitted on the bleachers, and no balloons are allowed inside the Yakima Valley SunDome. The concession stand will not be open for the ceremony.
If special accommodations are needed for you or your guests, please contact DSS@yvcc.edu. YVC does provide an American Sign Language interpreter who will be visible in the two projection screens during the ceremony.
Parking is available at the Yakima Valley SunDome at no charge.
Cameras are allowed in the SunDome. Guests can photograph graduates but cannot come onto the arena floor. A professional photographer will be taking individual student photographs prior to the ceremony—from 4 pm to 5:30 pm—and our Community Relations staff will be taking additional pictures during the ceremony.
The SunDome is a non-smoking area. Please inform your guests that smoking is allowed in designated areas only.
4:00 p.m.
Photography begins at the SunDome. They will be located on the right as you enter the building. Will continue until 5:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
Check-in begins at the tables on the left as you enter the SunDome. Please arrive no later than 5:30 p.m. Check-in will close promptly at 5:45 p.m.
Line up by last name and pick up your name card. Hang on to it and do not tear or fold it. You will be handing it to the announcer, and it will be read as you cross the stage.
If you are an honor student and did not pick up your cords after rehearsal you will be able to get them after you check in.
To ensure the correct pronunciations of your name, please stop by the announcer’s station during check-in. They will help you write it phonetically at the bottom of your card.
5:40 p.m.
Line up for the processional in this order: bachelor degrees, student government, other degrees and certificates.
6:00 p.m.
Commencement ceremony begins. It lasts approximately two hours.
Commencement is the ceremony held each June to honor all of that year’s graduates.
Commencement is normally held in June. See the Important Dates for exact dates.
Commencement for 2024 will be held on June 14, 2024.
Use the link below to register for the June 14, 2024 Commencement Ceremony.
Caps, gowns, and tassels will be available to purchase in the bookstore or on the bookstore website, around the end of April. They can be found under Student Essentials/Regalia.
If you place an order on our website you will receive an email back from the bookstore with questions to help us complete your cap and gown order. We will send you a chart with different heights and weights so you can choose the correct size gown and color according to the degree you are receiving.
For any questions about caps, gowns, or tassels please call the bookstore at 509.574.4625.
Diplomas are generally mailed approximately two months after the end of the quarter. Make sure your address in the system is up to date.
- Fall grads – end of February
- Winter grads – end of March
- Spring grads – end of August
- Summer grads – end of October
Make sure your address in the Student Portal is up to date.
You can request a transcript ahead of time and mark the box indicating that you want it to be held until the degree has been posted before it is sent.
You will receive an email once the application is reviewed. Please verify with the Registration office that we have your current email on record. Any questions or concerns or just processing information will be addressed in this email.
Student can also check their application status on ctcLink Student Homepage – Academic Progress– View Graduation Status.
Advisors are available remotely to assist with graduation-related questions. Students should contact their current faculty advisor as listed on their ctcLink account with questions. If no advisor is listed, please contact Counseling at counseling@yvcc.edu or 509.574.4956.
Graduates will receive their diplomas by mail, along with their diploma covers. Diplomas are generally available two months after the end of the quarter. Students should ensure their correct mailing address is updated in their ctcLink account. If official documentation of a degree earned is needed, official transcripts can be ordered through Parchment. A small fee is associated with ordering your transcripts via Parchment.
Note: credential evaluators use the address on the student graduation application, please inform Graduation@yvcc.edu of any address changes.
Questions?
If you have any further questions regarding commencement, please visit our Commencement page or contact the Registration Office at 509.574.4700 or graduation@yvcc.edu.