9:00 a.m.
College of Health Sciences – Northwest
Seating Begins: 8:00 a.m.
Ceremony Schedules
May 12, 2025
9:00 a.m.
College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific – Northwest
Seating Begins: 8:00 a.m.
May 13, 2025
9:00 a.m.
College of Podiatric Medicine
Seating Begins: 8:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
College of Optometry
Seating Begins: 11:00 a.m.
3:00 p.m.
College of Dental Medicine
Seating Begins: 2:00 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
College of Pharmacy
Seating Begins: 5:30 p.m.
May 14, 2025
8:00 a.m.
College of Veterinary Medicine
Seating Begins: 7:00 a.m.
12:00 p.m.
College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Seating Begins: 11:00 a.m.
4:30 p.m.
College of Graduate Nursing
Seating Begins: 3:30 p.m.
7:30 p.m.
College of Health Sciences
Seating Begins: 6:30 p.m.
Countdown to the first ceremony!
2025/05/12 09:00:00
Commencement Assistants
Each spring our Commencement Exercises serve as the capstone of our students’ career at WesternU. Students, as well as their families and friends, will not soon forget the incredible ceremony that our faculty participants and commencement assistants help make possible.
Please see the appropriate categories on the left for more information regarding the Lebanon and Pomona ceremonies.
Before Commencement
Meetings
- For team meetings, please speak to your team lead.
Dress Code
- Please wear nice, but comfortable, clothes (dress, slacks, or solid color capris for women, white shirt with a collar and dark slacks for men). No jeans or capris.
- You are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes, but no tennis shoes or flip-flops.
Before Commencement
Meetings
- Attend your individual team meeting – watch for an e-mail from your team lead for date and time. You will receive your robe at this meeting.
- Attend the General Commencement Assistants Meeting:
Date: April 30, 2025
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: Zoom
Hotel and Travel
- Since this is a local event, hotel accommodations will not be provided.
- Please note that your vehicle is not covered by the University’s auto policy. Auto insurance is a requirement for all drivers using their own vehicles for university business.
Dress Code
- Please wear nice, but comfortable, clothes (khaki, black or gray slacks/skirt) and the Commencement polo. No jeans.
- If you are worried about being cold, you may wear a long-sleeved black shirt under your polo; sweaters, sweatshirts or cardigans should not be worn over your polo.
- You are encouraged to wear comfortable dress shoes or clean, black sneakers.
- Be sure to bring your Commencement polo(s) and the provided lanyard.
- Leave large personal items at home or in your car
- Faculty/Staff assistants are not responsible for your valuables, so please leave large personal items at home or in your car.
- You can bring a small, dark, and discreet bag that does not cover your Commencement polo logo when worn if it is smaller than 4.5’ by 6.5’. A limited supply of small black bags is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
During Commencement
Parking
- Enter the Sheraton Hotel gate and present your “Staff” parking pass to the attendant to be directed to the appropriate lot.
When and Where to Report
- Report to the Faculty Robing/Assistants Room (California Ballroom 3) and sign the Assistant Sign-in Sheet.
- Please be on time. However, if you are running late, please call your team lead. For arrival times, please see the ceremony schedule listed above.
Meals
- Meals will be provided in California Ballroom 3.
- Meal tickets are not required but you will need to sign-in.
Please Note
- Doors will close to allow for the Academic Procession (graduates, faculty, and the platform party marching in) and will re-open after the National Anthem. Late arriving guests will be admitted after the National Anthem. They will not miss the ceremony.
- Late arriving graduates will be admitted immediately, please direct them California Ballroom 2.
- Only STAFF assigned to the Grad Room team should be in California Ballroom 2 – no family/guests/additional staff.
- If you have any questions or problems during the ceremonies, please see your team lead first. Your team lead, with your input, will handle situations that arise in your area.
After Commencement
Be sure to sign out at the end of your shift(s). After your last ceremony please return your badge California Ballroom 3.
Time Cards
- Non-Exempt employees are paid for their travel time to and from the Fairplex minus their regular commute. Include the travel time on your regular time card.
Example: If it normally takes you 1/2 hour to commute from home to WesternU, but it takes you 45 minutes to commute to the Fairplex, 15 minutes of your travel time will be paid as worked time.
Mileage
- Employees are paid mileage at a rate of 70 cents per mile. If you carpool, only the driver is eligible for mileage reimbursement. Mileage reimbursement is calculated as the distance from the University to the destination. Mileage is paid by your department/college.
How to Get Reimbursed
- As a reminder WesternU uses the travel program Concur Expense, and to request a travel advance/trip report for Commencement you must go through this program. Please work with your supervisor/director of operations to request reimbursement.
- Meals are provided and are not reimbursable.
Getting There
Sheraton Fairplex & Conference Center
601 W. McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA
Boulder Falls Center
605 Mullins Dr.
Lebanon, OR 97355