Graduation Guide
Sailfish Safe: Commencement Protocols
Masks - All guests and participants must wear face coverings that completely cover their
mouth and nose, while at the Palm Beach County Convention Center. A facial shield
without a mask is not an acceptable facial covering. Click here for acceptable face coverings. Children 2 and under are not required to wear a facial covering.
Wellness Check - All guests will be required to complete a COVID-19 Wellness Check before arriving
at the venue.
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Complete your Wellness Check on the day of Commencement here
- Please note that the form may not be completed prior to the day of the event.
Commencement Participation
In order to participate in Commencement, you must file an Application for Graduation and complete all degree requirements. You must be finished with all coursework at
the end of the semester in which commencement is held. You may also participate if
you will be finishing your final credits (6 or less) in the summer term. All Business
Office, Chapel and Workship requirements must be clear before diplomas will be released.
Two commencement ceremonies will be held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center.
Be sure to check the time for your appropriate ceremony. The Orlando Campus will host a commencement ceremony in Orlando on Saturday, April
24, 2021 at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church Orlando. See PBA Orlando office for more
details.
Morning Ceremony Schools:
- School of Arts & Sciences
- School of Communications & Media
- School of Education & Behavioral Studies
- School of Music & Fine Arts
|
Saturday 5/1/2021 |
7:30-8:00 AM |
Graduates arrive and line up |
Convention Center 2nd Floor |
|
Saturday 5/1/2021 |
8:00 AM |
Doors open for guests |
Palm Beach County Convention Center |
|
Saturday 5/1/2021 |
9:00 AM |
Ceremony |
Palm Beach County Convention Center |
Afternoon Ceremony Schools:
- Rinker School of Business
- Catherine T. MacArthur School of Leadership
- Lloyd L. Gregory School of Pharmacy
- School of Ministry
-
School of Nursing
|
Saturday 5/1/2021 |
1:30-2:00 PM |
Graduates arrive and line up |
Convention Center 2nd Floor |
|
Saturday 5/1/2021 |
2:00 PM |
Doors open for guests |
Palm Beach County Convention Center |
|
Saturday 5/1/2021 |
3:00 PM |
Ceremony |
Palm Beach County Convention Center |
Spring 2021 Schedule of Events
|
2/1/2021-3/16/2021 |
12 AM - 12 AM |
Regalia Ordering |
|
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3/2/2021-4/19/2021 |
8:00 AM opening |
Ticket Ordering |
Online MyPBA |
|
Tuesday 4/20/2021 |
10 AM - 6 PM |
Cap & Gown Pick Up |
Campus Store |
|
Tuesday 4/20/2021 |
10 AM - 6 PM |
Ticket Pick Up |
Campus Store |
|
Tuesday 4/20/2021
|
11:00 AM
|
|
Rubin Arena, Greene Sports Complex
|
|
|
|
Video Rehearsal |
|
|
Monday 6/14/2021 |
12 AM – 12 AM |
Diploma Mailing |
Diploma Addresses |
Graduation Honors
Undergraduate students receiving a cumulative Palm Beach Atlantic GPA
3.75 to 3.81 -- cum laude 3.82 to 3.89 -- magna cum laude 3.90 or above -- summa cum laude.
Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 54 GPA credit hours at Palm Beach Atlantic to be eligible for honors.
Rehearsal
All graduates should watch the below 30 minute rehearsal video. We discuss everything you need to know about the day. Click here for hooding rehearsal and walkthrough.
Guests – Tickets and Parking
Graduates may reserve up to four (4) complimentary general admission guest tickets.
- West Palm Beach campus: You must reserve your tickets online via MyPBA.
- Orlando campus: Please contact Martha_Christlieb@pba.edu to reserve your tickets.
Tickets are required for all guests. Doors to the event will open one hour prior
to the ceremony and will close 10 minutes prior to the ceremony to allow for the procession.
No guests will be allowed to enter during the processional. Doors will reopen following the procession. Graduates whose guests require special
seating as a part of their tickets, e.g. wheelchairs, etc., must contact the Office
of the Registrar ahead of time to make arrangements.
Parking will be free in the parking garage behind the Convention Center. There is
a Handicapped drop-off area just to the right of the entrance to the parking garage.
The parking garage will need to be cleared within one hour following the completion
of the ceremony as the spots will be needed for the guests arriving for the next ceremony.
Commencement Participation
Commencement is an occasion marking a special time in a student’s academic career.
It is expected that all candidates for graduation will participate in Commencement
ceremonies. Commencement is a rite of passage that demands a sense of formality and
dignity. Each graduate will be honored as their name is read and they walk across
the platform to receive recognition from the University President. No graduate should
act in such a manner that would detract from another student’s moment of honor. Graduates
who choose to celebrate excessively by stopping, turning or dancing on the platform
will be fined based on the severity of the offense and the diploma will be held until
the account is cleared. To respect and honor all graduates, please stay seated until
the ceremony ends.
Regalia (cap and gown)
Bachelor gowns, Master gowns, and Doctoral gowns are all different. Be sure you order
the correct gown for your degree. Robes should be steamed or pressed prior to commencement.
No cap decorations may extend up or out from the cap. Any decoration must be in good
taste and reflect a positive attitude. Doctoral tams may not be decorated. Students
will be given a plain black cap in exchange for any cap not conforming to the regulations.
Only sashes and honor cords obtained through PBA may be worn over the gown. (Limit
4)
Appropriate Attire
Since Commencement demands a sense of formality and dignity, you should dress appropriately
for this once-in-a-lifetime event. Men should wear shirt, tie, dark pants, and dark
dress shoes. Women should dress suitably for a special occasion. Please avoid anything
that would draw attention to yourself or embarrass your classmates or their guests.
Wear shoes appropriate for walking distances and up and down ramps.
Diplomas
Graduates will be handed an empty diploma case during the commencement ceremony. No
diplomas will be available at commencement. Once all final grades are in and degree
requirements have been verified the diplomas will be mailed to the address submitted
on the Application for Graduation.
Graduation Photos
Grad Images will be the official photographer for Commencement. Three individual
photos will be taken and proofs will be sent to each graduate and you will have the
option of purchasing the photos directly from Grad Images. Please specify your graduation
year when placing your order.
Office of the Registrar
Palm Beach Atlantic University
P.O. Box 24708
West Palm Beach, FL33416-4708
561-803-2000 or 888-468-6722