»Frequently Asked Questions

Baccalaureate is an interfaith religious worship service that has been a part of Chapman custom through the history of the institution. Students, staff, faculty and guests gather to offer gratitude for spiritual support throughout the year. The Chapman service includes readings, prayers and music from many religious traditions and is open to all faiths.

This year's featured speaker is Rainn Wilson, Actor and Founder of SoulPancake. Tickets are required. Please visit the Baccalaureate website for more information.  

Parking will be free in all parking structures, and curbside permits are not required on local streets on Commencement Weekend only. Please allow ample time to park and walk over to the ceremony site. 

If you are graduating with two majors, you may only walk once. You will be prompted to choose a "preferred major" when you submit your Online Commencement RSVP. The major you designate in the RSVP will determine which ceremony you will participate in and/or which cohort you will be seated with. 

If you are receiving two degrees and have never walked for either degree, you may be eligible to participate in two ceremonies. If you are receiving your degrees from two different schools/colleges (i.e. ASBE, DCFMA, or WCHSS and CES), you may participate in both ceremonies, if you wish. You will need to make sure you submit two Commencement RSVP's - one for each ceremony. 

Chapman Commencement is not a somber occasion, but it is one that the institution takes seriously. Commencement is the largest publicly attended event on campus. Families, fiends, alumni and honored guests from all over the world will attend this momentous event - how we present ourselves on that day is, for many of our guests, the only impression of Chapman they ever have. It should be a favorable one. 

We ask that students abide by the Student Conduct Code on Commencement weekend on University common areas and at offsite venues where official University events are taking place. Some of these requirements include refraining from possessing or consuming alcoholic beverages or other controlled substances, being publicly intoxicated, and engaging in disruptive or disorderly conduct. Please refrain from bringing food, beverages and gum onto the Holly and David Wilson Athletic Field. We ask that students refrain from bringing noisemakers, pagers, cell phones, personal listening devices, signs, toys, confetti, streamers, or fireworks to any commencement ceremony. Students must wear academic attire in the reverential manner appropriate to the historical, dignified traditions of graduation ceremonies. Students must remain seated at all times, unless walking in the procession, and remain present for the entire ceremony until its conclusion, when all graduates are officially dismissed. Participants and guests may be asked to leave University property at any time by Chapman University administrators, faculty, or Public Safety officers during Commencement weekend, if they are not fulfilling these responsibilities and obligations. 

"Senior Legacy unites seniors through engaging experiences and instills a lifelong commitment to Chapman University that impacts future student opportunities." 

Senior Legacy is a long-standing Chapman tradition for the senior class to present the University with a gift as a way to commemorate their time at Chapman and support future generations of Panthers. The Class of 2013 has chosen for their class gift to support merit-based scholarships for future students. Click here or visit www.chapman.edu/seniors2013 to find out more information on how to give back.