Caruso School of Law Commencement

No. Graduates and their guests do not need entry testing or proof of vaccination or exemptions. The situation is dynamic, however, and may change. Please refer to this page for updates before traveling to Malibu for the ceremony.

It is recommended that you bring sunscreen and hats as sun-sensitive seating areas will be limited.

On-campus parking is available at locations marked on the campus parking map, on campus streets, and at the Drescher Graduate Campus on Via Pacifica. Shuttles will be in service, available at any marked campus shuttle stop. Special parking arrangements have been made for guests with special accessibility needs at convenient locations. For more information, contact the Department of Public Safety at the information booths or call 310.506.4700.

Due to the current county guidelines, there will not be concessions available at the ceremony but water bottles will be made available for all guests.

Order flowers ahead of time and they will be available for pick-up on the day of graduation. Order flowers here.

Several area hotels offer discounts for Pepperdine guests. Please see our list of hotels. Pepperdine discounts are noted where available.

Yes. Out-of-state graduates are permitted to attend, whether or not they are fully vaccinated. All graduates must RSVP to attend or your name will not be read.

The ceremony will be live-streamed and recorded for future viewing. Names of those not in attendance will not be read.

No, graduates do not need to attend to have their degree conferred.

No.

Yes. There is no limit on the number of guests each graduate can bring. Registration is not required for guests.

It is recommended that guests bring sunscreen and hats as sun-sensitive seating areas will be limited.

Graduates are required to purchase their tam (cap), tassel, and hood directly from the Jostens purchasing website within the “Graduation Caps & Gowns” section. These items will be sent directly to the address provided at time of order and will be for the graduate to keep. 

The law school will be providing rental gowns the week of commencement for graduates to pick up. Immediately following the commencement ceremony, graduates will return the rental gown at the designated location prior to exiting Alumni Park. No graduate will be allowed to exit Alumni Park without returning their rental gown.

The tam, tassel, and hood purchases should arrive approximately five (5) weeks from the order date. All hoods will have Pepperdine blue and orange lining, but the size/length and velvet band of the hood is based on the degree the graduate will be receiving. Please review the table below to identify the hood(s) graduates should expect to receive from their order. Once the order is received, check that the hood has the Pepperdine blue and orange lining as well as the appropriate velvet band and length.

Please contact Jostens customer support.

Graduates will be able to pick up their rental gown at the law school the week of commencement. An announcement on the exact times and locations will go out the week before. 

The tam, tassel, and hood purchased are yours to keep. Immediately following the commencement ceremony, graduates will return the rental gown at the designated location prior to exiting Alumni Park. No graduate will be allowed to exit Alumni Park without returning their rental gown.

Yes. Graduates must plan to arrive at Alumni Park dressed in regalia no later than 8:30 AM.

No. The University requires that all graduate degree regalia is consistent within each degree conferred across all graduates.

Margaret Barfield can be reached at margaret.barfield@pepperdine.edu or at (310) 506-4653.

Diplomas will be mailed to your permanent address approximately six weeks after degrees are conferred on May 19.

If you have confirmed that your graduation requirements have been met, and submitted your information to your program, your name will appear in the program.

The commencement printed program will be handed out to students and guests at the in-person ceremony. You will also be able to download a copy of the program from the commencement website.