Commencement

Congratulations to Camp’s graduates on this memorable time in their academic journey. Commencement will be held at the Regional Workforce Development Center, Franklin, VA.

Graduate participants have been confirmed. Only those who are confirmed will be able to participate.

Caps and gowns can be purchased online at oakhallcg.com/pages/pdc. To take advantage of free shipping directly to the college, be sure to place your order by October 31, 2025. If you prefer to have your caps and gowns delivered to your home, the deadline for that option is November 23, 2025. If you cannot attend the Grad Fair, please get in touch with the Office of Admission at (757) 569-6707.

All students are strongly encouraged to attend a Grad Fair to pick up their cap and gown, tickets, and celebrate their achievements. Self-portraits in your cap and gown are available for $15.

Tickets will be available for pick-up at the college Grad Fair on the Franklin and Suffolk campuses. On commencement day, guest seating will begin at 5:00 p.m. The commencement ceremony will be live-streamed on Camp’s YouTube Channel for those who are unable to attend, www.youtube.com/user/PDCCCEDU.

Graduates who have fulfilled their program requirements are eligible for graduation honors based on their cumulative grade point average, determined as follows:

• 3.2 Cum Laude (with honor)
• 3.5 Magna Cum Laude (with high honor)
• 3.8 Summa Cum Laude (with highest honor)

Eligibility for honors for those graduates completing their requirements in the Spring 2025 semester will be determined by using their Fall 2024 semester cumulative grade point average. This is for ceremony purposes only. Graduates will receive an honor cord at check-in on commencement day.

Graduates will receive a loaner stole at check-in on commencement day.

Graduates who have been inducted will receive a cord at check-in on commencement day.

All candidates are requested to arrive at 4:45 p.m. and report to the main entrance of the Franklin campus main building to check in. You will be directed to a designated classroom to receive your name card and other pertinent information. All graduates, faculty, college board members, and other participants will assemble in full academic regalia at 5:30 p.m. Latecomers will be seated in the audience rather than with the graduates.

Graduates with special needs (wheelchair access or mobility impaired) should contact us at commencement@pdc.edu. Also, inform us if your guests need accommodations.

Attendees and Participants are subject to a security search and bag check.

Personal belongings are the responsibility of the graduate and their guests. Camp Community College will not be responsible for any missing items.

Prohibited Items

• Alcohol
• Confetti and Flutterfetti
• Silly String
• Balloons
• Poles, monopods, tripods
• Weapons: guns, ammunition, knives, box cutters
• Sharp and/or pointed objects (scissors, knitting needles, etc.)
• Mace, pepper spray
• Spray containers, aerosols, flammable liquids
• Explosives, fireworks, laser lights, laser pointers
• Unopened packages
• Signs and banners
• Cans, bottles, coolers
• Streamers

Permissible Items (All items subject to search)

• Flowers
• Small umbrellas
• Unopened water bottles as long as they are 32 oz. or smaller and sealed
• Small hand-held still cameras and video cameras (no tripods)
• Binoculars
• Cell phones (must be silenced during the ceremony)

Anyone entering with prohibited items will be asked to return them to their vehicle.

Assisted by a student marshal and a faculty advisor, candidates will line up in a single file, according to their degree, certificate, or credential in alphabetical order by program of study. Transfer Program degree candidates will lead the procession followed by Occupational/Technical degree candidates, Certificate candidates, Career Studies Certificate candidates, and Workforce Program completers. If you are receiving more than one credential, line up with your group receiving the highest credential.

After student, faculty, staff, and attendee recognitions, the Vice President of Academic and Student Success, will say, “It is now time to confer the degrees and certificates. The conferral by Dr. McCray, President, will be followed by the presentation of the graduates’ names, awards, and honors.” Then the VP of Academic and Student Success will ask all the candidates for the Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree, the Associate Degree of Sciences, the Associate of Applied Science Degree, the Certificates, and Career Studies Certificates to rise.

Following this, the assigned marshal will signal and lead the first row of candidates to stand and move toward the far right as you face the podium. The second row of candidates will stand together and move in behind the last person in row one. Each row will continue in this manner.

Candidates for Degree/Certificate Conferral, once you are at the stage you will:

1. Hand your name card to the Vice President of Academic and Student Success.
2. Proceed up the steps and walk to where the President is standing.
3. Pause and shake hands with the President.
4. Receive your diploma cover from the President.

(The actual diploma and/or certificate will be available on the evening of commencement at the Workforce Development Center, or picked up at a later date from your home campus in the Office of Admissions. Your home campus is determined as indicated on your graduation application.)

5. Continue across the stage and go down the steps on the other side.
6. Receive your alumni pin from the attendant.
7. You will be directed to the back of the conference hall, guided by several Camp Marshalls, assisting you down the middle aisle and back to your seat.

Workforce Program Completers, once you are at the stage you will:

1. Hand your name card to the Director of Workforce Development Programs.
2. Proceed up the steps and walk to where the President is standing.
3. Pause and shake hands with the President.
4. Receive your diploma cover from the President. You should have already received your certificate of completion and/or credential at the end of your class; however, if you have not, please call the Workforce Development Office at (757)569-6050 with any questions.
5. Continue across the stage and go down the steps on the other side.
6. Receive your alumni pin from the attendant.
7. You will be directed to the back of the conference hall, guided by several Camp marshals, assisting you down the middle aisle and back to your seat.

The recession will commence on the first-in, first-out order with the Faculty Marshal, leading, followed by platform guests/speakers, the College Board, faculty, and graduates. The Faculty Marshal will assist in seeing that this procedure is followed.

Direct questions to commencement@pdc.edu.