Congratulations on your graduation from Pierce College!

Please join us for Pierce College’s largest celebration of the year - your commencement! It is a special event we hope you won't miss.

Invite as many of your family and friends as you like, and meet us at the Tacoma Dome at 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, June 12, 2009, as we honor YOU - a 2009 graduate of Pierce College.

When & where

Commencement exercises for the class of 2009 will begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday, June 12, in the main arena at the Tacoma Dome, 2727 East "D" Street, Tacoma.

Parking costs $8 per vehicle. We encourage you and your guests to carpool.

Doors to the arena will open at 2:30 p.m.

Graduates will line up beginning at 3:00 p.m.

Commencement speaker

Commencement speaker for the 2009 ceremony will be James P. Murphy, senior vice president of International Operations for Costco Wholesale, Inc.

Directions to the Tacoma Dome:

From Olympia on I-5 going north…

Take Exit 133. Follow ramp on East 26th St. Take a right. Tacoma Dome signs will direct you to parking lots.

From Seattle on I-5 going south…

Take Exit 135. The ramp will put you on East 27th Street. Tacoma Dome signs will direct you to parking lots.

See the Tacoma Dome website for directions and more parking information.

Event accessibility information

The Tacoma Dome is readily accessible for people with disabilities. Wheelchair seating is available in the upper guest seating area. Ushers will assist you.

Any person with a disability requiring auxiliary aids, services or other accommodations should contact Access & Disability Services at (253) 964-6468 or dssaccess@pierce.ctc.edu at least two weeks prior to the scheduled event.

ASL (American Sign Language) interpreters will be provided at the commencement ceremony.

Awards ceremonies

The Pierce College communities will gather to recognize and celebrate students and faculty who have excelled in the academic environment at Pierce College.

Award recipients will receive personalized invitations.

Join us to acknowledge the extraordinary accomplishments of your classmates.

• Fort Steilacoom: Wednesday, June 3, 7 p.m., Health Education Center
• Puyallup: Thursday, June 4, 6:30 p.m., College Center Commons

Caps & gowns

If you plan to take part in the graduation ceremony you need to:

Pick up your free cap and gown beginning May 27 after 9:00 a.m. at the Fort Steilacoom bookstore and beginning May 28 after 9:00 a.m. at the Puyallup bookstore.

You will also receive directions to the Tacoma Dome, information related to the afternoon’s celebration, your tassel, and five complimentary commencement announcements. If you need more announcements, they may be purchased from either bookstore for 50 cents each.

There is no charge for your cap and gown, and they are yours to keep (exception - Running start graduates must pay $50 fee for cap and gown).

Photographs

GradTrack has been contracted to provide graduation photography services for Pierce College this year.

Photographers will take a picture of every graduate as they approach the stage as well as ceremony and friends and family pictures.

Diplomas

Your official diploma will be mailed approximately ten weeks after grades are submitted and degree eligibility is verified.

If you have moved or changed your name, please contact the Evaluations Office.

Evaluations office contact information:

• Fort Steilacoom (253) 964-6621 or (253) 964-6610
• e-mail: evaluations@pierce.ctc.edu
• Puyallup (253) 840-8322
• e-mail: puyevaluations@pierce.ctc.edu