USC Gould School of Law Class of 2009 Commencement
Friday, May 15, 2009, 3:30 p.m.
Announcements/Invitations
Students will receive ten (10) complimentary commencement announcements for the law school ceremony in late March. A sign-up sheet will be available for those requesting additional announcements. Extra announcements are limited.
Additional announcements can also be ordered online through the USC Bookstore. Note: The bookstore announcements are slightly different from the ones the law school will provide you.
Caps and Gowns
Academic regalia should be rented from the USC Bookstore beginning April 29th. Be sure to order early, as they may run out of red doctoral (J.D.) gowns. Please make sure you receive a dark purple (not lavender) hood and a yellow (not black) tassel.
We are pleased to announce that, in recognition of the high cost of education and the many fees each of you has already paid to USC, the law school will pay the rental fee for your regalia ($69.99). To ensure that your rental fee is covered you should NOT pay the rental for your regalia. If you pay the rental fee you will not be reimbursed. Please follow the procedures below to ensure that your rental fee is covered by the law school:
- Beginning April 29th go to the 3rd floor Supply Desk at the USC bookstore and inform the staff member at the desk that you are a law graduate, and that the school is paying for your regalia. Note: they will not be able to take your order until April 29th.
- We have provided the bookstore with a list of our graduating students. The list is organized alphabetically.
- After you are checked off the list you will need to complete the appropriate paperwork at the 3rd floor Supply Desk to receive your regalia.
- If your cap and gown measurements were taken at the law school's graduation fair the Bookstore will have these measurements on file. If you did not have your measurements taken at the graduation fair the Bookstore staff member will take your measurements (height, weight and cap size) before giving you your regalia.
- Please make sure that you receive the red doctoral gown, a dark purple (not lavender) hood and a yellow (not black) tassel.
Location
The ceremony and reception will take place in McCarthy Quad. This venue is located on the University Park Campus near the law school. Click here for campus map.
Arrival
Students must report to McCarthy Quad no later than 2:30 p.m. on May 15th. It is important that you arrive on time as it takes a considerable amount of time to line up all of the graduates.
Family and friends should be seated by 3:00 p.m. so commencement can begin promptly at 3:30 p.m.
Disabled Guests
If someone in your party will require disabled seating, please contact the law school Events Office in Room 475 no later than 12:00 noon on Tuesday, May 5th or call 213.740.3841 or email events@law.usc.edu. Disabled seating must be reserved through this office in advance and is limited to (3) people per graduate.
Disabled guests with blue, handicapped placards can park in designated handicapped parking spaces in any of the campus parking structures or lots. Disabled guests can also be dropped off at Gate 3 which is located at Figueroa and McCarthy Way (the entrance for Parking Structure X) which will be the closest drop off point to the law school's ceremony in McCarthy Quad.
Parking
Parking will be FREE of charge on Commencement Day. Click here for driving directions and map.
Rain
The ceremony will take place outside rain or shine. Please check the forecast and come prepared.
Commencement Speaker
This year's keynote speaker is California Attorney General, Edmund G. Brown Jr.
Tickets
We do not require tickets for the law school's ceremony or reception.
Photographer
Professional commencement photographer, Bob Knight Photography, will take individual pictures of each graduate as they receive their diploma and cross the stage. These pictures will be available for purchase directly from Bob Knight Photography.
Webcast
For those who are unable to attend the ceremony, the law school will provide a live webcast. Click here to go to the live webcast from 2008.
Video
The law school wil send a complimentary DVD of the ceremony to each graduate over the summer.
Post-Ceremony Reception
Immediately following the ceremony in McCarthy Quad, graduates and their guests are invited to attend a reception with light refreshments. Graduates will turn in their caps and gowns, pick up their diplomas and receive a gift from the law school.
USC's Main Commencement Ceremony
The USC 126th Commencement Ceremony will take place on the same day, Friday, May 15, 2009 in Alumni Park. The procession will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the ceremony will begin at 9:00 a.m. Click here to go to USC's Commencement Ceremony site.
More Information
Students will receive a Commencement handbook in early March which will provide more detailed information. For specific questions, contact the USC Law Events Office.