2024 Marshall and Leventhal Commencement

• Plan ahead and know how you are getting to the Coliseum. Use navigation and traffic apps such as Waze or Google Maps.
  
• Parking in Exposition Park is complimentary for USC Commencement Ceremony ticketed guests on Friday, May 10.
  
• Rideshare services are located in Exposition Park's Green Lot. Enter from S. Figueroa St. (right-turn only).
  
• Gate 4 and 23 are open for entry.
  
• Get here early. Review policies, be prepared for metal detector screening and have items clearly displayed in a clear bag.
  
• Attendees may only enter with a bag that adheres to the USC Clear Bag Policy.
  
• Cameras are permitted. Balloons, beach balls, confetti and noise making devices will not be permitted.
  
• Arrive at the gates no later than 30 minutes before your ceremony begins.
  
• There is limited shade at the LA Memorial Coliseum. Parasols will be permitted for personal shade. Sunscreen, hats, and protective sun wear are recommended. Please be aware of weather conditions and plan accordingly.
  
• The Coliseum is cashless. Only credit/debit cards and mobile pay are accepted.
  
• Tickets are required for this event. Please have your ticket ready to scan in your mobile device.
  

• The Marshall Undergraduate Ceremony will be held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (LAMC) on May 10 from 2:30 - 4:00 pm
• On May 10, parking is free at EXPO Park for ticketed guests and is first-come, first-served
• Plan to arrive at 1:30 pm at the designated student check-in area: 3960 Bill Robertson Lane
• No guests will be permitted to enter the Coliseum at this entrance. Guests must enter through Gate 4 or Gate 23.
• All students must present their ticket
• All students will go through a metal detector
• NO BAGS are permitted. LAMC is a CLEAR BAG venue. If you bring a bag, bag check is located at Gate 28D (opposite side of the venue).
• Arrive dressed in the appropriate regalia – cap and gown. This is a requirement to participate in the ceremony.
• Students will receive their Marching Order card at student check-in. This card will be needed to cross the stage.
• If you need ADA support - please self-identify at ADA student check-in.
• If you have a ceremony conflict and are trying to walk in the Marshall ceremony and a second ceremony with a scheduling conflict, please self-identify at check-in.
• Students will be seated in the Coliseum as they check-in. If you would like to sit with your friends, please plan to arrive at check-in together.
• While students may line-up with friends; there is no guarantee students will be able to sit next to their friends. Students must sit where directed by event staff.
• All students must remain in their seats for the entirety of the ceremony.  There will be no exceptions. 
• Please respectfully pay attention to instructions from event staff who will be directing the line-up, seating, and order of students going on and off stage.

• The Marshall Graduate Ceremony will be held at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum (LAMC) on May 10 from 5:00 - 6:30 pm
• On May 10, parking is free at EXPO Park for ticketed guests and is first-come, first-served
• Plan to arrive at 4:00 pm at the designated student check-in area: 3960 Bill Robertson Lane
• No guests will be permitted to enter the Coliseum at this entrance. Guests must enter through Gate 4 or Gate 23.
• All students must present their ticket
• All students will go through a metal detector
• NO BAGS are permitted. LAMC is a CLEAR BAG venue. If you bring a bag, bag check is located at Gate 28D (opposite side of the venue).
• Arrive dressed in the appropriate regalia – cap and gown. This is a requirement to participate in the ceremony.
• Students will receive their Marching Order card at student check-in. This card will be needed to cross the stage.
• If you need ADA support - please self-identify at ADA student check-in.
• If you have a ceremony conflict and are trying to walk in the Marshall ceremony and a second ceremony with a scheduling conflict, please self-identify at check-in.
• Students will be seated in the Coliseum as they check-in. If you would like to sit with your friends, please plan to arrive at check-in together.
• While students may line-up with friends; there is no guarantee students will be able to sit next to their friends. Students must sit where directed by event staff.
• All students must remain in their seats for the entirety of the ceremony.  There will be no exceptions. 
• Please respectfully pay attention to instructions from event staff who will be directing the line-up, seating, and order of students going on and off stage.

When driving to the venue please carpool with 3 or more people and plan your travel ahead of time. Use navigation and traffic apps such as Waze or Google Maps. Please use the following suggested routes:

• From the North via the 110 Freeway: Exit Exposition Blvd. – Turn Left on Flower St. – Turn Left on Figueroa St. – Follow Signs to Coliseum parking.
  
• From the South via the 110 Freeway: Exit Martin Luther King Blvd. – Follow Signs to Coliseum parking. The Express Lane exits directly to 39th St. and the entrance to Exposition Park.
  
• From the East via the 10 Freeway: Exit Vermont St. – Turn Left on to Vermont St. – Continue past the USC Campus – Follow Signs to Coliseum parking.
  
• From the West via the 10 Freeway: Exit Vermont St. – Turn Right on to Vermont St. – Continue past the USC Campus – Follow Signs to Coliseum parking.
  

Parking in Exposition Park is complimentary for USC Commencement Ceremony ticketed guests on Friday, May 10. Please have your guest ticket or grad pass ready to show the parking attendant when you enter Exposition Park. Overnight parking or tailgating is not permitted.

• Blue Structure Address: 700 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037 (Enter from S. Figueroa St. and Exposition Park Dr./39th St.) MAP
  
• Green, Pink or Yellow Lots Address: 3992 Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90037 (Enter from Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and South Hoover St.) MAP

A designated location for rideshare drop-off and pick-up will be available in Exposition Park's Green Lot. Enter from S. Figueroa Street (right-turn only) near BMO Stadium. Enter the Coliseum at Gate 4.

Tailgating is not allowed in any area of Exposition Park or the USC Campus.

Coliseum entrances at Gates 4 and 23 will open at least 30 minutes prior to each ceremony.

All graduating students attending commencement ceremonies are required to reserve tickets for themselves and up to eight named guests. (Children under 2 years of age do not need a ticket to attend.) These tickets are free of charge. All graduates and guests must present a valid ticket in order to enter the ceremony.

All seating is general admission. There are no reserved seats for guests.

A Help desk will be located outside of Gate 28.

All guests will enter through metal detector screening. Please have large metal items and cell phones in a clear bag or out of your pockets before entering. Do not remove smaller items such as wallets, keys, coins or belts.

The Coliseum prohibits bags, backpacks and other containers from entering the venue, with the following exceptions:

• One bag that is clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and does not exceed 12” x 6” x 12”, or a one-gallon clear plastic storage bag (Ziploc bag or similar);
• In addition to one of the clear bags noted above, guests may also carry in a small clutch bag or purse approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap.

Cameras and Parasols (for personal shade) will be allowed.

Balloons, confetti and noise making devices will not be permitted. For a list of all prohibited items click here.

• Personal belongings such as hats, cell phones, wallets, small clutch purses
• A clear 12”x6”x12” bag; or a one-gallon clear storage bag, limit one per person; and a small clutch bag no larger than 6.5”x4.5”.
• Pre-packaged snack food items in a clear bag for personal consumption
• Cameras (sticks, poles and tri-pods are prohibited)
• Strollers and infant care bags (subject to inspection)
• Refillable water containers (must be empty upon entry)
• Sunscreen and medically necessary items
• Seat cushions without pockets or metal hardware

Cameras and long lenses are allowed for Commencement ceremonies. Camera cases, tri-pods and selfie-sticks are not allowed. Please carry your camera in an allowable clear bag or without a case.

For more information on clear bags, please review the USC Bag Policy

All persons and their belongings are subject to metal detector screening and bag inspection prior to entering the Coliseum. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to avoid delays. All prohibited items will not be allowed inside. Please do not conceal items. Have all items clearly visible inside an approved bag. All bags must meet Clear Bag policy guidelines and are subject to inspection upon entry.

The following items are NOT ALLOWED:

• Bags, Backpacks or Purses which do not meet Clear Bag policy guidelines. Hard or Soft Coolers, Baskets, Packages or Containers;
• Alcoholic Beverages, Bottles or Cans;
• Illegal Drugs and Weapons including Firearms, Knives, Explosives, Fireworks, Flares, Lighters and Laser Pointers;
• Professional Cameras (lenses longer than 3”) and Camera Equipment, Selfie-Sticks, Tripods and Video or Audio Recording Equipment;
• Banners, Signs, Flags, Sticks, Poles, Inflatables, Frisbees, Balls, and Unsliced Fruits or Vegetables;
• Umbrellas, Balloons, Skateboards and Folding or Beach Chairs;
• Musical instruments or noisemaking devices;
• Pets (Service Animals are allowed);
• USC is a smoke-free environment. Smoking is prohibited in any area of the campus.

We appreciate your cooperation to ensure a safe and enjoyable environment. Please review our code of conduct. Fans are encouraged to report inappropriate behavior to management personnel. For assistance, call or text 213-263-4007.

• Individual waters will be offered complementary at concession stands.
  
• Concessions will be available for purchase.
  
• The USC Bookstore will also have locations inside the venue near Tunnels 4, 9, 19 and 21 for a variety of items.
  
• The Coliseum is cashless. Only credit/debit cards and mobile pay are accepted.
  

First aid stations are located inside the venue on the Street Level Concourse adjacent to Gate 16. Please contact the nearest usher or security officer if medical attention is needed.

Smoking, smokeless tobacco and smoking implements (including, but not limited to cigarettes, cigars, pipes, lighters, vaporizers and e-cigarettes) are prohibited in all areas of the Coliseum. The use of smokeless tobacco is prohibited for all events (LAMC 41.50.1). Violators may be subject to eviction and/or citation. Re-entry to the venue is not allowed.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum can accommodate patrons in wheelchairs or with restricted mobility. The Coliseum features multiple areas at Street level that do not require ramps or lifts to access. Situated at a midpoint between field level and the uppermost rows of the Coliseum, these areas can be accessed directly through accessible tunnels, which lead into the seating area of the Coliseum. These locations are situated around most of the circumference of the venue.

People with mobility disabilities who require accessible seating because of their disability will be provided tickets for accessible seats. People with disabilities who do not require the specific features of accessible seating but merely have a preference for them are not entitled to accessible seats. Seating in designated sections will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis, based on availability. ADA tickets can be obtained at our Guest Services booths located inside Gate 4 at Section 109, or inside Gate 23. For assistance or more information, please contact the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at lamcinfo@usc.edu.

For guests that need additional assistance reaching upper level seats in the Coliseum, escalators are located adjacent to Tunnels 11, and 19. An additional service elevator is located at Tunnel 9 for access to the Upper Concourse.

Drop-off and pick-up for guests with disabilities should be made Exposition Park Drive after entering from South Figueroa at W. 39th Street. Please be aware drop-off and/or pick-up may be difficult due to heavy traffic and congestion. Due to traffic patterns leaving the park, pick-up in this area may be delayed until traffic can accommodate for access. Please be patient and follow direction of parking staff.

ADA accessible parking is available in Exposition Park's Pink Lot, Blue Structure and Green Lot. Marked ADA spaces may not be reserved in advance are subject to availability based on arrival.

All gates have a designated priority accessible entry lane. Additional assistance will be located at each gate.

The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum provides closed captioning services. The service provides text of all public address announcements during the event. You can access the service from your browser on any smart phone or mobile device. Data rates may apply. To access the service from your mobile device go to www.CaptionedText.com and enter Confirmation: 2650 (for English) at the top of the page. If you need assistance during an event, please text to (213) 263-4007. Data rates may apply.

Assistive listening devices for fans with hearing or visual impairments are available for checkout at Customer Service located in the Coliseum West Administration Building across from Tunnel 11.

Service animals are welcome inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Service animals must remain on a leash or in a harness at all times unless either the handler is unable because of a disability to use a harness, leash, or other tether, or the use of a harness, leash, or other tether would interfere with the service animals safe, effective performance of work or tasks, in which case the service animal must be otherwise under the handler´s control (e.g., voice control, signals, or other effective means). If you intend to bring a service animal to the building, please notify your ticket representative at the time of purchase so that an aisle seat may be reserved for you if available. An animal relief area is provided at Gate 33 in the Olympic Plaza. Guests with service animals are responsible for cleaning up after their animals and for their appropriate behavior toward other guests and Coliseum personnel at all times. A failure to do may result in the animal’s removal from the stadium. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is not responsible for the care or supervision of a service animal.

Parking is free at all USC campus structures on commencement day. However, parking is extremely limited and due to the large crowds, parking usually fills up by 7:00 AM. You may want to consider alternative ways to get to campus including ride sharing or the Metro.

For guests traveling from abroad, invitation letters are not required by U.S. Embassies or Consulates in order for family members of F-1/J-1 students and scholars to obtain visitor visas. As such, USC’s Office of International Services does not write letters of invitation for the purpose of inviting students’ and scholars’ family members to visit the United States, but they do provide a template for international students who wish to write their own invitation letters HERE.

The Marshall and Leventhal ceremonies are held outside, rain or shine. In Alumni Park, all guests will be seated outside and the park is not tented. Come prepared with your personal needs for a sunny day, including hats, sunglasses and sunblock. Should rain be in the forecast, plan on bringing a clear umbrella and/or raincoat.

Seating in Brittingham Field for the Leventhal ceremony is tented, first come, first served.

During the ceremonies, standing in the aisles and obstructing views is prohibited. Guests are not allowed to save seats for large parties. Only one (1) seat may be saved on either side of a seat. Please make sure your entire party arrives and enters the venue together. Strollers must be left in the designated parking areas and are not permitted into the seating areas.

We kindly request that all graduates and guests remain in the venue through the duration of the program. We welcome your help in our efforts to provide an enjoyable experience for all guests.

We recommend you plan accordingly when it comes to eating on campus on commencement day. If possible, make advanced reservations or be prepared to wait in long lines to eat on campus. Guests are encouraged to bring their own food, snacks and water. There will be no Marshall or Leventhal receptions on commencement day.

In order to ensure a safe and celebratory environment, we ask that students and guests refrain from the following behavior at all events.

• Profanity or other offensive language, whether spoken or appearing on apparel
• Smoking, other than in designated areas
• Intoxication or excessive alcohol consumption
• Bringing prohibited items into the venue
• Throwing of items or liquids
• Enter the graduate seating area at any time
• Fighting or other threatening behavior
• Violation of state or local law

All guests and students are expected to listen to directions from staff and security personnel.

We kindly request that all students and guests remain in the venue through the duration of the program. We welcome your help in our efforts to provide an enjoyable experience for all guests.

All commencement activities are alcohol and substance-free events. We will be enforcing a zero-tolerance policy which means students should not attempt to bring alcohol and other substances to the ceremony. Any alcohol brought to the ceremony will be thrown away by security.

Additionally, any student who is visibly intoxicated, disruptive, or exudes inappropriate behavior will be escorted out of the line-up or the ceremony by event staff and security, potentially risking their chance to cross the stage.

The following items are prohibited at the ceremonies:

 - Alcoholic beverages and illegal drugs
 - Weapons including firearms, knives, explosives, fireworks and laser pointers
 - Professional cameras (lenses longer than 3") or video and/or audio equipment
 - Banners, sticks and poles, inflatables, balloons, and folding or beach chairs
 - Horns or other noisemakers, musical instruments or large music players
 - Frisbees, balls, or skateboards
 - Pets (Service Animals OK)

The ADA guest entrance to Brittingham Field is on the westside of the field along McClintock Avenue. Seating in the ADA section is not ticketed and if offered on a first-come, first served basis.

A designated wheelchair viewing area in Alumni Park will be located on Trousdale Parkway near Hellman Way. Due to limited seating, we can accommodate only one companion in the wheelchair viewing area.

Students who require accommodation should identify themselves to staff upon check-in.

Be advised, there is no elevator in the McCarthy parking structure. If you have any guests that require the use of an elevator, please use Flower Street parking structure, Figueroa Street structure, Royal Street structure or USC Shrine Parking structure.

Regalia
Students participating in the Marshall or Leventhal ceremonies are required to wear regalia. Regalia can be purchased or rented through the USC Bookstore: https://www.uscbookstore.com/commencement

Pictures

Professional Photography
Grad Images professional photography will photograph each student crossing the stage. Students will be emailed a proof of the pictures as well as an order form in the weeks following commencement.

Students can pre-register with Grad Images to receive a discount on their order:

Marshall PhD Ceremony: LINK

Leventhal Ceremony: LINK

Marshall Undergraduate Ceremony: LINK

Marshall Graduate Ceremony: LINK

Personal Photography
Due to fire laws and safety regulations, no one will be permitted to stand in the aisles during the ceremony to take pictures. Guests are welcome to take pictures from their seats with camera lenses smaller than 3” long.

The Leventhal Ceremony at Brittingham Field will have a designated photo area for guests to photograph their students after they have crossed the stage.

Commemorative Items

Class Rings, Diploma Frames, Announcement Cards
Class rings, diploma frames, and personalized commencement announcements by Herff-Jones may be ordered through the USC Bookstores website, or from Herff-Jones representatives during their sessions on campus throughout the spring.

Custom Stoles (“Sashes”)

While the majority of students rent (and do not purchase) their regalia, more and more are purchasing a stole (or sash) to wear on Commencement day. Stoles are available from the University Bookstore, and can be ordered with the USC logo or embroidered university seal, and can be customized with fraternity/sorority crests, graduation year, or other commemorative marks.

Commencement Program

The USC Commencement Program lists every graduate's name who is eligible to graduate in Fall 2023, Spring 2024, or Summer 2024 provided they verified their information with Degree Progress prior to printing. 

Digital programs for the Marshall and Leventhal Ceremonies will be posted on this website on commencement day and can be viewed via QR code that will be posted in the venues.

Yearbook

The El Rodeo Yearbook may be ordered online https://elrodeo.usc.edu/

For undergraduates to be eligible for university honors at commencement, a minimum overall grade point average of 3.5 for cum laude, 3.7 for magna cum laude and 3.9 for summa cum laude is required at the completion of the Fall 2023 semester. University honors is determined by either the USC GPA or the combined USC and transfer GPA, whichever is lower. USC GPAs are calculated to the third decimal place, but are never rounded up or down. University honors are noted on academic transcripts and diplomas once all coursework is completed. Undergraduate students will be notified at the end of April via email when Honor Cords are available for pick-up.

Students will receive a diploma cover during the school ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed approximately 6-8 weeks after all coursework has been completed and verified. Please verify your mailing address on your STARS report. Changes to your mailing address may be made on OASIS.

Students should direct their questions to their respective degree area below:

Undergrad Ceremony: ugcommencement@marshall.usc.edu

Graduate Ceremony: graduate.commencement@marshall.usc.edu

Leventhal Ceremony: leventhalevents@marshall.usc.edu

PhD Ceremony: Julie Phaneuf phaneuf@marshall.usc.edu

All other inquiries can be sent to deans.events@marshall.usc.edu