CIIS' 55th Commencement Ceremony and Reception

The ceremony will be held on Sunday, May 14, 2023, 1 - 2:30pm at Sydney Goldstein Theater, 75 Hayes St, San Francisco, CA 94102.  

This year is going to be a very special event with a commencement address delivered by internationally renowned scholar and activist Dr. Bayo Akomolafe, founder of the Emergence Network. Dr. Akomolafe is a writer, poet, teacher, and public intellectual, whose groundbreaking philosophies draw on his roots with the Yoruba people to look beyond perceived certainties and obfuscate binary thinking. 

The ceremony will also feature performances by Wildchoir and be livestreamed to those who cannot attend; bookmark our Commencement Portal for upcoming livestream information.
 
Following the ceremony, there will be a jubilant and musical procession, led by brass band members of Mission Delirium, back to CIIS’ Mission campus, followed by a celebratory reception, to which all are welcome.

Tickets

There will be a ticketing system this year. The Sydney Goldstein Theater enables CIIS graduates to bring two or three friends and/or loved ones. Get tickets.

If you need additional tickets, send your request.

RSVP for Graduates and Faculty & Staff

Please help us plan for your attendance by completing this brief form to let us know if you'll be attending the graduation commencement this year.

• RSVP for Graduates
• RSVP for Faculty/Staff

Graduation Reception

After the Commencement Ceremony, CIIS will host a continued celebration for our graduates and the entire CIIS community with a graduation reception at Mission Campus (1453 Mission St. San Francisco) from 3pm to 6pm.

Guests

We are recommending that each graduate bring no more than three guests to ensure there are enough seats for everyone's guests. Guests will need a ticket to enter the theater. Tickets can only be purchased by the graduate through our ticketing system. Doors to the theater will open at 12pm. The ceremony begins promptly at 1:00pm.

Livestream

We will livestream the 2023 CIIS Commencement Ceremony for those graduates and guests who cannot attend. The zoom link will be posted on this webpage a week before the ceremony.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirements

Per current San Francisco Department of Public Health recommendations about COVID safety, we will NOT require vaccine verification, health screening or masks for this event but we strongly advise the following:

• Being up to date with vaccines and boosters
• Staying home if you have any active symptoms
• Wearing a mask if you or someone you live with is immune compromised or otherwise vulnerable
• Practicing good hand hygiene
• Being considerate of others who may be wearing masks or keeping a safe distance out of comfort or to protect themselves

Flowers, Balloons, Confetti

Please save items such as balloons, flowers, confetti for your post-Commencement festivities as they are NOT permitted inside the theater.

Scent and Fragrance Free Environment

The Commencement team strives to ensure the comfort and safety of our graduates, faculty, staff, and guests by encouraging a smoke free and a scent and fragrance free environment. Please help us to accommodate our community members who are chemically sensitive to fragrances and other scented products.

Exception Request

Please use the Exception Request Form to submit a request for an exception to walk in the CIIS Commencement Ceremony on May 14, 2023. Graduates from the Summer 2022, Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 semesters are eligible to walk in the ceremony. Other graduates can request an exception by using this form. Information provided below may need to be verified by the academic program or department. The deadline for the Exception Request is April 14, 2023.

Graduation Candidates and Guests with Disabilities

If you have a disability and need reasonable accommodations for this event and selected “Special Seating” on the Graduation Application, please email osas@ciis.edu. Please know that some accommodations (e.g. sign language interpretation, and real time captioning) may take longer to arrange.  The Sydney Goldstein Theater main entrance is wheelchair-accessible.

Parking around Sydney Goldstein Theater

Parking available at:

• The Civic Center Plaza Garage (355 McAllister St between Polk St and Larkin St)
• Performing Arts Garage (360 Grove St at Gough St)
• 110 Franklin Street (at Oak Street)
• Star Park (69 Polk Street)

Please plan plenty of extra time to arrive at the commencement ceremony and do not depend on street parking availability.

Mymail Email

All commencement information and updates will be emailed to your MyMail.

Posting on Social Media?

We love to see our graduates celebrating this magnificent milestone, if you share please feel free to tag us @ciis_sf.

CIIS Alumni Association

Congratulations on your achievement and WELCOME to the CIIS Alumni Association! We are thrilled to have the chance to celebrate this special time with you. Please take a moment to visit our webpage at to see the benefits and career support available to you as an alumnus of CIIS.