Friday, October 27th, 2023 Trident’s Commencement

• Verify your graduation eligibility by visiting the RSVP & Eligibility tab.
• Submit your R.S.V.P. (Registration will open in the coming months).
• Make travel reservations in advance: • Flight • Hotel • Car Rental
• We will not have any caps, gowns, or other regalia available for purchase at the event.
• We recommend ordering announcements and invitations at least 3 weeks in advance.
• Gather information and make reservations if necessary for additional adventures.
• Share your graduation news on social media!
• Bring a photo ID card, money for parking, and don’t forget your regalia!

Trident University International’s annual Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, October 27th, 2023 at the Terrace Theater in Long Beach, California (300 E Ocean Blvd #300, Long Beach, CA 90802). The start time of the ceremony is 5:00pm. Students should plan to arrive at the theater no later than 3:30pm.

Registration for the 2023 Commencement Ceremony will open in the coming months. For questions or cancellations please email commencement@trident.edu.

Will there be a virtual event option?
This year’s ceremony will be in person. There will be a live stream option for those unable to attend in person, however, only those in attendance will have their name read in the processional.

Who is eligible to walk in the ceremony?
Any Trident graduate who meets the following criteria is eligible to participate:

Undergraduate or Graduate students: To participate in the Commencement Ceremony must complete your degree requirements on or before 12/31/2023.

Doctoral students: To participate in the Commencement Ceremony, you must complete all of your degree requirements and successfully defend your dissertation by the end of the summer 2023 session (October 1, 2023).

If a graduate completed their graduation requirements in a prior session and has already received degree clearance approval from the Registrar’s Office, they may participate in this or any future Trident University International Commencement Ceremony.

Degree Clearance: If the Office of the Registrar has not contacted you during the first month of your final session, please contact your Student Success Advisor. If you have a specific question about your eligibility, please email mydegreeplan@trident.edu.

How do I RSVP to participate and what do I need?
Registration will open in the coming months. More details to come. (If you do not RSVP, you will not be recognized).

What happens after I RSVP?
The Registrar’s Office will review your request to participate in the ceremony and ensure that you are eligible to walk this year. If they determine that you are eligible, they will send a confirmation to your Trident email address, so please be sure to check there. You will also receive an email confirming your reservation.

I graduated in a previous year but could not attend at the time. Can I participate in this year's ceremony?
Yes. If you are a Trident graduate from a past year, we would be glad to have you join us to celebrate this year. Please keep in mind that any year-specific regalia (tassel, charms or stole of achievement) you order from our vendor this calendar year will state “2023.”

When is the deadline for ordering regalia? Directions for ordering regalia and deadlines will be communicated in the coming weeks when registration opens.
Doctoral students ONLY: Doctoral graduates who will be teaching at a university may wish to purchase higher quality regalia because they will be wearing it more than once in the coming years as they participate in commencement ceremonies each year. If a doctoral graduate is interested in made-to-order academic quality regalia, please contact commencement@trident.edu as soon as possible, with the understanding that this process can take up to two months.

What are Trident's colors? What color should my regalia be?
Trident University's school colors are navy blue and "old" gold. All Trident caps and gowns are navy blue. Masters and doctoral hoods are black on one side with navy blue and old gold panels and a velvet strip of material in the color of the graduate's degree / discipline.

Can I decorate the top of my mortarboard cap?
Yes, so long as the decoration is limited to the top of the cap, is not distracting or cumbersome, and is family-friendly.

Can I wear a fraternity/sorority sash or cord with my Trident regalia?
Yes, so long as it does not obscure any Trident regalia pieces such as the hood or stole of achievement, which should always remain on top.

You can place an online order for your Trident class ring. If you have any questions about your ring order, please contact our representative, Ms. Maryann Bettendorf, at 657-220-5038 or mabettendorf@yahoo.com.

We are excited to announce that a special edition 2023 presidential coin will be given to each Trident graduate in attendance.

You can place an online order for your Trident Graduation announcements and invitations. If you have questions, call 800-433-0296.

You can place an online order for frames for your diploma or graduation photographs.

How do I order tickets?
There are no tickets for this event and seating will be on a first-come-first-serve basis. We ask that you limit your guest list to seven or less, to allow the opportunity for all graduates to have guests in attendance to celebrate their academic achievement. All Graduates have the opportunity to reserve up to 7 guest seats when registering for the event. We will use this submission to gauge audience size against capacity.

How many guests can I invite?
Each graduate has the opportunity to reserve up to 7 seats for family and friends when they submit an RSVP

Does the graduating student need a ticket?
The graduating student does not need a ticket.

Is seating assigned?
No. This year’s event is general admission. Each graduate can invite up to 7 guests.

What if I need special accommodations for myself or a guest.
If you need special accommodations for yourself or guests, please contact Commencement@trident.edu as soon as possible.

I am bringing an infant or small child. Do they need a ticket?
No, tickets are not required for this event.

Please note that California fire code regulations stipulate that no strollers can be taken inside of the theater. There will be a reserved space in the lobby for stroller parking.

What do I do if I need to change my guest count?
Please contact Commencement@trident.edu as soon as possible.

Will there be a place for me to keep my purse / bag / other belongings if I am walking in the ceremony?
No, there will not be a secure location for you to leave your belongings while you are walking in and attending the ceremony. We ask that you leave any belongings with your guests so that you do not have to carry them in the procession.

Can my guests have balloons or signs in the audience?
No balloons or signs are allowed in the theater as they may block the view for other guests.

Where can I park at the Long Beach Terrace Theater? How much does it cost to park there?
Parking is $15 per car per entry to any of the Center’s lots. Options can be found here: https://www.longbeachcc.com/directions-parking/

What is the address for the venue?
The ceremony will be held at the Long Beach Terrace Theater: 300 E Ocean Blvd #300, Long Beach, CA 90802

• From Los Angeles International Airport: Take the San Diego Freeway (405) south to the Long Beach Freeway (710). Go south on the Long Beach Freeway to the downtown exits. (710 then becomes Shoreline Drive.) Follow Shoreline Drive to Linden Avenue and into the parking lot, or as advised by directional signage.
• From Long Beach Airport: Take Lakewood Boulevard south to the San Diego Freeway (405). Take the San Diego Freeway (405) north to the Long Beach Freeway (710). Go south on the Long Beach Freeway to the downtown exits. (710 then becomes Shoreline Drive.) Follow Shoreline Drive to Linden Avenue and into the parking lot, or as advised by directional signage.
• From John Wayne (Orange County) Airport: Take the San Diego Freeway (405) north to the Long Beach Freeway (710). Go south on the Long Beach Freeway to the Downtown exits. (710 then becomes Shoreline Drive.) Follow Shoreline Drive to Linden Avenue and into the parking lot or as advised by directional signage.
• From southern Orange County: Take the Santa Ana Freeway (5) north to the San Diego Freeway (405). Take the San Diego Freeway (405) north to the Long Beach Freeway (710). Go south on the Long Beach Freeway to the Downtown exits. (710 then becomes Shoreline Drive). Follow Shoreline Drive to Linden Avenue and into the parking lot or as advised by directional signage.
• From northern Orange County and the Valleys: San Gabriel & Pomona Valleys: Take the Orange Freeway (57) or San Gabriel Freeway (605) to the Riverside Freeway (91) to the Long Beach Freeway (710). Go south on the Long Beach Freeway to the downtown exits. (710 then becomes Shoreline Drive.) Follow Shoreline Drive to Linden Avenue and into the parking lot or as advised by directional signage.

What does the $150 Graduation Fee pay for?
The Graduation Fee is not related to the Commencement Ceremony. This fee covers costs associated with graduation processing. For example, completing the degree verification, updating external portals, and issuing a diploma and transcript. Please note that no diplomas will be awarded at the Commencement Ceremony – instead, you will receive your diploma and transcript in the mail after your degree audit has been completed.

How long does it take for my diploma to be mailed to me, do I have to wait until the commencement ceremony in October before it can be sent?
Normal delivery time is approximately 8 weeks from the end of the final session. However, from March to July our vendor experiences high volumes of diploma orders, so the delivery time may be extended to 10 weeks and rush requests are not permitted during this time.

Is there a digital version that can be emailed to me prior to receiving the printed version?
Yes, we send an electronic copy of your diploma to your primary personal email when we place the order for your physical copy. This occurs 4-6 weeks from the date grades post for your final session. If a previous graduate from Trident wants to order a digital copy, they can do so via Parchment for a nominal fee. All initial and duplicate diplomas moving forward will be from Trident University International with the current American InterContinental University System administration.

Will there be professional photography?
Yes, professional photographs will be taken during the Graduation Ceremony by Grad Images and made available to you to order online afterward. Please note that to maintain the formality of the Graduation Ceremony, guests are asked to remain seated. Also, only non-flash photography and video recordings on handheld devices will be allowed during the ceremony.

If you or some of your guests can't make it to Long Beach, the entire ceremony will be streamed live on the Trident University website. Link to be posted closer to the ceremony date.

Long Beach is a waterfront playground located right in the heart of Southern California. Here you can experience it all: a deep-sea adventure at the Aquarium of the Pacific, whale watching on the water, shopping in one of the city’s many unique districts, a tour of coastal breweries, a vibrant foodie scene, and so much more.

Visit the following webpage for nearby activities and accommodation suggestions: https://www.visitlongbeach.com/things-to-do/

Trident has negotiated a group rate discount at The Westin Long Beach and Courtyard Long Beach Downtown, both within walking distance of the Terrace Theater. To secure these discounted rates, use the links below to book by the listed cutoff. Please note that a limited number of rooms are available.

The Westin Long Beach
333 East Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach CA 90802

Discounted Rate: $219/nt
Click here to book your group rate for TUI Graduation
Reservations must be made by October 4th, 2023, in order to receive the discounted rate

Courtyard Long Beach Downtown
500 East First Street
Long Beach CA 90802

Discounted Rate: $189/nt
Click here to book your group rate for TUI Graduation
Reservations must be made by September 29th, 2023, in order to receive the discounted rate

*Trident is not directly affiliated with the hotels listed. Any hotel policies, restrictions, limitations are at the sole discretion of the hotel and Trident cannot guarantee or authorize any reservations, cancellations, or other action taken by the hotel.

For the latest information visit: https://www.longbeachcc.com/attendees/#jlcovid-19-protocols