For the first time in the history of California State University, San Bernardino, the spring commencement ceremonies will be held at the Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario on Saturday, June 20.
The schedule for the four CSUSB ceremonies at Citizens Business Bank Arena, which is located at 4000 East Ontario Center Parkway, is:
· College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 8 a.m.
· College of Arts and Letters and the College of Education, noon
· College of Natural Sciences, 4 p.m.
· College of Business and Public Administration, 8 p.m.
Parking fee at Citizens Business Bank Arena will be $5 in Lots A, B, C and D. Patrons are encouraged to bring exact change.
The university’s Palm Desert Campus will hold its commencement ceremony on Thursday, June 18, at 6 p.m. at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino.
After the last several years of challenges with seating capacity overflow at the Coussoulis Arena, the increasing number of graduates, and the need to accommodate their guests, university officials conducted a survey of graduating students in April 2014.
After careful analysis of those who responded, more than 88 percent overwhelmingly chose to relocate commencement to Citizens Business Bank Arena if it meant the ability to increase the number of guests graduates could invite.
According to the survey, more than 92 percent of respondents said they did not receive enough guest tickets to commencement at Coussoulis Arena, limiting their ability to invite family and friends.
“We have listened to our students and have added significant seating capacity increasing from 3,400 to 8,000 seats,” said Carol Dixon, CSUSB executive director of special events and guest services.
On average, graduates need 6-13 guest tickets. By moving to Citizens Business Bank Arena, they will be able to obtain 8-12 or more guest tickets. In addition to the surveys, officials also consulted with the Associated Students Inc. and the president’s cabinet.
“A group of CSUSB graphic design students will be creating the décor to incorporate what is meaningful to them so that we can bring as much of CSUSB to Citizens Business Bank Arena as possible. It will be a great celebration,” said Dixon.
In addition, philanthropist Judy Rodriguez Watson, co-president of the Seal Beach-based Watson and Associates Development Corporation, will also receive an honorary doctorate during CSUSB’s College of Education’s graduation ceremony on June 20 at Citizens Business Bank Arena.
Watson has supported education and arts programs at Cal State San Bernardino and a number of charities and foundations in Southern California.
At the Palm Desert Campus commencement ceremony, Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters will be awarded to husband and wife philanthropists Philip and Helene “Lee” Hixon, who were early supporters of the PDC. The Hixons have long given to foundations and organizations throughout the Coachella Valley and across the country.
All of the ceremonies at Citizens Business Bank Arena will be webcast live on the Creative Media Services webcast page at http://acm.csusb.edu/services/videoproduction/livewebcast.html.
For more information about the June 2015 graduations, visit the CSUSB Commencement website at http://commencement.csusb.edu/index.html or contact the Office of Special Events and Guest Services at (909) 537-7360.
For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.