Atlantic Cape’s administrative offices will be closed on Friday, April 3. Classes will remain in session and operate on their normal schedule.
Planning for Atlantic Cape’s 2026 Graduation and Commencement Ceremony at Ocean Casino Resort’s Ovation Hall? This FAQ page covers everything graduates and guests need to know, including tickets, seating, parking, accessibility, and ceremony details, so you can arrive prepared and focus on celebrating this important milestone.
Commencement Ceremony Deadline:
The deadline to participate in the 2026 Commencement Ceremony is May 1, 2026.
Below are answers to the most common questions about graduation and the Commencement Ceremony.
Atlantic Cape’s 59th Annual Commencement Ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Ovation Hall, Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City.
Yes, this year’s Commencement Ceremony is a ticketed event. All guests are required to have a valid ticket for entry. Graduates are responsible for distributing tickets to their guests.
Doors to Ovation Hall will open to guests at 9:00 a.m., which is an hour and a half before the ceremony begins.
No. Re-entry will not be permitted once guests have entered Ovation Hall. All tickets must be surrendered at the door upon entry.
Commencement Ceremony is approximately two hours from processional to recessional.
Guest parking is available at the Ocean Casino Resort parking garage for a fee. Graduates participating in the ceremony will receive one complimentary parking voucher upon check-in and lineup. Whenever possible, we recommend carpooling for family and guests to help reduce parking costs.
Yes, the ceremony will be live streamed on Atlantic Cape’s social media channels for those unable to attend in person.
Yes, flowers will be sold on the first level of Ovation Hall, with net proceeds benefiting Atlantic Cape’s Student Government Association. Pre-sales are also available.
The following items are not permitted in Ovation Hall:
Guests in possession of prohibited items will be asked to return them to their vehicles before entering the venue.
Atlantic Cape’s Commencement Ceremony is a rain or shine event.
Each graduate will receive 7 guest tickets. Graduates are responsible for distributing tickets to their guests.
Tickets will be distributed only to graduates who have successfully confirmed their ceremony participation and upon purchase of their full student regalia set through the campus Follet Bookstore. Each full student regalia set order will include a set of 7 guest tickets, either at pickup or with delivery for online orders.
No. Graduating students who have confirmed their participation in the ceremony and are wearing approved Atlantic Cape student regalia do not need a ticket for entry. Graduates will receive additional check-in & lineup instructions via their buccaneer email account, and must be in full regalia upon entry to the venue.
Graduates seeking additional guest tickets are encouraged to first reach out to fellow graduates who may have unused tickets. If this option is not available, graduates may submit a request via the Request for Additional Commencement Guest Ticket Form. To access the form, graduates must sign in with their Buccaneer student email address.
Please note that only graduates may submit this request—guests are not permitted—and graduates are responsible for distributing tickets to their own guests.
A maximum of three (3) additional tickets may be requested per graduate.
Submitting the form is a request, not a guarantee of additional tickets. Final allocations will be determined after reviewing graduate RSVPs and reassessing venue capacity following the May 1st participation deadline. Graduates will receive an update by May 8, 2026 via their student buccaneer email.
It is important to safeguard your guest tickets! Only extenuating circumstances will be considered for replacement by the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management by emailing commencement@atlanticcape.edu
Children, with the exception of infants and toddlers who remain on an adult’s lap, must have a ticket. Children cannot sit in the graduate seating area or walk across the stage, and will not be permitted through the designated student entrance.
Please plan seating arrangements for children in advance.
No, designated accessible seating will be available and clearly identified. This area accommodates one individual requiring accessible seating plus one guest. No special ticket is required. Guests are encouraged to arrive early, and event staff will be available to direct guest(s) to this seating area upon entering the venue.
No, guest seating is general admission and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Yes, Atlantic Cape–approved regalia is required for all candidates participating in the Commencement Ceremony.
Candidates for graduation who will be participating in commencement should pay careful attention to what Atlantic Cape deems appropriate and inappropriate commencement regalia. Please refer to the information below.
Required Regalia:
Red Stole: Honors, Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.0 or higher, entered prior to Sept. 1994 or 3.5 or higher entered Sept. 1994 or later.
Gold Stole: Membership in Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
White cord: Early College Program Graduates
Inappropriate and unauthorized adornments:
Candidates who wish to express their creativity or excitement for graduating may decorate the top of their caps; this is the only ornamentation permitted. Decorations must be appropriate and may not include offensive language, discriminatory images, or inappropriate displays.
Atlantic Cape student cap and gown regalia may be purchased exclusively through the campus Follet Bookstore, either in person or online.
Sales Begin: Monday, March 9, 2026
Purchase Deadline: The deadline to purchase cap and gown regalia (in person or online) is Friday, May 1, 2026.
Purchase Options:
2026 Graduation Fair: Thursday, April 30, 2026 | 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
Cap and gown vendors will be on-site to assist with ordering, sizing, and questions.
Important: Prior to purchasing regalia, graduates must confirm their intent to participate in the Commencement Ceremony via the Graduate Information Confirmation Form that was sent to buccaneer student email account.
The full student regalia set costs $54.00 and includes the cap, gown, and tassel.
You must notify and confirm with the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at commencement@atlanticcape.edu to ensure compliance with approved student regalia standards.
To be eligible to wear an honor stole, you must meet one of the criteria below based on your Fall 2025 cumulative grade point average (GPA). Spring 2026 grades are not used for honors determination.
You are eligible for honors if:
You may verify your cumulative GPA by logging into Atlantic Cape Connect and accessing your Self-Service portal.
Note: The campus Follet Bookstore will not allow the purchase of an honor stole if you do not meet the eligibility criteria outlined above.
Ocean Casino Resort & Ovation Hall is fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Please note the facility is very large. Due to the sheer size, it may be difficult for individuals with limited mobility to navigate the distance from the parking garage to the accessible seating sections in Ovation Hall.
Please refer to the following accessible parking and seating information as you make decisions and arrangements. Accessible parking and seating accommodations are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.
Accessible parking spaces and drop-off areas are conveniently located on all levels of the Ocean Casino Resort parking garage. These spaces are designed to accommodate individuals with mobility needs and are clearly marked for easy identification.
Upon arrival, please follow all posted signage and directional instructions to locate accessible parking.
Accessible seating is available for guests with mobility or other accessibility needs. Space is limited, so we encourage you to arrive early and see an usher for assistance.
Please note that we are unable to offer reserved seating. Accessible seating areas are designated for guests with accessibility needs and one companion.
Interpreting services will be available at the ceremony. The interpreters will be shown as a picture in picture on the projection screens in Ovation Hall.
Atlantic Cape and Ocean Casino Resort do not provide wheelchairs for Commencement ceremonies. Guests who require a wheelchair should make their own arrangements prior to the ceremony.
A professional photographer will capture special moments during the ceremony, including graduates crossing the stage. Additionally, a free graduation portrait will be taken when graduates check in and line up, courtesy of Atlantic Cape. Photos will be shared after the ceremony on the college’s website.
Any student or guest with special circumstances not addressed in the Commencement Ceremony FAQs, or who has additional questions, should contact the Office of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management at (609) 343-5083.
For information regarding your graduation eligibility, degree audit, diploma, and transcript please contact Enrollment Services-Office of the Registrar: (609) 625-1111 ext. 5644 or register@atlanticcape.edu.
