Fresno State graduation ceremonies return to Save Mart Center. What to know before you go

Fresno State’s commencement ceremonies are back at the Save Mart Center for the class of 2022, after two years of being away, and nearly 6,000 students will celebrate in the next two days, across more than a dozen ceremonies — a majority of them first-generation graduates.

This year, 63% of the 5,980 are the first in their families to earn a bachelor’s degree. Each college will have its own ceremony, plus graduates can attend a number of affinity ceremonies, such as the Chicano/Latino ceremony on Saturday evening. Here’s Fresno State’s full graduation schedule:

Friday, May 20, all at the Save Mart Center:

• 8 to 9:30 a.m. — Craig School of Business

• 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. — College of Social Sciences

• 12:30 to 2 p.m. — College of Arts and Humanities.

• 2:45 to 4:15 p.m. — Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology

• 5 to 6:30 p.m. — College of Science and Mathematics

• 7:15 to 8:45 p.m. — Kremen School of Education and Human Development

Saturday, May 21:

• 8 to 9:30 a.m. — Lyles College of Engineering, Save Mart Center

• 10:15 to 11:45 a.m. — College of Health and Human Services, Save Mart Center

• Noon — CAMP Graduation Luncheon, North Gym 118

• Noon to 1:15 p.m. — International Convocation, Satellite Student Union

• 12:30 to 2 p.m. — Asian American and Pacific Islander Graduation Celebration, Save Mart Center

• 3 to 4:45 p.m. — African American Student Recognition Ceremony, Save Mart Center

• 4:30 p.m. — American Indian Graduation Honor Ceremony, Satellite Student Union

• 5 to 6 p.m. — Rainbow Graduation Celebration, Peters Educational Center

• 7 to 9:30 p.m. — Chicano/Latino Commencement Celebration, Save Mart Center

Artist Judy Chicago and longtime local educator Antonio “Tony” Petrosino will be awarded honorary doctorates at Friday’s Arts and Humanities ceremony, the university announced.

No tickets are needed to attend any of the ceremonies, university officials said, and parking is free at the Save Mart Center and surrounding lots.

It is recommended that guests wear masks and not attend if feeling ill, though no proof of vaccination or negative COVID test are required, Fresno State officials said. All ceremonies will be livestreamed for those who cannot attend. The Save Mart Center’s other entry requirements are also in effect, such as only clear bags are allowed.

The College of Health and Human Services has the largest graduating class with 1,044 graduates, followed by the College of Social Sciences, 965; College of Science and Mathmatics, 947; Kremen School of Education and Human Development, 845; and the Craig School of Business, 788.

Psychology majors took the largest share of degrees with 554, the university said.

Last year the commencement ceremony was held outside at Bulldog Stadium due to the pandemic. In 2020, there were no commencement ceremonies.

This story was originally published May 20, 2022 at 5:00 AM.