Community college graduation ceremonies incorporate a certain amount of pomp and circumstance. The ceremonies commence with a processional where the leaders of the college (president, deans and members of the Board of Trustees) clad in their academic regalia (robes, colored sashes and sometimes hats designating their level of education) march into the ceremonial room, usually in single file. The leaders may circle the room, coming to end up at the head table, or the table at the front of the room, usually located on a raised dais colorfully clothed and adorned with flowers. The leaders will remain standing for the other processionals. The leader processional is typically followed by the instructors processional and then the graduating student processional, all adorned in robes. The processionals are often accompanied by live music.
A speaker, usually a dean, will be designated to introduce and welcome the people seated at the head table. The president then gives opening remarks, usually congratulating the graduates and the instructors who helped them get there and acknowledging the sacrifices made by graduates' families. Other speakers might include student representatives, such as the president of the student association and Board of Trustee representatives. Some colleges present special awards at the end of the speakers.
Toward the end of the speakers, the graduating students are led in a prearranged order to be lined up and presented as graduates by the dean of their department. Deans welcome the graduating class and call out the names of each individual graduate to come forward in the order of the lineup set out in the program for the graduation ceremonies. Graduates walk onto the stage, receive their degrees or diplomas, pause to pose for official and unofficial pictures, proceed to the other end of the stage, and back to their assigned seats. After all graduates receive their degrees or diplomas, someone at the head table will introduce the graduating class for the year. The graduates stand up and typically cheer and or throw hats.
The closing recessional is similar to the opening recessional except everyone is leaving rather than arriving. Many colleges host a reception following the ceremony to allow graduates, families and members of the college to mingle.