Commencement and Baccalaureate Parking

There will be adequate seats for our guests on the Russell Carr Athletic Field for both Baccalaureate and Commencement and we will not have to issue tickets or limit attendance for families and friends of the graduates.  HOWEVER,  the campus has  a limited amount of parking space available.  Because of this, we have secured a shuttle service to run continuously between Santa Barbara City College and Westmont College for both events.  This is a free service, and we hope you enjoy being delivered to our campus in this manner, and not fighting the traffic only to find no spot to park!

Baccalaureate and Commencement Parking Passes:

One Baccalaureate Parking Pass and one Commencement Parking Pass will be issued to each graduate.   Graduates are free to use their Passes in whatever way they wish; load up a car with friends and family, give it to an elderly relative, give it to someone who must arrive late or leave early and therefore can’t use the shuttle service, etc. Graduates may pick up their two passes, one for Baccalaureate and one for Commencement by showing their student ID's, between 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, April 14-18, 2008 in the Provost's Office.

Most guests, those without a Baccalaureate or Commencement Parking Pass, will park at Santa Barbara City College located at 721 Cliff Drive and ride the free shuttle to and from campus.  We are using the same lots near the Garvin Theater both days for parking of cars and shuttle pick-up at SBCC.  There are directions to the SBCC on this website.

The shuttle buses will run continuously from 2 -7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2008 for Baccalaureate.  The actual service is from 5– 6:30 p.m., but why not come early and enjoy our beautiful campus?

The shuttle buses will run continuously from 7 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2008 for Commencement.  The actual service is from 10 a.m. to noon.  Enjoy breakfast offered at the Dining Commons for $6 per person, beginning at 7:30 a.m. The first 50 people to arrive on campus via shuttle will receive free breakfast passes.

No car will be allowed on campus between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. without a Commencement parking permit. A Westmont parking permit isn't a valid parking permit on commencement day.  We wish to remain good neighbors to the surrounding residents so we ask that you DO NOT park on nearby streets.   

Thank you in advance for your cooperation with our parking challenges.

Reserved Parking for Disabled/Special Needs Guests

Disabled/Special Needs applies not only to those with state issued placards but also to those who would have difficulty walking a distance on Westmont’s hilly campus.  Many senior citizens might fall in this category.  For Commencement, golf cart transportation will be provided for these individuals who are not wheelchair users but need assistance.

We must ask those requiring special parking to fully complete the form no later than Friday, April 4, 2008, to insure receiving a pass. A Westmont Special Needs Parking Pass is required regardless of having a state issued placard. We will mail the appropriate blue placard to your designee prior to the Commencement Weekend.

Please make sure to display your pass prominently on the dashboard. Our parking attendants will direct you to the correct reserved parking section and there will be Special Needs parking signs that direct you to the appropriate locations.

Baccalaureate Friday, May 2, 2008.

Guests with special needs parking passes should arrive no later than 4:15 p.m. Security personnel will give instructions on unloading and parking.

Commencement Saturday, May 3, 2008. 

  • Those guests, who use a wheelchair, will have their cars parked on a special portion of the Commencement field. Departure by vehicle from the field following the ceremonies may be delayed up to a half hour due to pedestrian traffic.
  • Disabled guests, who can ride in a golf cart, will be parked on the closest lot and transported down to the field via golf cart and returned to their cars following the ceremony. 
  • We encourage you to arrive no later than 9 a.m. to avoid the heavy traffic and allow time for you to be seated prior to the ceremony.
  • Disabled/Special Needs portable restrooms will be available on the Commencement field.

Reserved wheelchair spaces will be given away 15 minutes prior to both Baccalaureate and Commencement services. 

Click here to access the Special Needs Parking Permit Request Form