HCC's 54th Commencement Ceremony will be held in person at the Florida State Fairgrounds on Friday, May 5, 2023. All Fall 2022 graduates and Spring and Summer 2023 candidates are invited to participate in the ceremony. This page is designed to give you some basic information about commencement.
Commencement Location
Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall, 4800 U.S. Hwy. 301 North, Tampa, FL 33610
Parking: $10 cars, $16 RV/Bus. You may enter at either the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) or US Highway 301 entrance.
Caps and Gowns
Caps and Gowns are available for purchase at any HCC Bookstore.
Tickets
Each graduate will receive up to five complimentary guest tickets.* All guests will be required to show a ticket for entry at Commencement. Tickets can be picked up at your HCC Bookstore. Please note: If you ordered your cap and gown online, you must go to a Bookstore location to pick up your tickets.
There are no additional guest tickets available. Guest tickets are complimentary and will not be sold at any campus bookstore location or the fairgrounds on commencement day.
*Tickets will be distributed only to HCC graduates and candidates. A Photo id must be presented to receive your tickets.
Commencement Day
7:15 am - Doors open
7:30 am - President's Breakfast
8:30 am - Arrive at Fairgrounds (For graduates who are not attending the President's Breakfast)
9:00 am - Student Line Up
9:30 am - Processional begins
10:00 am - Ceremony begins
Commencement Ceremony Guidelines
Please follow these important Commencement Guidelines for the safety and enjoyment of everyone.
Disability and Accessibility Accommodations
If you require accommodations on the day of the ceremony, contact Jeanette Starks, Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities, at jstarks2@hccfl.edu or 813-253-7757.
Additional Information
Survey
An online survey will be available to graduates after the commencement ceremony. We ask that you take a few minutes to complete the graduate student survey via your Hawknet email. We would like to learn from your experience at HCC.
Special Thanks
Special thanks to our Commencement Sponsor: Suncoast Credit Union