Frequently Asked Questions

Food Policy

• No outside food or drink.
• Exception: An unopened bottle of water (20 oz. or less) will be allowed.

Bag Policy

No large bags are allowed in the stadium for graduates or guests.
Guide to permitted and prohibited bags (PDF).

Approved bags:

• One clear plastic bag
  • 12" x 12" x 6" clear plastic stadium bag
  • One (1) gallon clear plastic storage bag
    - or - 
• One clutch purse
  4.5" x 6.5" or smaller

Prohibited bags:

• Backpack
• Large purse
• Camera bag
• Binoculars case
• Fanny pack

Strollers are not allowed in the arena where the ceremonies are held due to the tiered seating

Updated 1/27/23

Tickets are required for all the May 2026 commencement ceremonies. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to ensure seating, as seating is first-come, first-served. Doors open an hour prior to the event, and guests should plan to allow time to park, get to the entrance and get through security.

Note: No capacity issues are expected, and arriving early means ample time prior to ceremony start time (we do not anticipate any guests will need to arrive to wait in a line prior to doors open, but you are welcome to do so if you choose).

Updated 3/10/2026

Once the graduate submits their RSVP, they are allotted 10 guest tickets. There won’t be additional tickets available. A guest ticket is required for children ages 3 and over.

Updated 3/10/2026

No, graduates should wear regalia upon arrival in order to be directed to Victor E. Court to line up for the processional.

Added 3/10/2026

If you didn’t submit an RSVP by April 27, you are not eligible for guest tickets.  Revisit the rsvp page to double check your submission.

Tickets will be put into student graduate accounts connected to your Z-ID between May 5-7.

Added 3/10/2026

Please follow the ticket transfer instructions to access and transfer mobile ticker.

Added 3/10/2026

If someone doesn’t have a smartphone or tablet to electronically receive a guest ticket, you can:

• Print your tickets as long as you view them as a PDF when you see that option appear
• Hold all the tickets on your own device, arrive with your guests and scan them all at once.
• Text a photo of the ticket, however, make sure they are individually identified as once one ticket is scanned, even from a photo, that ticket is no longer valid.

Added 3/10/2026

Yes, while you are at home, where WiFi is not being accessed by hundreds of guests, upload your tickets and save them on your device. This will avoid delays at the doors.

The Convocation Center and Huskie Athletics do not use Ticketmaster. Your accounts are set up through Paciolan.

Is guest seating assigned at commencement? No, guest seating, including ADA, is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Updated 9/23/2025

Visit the cap and gown webpage before April 20, 2026. If you miss that deadline you will need to obtain regalia from a vendor of your choice.

Updated 3/10/2026

For your name to appear in the commencement ceremony online program, you will need to apply to graduate according to the deadline set by Registration and Records.

Please note, your name will not appear at all if you have a FERPA hold (which forbids the university from releasing your name in any public context) set up in your MyNIU privacy settings. You will need to request a FERPA change before graduate application deadlines.

Updated 9/23/25

No. Diplomas will be mailed directly from the vendor about six weeks after the ceremony. All graduation requirements need to have been met. You can check your diploma status after six to eight weeks.