RSVP, Guest Tickets and Attend Ceremony

Graduate Arrival at the Convocation Center

• Arrive in your regalia, it is your entry ticket. There is no place to change clothing.
• Bring your own safety pins/bobby pins to comfortably secure your cap/hood to your gown.
• Parking attendants will direct graduates and guests to parking, including ADA parking if needed.
• Please report to the lower level (Victor E. Court gym).
• No outside food or beverages. No bags or purses larger than 6-by-8-inches unless they are clear. We recommend not carrying a bag through the ceremony unless you have medical needs.
• There is no place to store personal items in the staging area; doors will be locked after the ceremony.

Guests' Arrival at the Convocation Center

• If tickets are required: Graduates should download tickets before arriving.
• Graduates can keep all guest tickets on their device, then can scan all tickets upon arrival with guests. Once a ticket is scanned it is unusable.
• Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please arrive early to allow time to park, get through security, and get seated.
• Parking attendants will direct graduates and guests to parking, including ADA parking if needed.
• No outside food or beverages.
• No bags or purses larger than 6-by-8-inches unless they are clear.This policy is strictly enforced.
• If you have a diaper bag, we recommend transferring what you need into a clear bag.
• Guests with accessibility needs will receive directions to the ADA seating sections. One guest will be able to sit with that person.
• Guests are not allowed on the arena floor.

Candidate Instructions

• Check the website for when the doors open for your ceremony. All candidates must arrive 30 minutes before the start of your ceremony. Late arrivals will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony.
• Doctoral and MFA candidates will pick up name cards at our check-in table in the multipurpose room. Do not lose this card, as you will hand it to the reader before you march across the stage. Doctoral and MFA candidates will line up by degree. Staff will be on hand to direct you to the appropriate line.
• Master's degree students will pick up name cards at our check-in table in the gym. Do not lose this card, as you will hand it to the reader before you march across the stage. Master’s candidates will line up by college then degree. Staff will be on hand to direct you to the appropriate line.
• When the processional starts, the platform party will go first, followed by faculty. Students will follow and proceed up the center aisle in two lines. From the center aisle, marchers on the right will access their row and sit on their right side. Marchers on the left will access their row and sit on their left side. Both lines will be seated per instructions from our faculty marshals. Please do not skip chairs in your row.
• Doctoral and MFA candidates will be recognized first. Faculty marshals will direct candidates to the stage. Present your name card to the reader then move to the “X” on the stage and face the audience. Your name and the name of your hooding professor will be read as you are hooded. Proceed across the stage to receive your diploma cover. Continue across the stage, down the ramp on the opposite side, to the photo area in front of the stage and back to your same seat via the center aisle.
• All other degree, Performer's Certificate and Specialist in School Psychology recipients will be presented next. Faculty marshals will direct candidates to rise, one row at a time, and proceed to the stage. Present your name card to the reader, wait for your name to be called then then move to the center of the stage to receive your diploma cover. Exit from the center of the stage, to the photo area in front of the stage and back to your same seat via the center aisle.

Pictures

pProfessional photographs will be taken of each graduate. A proof of your picture will be available to view online at Grad Images a few weeks after the ceremony.

Recessional

To avoid large crowds in tight lobby spaces, our faculty marshals will lead you out of the arena to exit all the way outside. Please ask your guests to meet you outside, with the exception of inclement weather.

Student arrival at the Convocation Center

• Arrive in your regalia. There is no place to change clothing. Your regalia is your entry ticket.
• Parking attendants will direct graduates and guests to parking, including ADA parking if needed.
• Please report to the lower level (Victor E. Court gym). No food or beverages. No bags or purses larger than 6-by-8-inches unless they are clear. It is not recommended that you carry your bag through the ceremony unless you have medical needs.
• Don’t leave anything in the gym as you will not return there after the ceremony.

Guest Arrival at the Convocation Center

• If tickets are required: Graduates should download tickets before arriving at commencement.
• Graduates can keep all guest tickets on their device, then scan all tickets upon arrival with guests. Once a ticket is scanned, it is unusable.
• Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Please arrive early to allow time to park, get through security, and get seated.
• Parking attendants will direct graduates and guests to parking, including ADA parking if needed.
• No bags or purses larger than 6-by-8-inches unless they are clear. This policy is strictly enforced.
• Guests in wheelchairs or with other accessibility needs will get directions to the ADA sections. One guest will be able to sit with that person.
• Guests are not allowed on the arena floor.

Candidate Instructions

• Pick up your name card at our check-in table in the gym. Do not lose this card, as you will hand this card to the reader before you march across the stage.
• For marching, please line up behind your college per instruction on the card.
• 15 minutes before the start of your ceremony, you should be lined up for the processional. The processional starts with the platform party and the marching faculty in the first two groups. Both lines will be seated per instructions from our faculty marshals. Please do not skip chairs in your row.

Ceremony/Walking Across the Stage

• You will rise, one row at a time, and approach the stage as directed by our faculty marshal.
• Bring your name card.
• Hand your name card to the reader, then approach the president or dean to accept your diploma cover.
• Proceed to the stairs off the front of the stage for your formal photo.
• Return to your same seat.

Pictures

Professional photographs will be taken of each graduate. A proof of your picture will be available to view online at Grad Images a few weeks after the ceremony.

Recessional

To avoid large crowds in tight lobby spaces, our faculty marshals will lead you out of the arena to exit all the way outside. Please ask your guests to meet you outside, with the exception of inclement weather.