Commencement FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions About Commencement at KU

• Are medical personnel available?

  Medical personnel will be located at the back left corner inside the Fieldhouse.

• Are wheelchairs available for use?

  Wheelchairs are available for guests who become ill during the commencement ceremony and to transport guests from the Fieldhouse entrance to the seating area.

• Can I get into the ceremony without a ticket?

  No. Anyone 3 years old and older needs a ticket to enter the Fieldhouse.

  All ceremonies will be streamed live so that those who can't attend will be able to see you on the stage with President Hawkinson.

• Can I take food or beverages into the ceremony?

  No food or beverages are permitted in the O'Pake Fieldhouse.

• Can I take pictures of my student before, during or after the ceremony?

  You may only take pictures of your graduating student from your seat. Please be considerate of others and do not stand in front of other guests. A professional photographer from Legacy Photographics will take pictures of graduates as they receive their diplomas from President Hawkinson and with their diplomas at the end of the exit ramp. 

• Can I use glitter and Mylar confetti on campus or during the commencement ceremony?

  While commencement is a celebratory occasion, we ask that you please refrain from using glitter and Mylar confetti in your celebrations as it may be harmful to the environment.

• How long does the ceremony last?

  Each commencement ceremony is approximately 2 hours long.

• When do doors open to the public?

  Friday, May 10, 2024
  

  • 4 p.m. for the 5 p.m. Graduate ceremony

  Saturday, May 11, 2024
  

  • 8 a.m. for the 9 a.m. Undergraduate ceremony (Colleges of Education and Liberal Arts & Sciences)
  • 1 p.m. for the 2p.m. Undergraduate ceremony (Colleges of Business and Visual & Performing Arts)

    

  Please note that the ceremony will start promptly at the scheduled time.

• Where are the restrooms?

  There is a deluxe restroom trailer located outside the Fieldhouse in the E-1 parking lot. It would be a good idea to use this facility before entering the Fieldhouse.

  Indoor restrooms can be accessed through the doors in the back right-hand side of the Fieldhouse and through the Keystone Hall doors to the right of the Fieldhouse.

  There are directional signs posted in the Fieldhouse.

• Where can I buy flowers?

  The floral table will be located in the back right side of the Fieldhouse for you to purchase flowers.

• Where can I get food and beverages?

  Food and beverages are not permitted inside the O'Pake Fieldhouse.

• Where do you go to get into the commencement ceremony?

  The ceremony takes place in the O'Pake Fieldhouse. 

  As you exit the shuttle bus, walk on the sidewalk toward the Fieldhouse doors located to your left.

  O'Pake Fieldhouse Map

• Where is the accessible seating area?

  We have two accessible seating areas, one to the right of the stage and one in the back of the fieldhouse. 

• Where will the students be sitting?

  Graduating students will be seated in the front and center of the stage.

• Which side of the stage do the students go to get their diplomas?

  As you face the stage, the graduating students will go up the ramp to the right, walk across the stage, receive their diploma, and exit down the left side ramp.

• Who can sit in the Platform Guest seating area?

  Platform guest seating is for guests of the platform only. The Platform Guest seating area is located at the front left side of the stage.