Commencement FAQ(S)

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

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

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

Masks are optional, however, they are strongly encouraged for those who are not fully vaccinated and/or are immunocompromised. 

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.

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

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 Grad Images will take pictures of graduates as they receive their diplomas from President Hawkinson and with their diplomas at the end of the exit ramp. 

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.

Each commencement ceremony is approximately 2 hours long.

Friday, May 12, 2023:

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

Saturday, May 13, 2023

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

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

There is one clean 'delux' 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.

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

The floral table will be located in the back left side of the Fieldhouse for you to purchase or pick up pre-ordered flowers.

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

The accessible seating area is located at the right side near the back of the Fieldhouse.

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

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.

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.