Guests with disabilities

No special arrangements for guests who are handicapped or disabled are needed.

If an interpreter for persons who are deaf or hard of hearing is needed, please contact Anne Broyan, graduation coordinator, by e-mail to make arrangements at least one month prior to graduation.

Parking

Graduates and guests will be directed by university police where to park on campus. Reserved parking will be available behind McCormick Center and Bakeless for persons who are handicapped or have trouble walking. Please request assistance from police officers covering the event.

General Information

• All seating for guests will be on the Academic Quad. Any number of guests may attend and seating is on a first-come first-served basis and may be obtained as early as 1 hour before each ceremony. The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours.
• If the Rain Plan option is in effect, it will be announced by 5 am the morning of graduation. Each participating graduate is provided with tickets for an indoor ceremony in Nelson Field House in case of this event. The ceremonies will also be televised in Mitrani Hall as an alternative rain plan viewing area. There are no extra tickets available.
• On the day of graduation, it is strongly suggested that guests arrive with ample time to park, either on upper- or lower-campus. Limited parking close to the Quad will be reserved for handicapped guests. The road to the lower campus will close for parking after all lots are filled and guests will then be directed to upper-campus parking areas. Four busses will be running throughout campus for transportation to the ceremony. Those coming for the afternoon ceremony please do not arrive earlier than 1:00 p.m., since guests from the first ceremony will need to exit the campus in order to clear available parking spaces.
• The university police will be present for the duration of the day and guests should request assistance from them for parking or special needs. Individuals who cannot walk any distance can be dropped off in the Centennial parking lot, where there will be police and staff to assist. Disabled guests and the elderly can be assisted to their seats by commencement staff. Seating will be available for guests in wheelchairs along with one additional attendee. Please arrive in advance to allow time to be comfortably seated in this area. Interpreters for the deaf and hearing impaired will be signing both ceremonies.
• Members of the graduating class and audience who leave during the ceremony distract not only from other audience members but also the people on the stage and are discourteous to those participants who have not yet crossed the stage. The audience is expected to remain in place until the platform party and faculty leave the stage at the conclusion of the ceremony.