Main Ceremony
Commencement begins at 8:30 a.m. as 8,000 degree candidates march into Alumni Park from its four corners. Students process with their school, behind cardinal and gold banners listing the name of the school, and flags depicting the school’s academic imagery.
The main ceremony begins at 9:00 a.m. This ceremony includes formal addresses from the President, the Valedictorian, and the Commencement speaker; in addition, honorary degrees are bestowed, and students are officially recognized (en masse) as graduates of the university. The ceremony concludes by 10:10 a.m., and students march out of the park back to their assembly points.
Following the main ceremony, most students and families head to their schools’ satellite ceremonies. Many ceremonies begin around 10:30 a.m., and most last less than two hours.
Maps
The Seating and Procession Assembly Points map below indicates where graduates will line up prior to the main ceremony, and where they will be seated during the ceremony. The letters corresponding to the points on the map can be found in the list of satellite ceremonies and receptions (bottom left). This chart also lists the locations and times of the satellite ceremonies and receptions for each school, in conjunction with the satellite ceremony map (bottom right).
All of these maps are included in the Commencement Information Packet mailed to all graduating students and their families.
(click images to download)
List of satellite ceremonies
and receptions Map of satellite ceremonies
Important Updates
Any important updates regarding satellite ceremonies will be posted here.