byJazmyn Chavez and Sarina Grossi
It’s that time of year again: graduation. As finals week wraps up and graduates and their guests prepare for the big day, there are also set instructions and expectations they must follow. Mustang News has prepared a How-To Commencement guide to clear any confusion.
According to the Commencement Office website, ceremonies will be held on June 15 – 16 at Spanos Stadium. They will be broken up by academic colleges and spread throughout the day, with each ceremony lasting about 90 minutes.
Saturday will begin with the College of Agriculture, Food and Environmental Sciences (CAFES) at 8:30 a.m., the College of Architecture and Environmental Design (CAED) at 12:30 p.m. and the College of Engineering at 4:30 p.m.
Sunday will host the Orfalea College of Business at 8:30 a.m., the Philip and Christina Bailey College of Science and Mathematics at 12:30 p.m. and the College of Liberal Arts at 4:30 p.m.
Instructions on how to claim ceremony tickets have been emailed to eligible graduates, however can be reviewed online. Graduates could claim 10 free guest tickets which are required to enter any of the ceremonies.
When and Where to Arrive
Graduates are expected to arrive at Spanos Stadium one hour before their ceremony begins, entering through the designated entrance at Mustang Way/South Perimeter Road. Guests can also arrive at the ceremony up to one hour early using the main entrances.
On-campus parking will be available in lots H1, H12, H14 and H16, located off Highland Drive. Additionally, accessible parking will be available in lots H2a, C7 and the Grand Avenue Structure. Shuttle services will be taking guests with mobility impairments from the parking lots to the stadiums.
During this weekend, California Ave. will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the university preferring entrance on Highland Drive. Uber and Lyft drop-off locations will also be available and will be in lots C7 and C2d.
Stadium Offerings
Guests can find hydration stations on the East and West sides of the stadium and bathrooms can be found under the bleachers. Misting fans will be available throughout the field and medical personnel will be stationed on the south side of the field.
Seating is first come first serve. There are ADA-accessible seats in the stadium and wheelchair rentals available.
Gift vendors will be on the east side of the field. The ceremonies will be live-streamed with closed captioning for friends and family members who cannot attend.
What to Bring (and what to leave behind)
Graduates should arrive with their regalia in hand, as they are required for participation. Robes can be draped over an arm, but will not be permitted to be worn until the graduates have entered the regalia robing area. Grad caps however are okay to wear beforehand.
Upon arrival, graduates will be given water and a small snack, as outside food and drinks are prohibited. Factory-sealed water bottles and empty reusable water bottles are allowed for guests.
Throughout the weekend, Spanos Stadium will be following a Clear Bag Policy and conducting a safety screening of exceptions. Each person will be allowed one clear bag (12x6x12 clear bag, 12×12 gallon Ziploc, or 4.5×8.5 clutch). The only non-clear bags allowed will be diaper bags and medically necessary bags.
Additionally, Spanos Stadium will be following a zero-tolerance policy. This prohibits alcohol, tobacco and cannabis products from the premises and anyone intoxicated or perceived to be intoxicated from attending the ceremony.
For a full list of all the prohibited, visit the Commencement website.
According to the Commencement Office, guests and graduates should dress comfortably and should not wear high heels or stilettos as a safety precaution on the field. They should also be prepared for hot weather at the ceremonies, especially with a turf field.
Pets should be left at home with the exception of service animals. Graduates and guests should have a designated area to meet off the field.
Ceremony photos can be purchased afterward from GradImages.
Sarina Grossi
Sarina Grossi is the MMG Digital Manager and a KCPR News reporter. She became a journalist because she loves getting to tell stories and getting involved in different storytelling methods. In her free...More by Sarina Grossi
