Graduate entry and screening process
Doors open at 8 a.m., graduates should be seated by 9:40 a.m. Graduates should enter the arena at Gate A (West Dayton Street entrance) or Gate B.
Prior to accessing the candidate seating area, all graduates need to go through a mandatory screening process. Graduates will be asked to unzip their gowns for screening by Student Affairs staff. No signs, banners, flags, noisemakers, or other prohibited items from the carry-in policy will be allowed.
Graduate seating
Access to graduate seating is via the grand staircase located outside Section 127. Degree candidate seating will be in designated areas by school, college, or degree on the floor of the Kohl Center. Seating is not pre-assigned by graduate name and is first-come, first-served.
Commencement Marshals wearing cardinal red academic attire, as well as ushers and posted signs, will be present to provide seating directions and assistance upon arrival. Degree candidates with faculty escorts (PhD, DMA, MFA) should ask their escort to sit on their right.
No guests, including children, are permitted in the candidate seating area, except for nursing parents.
Graduates should remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony, which is marked by the platform party recession.
Guest entry and seating
No tickets are required to attend. Guest seating is general admission, first-come, first-served. There is no limit to the number of guests that graduates may bring. served. There is no limit to the number of guests that graduates may bring. Signage outside the Kohl Center will instruct guests on the building carry-in policy.
Only graduates and faculty escorts are allowed on the floor before and during the ceremony.
Guests should plan to attend the entire ceremony to celebrate all graduates and their accomplishments. Please remain seated until the conclusion of the ceremony, which is marked by the platform party recession.