Commencement Ceremony Schedule

Saturday, May 9
10 a.m. | School of Education and School of Nursing
3 p.m. | College of Arts & Sciences and School of Communications

Sunday, May 10
9 a.m. | School of Business and School of Computing & Engineering
4 p.m. | School of Health Sciences

*If the ceremonies move indoors due to severe weather, the School of Computing & Engineering ceremony will be 1 p.m. Other ceremony times remain the same.

Ceremonies are located on the Mount Carmel Quad. In the event of severe weather, the ceremonies will move indoors to the M&T Bank Arena on the York Hill Campus.

Traffic Advisory

A large number of guests come to Quinnipiac for Commencement. Traffic will be heavy and extra time will be needed to get to your destination. We appreciate your patience as our staff work to ensure a safe arrival and departure.

The Wallingford Police Department has notified us that beginning Monday, May 4, Toelles Road in Wallingford will be closed to all traffic as part of a bridge replacement project. This closure is expected to remain in place through the end of November. A full closure will be in effect at the intersection of Hartford Turnpike and Toelles Road. If traveling in this area, it is recommended you use Exit 10 off of Interstate 91 or Exit 58A off of Route 15 (Wilbur Cross Parkway).

Parking

Parking will be on the Mount Carmel Campus. If the ceremony moves indoors, parking will be at the York Hill Campus. In order to keep traffic moving as efficiently as possible, please follow the instructions of the parking staff as you arrive. There is enough parking for everyone.

Accessible Parking and Seating

If you have a family member that needs accessible parking, please enter through the Mount Carmel Entrance and let the parking staff know that you need accessible parking. They will direct you to the accessible parking area located next to the Quad.

There will be a section of designated accessible seating. If this section fills up, chairs can also be moved to accommodate wheelchair access. Please keep in mind that all seating is on the Quad, which is a flat grassy area.

The university does not provide wheelchairs. If a wheelchair is needed, please bring one with you.

A sensory friendly room will be available in Carl Hansen Student Center Room 207. The ceremony will be live-streamed in this room but will be muted.

Golf Cart Locations

There will be golf carts assisting with transporting guests from the parking areas to the Quad. Golf carts will be going back and forth from designated locations. See the map below for more information and locations.

For the safety and security of our graduates, guests and staff, golf carts will need to stay on their designated routes and will not be able to drive around all areas of the Quad. If you need assistance, please proceed to one of the above locations to meet the golf cart.

Entrance to Ceremony

Entrances to the Quad will open 90 minutes prior to the start of the ceremonies. No tickets are required for outdoor ceremonies. Seating is arranged for the comfort and best viewing of our guests. All seating is folding chairs on a flat, grassy surface. Please note that there are no reserved seats. Please refrain from saving seats. We appreciate your cooperation.

Weather Considerations | Water | Severe Weather Tickets

The Quad is an open and unshaded area. Please dress accordingly for that day’s weather. It can be warm when the sun is out. It is strongly recommended that you and your guests eat a meal prior to the ceremony, hydrate, wear light clothing and use sunscreen. There will be a water station with cups. Guests are also able to bring water bottles.

If there is light rain, the ceremony will remain outdoors in order to accommodate all of our guests. Umbrellas will only be permitted for those standing in the back of the seating area and will not be permitted in the seating area so that everyone is able to view the ceremony and the special moment for their graduate(s).

If we experience severe weather (heavy rain, wind, thunder, lightning, etc.) the ceremony will move indoors to the M&T Bank Arena on our York Hill Campus. Graduates received an email from the Quinnipiac Ticket Office with their severe weather tickets. These tickets are only needed if the ceremony moves indoors. There are no tickets for the outdoor ceremony. Each graduate received 3 tickets for the basketball arena where the ceremony will take place, and 3 tickets for the hockey arena where the ceremony will be livestreamed. The arenas are located in the same building and are next to each other.

What to Bring

We encourage guests to consider the day’s forecast and dress appropriately. Sunny days do tend to be warmer on the Quad.

You are encouraged to bring a water bottle. There will be a water station on the Quad. Small cups will be available for those that don’t have water bottles.

Umbrellas will only be permitted if you stand at the rear of the seating area. If weather is a concern, please bring a raincoat or poncho. Graduates will receive a poncho in the event of light rain.

All bags are subject to search large bags, backpacks and coolers are not permitted. No weapons of any kind will be permitted.

Livestream

A livestream of the ceremonies will be available at commencement.qu.edu. Recordings remain on the site for several weeks after the ceremonies and will also be available on the Quinnipiac YouTube channel.

The ceremonies are outdoors on the Quad and only move indoors if there is severe weather.

The Quad is an open unshaded area. If a break from being outside is needed, we will have the ceremony live-streamed into the following rooms on the Mount Carmel Campus. Please note that these locations have limited seating and are meant as locations to take brief breaks.

The Dome
DO 119
DO 121
DO 123

Student Center
SC 207 (Sensory Room, silent livestream)

Procession
The ceremony procession begins approximately 20 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Please remain in your seats throughout the procession and keep all walkways clear.

Graduates will process in two lines. See below for which side your graduate will be seated on. All sides are from the point of view of the audience looking at the stage.

Saturday, May 9 at 10 a.m.
All School of Education - Right
All School of Nursing - Left

Saturday, May 9 at 3 p.m.
All College of Arts & Sciences - Right
All School of Communications - Left

Sunday, May 10 at 9 a.m.
Graduate (Masters) School of Business - Right
All School of Computing & Engineering - Right
Undergraduate (Bachelors) School of Business - Left

Sunday, May 10 at 4 p.m.
Undergraduate (Bachelors) School of Health Science - Right
Graduate (Masters) & Doctorate School of Health Science - Left

Ceremony and Protocol
Commencement is an academic ceremony and our graduates have worked hard to get to this moment. It is expected that you remain in your seats until the conclusion of the ceremony. Ceremonies are expected to last 2 - 2.5 hours. After brief remarks from our president, student speakers and keynote speaker, graduates will begin to approach the stage. Each graduate in attendance will have their name read by a professional name reader as they cross the stage. They will have an opportunity to pronounce their name for the name reader prior to the name being announced. Once the ceremony concludes, there will be a recessional followed by a light reception. You will be able to meet your graduate at the reception.

Photography

Professional photographers from Island Photography will take photos of each student as they cross the stage. Proofs of these photos will be sent to graduates via email directly from Island Photography within 72 hours. Guests are not permitted to approach the stage.

Restrooms and Movement During Ceremony
All guests should remain seated throughout the ceremony. Restrooms are available in The Dome and Carl Hansen Student Center and will be marked by large signs.

Safety
Commencement ceremonies are outdoors and only moved indoors in the case of severe weather. The Quad is outdoors and unshaded. Please dress appropriately for the weather.

For the comfort and safety of all guests, graduates and staff, large bags, coolers and backpacks will not be permitted. All bags are subject to search.

In order to ensure that all graduates and guests are able to fully enjoy the ceremonies, anything that might be a disturbance or obstruct the views of others (e.g. signs, balloons, noisemakers, etc.) are not permitted. Do not bring these items to the ceremony.

Guests are not permitted to approach the stage or obstruct walkways.