Friends & Family Guide

The university will hold its spring commencement for graduates in the John Lyman Center for the Performing Arts. Located on campus, the center can seat up to 1,200 guests. The center is wheelchair-accessible and will provide services for guests with disabilities.

• Audience seating in the Lyman Center begins ONE HOUR prior.
• All guest seating is unreserved, general admission.
• The ceremony will be streamed live to the University website at: https://www.youtube.com/@scsu

All graduates must wear appropriate academic regalia. Tassels on the LEFT and Hood/Stole on the RIGHT ARM. Please make sure the button and string at the back of the hood are NOT connected. Narrow end near your hand, wide end toward your elbow. SEE EXAMPLE BELOW:

Master’s and Doctoral Degree students wear a cap, tassel, gown, and hood. Sixth Year Diploma students wear a cap, tassel, gown, hood, and stole. Post-Master’s and Graduate Certificate students wear a cap, tassel, gown, and cord.

Sixth Year Diploma candidates may wear the master’s level academic regalia they wore at previous graduate level commencements, but they still need to purchase the special Sixth Year Diploma stole.

Post-Master’s and Graduate Certificate candidates may wear the master’s level academic regalia they wore at previous graduate-level commencements, but they still need to purchase the certificate cord.

No academic regalia will be available for purchase on the day of commencement.

As part of our commitment to community care and sustainability, the University invites graduating students to donate gently used commencement regalia following this year’s ceremony.

After Commencement, a regalia collection station will be available in the lobby of the Lyman Center. Donated gowns and hoods will be reused to support future students who may face financial barriers to participating in this important milestone.

Your contribution—no matter how small—helps ensure that all graduates have the opportunity to celebrate their achievement with pride. Thank you for paying it forward after your pictures are complete by donating your used regalia to support future Owls.

Students and their guests may park in the Wintergreen Avenue Garage.

Students must report to the main-level Rotunda area of Engleman Hall for check-in no later than:

• College of Arts and Sciences|School of Business: 12:45pm
• College of Health and Human Services: 5:45pm
• College of Education: 5:45pm

Ticketed guests will enter Lyman Center through the front entrance. Guests are asked not to visit the graduate assembly area.

Graduates are asked to move immediately to the check-in area in the Engleman Hall Rotunda to receive a line-up card for the academic procession. There will be a line position number on the card indicating your place in the procession. Candidates should not go to Lyman Center before the event

For convenience, shuttle service is provided between Wintergreen Avenue Garage and the Lyman Center according to the following schedule:

Arts and Sciences|Business Ceremony: 12:30pm – 2:00pm and 4:00pm – 4:45pm

HHS and Education Ceremonies: 5:30pm – 7pm and 9pm – 9:45pm

There is no commencement rehearsal.

• Students will be lined up by degree level with their respective school/program. You will need to keep your reader card with you to assemble for the procession and to have your name announced during the ceremony. This is the order in which you will proceed to the Lyman Center.
  • Please do not fold or crush your Reader Card.
• Staff members will direct all candidates to the appropriate areas to line up.
• University marshals will lead the procession into the Lyman Center.
• Your dean will ask you to stand at the appropriate time in the ceremony. You will then be asked to come forward to receive your diploma jacket on stage. You should have your reader card out and ready to hand off once on stage.
• The university has arranged for a private professional photographer to take photographs of you receiving your diploma jacket on stage.
• GradImages will take official graduation photos at your upcoming ceremony, including on-stage and graduation portraits. Proofs will be emailed to you after the ceremony, or you can search for your proofs on their website. Visit gradimages.com or call (800) 261-2576 for more information.

We invite you to participate in commencement with the understanding that the faculty will not tolerate disruptive behavior. Please have respect for the other graduates and their guests.

Students who have chosen to participate must plan to stay for the entire ceremony. Do not leave the Commencement ceremony early, unless an emergency arises.

To preserve the dignity of the ceremony and the safety of those in attendance, air horns, beach balls, and other inflatable items, including balloons, are prohibited and will be confiscated by the arena security. Please do not stand on chairs or benches.

Alcoholic beverages, including small nips, are not allowed at the ceremony.

Please silence all phones during the ceremony. The use of cellular phones is disruptive to both participants and guests. Your friends and family may record, but please be mindful of other guests.

The John Lyman Center for Performing Arts is wheelchair-accessible and will provide services for guests with disabilities. Please email the School of Graduate and Professional Studies at GPSinfo@southernct.edu if you require accommodations.

Student organizations will be on site, offering students and their guests the opportunity to purchase flowers and other merchandise. We encourage you to support their efforts, as proceeds from sales benefit student clubs.

Please note that the University Bookstore will not be on site; however, it will be open and is located in the Adanti Student Center.

Additionally, helium balloons are not permitted in the Lyman Center.

If your plans change and you will no longer be participating in the ceremony, please email us at GPSinfo@southernct.edu