Please read to the end of this message for a complete list of details:

After consulting with a meteorologist and considering the overall comfort of our graduates and families, we have made the difficult decision to move both Saturday Commencement ceremonies indoors to the M&T Bank Arena on our York Hill Campus. This decision was not made lightly. We weighed the option to stay outside but do not want our graduates and families to be seated in wet chairs in below normal temperatures for the duration of our two-plus-hour ceremonies.

Commencement Ceremony Schedule

M&T Bank Arena
305 Sherman Avenue
Hamden, CT

Saturday, May 9

• 10 a.m. | School of Education and School of Nursing

• 3 p.m. | College of Arts & Sciences and School of Communications

Tickets

We have reviewed overall graduate numbers and are able to issue each graduate additional tickets:

Education/Nursing Graduates:

• 5 total tickets for our basketball arena where the ceremony is held (Ceremony Viewing Ticket)

• 3 total tickets for the adjacent ice hockey arena where the ceremony is simulcast (this number remains the same) (Simulcast Viewing Ticket)

Arts & Sciences/Communications Graduates:

• 4 total tickets for the basketball arena where the ceremony is held (Ceremony Viewing Ticket)

• 3 total tickets for the ice hockey arena where the ceremony is simulcast (this number remains the same) (Simulcast Viewing Ticket)

Access Your Tickets

To access your tickets, go to your Quinnipiac Ticket Portal. All tickets, including the additional ticket(s) will be in your account. Please share these tickets with your guests and have them download them to their digital wallet before arriving on our York Hill Campus to expedite entry into the arena.

If your guests do not have a smart phone, paper tickets are available at the ticket office at the arena upon arrival.

Examples of a ceremony viewing ticket and a simulcast viewing ticket are below.

Entrance/Parking

Graduates should arrive 60 minutes prior to their respective ceremony to line up. Graduates and their guests should follow the directions of parking attendants and signage as they arrive on the York Hill Campus. Accessible parking will be available, and golf carts will be on site for those who need assistance. Accessible seating is also available. Please see staff inside the M&T Bank Arena for assistance.

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 Toelles Road in Wallingford has been 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).

Graduate Line-Up Location

Floor of the ice hockey arena
Please follow signs and staff directions to the floor

Procession

Approximately 20 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony, the procession will begin. Graduates will be led to their seats to start the ceremony at the scheduled time.

Ceremony Protocol

Commencement is an academic ceremony and you 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 to 2.5 hours each. 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. You will have an opportunity to pronounce your 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 at the Rocky Top Student Center. You will be able to meet your guests at the reception.

Professional Photography

When you check in to line up, you will see a QR code to scan for photography. Scan the code and fill out your contact information to receive your photo proofs. You will receive your photo proofs within 72 hours.

Guests will not be able to approach the stage for a photograph. Professional photographers from Island Photography will be located at the stage and will take graduate photos. For everyone's safety, guests must not block the aisles in an attempt to take their own photographs.

Restrooms and Movement During Ceremony

Except for the time that you receive your degree, all graduates remain seated throughout the ceremony. Restrooms are available on the lower level for graduates and in the upper concourse of the arena for guests. Sensory-friendly accommodations are available; please ask a staff member for assistance.

Post Ceremony

Once the ceremony concludes, there will be a recessional followed by a light reception at Rocky Top Student Center. You will be able to meet your guests there. Golf carts will also be available to transport those who need mobility assistance with returning to the parking areas. We ask that you do not stop a cart already moving.

Commencement Livestream

A livestream of each ceremony is 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 and in Wednesday's edition of QU Today.

Cap and Gown

If you have not yet picked up your cap and gown, the Bookstore will have a table set up at your check-in. If you are missing a piece of your regalia or have something that is incorrect, you can also visit their table at check-in the day of your ceremony.

Safety

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.