Graduate and Guest Details

Congratulations on your upcoming Commencement! We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you. Below please find information for your arrival the day of your ceremony. Virtual viewing information is located at the bottom.

Entrance/Parking

Graduates should arrive on the Mount Carmel Campus 90 minutes prior to their ceremony. Graduates should enter through the New Road Entrance, located on New Road.
Maps and directions

Graduates will then proceed to the College of Arts and Sciences parking area for line up and procession to the Quad. When you arrive, you will need to present your QCard at the Public Safety booth for entry. If you do not have a QCard, please notify staff when you arrive and they will further assist you. 

You will then be directed to the Hilltop Lot for parking. Leave all personal belongings in your vehicle. Graduates will not be permitted to carry any items into the ceremony.

If guests and graduates arrive to campus in the same vehicle, we recommend that the graduate be dropped off at the New Road Entrance. The graduate should then proceed immediately to the College of Arts & Sciences parking lot while the guests proceed to the Main Entrance on Mount Carmel Avenue to park their vehicle.

Line up

Once you have parked, proceed to the College of Arts & Sciences parking lot for line up. Graduate line-up will take place outdoors. You will receive a card with your name and a line-up number when you check in. Keep this card with you at all times,  including when your group is called to the stage.

You will then line up numerically using the number on your card. Staff will also be on hand to help.

Procession

Approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony, the procession will begin. Graduates will be led onto the Quad and to their seats. From here, you will follow the directions the faculty marshals and staff will provide during the ceremony. Keep your name card with you at all times.

Please be advised that the processional route crosses campus. Graduates are encouraged to consider this when choosing their footwear for the occasion.

Graduates Approaching the Stage

You will receive a card with your name when you check in. When it is your group’s turn to cross the stage, you will be led to the stage area by faculty marshals. Take your name card with you and hand it to the dean once you come up onto the stage. The dean will read your name and you will cross to the center of the stage to pick up your diploma cover (this is also where doctorate candidates will be hooded), and then exit the stage and return to your seat. Faculty marshals will assist you.

Doctorate Candidates

Doctorate candidates follow the above information for approaching the stage. In addition, you should have your hood draped over your left arm. Once you hand the dean your name card, proceed to the farthest hooder and hand them your hood. They will then hood you and you will take your diploma cover, then return to your seat.

Graduates Participating Virtually

Graduates not attending in person will have their name read at the ceremony by their dean. This will be viewable via the livestream and recording of the ceremonies available on this Commencement website.

Professional Photography

A professional photographer from Island Photography will be on hand to take photos of each graduate as they cross the stage. Proofs of the photos will be sent to each graduate after the ceremony. You can pre-register to receive proofs and add additional family and friends to receive proofs.

Guests will not be able to leave their seats to approach the stage area for photos.

Restrooms and Moving Around

Graduates are encouraged to use the restrooms at the line-up location prior to the procession. Once the ceremony begins, you will not be permitted to leave your seat except for the time when you receive your degree.

Water bottles will be placed at each graduate’s chair. Graduates will not be permitted to process in carrying water bottles.

Rain

All ceremonies will take place on the Mount Carmel Campus Quad outside rain or shine. Raincoats and ponchos are encouraged if rain is in the forecast, but umbrellas will not be permitted for graduates.

Departing Campus

Once the ceremony concludes, graduates and guests are asked to return to their vehicles and depart campus. Entry back onto the Quad or into buildings will be prohibited. A photo area by the Bobcat statue on Bobcat Way will be available. Shuttles and golf carts will also be available to transport those needing assistance.

Livestream

All ceremonies will be live-streamed and recorded. The ceremony recording will be accessible after the ceremonies on this Commencement website. Watch the livestream for each ceremony

We look forward to celebrating your graduate's milestone with you. Below please find information for your arrival the day of the ceremonies, as well as information about the livestream.

Mount Carmel Campus Entrance/Parking

Guest entry to the Quad will begin one hour prior to each ceremony. Guests must have valid tickets for entry. Your graduate will be able to provide you with your ticket. Please bring a printout of your ticket or take a screenshot on your mobile device. When possible, we recommend printing your ticket to provide faster entry.

Guests should enter the Mount Carmel Campus through the Main Entrance located on Mount Carmel Avenue. Public Safety personnel and parking staff will direct you to your parking location.

Shuttles and golf carts will be provided to those needing assistance getting to the Quad. Shuttles and golf carts will observe social-distance guidelines.

Accessible parking is available. If you require accessible parking, please let the parking staff know upon arrival and they will assist you.

Maps and directions

Quad Entrance

All guests must have a valid ticket for entry to the Quad. Tickets should either be clearly printed (no fading or low ink) or displayed on a mobile devise. Once your ticket has been scanned, staff will be available to assist you in finding a seat. All guest seating is general admission. There are no reserved seats.

The ticketholder entrance to the Quad is located at the Lender School of Business Center dome. Signage will be posted directing you to this area.

Please note, there is no re-entry once you leave the Quad.

Tickets/Seating

All guests will need tickets to access the Mount Carmel Quadrangle, where the ceremonies will take place. Information on registering for tickets will be sent to graduates in early April. All guests age 3 and older require a ticket; guests under 3 will need to sit on a ticket-holder's lap.

Seating will be general admission, and will be on a flat, grassy surface. Staff will be available to assist you in finding a seat. 

Seating for those with mobility limitations will be available, and wheelchairs will be accommodated. Staff will be able to assist you on arrival. Please note that the university does not provide wheelchairs.

Rain Policy

All ceremonies will take place on the Mount Carmel Campus Quad outside rain or shine. Raincoats and ponchos are encouraged if rain is in the forecast. Guests using umbrellas must stand at the back so that they do not block the view of other guests.

Procession

The procession of graduates will begin approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.

Professional Photography

A professional photographer from Island Photography will be on hand to take photos of each graduate as they cross the stage. Proofs of the photos will be sent to each graduate after the ceremony. Graduates can pre-register to receive proofs and add additional family and friends to receive proofs.

Guests will not be able to leave their seats to approach the stage area for photos.

Flowers and Merchandise

Flowers will be available for purchase on site. The Quinnipiac Bookstore located in the Carl Hansen Student Center adjacent to the Quad will be open during the ceremonies. Please note, once the ceremony concludes, there will be no re-entry onto the Quad or to the bookstore.

Restrooms and First Aid

Restrooms and first aid will be available and buildings will be labeled.

Water

Bottles of water will be available free of charge for all guests.

Departing Campus

Once the ceremony concludes, graduates and guests will be directed to exit the Quad and are asked to return to their vehicles and depart campus. Entry back onto the Quad or into buildings will be prohibited. A photo area by the Bobcat statue on Bobcat Way will be available. Shuttles and golf carts will also be available to transport those needing assistance.