Dear Faculty and Staff:
The communication below was just sent to all graduates participating in the upcoming commencement ceremonies.
Important Commencement Information for Participants
You are receiving this communication because you submitted an intent to participate in the commencement ceremony in which your program is housed (note: a list of programs by ceremony and college can be found online). Here are a few important items related to the upcoming ceremonies:
- Assistance/Accommodation: Accessible seating for guests in the commencement venue is limited. Those students who submitted a guest accommodation request will receive an update in the coming days. Please be advised that if accessible guest tickets are issued, they will replace the previously issued general seating tickets. If you require assistance/accommodation or have mobility issues (such as difficulty navigating stairs), please email commencement@uis.edu as soon as possible. Those who need such arrangements are encouraged to arrive early. Additional information about arrival times will be communicated closer to the ceremonies.
- Cap/Gown (Regalia) Orders: When you submitted your intent to participate, you were directed to a link to purchase regalia through Herff Jones. All students are required to wear a black cap and gown in order to participate in commencement. If you have not yet ordered your regalia, you must do so online here – “Student Cap and Gown” link (note: because of the late date, only the “Ship Regalia to Home” option is available). Note: the last day to submit regalia orders is Friday, April 18.
- Guest Tickets:
- Accessing Tickets: Tickets have been assigned and can now be accessed online via Tassel. Each student has been issued the maximum number of tickets available, based on the number of guest tickets they requested and the Auditorium’s capacity. Tickets are unique to each ceremony and are not transferable between ceremonies. Tickets may be printed or emailed to guests and will be general admission by section (orchestra, loge, mezzanine, or balcony). A student’s entire group of tickets will be general admission in the same section within the Sangamon Auditorium. We highly recommend that you ask guests to bring a printed ticket with them to decrease wait times. The doors to the Auditorium will open one hour before each ceremony and guest tickets will be valid until 15 minutes prior to each ceremony, so it is important that guests arrive on time.
- Unused Tickets: Students may choose to “give back” tickets if they no longer need the total number assigned to them, which will make the tickets available to be reassigned to other students in their ceremony. Due to the limited seating capacity of our venue, we highly encourage students who no longer need all of their tickets to give them back. Those wishing to give back tickets should email commencement@uis.edu.
- Overflow Seating: Seating with live streaming will be available in PAC 160 and Brookens Auditorium (both accessible through the lower level of the UIS Performing Arts Center). The live stream will be broadcast on screens across campus, including in the Student Union, and will be accessible on personal devices. Tickets will not be required in overflow seating areas.
- Schedule of Commencement-related Events: The commencement committee and numerous UIS employees are working diligently to finalize memorable campus events and ceremonies to honor graduates. A current list of events is available on the Commencement website.
Please continue to check the Commencement website for additional information. If you have any questions, please email commencement@uis.edu. Congratulations on your achievement and we look forward to celebrating you soon!
Brian L. Clevenger
Associate Vice Chancellor for Enrollment and Retention Management
University of Illinois Springfield