Family & Friends Ceremony Instructions

Before your student leaves for the commencement ceremony

• Tickets are required for the event; make sure to get all guest tickets from your student and distribute them to each guest
• Tickets are for a specific event; make sure you have the correct ticket for your student's ceremony:
  • Graduate School - orange ticket - Saturday, May 19 at 5 p.m.
  • Harpur College Morning - pink ticket - Sunday, May 20 at 8:30 a.m.
  • Professional Schools - green ticket - Sunday, May 20 at 12 p.m.
  • Harpur College Afternoon - blue ticket - Sunday, May 20 at 3:30 p.m.
• Pack your camera and an extra memory card to capture the day’s events
• Make a plan with your graduating student about where to meet after the ceremony
• Ensure that everyone in your party is wearing comfortable shoes. The Events Center is an athletic arena with bleachers and stadium seating. Guests will be climbing stairs that can get slippery, especially in inclement weather.

Arrive at the Events Center on Binghamton University campus

• Parking is free during Commencement. For additional parking information, click here>
• Hug, squeeze and smooch your graduate as you split up for the ceremony
• Students will report to the West Gym for check-in
  • Undergraduate students will have the opportunity to have a commencement portrait taken during check-in
• Guests may enter the Events Center through the main entrance. It will be most helpful to our volunteers if each person carries and presents his/her own ticket at the door.
• Programs will be distributed on the concourse level prior to your locating a seat
  
  • Please keep in mind that each graduate will receive a program at his/her seat

Seating at the Events Center

• Seating is general admission; available on a first-come, first-served basis
• There are a few restricted seating areas; please leave these areas available for the appropriate attendees
  • Handicapped accessible (no special ticket required)
    • Upon entering the Events Center, guest(s) will be greeted by volunteers
    • Wheelchairs are available for transport only
    • Only one (1) companion may accompany a guest in accessible seating
  • VIP reserved (special “VIP Reserved Seating” ticket required)
    • If your graduate is serving as a Student Marshal, he/she will have VIP reserved tickets for you and your guests. Upon entering the building, notify the person taking your tickets and a volunteer will escort you and your party to the reserved seats.
  • Graduating students
    • This area is located on the event floor, directly in front of the stage

During the ceremony

• Your graduate will enter the Events Center through one of the two tunnels at the rear of the arena and walk down the center aisle of the event floor
• Do not stand in the aisle (or put any camera equipment there, either!) Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring the processional runs smoothly and safely for all.
• Graduate School ceremony only: Every student will have his/her name announced and have a photo taken as he/she walks across the stage

After the ceremony

• Please remain in your seat during the recessional
• We ask that you do not take photos of your student on stage, but you are welcome to use the platform in front of the stage with the backdrop of the floral arrangements, flags and university seal.
• Meet your graduate at the location you determined before the ceremony
• Congratulations to your graduate!