Colleges host events for their specific graduates, families, and faculty to attend, in addition to Commencement. These events take place throughout the weekend and range from informal receptions to formal recognition ceremonies. College event schedules are provided below, as well as general College Events FAQ at the bottom of this page.
College & Department Event Schedules
NOTE: The event schedules below are from 2018. Most events remain the same from year to year, but we are updating these throughout the Fall, as we receive 2019 information from event planners. Please check back at the end of January for the most up-to-date information. In the meantime, feel free to contact the event planner listed for any questions about a specific event for 2019.
To assist you with your weekend planning, here is some additional information about college and department events.
Make sure everyone in your party knows the student’s college and department. You need that information in order to find your student’s college event date, time, location, bus stop, or ask for directions. You’d be surprised how easily family members, especially grandparents without a phone, get separated from the group and need to know where to meet their family. Some parents give every family member a card that has the student’s college & department written down in case phone batteries deplete, WiFi signal is difficult, or cell towers are overloaded. This is especially helpful for lost family members who do not speak fluent English, as they can show the card for help.
For college events on Friday or Saturday, check with your student about arriving together, since some events might instruct students to arrive earlier than guests. If the college event follows Sunday’s Commencement, plan to meet your graduate at the college event, as graduates exit the stadium differently than guests.
You will receive a Commencement Program when you arrive at the stadium on Sunday morning. The Program will include a list of college events taking place after the university ceremony, along with a Sunday bus map showing the locations and nearest bus stop for each event. Guests may walk or ride a bus to their next event. For some event locations, the stadium’s Crescent Lot is the closest bus stop, so walking from the stadium may be required. NOTE: The Sunday Bus Stops and College Event Map Key below is from 2018. There are few changes each year but please check back in late January to see any updates to the events and refer to the college event charts as well, at that time.
Some colleges and departments have events on Friday or Saturday, rather than Sunday. Students and families who do not have a college event to attend on Sunday afternoon will be finished with weekend events when the Commencement Ceremony ends at noon. Buses transport guests from the stadium’s Crescent Lot to college events and campus parking lots. (Note: Students must return cap & gown by 5:00pm at a return location on campus.)
