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Guest Information for Spring Undergraduate Ceremony
May 11, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in Seth Grove Stadium

 

Inclement Weather Notification & Plans

In case of inclement weather, information about commencement will be available on Hotline (717-477‑1200).  Hotline will be updated as needed.  Final information will be available by 7:00 a.m. on May 11.  Hotline, the university’s website, and the university’s Facebook and Twitter accounts, are the official sources of information about commencement.

In the event of inclement weather, commencement will be held in Heiges Field House in two separate ceremonies based on colleges.  Graduates of the John L. Grove College of Business and the College of Education & Human Services will participate at 11:00 a.m.  Graduates of the College of Arts & Sciences will participate at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are required for both indoor ceremonies.

General Information

  • Tickets: No tickets are required to attend the ceremony if outdoors. Seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  To help ensure a smooth start to the program, visitors are asked to be seated no later than 10:30 a.m.  Seating is on bleachers without backs.

    If the ceremony is moved indoors due to weather, tickets will be required. Each graduate will receive tickets for their guests and ONLY TICKET HOLDERS WILL BE PERMITTED INTO THE FIELD HOUSE. The number of tickets each graduate receives will be determined based on the total number of graduates.  Tickets will be distributed at the University Bookstore and graduates must sign that they are in receipt of their tickets.  NO TICKETS WILL BE MAILED. Tickets do not guarantee a specific seat as seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

  • Parking: Parking will be restricted to designated areas. Shippensburg University Police will direct family and guests to parking areas.  Handicap parking will be available.

  • Admission: Gates to Seth Grove Stadium open at 9:00 a.m. for guests. Light refreshments will be available.  The academic procession begins promptly at 11:00 a.m.; the ceremony should end by 1:00 p.m.  If the ceremony is moved indoors, guests are asked to be seated 30 minutes prior to the start of their respective ceremony.

  • Guests with special needs: Graduates should make seating arrangements for guests with special needs in writing by May 3. This request must be made by the graduate from his or her ship.edu email account and sent to commencement@ship.edu.  Please include the guest’s name and the name of one person who will sit with them.  An interpreter (signer) will be at the ceremony.

  • Restrooms: Restrooms are located under the grandstand and may be accessed at either end only. Additional restrooms are adjacent to the visitor bleachers.  If needed, upon arrival to campus, restrooms are also available in the Ceddia Union Building.

  • Photographs: Family and guests are not permitted on the field or near the stage to photograph graduates. A professional photographer from GradImages will photograph each graduate receiving congratulations from President Patterson.  The firm will contact the graduates concerning interest in purchasing photos.  The firm’s website is gradimages.com.  To pre-register for commencement proofs and receive a coupon, visit www.gradimages.com/registration.

  • Alternate viewing: The ceremony will be streamed on ship.edu/events/commencement and broadcast on Xfinity/Comcast Community Access Channel 1070.

  • Flowers: You may purchase flowers for your graduate at Commencement or pre-order. The link for pre-ordering is

    https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/shippensburg/

    The flower sale is sponsored by the Shippensburg University Men’s & Women’s Swim Team. 
      
  • Alcohol: Possession and consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited. Beverages will be confiscated, and violators will be evicted from the facility.

  • Graduate seating: Seating is in four columns. The two columns on the left facing the stage will be the John L. Grove College of Business and the College of Education & Human Services.  The two columns on the right facing the stage will be the College of Arts & Sciences.  Please see map.

For further information, please e-mail commencement@ship.edu.