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Students move the tassels on their caps to signify they are officially graduates.

Congratulations on achieving your academic goal – conferral of your degree! As we draw closer to commencement, if you have any questions about the completion of your final semester, please contact your academic adviser. (Photo by Annemarie Mountz)

The College of Education's commencement ceremonies for the Spring 2025 semester will take place on Sunday, May 11.

Undergraduate candidates: The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. at Pegula Ice Arena.

Master's candidates: The ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Bryce Jordan Center.

Doctoral candidates: The ceremony will begin at 4:30 p.m. at Pegula Ice Arena.

Information for Graduates

  • Graduates are asked to arrive one hour prior to their ceremony start time.
  • Gates open 90 minutes prior to the ceremony.
  • Guests will be required to pass through metal detectors before being admitted to Pegula Ice Arena or Bryce Jordan Center.

FOR CEREMONIES AT PEGULA ICE ARENA

Those attending commencement ceremonies at Pegula Ice Arena are encouraged to park at the East Parking Deck, located on Bigler Road near East Halls. 

ADA parking for ceremonies held at Pegula Ice Arena will be available at the section of Lot Yellow H at Shields Building, which is located on Curtin Road just north of Pegula.

Pegula Ice Arena Commencement Ceremonies Interactive Map
 

FOR CEREMONIES AT BRYCE JORDAN CENTER

General parking for Penn State spring commencement ceremonies being held at the Bryce Jordan Center will be available at one or more of the following parking areas, as directed by University Police and event parking staff:

 - Jordan East - located east of the Bryce Jordan Center, and accessible from Porter Road (via Park Avenue or College Avenue) and Dauer Drive (via University Drive)
 - Stadium West - located west of Beaver Stadium, and accessible only from Park Avenue (parking is limited at Stadium West due to the ongoing construction project at Beaver Stadium)
 - Porter North - located north of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, and accessible from Porter Road (via Park Avenue or College Avenue)

ADA parking will be available at the following Jordan East and Stadium West areas:

 - Northwest corner of Jordan East near Bryce Jordan Center Gate B, across from the Penn State All-Sports Museum (accessible from the intersection of Porter Road and Curtin Road)
 - Section of Lot Orange L located between the Bryce Jordan Center and Jordan East (accessible from Dauer Drive via University Drive)
 - Southwest corner of Stadium West near University Drive/Curtin Road intersection (accessible only from Park Avenue)

To ensure the safety of all guests and to assist with traffic flow between each ceremony, guest drop-off in drive lanes is prohibited, and those with mobility issues may be dropped off in the ADA-reserved parking areas. These areas are ADA-accessible and located just a short distance from entrances to the Bryce Jordan Center. Drop-off and pickup in the drive lanes is prohibited. A valid state-issued ADA parking placard is required to park in the designated ADA parking areas.

Curtin Road will also be closed to vehicle traffic between University Drive and the entrance to Jordan East throughout most of the commencement ceremonies to allow safe pedestrian access between Stadium West and the Bryce Jordan Center.

 

Bryce Jordan Center Commencement Ceremonies Interactive Parking Map

Academic dress or the uniform of one of the U.S. Armed Forces is required in order to participate in graduation exercises. Candidates for the baccalaureate and associate degrees should wear the tassel of the cap on the right front edge. Students may order and purchase their caps and gowns from the Penn State Bookstore or our vendor Jostens directly. If you need assistance, please contact the Penn State Bookstore at 814-863-0206.

Note: Schreyer Honors Medals and cords received through the University (academic distinction and/or military cords) are University recognized commencement attire. Additional ornamentation is not permitted.

Diplomas will be mailed by the Office of the University Registrar to the graduate’s home address or LionPATH diploma mailing address approximately four weeks after graduation. For more information, visit registrar.psu.edu. 

Graduates with Disabilities: Penn State encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. Information about commencement is available in alternative media on request.

Parking for Guests with Disabilities: Parking for guests with disabilities is available. For an ADA access map of campus, visit the ADA Access Interactive Map.

ADA seating will be available in each venue.

Graduates, if you anticipate needing any type of accommodation not mentioned above or have questions about the physical access provided for Commencement, please contact the Office of Campus and Community Events at [email protected]. Accommodation arrangements should be made at least 2 weeks prior to commencement to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.

It is the expectation that all graduates will remain on the floor until the conclusion of the ceremony out of respect for the importance and dignity of this occasion. Early departures are disruptive to other graduates and their families. Remaining says much about who we are as a community of Penn Staters and is a true demonstration of “WE ARE…PENN STATE!”

Attendance at any public event involves certain unavoidable risks such as exposure to or infection by transmissible diseases, viruses, and other illnesses (including, but not limited to, COVID-19 and its variants). Your presence at events or programs hosted by The Pennsylvania State University indicates your assumption of any and all such risk as well as your agreement to adhere to all University policies including, but not limited to, those intended to mitigate the spread of transmissible illnesses. As a member of our community or guest, it is your responsibility to practice basic health, safety, and sanitation measures. The University prohibits your attendance if you are symptomatic of any commonly spread transmissible illness.

Information for Families and Guests

  • Gates open 90 minutes prior to the ceremony.
  • Tickets are not required and there is no guest limit. Seating will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Guests will be required to pass through metal detectors before being admitted to Pegula Ice Arena or Bryce Jordan Center.

FOR CEREMONIES AT PEGULA ICE ARENA

Those attending commencement ceremonies at Pegula Ice Arena are encouraged to park at the East Parking Deck, located on Bigler Road near East Halls. 

ADA parking for ceremonies held at Pegula Ice Arena will be available at the section of Lot Yellow H at Shields Building, which is located on Curtin Road just north of Pegula.

Pegula Ice Arena Commencement Ceremonies Interactive Map
 

FOR CEREMONIES AT BRYCE JORDAN CENTER

General parking for Penn State spring commencement ceremonies being held at the Bryce Jordan Center will be available at one or more of the following parking areas, as directed by University Police and event parking staff:

 - Jordan East - located east of the Bryce Jordan Center, and accessible from Porter Road (via Park Avenue or College Avenue) and Dauer Drive (via University Drive)
 - Stadium West - located west of Beaver Stadium, and accessible only from Park Avenue (parking is limited at Stadium West due to the ongoing construction project at Beaver Stadium)
 - Porter North - located north of Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, and accessible from Porter Road (via Park Avenue or College Avenue)

ADA parking will be available at the following Jordan East and Stadium West areas:

 - Northwest corner of Jordan East near Bryce Jordan Center Gate B, across from the Penn State All-Sports Museum (accessible from the intersection of Porter Road and Curtin Road)
 - Section of Lot Orange L located between the Bryce Jordan Center and Jordan East (accessible from Dauer Drive via University Drive)
 - Southwest corner of Stadium West near University Drive/Curtin Road intersection (accessible only from Park Avenue)

To ensure the safety of all guests and to assist with traffic flow between each ceremony, guest drop-off in drive lanes is prohibited, and those with mobility issues may be dropped off in the ADA-reserved parking areas. These areas are ADA-accessible and located just a short distance from entrances to the Bryce Jordan Center. Drop-off and pickup in the drive lanes is prohibited. A valid state-issued ADA parking placard is required to park in the designated ADA parking areas.

Curtin Road will also be closed to vehicle traffic between University Drive and the entrance to Jordan East throughout most of the commencement ceremonies to allow safe pedestrian access between Stadium West and the Bryce Jordan Center.

 

Bryce Jordan Center Commencement Ceremonies Interactive Parking Map

  • Parking for Guests with Disabilities: Parking for guests with disabilities is available. For an ADA access map of campus, visit the ADA Access Interactive Map.
  • ADA seating will be available.
  • If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation not mentioned above or have questions about the physical access provided for Commencement, please contact the Office of Campus and Community Events at [email protected]. Accommodation arrangements should be made at least 2 weeks prior to commencement to allow sufficient time to effectively meet your access needs.
  • Guests are welcome to bring any hand-held photo and video device that can be used from their seats.
  • In the event that you are unable to attend commencement at University Park but would like to join in celebrating your graduate’s achievement, all in-person ceremonies ​at University Park will be viewable via livestream. The College of Education ceremony will be streamed at this link. Check this website for the full list of livestream URLs. Penn State will make every effort to keep live streaming and captioning available for the commencement ceremonies. Recordings of the livestream will be archived and available for viewing later if you miss any part of the ceremony.
  • Please be advised that if your graduate does not attend the ceremony, their name will not be called.

Commencement is a formal academic ceremony. All families are waiting to hear the name of their individual graduate; please hold all noise and clapping until all students have crossed the stage platform.

Attendance at any public event involves certain unavoidable risks such as exposure to or infection by transmissible diseases, viruses, and other illnesses (including, but not limited to, COVID-19 and its variants). Your presence at events or programs hosted by The Pennsylvania State University indicates your assumption of any and all such risk as well as your agreement to adhere to all University policies including, but not limited to, those intended to mitigate the spread of transmissible illnesses. As a member of our community or guest, it is your responsibility to practice basic health, safety, and sanitation measures. The University prohibits your attendance if you are symptomatic of any commonly spread transmissible illness.

Bag policy

The complete Bag Policy can be found at this website.

Questions?

Please refer to the main Penn State commencement website at http://commencement.psu.edu for more information.