Quinnipiac University
Aerial view of hundreds of grads and guests on the quad during Commencement

Commencement

Graduate and Guest Details

Below you'll find details about how graduates and guests can prepare for and what to expect for Commencement.

Tickets and Seating

Eligibility

Students eligible to participate in Commencement will be sent communications about their ceremony through their Quinnipiac email. If you have any questions about your eligibility, or to confirm your eligibility, please connect with your academic adviser. 

Tickets

  • All graduates in our Saturday and Sunday ceremonies will receive 6 tickets each.

    • All guests for the Saturday and Sunday ceremonies will need tickets to access the Mount Carmel Quadrangle, where the ceremonies will take place.

    • Further information on registering for tickets will be sent to graduates in early April.

  • There will be no tickets required for the School of Law and Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine ceremonies being held on Friday because of smaller ceremony sizes.

Seating

Seating will be general admission. Staff will be available to assist you in finding a seat.

Tickets should either be printed clearly (no fading ink) or displayed on a mobile device for entry to the ceremony.

  • Seating will be outdoors on a flat grassy surface for the Saturday and Sunday ceremonies.

  • Seating for the Friday ceremonies will be in the arena stadium seats.

Seating for those with disabilities will be available and wheelchairs can be accommodated. Staff will be able to assist you on arrival. Please note that the university does not provide wheelchairs.

Arrival and Parking Information

Parking will be available close to the ceremony location on each campus. When graduates and guests arrive on campus, parking staff will be on hand to direct traffic. 

Guest Arrival and Parking

Access to the ceremony location will open up to 90 minutes prior to each ceremony. Guests with tickets will be able to access the ceremony seating with their tickets beginning 90 minutes prior to the ceremony that the ticket is for.

Graduate Arrival and Parking

Graduates are expected to arrive to line up 90 minutes before their respective ceremony. Information will be posted and emailed to graduates regarding parking and line up locations.

Accessible Parking and Assistance

Accessible parking is available. If you require accessible parking, please let the parking staff know upon arrival and they will assist you.

Shuttles and golf carts will be provided to those needing assistance getting to the Quadrangle (or into the M&T Bank Arena for School of Law and Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine ceremonies).

Weather Guidelines

Weather Policy

The Saturday and Sunday ceremonies will take place on the Quadrangle on the Mount Carmel Campus. Ceremonies will take place outside rain or shine. 

Outdoor Weather

The Quadrangle is an open, unshaded space. Please plan accordingly as the ceremonies will run roughly 2-2.5 hours each including the time you are seated prior to the beginning of the ceremony. A tent providing shade as well as indoor livestream areas will be available, but please plan for the weather conditions.

Please note that the grass and sidewalks will develop puddles and sogginess in the rain. Please plan footwear and clothing accordingly. Please bring raincoats and ponchos. Umbrellas will only be permitted if standing at the rear of the audience so that they do not block the view of other guests. 

Livestream and Ceremony Recording

All ceremonies will be livestreamed and recorded. The ceremony recording will be accessible following the ceremonies on this Commencement website.

More Details

Welcome to the Alumni Family

You're now a Bobcat for Life and part of a network of more than 60,000 alumni — worldwide! If you haven't already, please join Bobcat Connect, Quinnipiac’s exclusive platform for connecting students and alumni to help you achieve lifelong personal and professional success. If you’d like to connect with the Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, please email alumni@qu.edu.