Commencement Ceremony Details

Whether you’re attending Commencement as a graduate or guest, here’s what to know to make this special day go as smoothly as possible.

Ceremony Schedule

The commencement ceremony runs approximately 1 1/2 - 2 hours long. During the ceremony, we ask that you be respectful with your applause so all names can be heard.

Winter 2025 Commencement Ceremony

The 2025 Winter commencement ceremonies will be held on December 17 & December 18.

Watch the Livestream

A livestream of each Commencement ceremony will be available daily. Ceremony recordings will also be posted on this page once they are made available.

What to Prepare

Graduates

The graduate checklist offers a step-by-step guide for preparing for your special day, and you can download the Commencement guide for event notifications and the ability to ask questions leading up to ceremony day. Plan to bring your mailed parking permits with you to the ceremony as you’ll need them to park in lots 4, 5 and 6, which are reserved for graduates. Arrive at the robing room with your photo ID 90 minutes before your ceremony.

You can bring small bags (10 x 10 x 2 or smaller) into the room; leave all other items (including coats, umbrellas and extra shoes) at home or with loved ones.

Once you're in the robing room, you’ll use your photo ID to check in, then follow instructions to check your name pronunciation. Let event staff know if you need accommodations to access the stage. Robing room staff will offer instructions on crossing the stage.

Guests

We’re so excited to welcome you to TU. Make sure to have your tickets ready and to give yourself plenty of time to get to SECU Arena. You’ll park in the Union Parking Garage and take a shuttle to the arena. Shuttles will run continuously from two hours before each ceremony until one hour after each ceremony. Doors open 90 minutes before each ceremony. Accessible parking is available in lot 8 for individuals with handicap permits. Event staff will be on hand to offer wheelchair transport from the adjacent Towson Center to the arena.

All guests entering the arena will need a ticket. This applies to children of all ages, including infants in carriers.

Only mobile tickets are accepted. Forged, printed or photocopied tickets will not be honored. Screenshots of the ticket barcode will not scan at the door. Support for accessing tickets is available inside the entrances at Gates 1 and 2.

All guests will go through handheld metal detection and bag checks before entering the arena.

Unopened bottles of water are permitted, and flowers and gifts are encouraged. Leave noisemakers and balloons at home—they are among the items not allowed at Commencement.

Faculty

Please arrive by 8:30 a.m. (for the 10 a.m. ceremony) and 1:30 p.m. (for the 3 p.m. ceremony) in the Towson Center and follow directional signage to the faculty robing area in Hospitality Room on the third floor of the arena. The faculty robing area is not secured during the ceremony to store belongings, so valuable items, as well as briefcases and handbags should be stored in your locked vehicle or left in another secure location.

STAGE PARTY ARRIVAL

Please arrive by 8:30 a.m. (for the 10 a.m. ceremony) and 1:30 p.m. (for the 3 p.m. ceremony) in the SECU Arena Multipurpose Room (on the third floor).

HOODING FACULTY ARRIVAL

The Office of Graduate Studies will provide information about a meeting location and a short rehearsal the prior to the ceremony.

SECURITY SCREENING

All ceremony participants are subject to security screening at the building entrance.

During the Ceremony

Take a seat, sit back and enjoy.

Graduates will proceed onto the arena floor in alphabetical order, alternating each side. While we can’t predict which side each graduate will be on, the jumbotron allows all guests to see their loved ones well. If needed, ask a member of the event staff to assist you in locating the accessible seating and sign language interpreting sections.

Graduates and guests will be able to access the ceremony program through a QR code on the jumbotron screen. Concessions are available for purchase on the main concourse.

During the ceremony, we ask that you be respectful with your applause so all names can be heard.

Seating

All seats in the upper deck are open and most seats below are open, except section 104, the top three rows of the black club seats and the concourse wheelchair accessible section. These are reserved for guests with disabilities and one companion. Once the lower seating is full, guests will be directed to sit in the upper level. The elevators do not go to the upper level.

There is no assigned seating in any section of the arena. Guests will be able to see everything well from any section.

Guest Resources

Stroller storage will be available on the concourse level. The area will not be monitored by university staff. Guests may also store wheelchairs in this location if they are not needed during the ceremony. Concessions are available throughout the ceremony. Items can be taken back to guest seats. Unopened bottles of water are permitted upon entry in the arena. A nursing/lactation room is located on the lower level of the arena. Event staff can provide access to guests as needed. Restrooms are located on all sides of the arena.

Emergency Resources

Contact University Police (410-704-4444) or 911. Provide the coordinates of the SECU Arena when giving your location (39.38980, -76.61565).
First Aid stations will be available on the concourse level of the arena.
If you see a lost child, ask them if they know their parent’s phone number and call the family if so. If not, stay in place with the child and have the nearest TU events person radio the TU police.

Post-Event Celebrations and Keepsakes

Families and graduates are encouraged to use numbered flags in Tiger Courtyard to locate each other.

We also recommended that candidates and guests coordinate a meeting location in the plaza outside of the arena.

You can access:

graduate staged photos taken during the ceremony by GradImages
candid photos taken by our university photographers via Flickr
recordings of the ceremonies on the Commencement landing page

Graduates will receive an email when the ceremony images and videos are available.