Information for Faculty

Specific details about your participation in Commencement are typically sent via email from your college's lead marshal, a member of the Commencement Committee, or a representative from the Office of the Provost prior to your college's ceremony. 

If you are a faculty member from another college who would like to join the processional in different ceremony in order to participate in a ceremony where a family member is a degree candidate, please contact the lead marshal for the candidate's academic college.

Faculty marshals, degree candidate marshals and faculty members who attend Commencement and sit on the arena floor (in front of or next to degree candidates) during the ceremony are members of the faculty processional. 

Your college's lead marshal will give you a parking permit for Lot 21 (see Commencement Parking map) prior to the ceremony. Instructions for parking, security protocols, arrival times, robing room locations and refreshments are printed on the back of the pass.

Permits are limited and cannot be replaced if lost. Please display your parking pass on your windshield when driving on campus so that you may park in the designated area. You will not be admitted to the lot without the designated parking pass. 

You may also carpool or take shuttle transportation from the Union Garage or Administration Building. Shuttles run from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Please arrive by 8:45 a.m. (for the morning ceremony) or 1:45 p.m. (for the afternoon ceremony). All ceremony participants are subject to security screening at the building entrance. 

If picking up rental regalia, please visit the University Store.

Once inside and after picking up rental regalia (if applicable), please report directly to the faculty robing room in Towson Center, Room 379 (new location). The faculty robing room 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.

• College lead marshals and commencement staff members will be available upon arrival to check faculty in and assist with robing and processional instructions.  
• After checking-in at the robing room, faculty members are encouraged to visit the candidate robing room, which is located nearby in the Towson Center gymnasiums (staff will provide directions to this area if needed). 
• Refreshments are provided for members of the faculty processional prior to each Commencement ceremony. A variety of dietary options will be available.
• All processing faculty members will line up for the processional into SECU Arena 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony (9:45 a.m. or 2:45 p.m.).
• The Commencement procession will begin with the degree candidates at the stated ceremony start time. Faculty process into the arena after the students and just before the stage party.

Processing faculty will spend approximately 20 minutes standing and walk a half a mile (each way) from the Towson Center to the SECU Arena. We strongly recommended that you wear comfortable shoes that day. However, if you cannot walk long distances, stand for a period of time, or need another accommodation, please contact your college's lead marshal, the member of the Commencement Committee assigned to your role, or Office of the Provost representative to request alternate arrangements.

No. Only grand marshals, VIP marshals, name card presenters and readers are required to attend rehearsal the Tuesday prior to the ceremonies. Degree candidate marshals and faculty marshals will meet with the ceremony coordinator prior to the start of the ceremony to review the responsibilities of the role.

• Faculty may rent regalia online beginning October 24 (for Winter) or March 1 (for Spring). All orders must be placed by November 18 (for Winter) or April 8 (for Spring).
• Orders should be placed online. If you have questions about placing your order, please contact the U-Store. If you are a faculty member in the College of Education, please contact Ruth Evelyn Schmidt to place your order. 
• Once ordered, a representative from the University Store will ensure that your rented regalia is waiting for you at the appropriate location.

*If ordering after this date, expedited shipping charges will apply