Information for Faculty

The process for determining who attends Commencement and in what role varies by college. Generally speaking, participation primarily falls largely into two categories. 

• Members of the stage party
• Members of the processing faculty

Within these categories, there are several special roles (e.g. marshals, name card readers, and presenters) that faculty members fulfill during TU commencement ceremonies. 

A third option for participating in Commencement is as part of the Volunteer Program. Faculty members who choose not to march in the ceremony may volunteer as a member of the candidate relations, guest relations, or logistical teams. Those who would like to participate in the Volunteer Program should respond to the call for volunteers sent via email eight weeks prior to the ceremony. The Office of the Provost coordinates all aspects of the Commencement Volunteer Program.

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.

Anyone entering Towson Center or SECU Arena (i.e. faculty, staff, degree candidates, guests, etc.) will undergo handheld metal detection and bag checks. A TUPD officer will be present at every building entrance where metal detection and bag checks take place.

• Please allow extra time for the safety protocols.
• Bags larger than 22 x 12 x 8 may not be taken into the ceremony. 
• Prohibited items (e.g. food, beverages, alcohol, pepper spray, noisemakers, etc.) are not permitted in SECU Arena or the Towson Center.  

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's regalia station located at the rear corner of the Towson Center Gym, which is just inside the entry door on the end of parking lot 21.

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.

Members of the stage party include  department chairpersons, program directors, Grand Marshals, VIP marshals, Name Readers, Name Card Presenters and faculty members representing Senate, AAUP, TUSC, or another university entity sit on stage during the ceremony with the President, Provost, Vice-Provost, Vice-Presidents, General Counsel, Deans, Associate Deans, Board of Regent representative, Board of Visitor representatives, Alumni Association representative, and GSA and SGA representatives. 

A representative from the Office of the President or Office of the Provost will contact members of the stage party regarding participation in the ceremony approximately two months prior to the ceremony to provide preliminary information.

The Office of the Provost will distribute your parking pass for Lot 20 (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. 

Please arrive by 8:30 a.m. (for the morning ceremony) or 1:30 p.m. (for the afternoon ceremony). All ceremony participants are subject to security screening at the building entrance. 

The stage party robing room is located on the third floor of SECU Arena in the Multipurpose Room (accessible via stairs or by elevator from the ground floor ). If you've requested rental regalia, a robing room coordinator will assist you once you arrive in the robing room.

• If you've rental regalia, the regalia will be in the stage party robing room. Please do not go to another location to pick up rental regalia.
• The stage party robing room is secured during the ceremony to store belongings and items such as briefcases and handbags if needed.
• Lunch and refreshments are provided for members of the stage party prior to or immediately following each Commencement ceremony. A variety of dietary options will be available.

Members of the stage party will spend approximately 15 minutes standing and walk a short distance from the robing room to the SECU Arena. We strongly recommended that you wear comfortable shoes that day. However, if you cannot negotiate stairs, stand for a period of time, or need another accommodation please contact the Office of the Provost to make alternative arrangements.

A loaner closet with regalia donated by retired faculty is available for faculty use. Please email commencement AT_TOWSON to submit a request to use regalia from this inventory. Requests are accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. While the loaner closet continues to grow, there are a limited number of gowns available for borrowing.  Prompt return of the regalia allows those who manage the regalia to return it to inventory and clean and/or repair items as necessary.

• Faculty may rent regalia online beginning October 1 (for Winter) or March 1 (for Spring). An early bird discount is provided for orders placed before November 30 (for Winter) or April 30 (for Spring).
• Faculty who prefer to order via phone should contact Ruth Evelyn Schmidt from the University Store at 410-704-4621 to place a rental order by the dates stated above.
• Once ordered, a representative from the University Store will ensure that your rented regalia is waiting for you at the appropriate location (either the faculty robing room in 117 Towson Center or the Multipurpose Room in SECU Arena based upon your role in the ceremony) on ceremony day.