Frequently Asked Questions

Please be respectful of those around you as you take photos of your graduate.  

Empire Photography has been photographing our commencement ceremonies since 1985. They take photos of each graduate as they receive their diploma and as they exit the.

Your commencement is a once-in-a-lifetime moment so don't miss out on saving these important moments!  Here is the registration link: www.empirephotos.com/gradregistration to preregister your email address so you can receive your complementary proofs. 

Proof are sent within 48 hours of the ceremony.  If you are not finding your proof, please contact their customer service department at 608-257-2941 or customerservice@empirephotos.com.  You can also use this link to fill out the following form. Request Proof Form  

When candidates arrive before their scheduled ceremony, they are instructed to line up according to colleges.

The commencement ceremonies last approximately 1 to 1.5 hours. This can vary depending upon the number of degree candidates participating in each ceremony.

It is expected that the degree candidates and their guests remain in the Falcon Center for the duration of the ceremony.

Adequate seating is usually available for commencement; therefore, no reserved seating is provided nor are tickets required for guests.

There is limited handicapped/special needs seating in the center. If you require special seating, please arrive at least 30-45 minutes before the ceremony.

There are limited disabled parking spaces available. Parking attendants will be on duty prior to and during commencement to assist with these efforts. If you are in need of special parking arrangements, please call University Police at 715-425-3133.

My student’s name is not in the program, why not?

First off, we sincerely apologize if your student's name was inadvertently excluded from the Commencement Ceremony printed program. We do our best to be sure as many students as possible are included. If your student's name was not, there may be a few reasons:

• They did not apply to graduate by the print deadline. This deadline is listed on the commencement website and announced throughout the term. If they don't apply, we don't know their name is missing. If they apply late, unfortunately, we can't add their name after it has been sent for the proof creation and to the printer.
• They have FERPA restrictions on their account. If we have not received any correspondence or information that they would like their name listed, we are required to remove their name from the printed list.

Remember, if the student's name is in the printed program or not, they can still participate in the ceremony. Names are read from a reader card, not directly from the printed program. Reader cards are provided onsite the day of the ceremony by commencement staff and volunteers.

Logo apparel and personalized items are great gifts for grads. Order gifts online.

Families/guests should plan for traffic delays and congestion as they enter the Falcon Center parking area. Arriving early to avoid delays would be beneficial.

Traffic Map