Frequently Asked Questions

Empire Photography will take photos of each graduate as they receive their diploma.

To receive your complementary proofs please register at: www.empirephotos.com/gradregistration  

Proof are sent within 48 hours of the ceremony.  If you are not finding your proof, please contact their customer service department.

Students need to arrive 30 minutes before their ceremony begins.

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.

Graduates are encouraged to limit their guests to no more than six in Page Arena. Additional guests are invited to attend the ceremony via live-stream on the large digital display board in Hunt Arena, just a few steps away from Page Arena within the Falcon Center. 

Accessibility seating is available on the main floor behind the reserved seating for graduating students, as well as in the upper level on the east side of Page Arena.  All the bleachers on the west side of the arena have backrests. If you require special seating, please arrive at least 45 minutes before the ceremony to insure a seat.

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.

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.

Please view our traffic map for suggested routes.
Traffic Map

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.