You've got your tickets, planned how you'll be getting downtown, and it's the day of your commencement ceremony at Providence Park. What should you do when you arrive and what will happen once you get there?
Here is everything you need to know for the day of your commencement ceremony at Providence Park.
Please enter Providence Park through the gate that corresponds with your attendee type. All times are Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).
The School of Business and College of Education Commencement Ceremony — Saturday, June 11, 2022
| Attendee Type |
Gate(s) |
When Gate(s) Open |
| 2022 Graduates — The School of Business |
Gate G |
3:30 PM |
| 2022 Graduates — College of Education |
Gate B |
3:30 PM |
| Accessible 2022 Graduates and Accessible Faculty |
Gate F |
3:30 PM |
| '20 and '21 Alumni |
Gate C |
4:00 PM |
| Guests, General Public and Faculty |
Gates D & F |
4:00 PM |
Be seated by 4:45 p.m.
The ceremony starts at 5:00 p.m.
Professional Schools Commencement Ceremony — Sunday, June 12, 2022
College of Urban and Public Affairs, Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, PSU-OHSU School of Public Health, and School of Social Work
| Attendee Type |
Gate(s) |
When Gate(s) Open |
| 2022 Graduates |
Gates B & G |
8:30 AM |
| Accessible 2022 Graduates and Accessible Faculty |
Gate F |
8:30 AM |
| '20 and '21 Alumni |
Gate C |
9:00 AM |
| Guests, General Public and Faculty |
Gates D & F |
9:00 AM |
Be seated by 9:45 a.m.
The ceremony starts at 10:00 a.m.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Commencement Ceremony — Sunday, June 12, 2022
| Attendee Type |
Gate(s) |
When Gate(s) Open |
| 2022 Graduates |
Gates B & G |
1:30 PM |
| Accessible 2022 Graduates and Accessible Faculty |
Gate F |
1:30 PM |
| '20 and '21 Alumni |
Gate C |
2:00 PM |
| Guests, General Public and Faculty |
Gates D & F |
2:00 PM |
Be seated by 2:45 p.m.
The ceremony starts at 3:00 p.m.
All graduates should be in their seats at least 15 minutes before the ceremony starts.
What will happen at your Providence Park ceremony?
For all attendees
- Have your digital SeatGeek ticket ready. It will be scanned at entry. Don't have your SeatGeek ticket yet? Go to item 7 on the What To Know Before You Go To Providence Park webpage to learn how to get and accept your ticket.
- Graduates, guests, ‘20/’21 alumni, VIPs and doctoral graduates with their dissertation chairs will be seated in designated sections. Faculty are encouraged to sit with graduates. There are no assigned seats. All seating sections are general admission. You can choose who you sit next to.
- All attendees will receive an order of ceremonies program that has a QR code that links to the full commencement program online.
- Providence Park policy prevents anyone from walking on the playing field, which is covered by artificial turf. No ceremony participants will be allowed on the field.
- We encourage you to take photos and videos of your experiences at this year's commencement ceremonies. In addition, PSU staff will be taking photos and videos of the ceremonies that will be used for promotional purposes. Your attendance at a commencement ceremony includes an understanding that those photos and videos may be taken. Should you desire not to be included in such materials, please express your preference directly to the photographer or videographer.
- Concession stands will be open for food and beverage purchases.
- The Commencement Group will be onsite for flower purchases.
- When the ceremony concludes, graduates can meet friends and family outside the stadium on SW Morrison between SW 20th and 18th Avenues.
For graduates
- Once inside the gates, graduates will be directed to a reader card table. This is where graduates will write their name and phonetic spelling on a card that will be used in the ceremony.
- Graduates who need to purchase regalia like caps, gowns or tassels may do so from Herff Jones and the University Market at Smith, who will be onsite selling regalia at each graduate gate entrance. Latin honor cords for those eligible to receive them will also be available at those locations.
- After filling out their reader cards, graduates will be directed to a section for seating.
- Graduates will be seated in designated sections by school or college and degree (bachelor, master, doctoral). There are no assigned seats. All seating sections are general admission. You can choose who you sit next to.
- Each graduate will receive one copy of the full commencement program, which includes the names of all graduating students.
- When it’s time for graduates to walk and receive their diploma covers, rows of graduates will be escorted in line to field level to go across the stage.
- When graduates approach the stage, they will hand their reader cards to the name reader and then accept their diploma covers.
- After graduates receive their diploma covers, they will have their reader cards returned and a photo taken by our vendor GradImages. Photos will be available for purchase post-ceremony with a digital proof.
- Graduates will return to their seats for the remainder of the ceremony.
- Graduates receive diploma covers, not their actual diplomas, at commencement. Diplomas will be mailed to the mailing address graduates provided on their graduation application approximately four weeks after their degree is posted to their records. Visit the diploma information webpage for more information.