Commencement Info for Parents

Information for Families and Guests

• Important Dates
• Lodging
• Logistics: Getting to Chico, Parking and Seating
• Disabled and Elderly Parking and Seating
• Chico Weather Information and Heat Safety
• Medical Emergencies
• The Commencement Ceremony
• Remembering the Day
• Chico Resources

Important Dates: Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies and Celebrations

Chico State has two official undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies:

Saturday, May 24, 2008*

College of Agriculture
College of Behavioral and Social Sciences
College of Business
College of Engineering, Computer Science, and Construction Management

Sunday, May 25, 2008 *

College of Communication and Education (including Liberal Studies)
College of Humanities and Fine Arts
International and Interdisciplinary Studies (includes Latin American Studies, Asian Studies, Jewish Studies, Special Majors, and Multicultural and Gender Studies)
College of Natural Sciences

* Ceremonies begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. in University Stadium
and will be held rain or shine.

Additional Celebrations:

Thursday, May 22:

Recognition of Credential Candidates - Department of Education Celebration - TICKETS REQUIRED:
Location: Laxson Auditorium, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Contact: Education Services Center, Contact: Debbie Vermette: 898-6485, dvermette@csuchico.edu

Friday, May 23:

Nurses Pinning - NO TICKETS REQUIRED
Location: Bell Memorial Auditorium, 4:00 p.m.
Contact: Dorene Gibson: 898-5891, dlgibson@csuchico.edu

ECC Graduation Celebration - Engineering, Computer Science and Construction Management - TICKETS REQUIRED
Location: Laxson Auditorium, 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Contact: Ann Pyeatt, 898-5963, apyeatt@csuchico.edu

Graduate-Master Degree Ceremony - TICKETS REQUIRED
Location: Laxson Auditorium, 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
(Must have tickets)
Contact: Diana Parks, 898-6049, drparks@csuchico.edu

Saturday, May 24:

Black Commencement Celebration - NO TICKETS REQUIRED
Location: PAC 144 (Performing Arts Center) (Harlen Adams), 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Contact: Tray Robinson, 898-4764, trobinson@csuchico.edu

Latino Commencement Celebration - TICKETS REQUIRED
Location: Laxson Auditorium, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Contact: Carol Robinson, 898-6831, crobinson@csuchico.edu

Lodging

Be sure to book lodging reservations early as all hotels and motels fill quickly for commencement weekend. Click here for a list of local hotels.

Another option is to stay in residence halls on campus. For information, call the Housing Office at 530-898-6325 or visit their Graduation Accommodations Web site .

Logistics

MapQuest Directions to Chico

Airport Information: Chico Municipal Airport ; Sacramento International Airport

Parking on Campus
Public parking is available in all lots on campus, including the reserved parking lots, with the exception of the Student Health Center Parking lot and the University Stadium lot, which have been reserved for handicapped/elderly parking. Click here for a Chico State parking lot map.

Ceremony Seating in University Stadium
We suggest that your guests come early the morning of commencement to take advantage of the best parking and stadium seating. University Stadium will open at 7:30 a.m. the day of the ceremony. Guests should bring hats, since the stadium is in the direct sun and can be quite warm and there are no shaded areas available. As there is no reserved seating , guests are advised to arrive early to get seats of their choice. No tickets are needed to get into the stadium.

Disabled and Elderly Parking and Seating

The Student Health Center parking lot and the entire University Stadium lot have been designated for disabled and elderly parking. There will also be one shuttle cart going back and forth from the parking structure on 2nd and Ivy Streets that you can flag down for a ride to the arena. There are designated waiting areas for the shuttle or it can be flagged down.

Limited ground-level seating is available on both sides of the stadium for guests who cannot use bleacher seating due to physical disabilities. This area is only for the elderly and disabled. One person may accompany the guest with the disability . Other family members are advised to arrive early for choice seating in both the bleachers and ground-level seating. Please know the special seating area also gets filled up and crowded.

Please note there are no wheelchairs available and if you feel you might need one, please consider renting one for the day. For disability-related accommodations please call (530) 898-5959.

When the ceremony is over there won't be any assistance to help people exit. It probably is best you just have patience, enjoy, and wait for the crowd to thin. There is a shuttle to the parking structure, which will be available for 30 minutes after the ceremony.

Chico Weather Information and Heat Safety

Commencement ceremonies are held outside, and temperatures are often in the 90's. Click here for Chico weather information. To prepare for these warm conditions, please refer to our Heat Safety Web site. Bottled water is sold in the stadium as a scholarship fundraiser for the Chico State Alumni Association's Chico Chapter.

Medical Emergencies

University Police Officers will be on hand to provide any needed assistance, and a life-support vehicle and two bicycle EMT's will be available for emergency situations.

The Commencement Ceremony

The Commencement Ceremony lasts approximately two hours. Candidates will sit in designated areas according to college. Click here for University Stadium map showing college seating layout. Each candidate will walk across the platform as his or her name is read and will be congratulated by the dean of the college. Out of respect to all the candidates and their families and guests, we ask that you remain in your seats until the conclusion of the ceremony.

Remembering the Day

Students participating in the undergraduate ceremonies will receive a commemorative program listing the names of all candidates eligible for graduation. Guests attending the ceremony will receive a day program listing speakers and the order of the ceremony and no commemorative programs will be sold or otherwise available.

Each candidate will be professionally photographed and videographers will capture the ceremony. For more information on purchasing photos and videos please click here.