You are here: CSU, Chico | Commencement Information | Information for Families & Guests

Information for Families & Guests

Commencement Ceremonies Dates

Ceremonies begin promptly at 9 a.m. in University Stadium

Saturday, May 19, 2012

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

Sunday, May 20, 2012

  • Communication and Education (including Liberal Studies)
  • Humanities and Fine Arts
  • Natural Sciences

Back to top

Lodging

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

Back to top

Logistics: Getting to Chico, Parking, Seating, and Maps

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.  

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.

Maps

Back to top

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.

Back to top

Chico Weather Information and Heat Safety

Commencement ceremonies are held outside, and temperatures are often in the 90's. To prepare for these warm conditions, please refer to our heat safety website or check out the local weather report. Bottled water is sold in the stadium as a scholarship fundraiser for the Chico State Alumni Association's Chico Chapter.

Back to top

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.

Back to top

The Commencement Ceremony

The Commencement Ceremony lasts approximately two hours. Candidates will sit in designated areas according to college. 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.

Back to top

Remembering the Day

Photos
The Commencement Ceremony does not provide good close-up photo opportunities for your family and guests. Guests are asked to remain in their seats throughout the ceremony and will not be allowed on the field or near the stage. Please be courteous of other guests and sensitive to their sight lines from their seats. Because of this, we have made arrangements with a professional firm, GradImages, to record the moment you are awarded your diploma cover.

You have no obligation to purchase anything. You may place orders by:
Phone: 800-424-3686; Fax: 515-472-1830;
E-mail: client@chappell.com
Web registration: GradImages website
Graduates can pre-register their own e-mail address and those of friends and family (up to six e-mail addresses total) and GradImages will contact them as soon as their photos are available for online viewing and ordering.

Videos

CSU CHICO GRADUATION DVD

CSU Chico is partnering with gradmemory.com to provide a professional DVD of the 2012 graduation ceremony to be held on May 19th & 20th, 2012. This PERFECT GRADUATION GIFT is available to order now at www.gradmemory.com The Graduation DVD contains the complete graduation ceremony including graduates shaking hands with their college dean. The DVD package can be uniquely PERSONALIZED with your ‘Name’ and ‘Picture’. 
If you have questions, please contact GradMemory directly. Email - support@gradmemory.com or call 866-977-4723


To view and print out the form you will need the free Acrobat Reader software. If you have questions, please contact GradMemory directly. Email- support@gradmemory.com or call 866-977-4723

Back to top

Chico Resources

Please enjoy your time while visiting Chico. Listed below are Web links for Chico-area activities.

Back to top