Frequently Asked Questions

01. When and where will the main Commencement Ceremony be held?
02. Are tickets required to the main ceremony and is there any limit on how many people I can invite to the Commencement ceremony?
03.Are there any restricted items and/or security requirements?
04. What and where are the Individual Diploma Award ceremonies?
05. Will a videotape or DVD of the Commencement ceremonies be available?
06. How do I obtain information about my diploma status?
07. What is the Baccalaureate Celebration and when/where will it be held?
08. What is the President's Reception and who attends?
09. How do I get to the President's Reception?
10. How do I order my academic attire and other graduate materials?
11. How do I obtain information about disability services?
12. I am driving to campus - where do I park once I arrive?
13. What public transportation is available to get to the Stanford campus?
14. Is there housing on campus for Commencement Weekend?
15. Are there special attire and other elements to consider when attending?
16. Are there additional campus weekend activities?
17. What if it rains?
18. Will any tours be available in and around the campus?
19. What are the Gores, Dinkelspiel and Cuthbertson Awards which are given at Commencement?
20. How do I obtain a copy of the Commencement speeches?

1. When and where will the Commencement ceremony be held?

The Commencement ceremony will begin with a procession at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 15. The official ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. Stanford Stadium (an outdoor facility). Gates will open at 8:00 a.m. No tickets are required to attend this event.

2. Is there any limit on how many people I can invite to the Commencement ceremony?

Tickets to the main Commencement ceremony are NOT required, and there is no limit to the number of guests you may bring.

3. Are there any restricted items and/or security requirements?

A Security and Safety Advisory for the Commencement ceremony.
All bags may be subject to search at all entrances to Stanford Stadium. In the interest of all guests attending the event, certain items will not be allowed.  This will include but not be limited to such items as banners, posters and umbrellas, as well as amplification equipment, such as bullhorns and megaphones, will not be allowed. No alcohol is permitted at any of the ceremonies. Please Note: Due to safety regulations, no strollers are allowed into the seated areas of Stanford Stadium. Guests attempting to park strollers in these areas will be required to remove them. A stroller check area will be provided for your convenience near Gate 3 of the Stadium.

4. What and where are the Individual Diploma Award ceremonies?

Following the main Commencement ceremony in the Stanford Stadium on Sunday, June 15, there will be Individual Diploma Award Ceremonies beginning at 12:30 p.m. At these school and department ceremonies, deans and department chairpersons will present diplomas. (No diplomas are awarded at the main Commencement ceremony.) In most cases, the diploma award ceremonies will conclude by 2:30 p.m.

For your convenience, the list of ceremony locations and a map will be published in the Commencement program distributed at the main Commencement ceremony on Sunday, June 15. More information about these ceremonies and their locations are also available by visiting the Individual Diploma Awards Ceremonies page or contacting the respective schools or departments directly. Graduating students will also be contacted directly by their schools and departments regarding specific diploma ceremony plans.

5. Will a videotape or DVD of the Commencement Ceremony be available?

The ceremonies will not be videotaped or made available on DVD. However, there will be ceremony highlights that will be displayed on the Commencement web site the week following Commencement. Copies of keynote speeches will be available, as well as highlights of the entire weekend. Visit this site again the week after Commencement to obtain this information. The main Commencement ceremonies in Stanford Stadium will also be broadcast live on Stanford radio, KZSU 90.1 FM.

Stanford on iTunes http://itunes.stanford.edu/ will also present a podcast of the ceremony.

6. How do I obtain information about my diploma status?

A diploma will be ready for formal presentation ONLY if the graduate follows the instructions in a separate communication that will be sent via e-mail from the Office of the University Registrar. Please direct any questions to that office at registrar@stanford.edu or visiting http://registrar.stanford.
edu/students/academics/graduation.htm.

7. What is the Baccalaureate celebration and when/where will it be held?

The Baccalaureate celebration is for graduates, families and friends is the bookend to the Opening Convocation held four years ago - a time to acknowledge the spiritual contribution to the education of the whole person. The ceremony will include a senior class speaker and guest speaker; the music of Talisman A Cappella and Stanford Taiko; and readings and reflections from a variety of religious traditions, under the auspices of the Office for Religious Life focusing on this important life passage. The celebration will be held outdoors on Saturday, June 14, at 9:30 a.m. at the Main Quadrangle. No tickets are required but seating is limited.

8. What is the President's Reception and who attends?

On Saturday afternoon, June 14, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. President John L. Hennessy and Mrs. Andrea Hennessy will host a reception for graduates and their families in the gardens of the Lou Henry Hoover House. At this time, you will have an opportunity to meet President Hennessy, Mrs. Hennessy, and members of the Stanford faculty and administration. No tickets are required for this event.

9. How do I get to the President's Reception?

For your convenience, shuttle service will be available to take you to the reception and afterwards return you to the main campus. The shuttle will pick up guests at Tresidder Memorial Union and return them there throughout the afternoon.

Shuttle Schedule:
Shuttle leaves Tresidder Memorial Union for President’s Reception every 10 minutes between 3:20 pm and 4:50 pm. Shuttle leaves President’s Reception and returns to Tresidder Memorial Union every 10 minutes between 4:00 pm and 5:20 pm.

If you prefer to walk to Hoover House, the distance can be covered in approximately 10 to 15 minutes from Tresidder (portions of the walk are uphill). A map with walking directions can be found in the Commencement brochure and will also be available at the Tresidder Memorial Union shuttle stop. Please Note: There is NO parking available for vehicles at the Hoover House.

10. How do I order my Academic Attire?

The Stanford Bookstore will offer cap for purchase and gowns for rent, as well as announcements and other Commencement memorabilia. These can be ordered online from March 1 to April 28 at stanfordbookstore.com.

Your academic attire will be available for pickup at the Bookstore beginning Friday, June 6 from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Regular pickup hours will be the following Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Friday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.; Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you are unable to pick up your attire during these hours, please contact the bookstore, (650) 329-1217, extension 394, to make special arrangements. For further information, please visit the Bookstore's website or call the Bookstore at (650) 329-1217 or (800) 533-2670, extension .394.

Please note: after your Individual Diploma Award Ceremony on Sunday, June 15, you will need to return your cap and gown to either the Bookstore or to another designated drop off area around the campus that will be available on June 15 and 16.

11. How do I obtain information about disability services?

Some assistance will be available at Stanford Stadium on Sunday, June 15, for the disabled and the elderly. A form for special requests is available on the Disability section of this site. Request forms and other disability related information will be mailed to parents and graduates in March. For more information about campus accessibility services or other accommodations, please contact the Stanford Diversity and Access Office at (650) 725-0326 (voice), (650) 723-1791 (FAX) or email: disability.access@stanford.edu.

12. I am driving to campus - where do I park once I arrive?

Traffic will be congested and parking will be limited for the Commencement ceremony on Sunday. Please refer to the parking map in the Commencement brochure.

The Commencement parking map and the Baccalaureate parking map are also available to download or you may visit the Getting Around section on this site.

Disability Parking Note : Individual disability parking spaces, marked in blue, are located throughout the campus. These spaces will remain reserved for vehicles displaying state-issued (any state) disability placards or license plates. All others will be cited. Temporary disability parking permits for mobility-impaired guests will be available from the Stanford Diversity and Access Office. These Stanford-issued permits will only be valid in specially designated lots for the Baccalaureate and Commencement Ceremony. If you have a state issued permit you DO NOT need a Stanford temporary permit.

Events may be located some distance from each other. Please plan accordingly.

13. What public transportation is available to get to the Stanford Campus?

There are several sources of public transportation available in the Bay Area that can be utilized to get you to the Stanford University Campus. Visit the Bay Area Transit section of Stanford's Parking and Transportation department for further information on how you can get to Stanford University by using public transportation.

14. Is housing available on campus for Commencement weekend?

Limited campus housing for parents and guests of graduating students is available from Friday, June 13 through Sunday, June 15. Parents of graduating students will receive information regarding graduation housing in their Commencement packet. For detailed information, see the On-Campus Housing section of the Commencement packet or contact the Wilbur Housing Front Desk at (650) 736-9982 or julialiu@stanford.edu. Please confer with your graduate student regarding arrangements if you are interested in reserving space.

Please Note: The rooms in which your guests would stay are student rooms located in Branner and Wilbur Halls. All rooms are actual dormitory rooms with shared bathrooms and there is no air conditioning. There are no guarantees as to which building(s) your guest(s) will be assigned, however, every effort is made to keep parties together. Your graduate will have to make reservations in person with the Branner Hall Office. Reservations will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis until all rooms are reserved. Please also visit the Travel and Lodging section in this site to learn more about off-campus accommodations and available Bay Area hotels.

15. Are there special attire and other elements to consider when attending Commencement weekend?

Although the ceremonies begin early, these locations can become quite warm. Dress for the heat; light clothing is advisable. The Main Quadrangle and Stanford Stadium are open areas, and there is no escaping the sun. Therefore, visors, hats, and sun block are strongly recommended. Water will be available in the Main Quadrangle for the Baccalaureate Celebration and in the Stanford Stadium for the Commencement Ceremony. You may also wish to bring bottled water of your own. On the morning of the ceremony, hats will be available for purchase at the concessions located in Stanford Stadium.

Events may be located some distance from each other. Please consider wearing comfortable shoes.

For current weather conditions and an extended forecast for the Stanford area visit the following site: http://www.weather.com/weather/local/94305.

Stroller Check Area: Due to safety regulations, no strollers will be allowed in the seated areas of Stanford Stadium. Guests attempting to park strollers in these areas will be required to remove them. A stroller check area will be provided for your convenience near Gate 3 of the Stadium.

Security and Safety Advisory: All bags may be subject to search at all entrances to Stanford Stadium. In the interest of all guests, large items, such as banners, posters, and umbrellas, as well as amplification equipment, such as bullhorns and megaphones, will not be allowed. No alcohol is permitted at any of these ceremonies.

Smoking Guidelines: Smoking is prohibited in outdoor locations where arranged seating (fixed or temporary) is provided for programs or events. Outdoor locations include, but are not limited to, the Main Quadrangle, Stanford Stadium, pools, amphitheaters, courtyards, decks, and gardens. Smoking is prohibited in all indoor locations. We appreciate your adherence to this policy.

16. Are there additional campus weekend activities?

During Commencement weekend, various campus organizations conduct special celebrations for students, families, and friends. You are cordially invited to participate in these community celebrations. Tickets and reservations are required for some events. For further information, please refer to continuing updates provided in the Commencement Schedule.

17. What if it Rains?

If it is determined due to severely inclement weather that we must utilize the rain plan, it will be announced by 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 14 for the Baccalaureate celebration and by 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 15 for the main Commencement ceremony on the Stanford Radio Station - KZSU 90.1 FM, and other available radio stations in the area. You can also phone Stanford Events at:  650-723-2551 for updates.

18. Will any tours be available in and around the campus?

Stanford's Visitor Information Services office will be open throughout the weekend. Walking tours are scheduled for 11:00 a.m. and 3:15 p.m on Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15.

For more information on other special tours and points of interest, please visit the Getting Around section of this website. Some tours over Commencement weekend will include:

Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve.  Reservations are required. (650) 851-6813. Please wear casual clothes, and hiking or comfortable walking shoes.

The University Museum, known as the Cantor Arts Center will be open for tours on Saturday and Sunday. Docent tours of the Rodin Sculpture Garden and the Center will be available at 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. respectively.

19. What are the Gores, Dinkelspiel and Cuthbertson Awards which are given at the Commencement Ceremony?

These awards acknowledge excellence in various contributions made by Stanford faculty, students and staff. Visit Registrar's Awards page for more information.

20. How do I obtain a copy of the Commencement speeches?

Copies of key note speeches will be available in the weeks following Commencement. Visit this site again after Commencement to obtain this information.