Summer 2008 Commencement
No commencement ceremony is held for summer graduation. Summer graduates will be invited to participate in the fall ceremony. Diplomas will be mailed from University Park by mid-September. Be sure your address information is correct on eLion.
Fall 2008 Commencement
Activate your intent to graduate on eLion from August 18 through September 8.
Date: Friday, December 19, 2008
Starting Time/Location: 6:00 p.m. in the Junker Center
Students should meet no later that 5:30 p.m. at the Junker Center. This will allow sufficient time for final instructions, dressing in academic regalia, and formation in the staging area.
If graduates are not planning to attend the commencement ceremony, please complete the form included in this section and return it to the College Registrar, 12 Erie Hall, 4651 College Drive, Erie, PA 16563-0201.
COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER
To be announced
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Candidates planning to attend the fall ceremony need to R.S.V.P. by stopping by the Registrar's table during Senior Salute Days on Monday, November 3, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Tuesday, November 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the Reed Union Building Wintergarden.
Caps, Gowns, Rings, and Announcement Cards
Students participating in the academic procession and ceremony must wear caps and gowns, which can be purchased during Senior Salute Days in the Reed Union Building Wintergarden. At this time, students may purchase class rings and personalized commencement announcement cards. For more information, please contact the Penn State Bookstore at 814-898-6236.
Diplomas
All candidates for graduation will receive verification notices from the University Registrar showing how their names will appear on their diplomas. If the name is incorrect, students should file a request for a name change promptly.
Photography
To commemorate this milestone occasion, a professional photograph is taken of each graduate being congratulated by the Chancellor. Prior to commencement, a mailing will be sent that details this arrangement, including how to place an order. If students or their families do not receive a mailing by December 10, they may call Sonney's Photography at 814-825-1800.
To avoid congestion and to maintain decorum in the ceremony, we ask that family and friends refrain from approaching the platform when taking pictures or using a video camera.
PARKing
Family and friends are encouraged to arrive with sufficient time to park and walk to the Junker Center before the processional begins. We suggest that guests arrive no later than one half hour before the ceremony. Parking at the Junker Center is limited, so visitors may be directed to a nearby parking lot.
GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES
The entrance for persons with disabilities is on the pool side of the Junker Center, before you ascend the hill to the main entrance. There is a short walk from the Junker Center parking lot to the side entrance, so some guests may want to bring a wheelchair. Lion Ambassadors will be stationed nearby to assist guests.
Travel and Accommodations
This site includes information about transportation, directions to campus, and nearby hotels.