Cornell University Commencement

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Tickets | Severe Weather Plan

Tickets for Commencement Ceremony

Outdoor Ceremony in Schoellkopf Stadium--Tickets are NOT Needed

The main ceremony on Sunday morning is held in the football stadium and does NOT require tickets. However, seating is first-come, first-served. Guests may start arriving as early as 8:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. to find a seat. The ceremony WILL be held outside in a normal rain situation, so be prepared with umbrellas, coats, etc.

Click here to view Ithaca's 10-day weather forecast

Indoor Severe-Weather Plan Ceremony--Tickets ARE Needed

Our severe weather plan is defined as potentially dangerous weather, torrential downpour, high winds, lightning, unsafe conditions for our guests to sit outside. If these conditions do not apply, then the ceremony will be outside in Schoellkopf Stadium (even in rain).

If we determine the morning of Commencement that we need to enact our severe weather plan and move the ceremony inside, admission will be by "severe weather ticket" only.

Each student was mailed 4 severe weather plan tickets in their Commencement information packet in late February. This packet was mailed to the "local address" the student had provided on Just The Facts at that time.

August 2008 and January 2009 graduates: the packet was mailed to the "home address" as listed in Just the Facts.

May 2009 graduates: the packet was mailed to the "local address" as listed in Just the Facts.

Two of the four severe weather tickets will provide access to Barton Hall where the main ceremony will take place IF we are under a severe weather plan. The graduate does not need a ticket, so he/she may give both tickets to family.

The other two severe weather tickets in the packet will provide access to alternate sites to view the ceremony on large TV screens. These sites are in Bartels Hall, Kennedy Hall Auditorium, and Statler Auditorium. (Note: the ceremony will be webcast as well as shown on our local Channel 16 for viewing by family members who do not have an indoor ticket.)

These tickets can only be used at the time printed on the ticket.

If a student did not receive their packet with severe weather tickets, it could be for one of the folllowing reasons:

- The post office could not deliver the packet. If the post office returned the packet to us as undeliverable, the student was immediately notified by email to come pick up their packet at B13 Day Hall.

- The student did not provide an address. If the student did not provide a local address on Just The Facts, their packet remained in the Commencement Office, as we were unable to mail it. These students were notified by email to come pick up their packet at B13 Day Hall.

We cannot issue replacement or additional tickets for the indoor (severe weather plan) ceremony, as seating will be very limited. Thank you for your cooperation.

Severe Weather Plan for Commencement Ceremony

Unless there is severe weather, (e.g., torrential rains and lightning), the ceremony will be held outdoors at Schoellkopf Stadium—even if it is raining. If showers do occur, certain events may be eliminated or shortened.

Please advise your family and friends to be prepared for the weather.

If severe weather is expected, either the ceremony in Schoellkopf Stadium will be delayed or two abbreviated indoor ceremonies will be conducted in Barton Hall. The details will be announced on local radio and television stations starting at 8:00 a.m. on commencement day.

If it becomes necessary to hold the ceremony indoors, the degree groups will be honored at the following times:

10:30 a.m.
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
College of Arts and Sciences
Johnson Graduate School of Management
College of Veterinary Medicine
Law School

1:00 p.m.
College of Architecture, Art, and Planning
College of Engineering
Graduate School
School of Hotel Administration
College of Human Ecology
School of Industrial and Labor Relations

Degree candidates will be directed to seating areas arranged by college. Guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis and many will be asked to stand. Special provisions have been made for mobility-impaired persons who preregister.

Candidates and guests for the first ceremony may enter through the doors either on the Statler side or on the Teagle side of Barton Hall. After the ceremony, everyone should exit as rapidly as possible through the doors on the Teagle side of Barton Hall.

Those attending the second ceremony should enter only through the doors on the Statler side of Barton Hall but may exit through any door.

Mobility-impaired guests should enter through specially designated doors on the Teagle side of Barton Hall for either ceremony.

Please note: No animals (other than service animals), alcoholic beverages or glass bottles are allowed inside Barton Hall.