Spring Commencement Newsletter

The following lots are within a short walking distance to the Atlantic Union Bank Center:

• Ballard Parking Deck (East Campus Parking Deck). You must use University Blvd. to enter the deck.
• Lots D3, C12, and R4 – 1400 Carrier Drive (these lots are across from the Festival Center)
• Accessible parking is located on every level of the Ballard Parking Deck (the parking deck adjacent to the Atlantic Union Bank Center).
• For student reference, there will be no parking services (ticketing) over Commencement Weekend. Students are permitted to park in both faculty and commuter spaces specifically for Commencement purposes.

The commencement ceremonies in May consist of consecutive ceremonies over a three-day period in our arena, Atlantic Union Bank Center (AUBC). We anticipate a significant number of visitors on campus for the commencement exercises. Our expectation is that all AUBC ceremonies will conclude before the next ceremony welcomes guests and graduates at the entrances. We acknowledge and appreciate your patience with our security team and staff members.

We kindly ask that you do not arrive to the parking lots and entrances until doors open for your ceremony. The JMUGrad Office strongly encourages you to park closer to west campus and walk to the AUBC if you can do so. Another option if you’re concerned about walking from the western side of Interstate 81, would be to park in the lots near the Festival Center, but accessing them from western campus, crossing over Interstate 81 on Carrier Drive. We recommend lots: D2, C12, R4, and C10. You may easily enter campus from S. Main Street or Martin Luther King Jr. Way.

If you need accessible parking in the Ballard Parking Deck, we suggest two options: if you are attending the first ceremonies on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, you should plan to arrive 75 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. Each level of the deck includes DMV-designated handicap parking spaces. Elevator access is available on every level of the deck. If, however, you are attending the second or third ceremonies each day, as applicable, you should plan to arrive when doors open to secure a parking spot, because the deck will need to be cleared from the previous ceremony. You may access Ballard Parking Deck from University Blvd. If the deck is full and you require accessible parking spaces, lots D3 and C12 may be accessed from Carrier Drive or Evelyn Byrd Avenue.

Following the ceremony, we ask that you reunite with your guests on the plaza between the AUBC and the parking deck. As a courtesy to those attending the next ceremony, please vacate the parking lots as well, so that the next attendees may park.

Bag checks and metal detectors will be utilized at all entrances. We encourage you to leave unnecessary bags at home or in your car, if possible, to speed up the process of entering the ceremonies. We will not implement the clear-bag policy for commencement.

Graduates, you should enter the arena using the Plaza Entrance doors – specifically the two doors that are farthest to the right. Your guests may enter at any of the other doors. You will be asked by security personnel to unzip your gown as they look for prohibited items.

Prohibited Items:

• Alcoholic beverages, controlled substances, weapons, fireworks
• Animals (service animals are permitted, to see the policy click here)
• Balloons
• Bags larger than 12”x12”x12”
• Coolers
• Glass and metal containers
• Noise makers and other devices that impede the ceremonies
• Food and beverages (though one unopened bottle of water per person and food for a baby or for health reasons are permitted.) Concessions open when doors open and are located throughout the arena.
• Signs, flags, banners, or obscene or indecent clothing
• Wheelies, bicycles and skateboards
• Wrapped gifts 

Allowed Items:

• One unopened bottle of water per person
• Strollers are permitted; however, guests are encouraged to only bring a stroller if necessary. Strollers brought into the Atlantic Union Bank Center must be left at the Campanelli Club area near Plaza Entrance and cannot be taken to the seating areas. JMU does not accept responsibility for any lost or broken strollers.
• Flowers and small floral balloons
• Still cameras are permitted. However, in no instance may photography interfere with access ways, aisles, or other guests' enjoyment of the ceremonies. Video cameras, monopods and tripods are not permitted. This event will be live-streamed.

Accessible Parking:

Parking within a short walking distance:

• For individuals with official state-issued handicap parking permits and individuals in need of accessible parking, there are reserved spaces in the Ballard Parking Deck and all lots surrounding Atlantic Union Bank Center. Please be certain that your DMV-issued Handicap Permit is displayed and visible.
• Ballard Parking Deck is accessible with elevator service on every level and a short walk through the Plaza to either entrance.
• Surrounding lots with a short walking distance: D3 lot, C12 lot, R4 lot.

 Accessible Seating:

• Atlantic Union Bank Center provides accessible seating for those with limited mobility. Seating in the top of sections 102 and 104 will be reserved for guests who are unable to navigate stairs. To provide adequate seating during the ceremony, we ask that only one guest accompany each guest with limited mobility. The rest of your party may sit in the general admission section.
• Wheelchair seating will be available in the lower concourse, above sections 103, 105, 107 and 109. To provide adequate seating during the ceremony, we ask that only one guest accompany each guest with limited mobility.
• The university does not provide wheelchairs for guests. To view additional information regarding Shenandoah Valley wheelchair rentals, click here.

Captioning and Interpreter Services:

• Closed captioning will be available during all ceremonies on a large screen beside the right side of the stage.
• JMU will provide American Sign Language interpreters for the commencement ceremonies held in Atlantic Union Bank Center. The interpreter will appear on the video board for viewers to follow along. The sign language interpreters will not sign graduate names during the ceremony.
• Commencement ceremonies will be live-streamed on the JMU website the week of Commencement and displayed across social media platforms for online viewers. The live-stream will include captioning.

The following amenities will be available at the commencement ceremonies:

Concessions will be available prior to and during commencement. Concession stands are located on the Champions side of the arena.

The Team Store will be opened for guests and graduates to purchase JMU memorabilia: Class of 2026 t-shirts, Diploma Frames, Alumni gear and much more!

Blakemore's Flowers will be present for guests to purchase floral arrangements for their graduate at commencement. They will be located in the Tenders, Love & Chicken restaturant on the concourse.

Download Your Tickets

All tickets will be released into the gradaute's account this week and will be available for download. Please watch your JMU email address for a message from the Athletics Ticket Office about this along with instructions on how to access and download/transfer your tickets.

Transfer Your Tickets

Please have your tickets transferred to your guests before arriving to AUBC!

• Tickets will be e-mobile tickets. All tickets must be downloaded to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay prior to arriving at Atlantic Union Bank Center. You can have all tickets on one device; however, all guests need to enter the arena at the same time if so.
• Graduates, you will have a ticket for yourself that you will need on your device to enter the arena.
• A barcode will not be displayed, rather the ticket will say “Hold Near Reader” for contactless entry.
• All guest tickets are general seating and are first-come, first-serve.

Ticketing transfer instructions can be found here.

*Note: This website pertains to athletic events, but is the same system for commencement.*

All tickets must be displayed using Apple Wallet or the Google Pay app. Screenshots or printouts of mobile tickets will not be accepted.

For questions about commencement, contact jmugrad@jmu.edu

For questions about ticketing, contact athletic-ticket@jmu.edu

Graduate Seating

Graduates will be seated on the event floor and the order will match the printed program. In most cases, graduates are seated alphabetical by college, then alphabetical by major, followed by alphabetical by last name.

You should have received an email with your section, row, and seat number via email. There will be event staff on the graduate floor to assist you in finding your seat. If you did not receive a seat assignment but have tickets, you will need to arrive to the arena early and stop by the name card table to obtain a name card. Representatives at the table will guide you where best to sit. We ask that you double check that your name card is correct.

There is no place to store purses, jackets, or other personal belongings, so please give those items to family members to safeguard.

Graduate Name Pronunciation

If you have completed the Tassel registration, your phonetic spelling will be displayed on your name card. If you did not complete the tassel registration, the system automatically generates your anticipated phonetic spelling of your name. We kindly ask that you double-check your name card upon arrival.

If you need to give instruction on the pronunciation of your name, please plan to arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the start of your ceremony to go over pronunciation with the reader. The reader will be there until twenty minutes prior to the ceremony. This table is located on the graduate floor to the left of the stage, as you look from your graduate chair on the floor.

Graduates, please remember to have your name card with you as you approach the stage.

Do not place your name card in your pocket - keep it easily accessible and ready! You will need your card twice during this process: First, your card's QR code will be scanned before you enter the ramp. Next, at the top of the ramp, you will hand your card to the reader, who will announce your name.

After your name is announced, proceed to the stop sign on the floor, pause, look up at the video board, and wave to your family and friends. Smile briefly for the camera before continuing across the stage to be congratulated by President Schmidt and your Dean.

Once you exit the stage, stop at the backdrop for a professional photo taken by ProPics, our commencement photographers. When your photos are finished, return to your seat. Out of respect for your fellow graduates, we ask that you remain seated until the ceremony concludes. Take a moment and watch the short Commencement How To video below to visualize these instructions. Please note that this video was created prior to President Schmidt’s arrival on campus, and that this year you will be receiving a JMU certificate cover as you cross the stage and reach him in addition to the steps laid out in the video here.

How to wear your JMU regalia!

Undergraduate candidates, you will need to have your tassel on the right side of the mortarboard and during the ceremony you will shift them to the left in unison when the degree is conferred.

Graduate candidates, you will need to have your tassel on the left side as this is a distinguishing factor between graduate and undergraduate students. You will not move your tassel during the ceremony, as it will remain on the left side.

Please visit the commencement website to view additional information related to the ceremonies.

Graduates, we encourage you to share commencement information with your guests. 

Go Dukes!