SEAS & PitE Commencement 2025

Graduates must wear their cap and gown. Your tassel should be worn on the right side. Academic attire can be purchased at various Ann Arbor locations. Review a video on how to wear your attire here. 

Academic Attire:

• PitE tassel colors are white (BA), yellow (BS), or russet (SEAS)
• SEAS hood and tassel color is russet for master's (MS and MLA)
• PhDs wear royal blue hoods

You may be standing for parts of the ceremony and walking up and down flights of stairs; please plan shoes accordingly.

Graduates can also apply for the Excellence in Sustainability Honors Cords from Planet Blue. More information about how to apply can be found here. Application for a cord must be submitted by April 4, 2025. Contact [email protected] with any questions.

Make sure that your permanent address in Wolverine Access is up to date, as that is where the Registrar's Office will send your diploma. This happens about 8 weeks after graduation.

Graduates: If you are unable to walk up or down flights of stairs, or have any mobility concerns, please email [email protected] as soon as possible. 

Graduating Students must arrive at 1:00 p.m. to check in and fill out a name card. 

Graduates must check in. The check-in location is at the main entrance of the Crisler Center, inside of the Ticket Booth. You will be given your name and photo cards, and directed to your place in the procession line. Your name and photo cards are needed as you cross the stage to be recognized.

Safety and security screening note:

Upon entering Crisler, DPSS will have weapons detection systems that are required for all individuals entering the building. To keep lines streamlined, guests will not be required to empty pockets when going through the detection system, unless further screening is deemed necessary.

There are two parking options available to graduates and their guests:

1. Pioneer High School Parking lot: spaces should be available; no charge, must use the Main St. entrance and park on the east side of the parking lot (close to the commuter lot/Main St). Do not use the Stadium entrance since school will be in session.
2. A limited number of spaces will be available at Crisler Center, as the lots are open to anyone on this day. You may park anywhere in the Crisler lot.

*Note: Handicapped spaces (60) will be available by the Northeast entrance of Crisler Center on a first come, first served basis. There is also reserved seating in the arena for guests with limited mobility.

Parking

There are 60 handicap parking spaces available in front of the NE (main) entrance of Crisler on a first come, first served basis. Guests can also be dropped off and picked up at the NE Entrance. If parking at Crisler fills, overflow parking will be available at Pioneer High School (free of charge).

Entrance/Time of Arrival

All graduates and guests use the NE Entrance.

Stairs/Limited Mobility

Just inside the NE Entrance, there is an escalator and a small elevator that will take guests to the third (concourse) level. The closest entrance to the seating area is entrance B (between sections 104 & 101). This seating area is on the east side of Crisler and the stage will be on the south side of the arena floor. 

Wheelchairs

Crisler will have 10-12 wheelchairs and Event Staff available to take guests with limited mobility up to the concourse. Guests are not able to use these wheelchairs during the ceremony. There will also be many SEAS and Crisler Event staff available if you need assistance pushing a wheelchair or helping someone with limited mobility.

Seating within the Arena

Chairs are stadium style with padded folding seats and plastic (slightly padded) backs. The first two (top) rows of the lower bowl are reserved for families of those with mobility issues, but do require going down a couple stairs.

Guests in wheelchairs may sit around the concourse. To allow room for our many guests with need for this type of seating, we allow one guest (with mobility limitations) plus one companion. Folding chairs will be available for those sitting in this area. The rest of the family members may sit directly in front of the guest(s) sitting on the concourse.

Concourse and reserved seating are on a first come, first served basis. We encourage those with wheelchairs to go around to the farther side of the concourse seating to allow those who walk, but cannot climb stairs to sit on the near-side concourse.

Strollers

There will be Event Team Staff at Crisler to assist anyone with strollers store them near your seating section in the Champion boxes so they are out of the way.

Closed Captioning

We will provide closed captioning on the Jumbotron for guests with hearing impairments.

Graduating students are required to register, and guest tickets are required for this event, and there is no limit to the number of guests allowed. Tickets can be picked up in the Student Center after you RSVP. 

Lost & found items at the ceremony will be taken to Guest Services on the Concourse at Crisler. Guests can email [email protected] to inquire about lost items after the event has concluded. 

SEAS hires a professional photographer to take photos during the ceremony. These photos will be posted to our Photo Portal after the event. We will take a commemorative group photo after the ceremony. Staff will escort the recessional to the location in Crisler the photo will take place. 

Call photography will also be onsite taking photos of each graduate as they walk across the stage and will email graduates with a link to purchase photos after the event.

Guests bringing strollers to the ceremony should store them at Guest Services on the Concourse at Crisler, and pick them up when the ceremony concludes.