Violent Weather Plan

THE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT WILL BE HELD IN THE BROOKINGS QUADRANGLE RAIN OR SHINE.

Tickets are NOT required for the outdoor ceremony. Even in the event of rain, the ceremony will be held outdoors in the Brookings Quadrangle. Only if the weather is sufficiently threatening to endanger safety will the undergraduate ceremony be moved to the Athletic Complex with very limited seating and the ceremony for all graduate and professional degrees will be held at the location listed on the events page.

If the undergraduate Commencement ceremony is moved to the Field House in the Athletic Complex, families and guests will need tickets that must be presented to gain entrance to the Athletic Complex/remote viewing area. Candidates for degrees do not need tickets.

Five tickets are sent to all undergraduate parents. The two red tickets will permit admission to the Athletic Complex Field House where the undergraduate Commencement will be held. The three white tickets will be used for admission to one of the remote viewing areas on campus where the ceremonies will be viewed on video screens.

For your convenience, a return envelope is sent with the tickets. We would very much appreciate it if you would return any of the violent weather tickets that you do not plan to use so they may be reassigned to families who may need more. No additional tickets will be available, unless we receive returned tickets, so your timely return of unneeded tickets is sincerely requested. Also, a request form is printed on the red sheet of tickets. If you wish to request additional tickets, please complete the requested information fully and return it in the envelope provided. Any returned tickets will be distributed on a first-come first-served basis to fill those requests.

Commencement will be on the Web! Streaming video is the easiest way to view Commencement at Washington University. Simply log on to this Web site for more information - there will be a link from the Washington University homepage on the day of Commencement. Friends and family can join the celebration without traveling.

Please remember that NO tickets are needed for Commencement in the Brookings Quadrangle.

Undergraduate Ceremony — Violent Weather

  • All students receiving undergraduate degrees report by 8:00 a.m. to Francis Gym in the Athletic Complex. Please enter through the east doors to Francis Gym. Commencement Marshals will direct students to seating on the main floor of the Field House.
  • Guests with tickets to the Field House and Recreation Gymnasium will enter the main entrance to the Athletic Complex. Ushers will collect tickets and direct guests to the appropriate venue.
  • The procession begins at 8:30 a.m.
  • After the ceremony please leave the Athletic Complex as quickly as possible since the venue will be used for other Commencement programs.

Graduate Ceremony — Violent Weather

Parking and Transportation — Violent Weather
Parking is always difficult on Commencement day; therefore it is recommended that students and guests park in the main lots east of Brookings Hall where shuttle services will be available beginning at 7:00 a.m. and will run continuously throughout the morning to pick up and return students and guests. Please do not drive to the Athletic Complex. No parking will be permitted in the lot east of the Athletic Complex as this lot must remain open for the shuttle bus service.

Implementation of Violent Weather Plan

The decision for implementing the Violent Weather Plan will be made by 7:00 a.m. on Friday, May 15. Major local radio and TV stations will be given the information, and it will appear on the Washington University home page and be announced through campus e-mail.