Commencement

• Commencement Rehearsal – Wise Performance Arena, 12:15 pm
  • All Graduates are required to attend rehearsal.
  • December Graduates who are no longer on campus and unable to return for rehearsal should contact events@allegheny.edu or (814) 332-3101 to make other arrangements.
• Baccalaureate Rehearsal – Ford Chapel, 1:30 – 2:30 pm
  • Walk-through for any students participating in Baccalaureate.
• AYA Ceremony Rehearsal – Vukovich, 3:00 – 4:00 pm
  • Walk-through for any students participating in the AYA Ceremony.

• Commencement Concert – Ford Chapel, 1:30 – 3:00 pm
  • The Music Department presents an annual recital to share their talents and accomplishments from the 2024-2025 Academic year.
• Baccalaureate – Ford Chapel, 4:15 – 5:00 pm
  • With a focus on the various religious and spiritual beliefs on campus, The Baccalaureate Ceremony is a time for reflection and celebration for graduating students and their families.
• AYA Ceremony – Vukovich, 5:15 – 8:00 pm
  • A ceremony honoring the accomplishments of First Generation and historically underrepresented Graduates. Dinner will be provided afterward for all guests who have registered to attend.

• ROTC Commissioning Ceremony – Vukovich, 8:30 – 9:30 am
  • A formal event where cadets, upon completing their ROTC program, are officially commissioned as officers in the U.S. military.
• Phi Beta Kappa Ceremony – Ford Chapel, 9:00 – 10:00 am
  • Formal induction of nominated students into the Phi Beta Kappa Society, a prestigious national honors society.
• Graduate Celebration Reception – Campus Center/Gator Quad, 10:00 – 11:30 am
  • An opportunity for students and their families to meet with peers for food and refreshment before the Commencement Ceremony.
• Graduate Check-in – Wise Performance Arena, 11:45 am
• Commencement Ceremony – Bicentennial Plaza, 12:30 pm
  • In case of rain or inclement weather the location will be changed to the Wise Center .
• All College Farewell – Brooks Walk – Immediately following Commencement Ceremony.

• Dress for the weather
• Water stations will be available

• Firearms or weapons of any kind;
• Any knife with a fixed blade or a blade larger than 4 inches;
• Fireworks or other explosive material;
• Hard coolers or coolers/bags on wheels;
• Pets  (Service dogs will be permitted);
• Smoking;
• Alcoholic beverages;
• Laser pointers;
• Horns, whistles, or other noisemakers that create a nuisance or disturbance;
• Mace, pepper spray, or similar substances;
• Glass containers, unless necessary for baby formula or medication;
• Objects that obstruct another person’s view of the ceremony (The use of umbrellas is not restricted, but those who use an umbrella are asked to be considerate of those around and behind them.)

• Allegheny College Public Safety and professional security personnel will monitor all entry points to the Commencement site.
• All bags and persons may be subject to screening when entering the Commencement site.
• Please consider the appearance of some objects, such as key ring tools/accessories, and leave anything that could be perceived as dangerous at home or in your hotel room. We are not able to provide a storage area for these items; prohibited items listed above will be removed and not returned.
• Unruly, disruptive or illegal behavior is prohibited. Any guest who acts in an unsafe manner, presenting hazard or risk to persons or property, may be subject to ejection, revocation of future venue privileges.

An ambulance and EMTs will be on site for Commencement day.

Anyone who sees anything suspicious should immediately contact the Office of Public Safety at 814-332-3357.

Your safety is extremely important to Allegheny College. Our campus emergency notification system, ALERTAllegheny, keeps the campus informed about emergency situations that may occur on campus.

ALERTAllegheny delivers time-sensitive emergency notifications via email, text messaging, website alerts, social media and outdoor warning sirens to members of the Allegheny community. Messages may be sent for weather incidents such as a tornado, or emergency situations such as an explosive device or active assailant, or if the College changes its operating status due to an emergency or weather event.

Sign Up for ALERTAllegheny

You must update/edit your address in self service in order to receive your diploma.  Diplomas should be mailed by mid June.

The senior class officers will discuss the celebration events for the graduating class, which are typically planned during the spring semester.

Unfortunately, the College does not have the capacity to house returning graduates on campus. We understand the Meadville area has limited hotel accommodations and suggest your guests look to surrounding areas such as Grove City, Edinboro, and Erie, as well as Airbnb.

All participants in Commencement must appear in cap and gown. Caps and gowns will be available in the Merriman Campus Store. PLEASE NOTE: There is no need to be measured for your cap and gown. The caps are one size fits all, and the gowns are bulk ordered by height.

January graduates who are participating and want their cap and gown mailed to them must call the Campus Store at 814-332-5369.

An email will be sent from the Office of the Registrar asking if you will be participating in the ceremony. If you do not respond to this email by the given deadline, there will be no seat or tickets held for you.

Yes — information for the live stream will be on the Commencement website the day of Commencement.