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Commencement 2010

 Ceremony Details

  • The commencement ceremony will be on Sunday, May 16 in Gesling Stadium on the Carnegie Mellon campus.
  • Procession of graduates will begin at 10:15 a.m. Guests are asked to be seated in the stadium by 10 a.m.
  • The ceremony will start at 11 a.m and will last approximately one and a half hours. 
  • Graduating students will receive their diplomas at department or college diploma ceremonies held at various times and locations throughout the weekend.

Seating and Weather Details

    No-Ticket Policy

  • No tickets are required for the commencement ceremony in Gesling Stadium. 
  • Seating in Gesling Stadium is first-come, first-served. Please view our stadium and seating map for more information.
  • Seating for guests with disabilities and their families will be available in special sections on the field, indicated with signage. Up to three guests are permitted to sit with a disabled guest. Volunteers will also be stationed in this area to assist guests with seating. Gesling Stadium and the field are wheelchair accessible. No prior arrangements need to be made to secure seating. Please visit the special needs page for more information.

    In the Event of Inclement Weather

  • The ceremony will take place in Gesling Stadium, rain or shine. Please plan your clothing and footwear accordingly.
  • In the event of a heavy downpour, the ceremony will be shortened and complimentary ponchos will be available.    
  • The ceremony will be simulcast in McConomy Auditorium, first floor, University Center, for guests who wish to view the event indoors.
  • You may also want to bring sunscreen, sunglasses and/or a sun hat or visor in the event of hot, direct sunshine. The stadium is not covered.

    Timing and Other Guidelines

  • Before the commencement ceremony, be sure to agree where you will meet your graduate at the conclusion and adjourn quickly to a diploma ceremony, if appropriate.
  • The procession of graduating students will begin promptly at 10:15 a.m. Families and guests are asked to be seated in the stadium by 10 a.m. 
  • During the procession and ceremony, we ask that guests remain in their seats to keep the aisles clear. 
  • At the conclusion of the ceremony, families and guests should remain in their seats until the recession of ceremony participants is complete. 
  • Please do not wear spiked heels in the stadium.
  • No food or chewing gum is permitted in the stadium.
  • Complimentary bottles of water will be available for all guests.

Carnegie Mellon’s original campus design is said to have been modeled after a ship by the campus’s initial architect Henry Hornbostel. An actual ship's prow taken from the historic cruiser, the USS Pennsylvania, rests atop Roberts Hall, which overlooks Panther Hollow and the Carnegie Museum complex.

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