Ceremony and Venue | Commencement

Michigan Tech conducts one commencement ceremony each Fall and two ceremonies each Spring semester. The Midyear Commencement ceremony is in the Varsity Gymnasium, and the Spring Commencement ceremonies are held in the John J. MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Both venues are located in the Student Development Complex. A ticket is required for entry.

Beginning Spring 2023, the Graduate Student ceremony will be held Friday, April 28, 2023 at 3:00 pm and the Undergraduate Student ceremony will be held Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:30 am.

Upcoming Ceremony

Where and When

Midyear Commencement is on Saturday, December 17, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. in the Varsity Gymnasium of the Student Development Complex (SDC).

Duration

The Spring Commencement ceremony generally lasts more than 2.5 hours. The Midyear Commencement ceremony is approximately 2 hours in length.

Watch Online

Live streaming is available beginning on the morning of the ceremony.

Venue Information

The Student Development Complex is open by 8:30 a.m. the day of the ceremony. Parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. Concessions and campus retail stores are open. The SDC is an alcohol-free and tobacco-free facility.

Safety

For the safety and security of the graduates and their guests, please be advised that all bags are searched prior to entering the event.
At the ceremony conclusion please remain in your seats until all graduates have recessed.
First aid and Public Safety and Police Services will be available.

Accommodations

Parking

Accessible parking is available on a first-come-first-served basis at the commencement ceremony location.

Graduate Seating

An interactive seating chart will become available within a short time period before the commencement ceremony date.

Wheelchair Accessible Seating

Wheelchair accessible seating locations in the Student Development Complex (SDC) allow access for one person in their own wheelchair and one companion (two individuals per reservation). Wheelchair accessible seating is limited and all seating assignments will be processed in a first-come, first-served manner as guests arrive. To facilitate this process, we ask that guests who require wheelchair-accessible seating fill out the Accessible Seating Notification Form.

To facilitate this process, we ask that guests who require wheelchair-accessible seating fill out the Accessible Seating Notification Form prior to arrival. If you are a guest of the ceremony and did not fill out the accessible seating notification form prior to arrival, please see any of the commencement marshals to help with seating locations and availability.

Limited Mobility Seating

If any member of your party has difficulty walking or using stairs or ramps but does not use a wheelchair, seating options with no stair steps are located throughout the Student Development Compex (SDC) and can be reserved. This seating option is ideal for guests with fold-up walkers or canes that are able to be placed on the ground near them. To facilitate this process, we ask that guests who require limited mobility seating fill out the Accessible Seating Notification Form.

Both guests with wheelchair-accessible seating reservations and those in need of limited mobility seating are strongly encouraged to arrive at the Student Development Complex (SDC) no later than one hour before the ceremony in order to ensure you are in your seat location for the start of the ceremony. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m., two hours prior to the start of the ceremony.

Real-Time Captioning

The live stream of the ceremony offers real-time captioning. Afterward, the recorded version of the event will stay on the website for those unable to watch it during the live event.