Commencement Employees

*this does not apply to areas like Physical Plant, Dining Services, SUPD, etc. – they are to follow the instructions given

Led by the Commencement Office, the university hosts Commencement ceremonies each year. Planning for the ceremonies is continuous and requires the involvement and support of nearly every entity on campus.

SU values your contributions to ensuring that Commencement is an engaging and endearing experience for all members of the university community.

This page is intended to be a primary internal resource for faculty and staff who are integral to the overall success of the university's Commencement ceremonies. As additional resources are developed, information will be added to this page for your reference and planning related to your Commencement role.

Parking Information
- All commencement workers should park in one of the following lots:
  - Dogwood lot D and J (nearest Cheers)
- All east campus lots (Wayne, Avery, East Campus Complex), the parking garage, and Academic Commons Lots (A, B, and C) will be used for graduates and guests.
- There is a shuttle available from 5:30-9:30 am in Lots H and E to the stadium.
- Please do not park at any Rt. 13 or College Ave. businesses - cars parked in unauthorized lots may be ticketed or towed.
Undergraduate Workers Map

Graduate Parking Map
Prohibited Items

As part of an ongoing effort to ensure safe and enjoyable Commencement ceremonies, Salisbury University will adhere to strict policies regarding safety. Review the Important Safety Policies page for all Commencement Safety information.
Full List of Prohibited Items

What Roles Exist?

Commencement staff play a vital role in creating a welcoming and organized atmosphere, ensuring a smooth experience for guests and graduates. Staff assist in a variety of ways, including greeting and guiding guests, scanning tickets, supporting individuals with mobility needs, managing seating and crowd flow, and helping graduates line up and process to the ceremony. They also provide directional support at key entry points throughout campus and the venue. Finally, staff help ensure an organized exit for graduates after the ceremony. Each role contributes to a seamless and memorable celebration for all.

Graduate Ceremony

Title	Description
Directional Assistants - Campus	Direct guests and graduates from around campus to commencement venue. Look for prohibited items, i.e., balloons, air horns, noisemakers. Items must be returned to vehicle.
Graduate/Faculty Entrance	Direct graduates and faculty to line-up area; Direct guests to main entrances.
Greeters	Welcome guests and distribute programs at entrances.
Ushers	Assist with seating and assist guests with questions; provide information about seating layouts for academic units (CHHS, Fulton, Henson, Perdue, Seidel).
Special Accommodations Assistants/Ushers	Guide special accommodation guests to seating, assist with seating area, distribute programs, assist with questions
Legacy Assistants/Ushers	Guide Legacy guests to seating, assist with seating area, distribute programs, assist with questions
VIP Assistants/Ushers	Guide VIP guests to classroom and seats, assist with seating area, distribute programs, assist with questions
Ticket Assistants	Scan tickets from all guests entering the venue
Ticket Help Assistants	Assist guests with tickets that don’t scan.
Line-up Assistants	Assist faculty marshals assigned to your line-up area, distribute name cards and zipper pulls to graduates, assist graduates to line-up alphabetically, assist with regalia – hoods worn properly; cords and sashes under the hood.
Recessional Assistants	Keep guests from entering the recessional spaces allowing for a full recessional. Guide graduates as they exit the stadium following the ceremony.
General Information Table	Customer service for graduates and guests; direct VIP guests; assist guests in determining seating location for students (CHHS, Fulton, Henson, Perdue, Seidel); provide facility information (restrooms, lost & found, etc.
Give Direction/Troubleshoot	Assist guests with questions, troubleshoot problems/inquiries as they occur.
Platform Party Assistants	Ensure platform party has procession, stage, and recession directions. Assist platform party with regalia (hoods worn properly; cords and sashes under the hood), line-up, and procession.

Undergraduate Ceremony

Title	Description
Directional Assistants - Campus & Parking	Direct guests and graduates from parking lot and main campus to commencement venue. Look for prohibited items, i.e., balloons, air horns, noisemakers. Items must be returned to vehicle. Once lot is full, move to specified campus locations and continue to direct guests.
Directional Assistants - Near Stadium	Direct guests to restrooms, bookstore, security, ticket help, etc. Direct graduates and faculty to South Practice Field. Direct all guests to use main entrances. Look for prohibited items that must be returned to vehicle.
Graduate/Faculty Entrance	Direct graduates and faculty to line-up tent; Direct guests to main entrances.
Emergency Gate Assistants	Prevent entry/exit through gates.
Security Assistants & Ushers	Assist with seating and assist guests with questions; provide information about seating layouts for academic units (CHHS, Fulton, Henson, Perdue, Seidel). Staff your assigned section throughout the duration of the ceremony. Assist with any security communications and get help for any guests needing it. Workers will be assigned one section for the entire ceremony and will be responsible for making sure it is an orderly and safe experience for our guests.
Greeters	Welcome guests and distribute programs at entrances.
Special Accommodations Assistants/Ushers	Guide special accommodation guests to seating, assist with seating area, distribute programs, assist with questions.
Legacy Assistants/Ushers	Guide Legacy guests to seating, assist with seating area, distribute programs, assist with questions.
VIP Assistants/Ushers	Guide VIP guests to suites and seats, assist with seating area, distribute programs, assist with questions.
Ticket Assistants	Scan tickets from all guests entering the venue.
Ticket Help Assistants	Assist guests with ticket questions; ensure groups have tickets ready to be scanned; assist guests with tickets that don’t scan.
Line-up Assistants	Assist faculty marshals assigned to your line-up area, distribute name cards and zipper pulls to graduates, assist graduates to line-up alphabetically, assist with regalia – hoods worn properly; cords and sashes under the hood.
Indoor Viewing Location Assistants	Welcome guests at the indoor viewing locations; assist with questions.
Exterior Graduate Entry	Prohibit entry by ticketed guests; at 8:00 a.m. encourage any lingering graduates to enter the facility and proceed to line-up area.
General Information Table	Customer service for graduates and guests; direct VIP guests; assist guests in determining seating location for students (CHHS, Fulton, Henson, Perdue, Seidel); provide facility information (restrooms, lost & found, etc.)
Give Direction/Troubleshoot	Assist guests with questions, troubleshoot problems/inquiries as they occur.
Platform Party Assistants	Ensure platform party has procession, stage, and recession directions. Assist platform party with regalia (hoods worn properly; cords and sashes under the hood), line-up, and procession.
Clean Up Crew	Post ceremony stadium/concourse clean up of trash and moving furniture.
Stage Assistance	Assist the Registrar's office with diploma cover stocking on stage.
Turf Patrol	Maintaining/preventing guests and students from standing on certain areas of the turf.
Food Assistance	Assist dining services with line control and assistance in the areas where food will be provided.
Van Drivers	Drive SU vans to various main campus parking lots, picking up and dropping off families, students, staff, and faculty outside of the stadium on Power Street.

Day Of Guidelines

Graduate Ceremony

Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Maggs Physical Activities Center, Main Arena

Undergraduate Ceremony

Thursday, May 21, 2026
Sea Gull Stadium

Graduate Ceremony Guidelines
Important Times:
- 3:00 – 3:30 pm arrive early to get through security and sign in for your shift
- 3:30 – 3:40 pm Team Meeting
- 3:40 – 4:00 pm final set-up
- 4:00 – 4:30 pm dinner
Doors open (we will try to open a few minutes early if we are able to):
- 4:45 pm for special accommodations seating
- 5:00 pm for graduates and guests
- 6:00 pm – ceremony begins
Please learn the locations of the following areas so you can direct guests:
- Entrances to main arena
- Processional line up for faculty and graduates – diagrams at the kiosk
- Restroom locations
- First Aid
- Flower sales
- Registrar staff will be at line-up tent for academic questions
- Bookstore staff will be at line-up tent to help with cap/gown issues
- VIP & Legacy seating – direct guests to front right area as you face the stage
- Hearing impaired seating – direct guests to front left area as you face the stage
Employee duties:
- Place programs on chairs for faculty and graduates
- At 5:45 pm, stop guests from entering Maggs; after procession lines have completely entered the arena, close the arena doors so guests can enter Maggs and wait in the lobby; after the national anthem guests can enter the arena.
- When ceremony starts, convert signage for the next day.
- As the President begins closing remarks, position yourselves around the perimeter of the arena to discourage guests from leaving risers until the recessional is complete.
- Workers are needed to stay after the ceremony to help clean up and convert the venue for the next day.
When graduates and guests enter:
- Tickets are required for the Graduate Ceremony.
- Security will be checking for any prohibited items.
- Guests looking for VIP seating should be directed to the information kiosk.
- The Advancement Team will be handling the Legacy seating and will have staff on hand to assist (Brian Koehler is the main contact).
- Any other problems – refer to Michelle Stokes or anyone assigned to Troubleshooting.
- If someone is resistant to any of your instruction, do not become confrontational. SU Police are on hand to assist.
The ceremony is expected to last 2 hours.

While the ceremony is taking place, at least 2 workers should staff the lobby at all times.

Undergraduate Ceremony Guidelines
For the Undergraduate Ceremony, please find some important high-level information below. All workers have been assigned a specific assignment and a Team Leader. Your Team Leader will be following up with an additional email that includes specific tasks and responsibilities for your assignment. Please use your Team Leader as a resource.

Important Times:
- 6:00 a.m. arrive early to get through security and sign in for your shift
- 6:00 - 6:30 a.m. final set-up; grab breakfast; be in position at 6:30 a.m.
Doors open:
- 6:45 a.m. for special accommodation seating
- 7:00 a.m. for general seating
- 7:00 a.m. for graduates and faculty
- 9:00 a.m. – ceremony begins
Signing In:
- All commencement workers must sign-in
  - Workers assigned to a role at Sea Gull Stadium on East Campus should report to Sea Gull Stadium by 6 a.m. to sign in
  - Workers assigned to a role on main campus, should report to the lobby of Maggs Arena by 6am to sign in
Recessional and signing out:
- Everyone is needed for the recessional
  - Workers will be needed to assist with keeping guests in their seats until the full recession has completed. In addition, it will be important to make sure guests leave the stadium in a orderly fashion.
- All commencement workers must sign-out
Parking:
- All commencement workers should park in one of the following lots:
  - U.S. 13 Lot L
  - Dogwood Lot J (nearest Cheers; not the main GSU Dogwood Lot)
  - Camden Lot E (High rise lot)
  - College Ave Parking Lot H (Solar)
  - Parking Lot G (small Conway lot)
  - Overflow parking is available in Court Plaza
- There is a shuttle available from 5:30-6:15 am in Lots H and E
- All other main campus and east campus lots will be used for graduates and guests.
- Please do not park at any Rt. 13 or College Ave. businesses - cars parked in unauthorized lots may be towed
Attire:
- All commencement workers should wear professional attire (business casual, no jeans), including a specialized Salisbury University Staff maroon polo and your SU ID
  - Please pick up your polo from the President's Office between the hours of 9am-3pm
  - Black or khaki bottoms (of appropriate length) are acceptable
  - Wear comfortable shoes
  - Hats are allowed, but must be professional looking
  - You will need to wear your SU ID with a lanyard or reel. If you do not have one, you can pick up a lanyard when you get your polo
Refreshments & Lunch:
- Morning breakfast items will be provided at sign-in locations
- Water will be available throughout your shift
- Boxed lunches will be provided at the conclusion of the ceremony
Other Important Information:
- All guests must have a ticket, including children over age two. Tickets are electronic through the Tassel platform or they can be printed
- Ticket questions and problems – refer to Steve Blankenship's Ticketing Team
- No signs, balloons, air horns or noise makers are permitted in the stadium during the ceremony.
- If someone is resistant to your instruction, do not become confrontational. SUPD and security are on hand to assist. Contact your Team Leader if you have any questions!
- Workers are encouraged to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen. Many roles will be in direct sunlight.
Bring those smiles and high fives as we celebrate our graduates!