2022 Commencement: Information for graduates

Doors for the Unified Commencement Ceremony will open at 7:30 a.m.

All graduates will pass through security upon arrival. Graduates should arrive at Yulman Stadium no later than 8 a.m. dressed in regalia and should report to their school’s designated entrance listed below. At 8:30 a.m. graduates will be lined up, and by 8:40 a.m. they will be moving from the designated check-in locations. Any graduate arriving late will not be guaranteed a spot in the lineup of the procession of graduates onto the field, and may be inserted into the seating on the field after the procession has concluded. All graduates must be dressed in regalia to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Graduates who have last minute regalia needs should contact the Tulane Bookstore to place an order.

For more information, email tugrad@tulane.edu or check the Commencement website.

Entrances for Graduates
Follow additional directional signage upon entrance:

Architecture – Wilson Center
Business – Reily Center
Law – Reily Center
Liberal Arts – Hertz Center
Medicine – Reily Center
Professional Advancement – Turchin Stadium
Public Health and Tropical Medicine – Turchin Stadium
Science and Engineering – Turchin Stadium
Social Work – Wilson Center

Security will conduct bag checks for all graduates and guests upon entry to the stadium. Prohibited items in Yulman Stadium include: alcohol; artificial noise makers; backpacks, book bags, knapsacks; banners (large or in poor taste); contraband; containers of any kind, thermos bottle, bottles and cans; coolers; fireworks; flammables; footballs or throwing objects; glass; large bags – maximum size 12” x 12”; laser pointers; outside food and beverages; projectiles; stadium seatback chairs with aluminum/metal; stickers; sticks, bats, poles, clubs, flags or banners with poles; strollers – (umbrella strollers that collapse and can be placed under guest seats are permitted); weapons, even with concealed weapons permit; unmanned aircraft systems (drones); or any other item(s) deemed unacceptable by stadium security and Tulane University.

Inclement Weather Planning
The Unified Commencement Ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in Yulman Stadium and will proceed rain or shine, unless severe weather (such as lightning, tornadoes or flooding) poses a significant threat or danger to the personal safety of graduates and attendees.

In the event of severe weather, graduates and their guests should plan for two scenarios if the university’s rain plan is initiated:

Rain Delay: The start time of the Unified Commencement Ceremony could be delayed by up to two hours, for rapidly moving weather events. In such a scenario, the School of Professional Advancement and/or School of Law ceremonies could also be slightly delayed depending on the end time of the Unified Commencement Ceremony.

Postponement: In the unlikely event that severe weather conditions are expected to persist throughout the morning, the Unified Commencement Ceremony will be postponed until Saturday, May 21, at 7 p.m. Postponement will only occur in extreme circumstances.

If the university's rain plan is initiated, details about the changes will be communicated by:
•    Updates on the Commencement website.
•    Text message updates from the Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response. Sign up for these updates by texting tugrad to 888777.
•    The university’s main social media channels:
          Instagram
          Twitter
          Facebook