1. Ceremony Length
If you are making lunch or airplane reservations, please remember that the ceremony lasts approximately two hours, ending around 12:30 p.m. In addition, it can take more time than expected for graduates, family members and friends to reunite and exit campus.
2. Food & Beverage
- The Bistro offers coffee and small snacks from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- The Willamette Store is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
3. Live-Stream
For family and friends of graduates who are not able to travel to Salem for the commencement ceremony, a live stream of the event will be available. The broadcast will be posted to the College of Law Commencement page and will begin at approximately 10:25 a.m. (PDT).
4. Parking
All Willamette University parking lots are open and available for guests attending Commencement ceremonies except the Visitors Parking Lot (corner of Bellevue and Winter streets), which is reserved for handicapped parking. Guests should also not park in permanent reserved spaces, marked with green signs at the specific parking spaces. Street parking is available free of charge around the perimeter of Willamette University and the State Capitol.
5. Photos
During Commencement, we ask that family members do not approach the stage to take pictures. The University has contracted with professional photographers from GradImages to take photos of all graduates. These photos capture the moment graduates shake hands with President Thorsett and receive their diploma, along with portrait shots of the graduates as they exit the stage.
GradImages will contact you about your proofs after the ceremony through your school email address. You may pre-register to receive discounts on your pictures here: Willamette Photos
To contact GradImages or learn more about their service, please call (800) 261-2576 or visit the GradImages website.
6. Tickets
Tickets are not needed for the ceremonies and students are not limited in the number of guests they may bring.