Commencement FAQs

MBA-P

The MBA-P ceremony will last approximately one hour.

MSDS

The MSDS ceremony will last approximately an hour and fifteen minutes

All Willamette University parking lots are open and available for guests attending Commencement ceremonies. Guests should not park in permanent reserved spaces, marked with green signs at the specific parking spaces. Street parking is available around the perimeter of Willamette University and the State Capitol.

Guests with a DMV-issued handicapped parking permit are encouraged to park in any handicapped designated parking spaces. The closest standard parking lot to the Rogers Music Hall is the Sparks Complex parking lot.

View parking information on the Campus Map

Once you arrive on campus, feel free to explore the grounds while you wait. Doors to the Rogers Music Center and Hudson Hall will open 30 minutes prior to each ceremony.

To ensure a smooth transition between events, please wait to enter the building and lobby until doors open for your specific ceremony. Volunteers will be stationed at the entrance to guide you and announce when Hudson Hall is open for seating.

Once inside, you may sit anywhere in the hall—including the front—as graduates will be seated on the stage. You are welcome to save seats if someone remains with them at all times, but please be mindful of any rows or seats marked as reserved.

Tickets are not required for the ceremony.

To ensure our photographers have a clear shot of every graduate—and that all families can see the stage—please help us keep the front of the hall clear.

Commencement is a special event for all involved. Please show respect for everyone who has come to share in the experience. Individuals who engage in inappropriate or disruptive behavior will be removed from the event.

The following items are prohibited:

• Alcohol. Anyone intoxicated or perceived to be intoxicated will be removed from the event.
• Outside food and drinks (Closed water bottles are permitted)
• Fireworks
• Party Poppers/Confetti
• Balloons
• Weapons of any kind
• Large banners, posters, signs or flags on poles
• Artificial noisemakers
• Bullhorns or other sound amplification devices
• Tobacco, cannabis or other smoking products
• Laser pointers or devices
• Drones

• Visiting Salem Campus
• Travel Salem: Where to stay in Salem
• Printable Campus Map
• Interactive Campus Map