{"id":1153,"date":"2020-02-24T15:22:48","date_gmt":"2020-02-24T21:22:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/commencement\/?page_id=1153"},"modified":"2026-03-23T16:26:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T21:26:42","slug":"faq","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/commencement\/faq\/","title":{"rendered":"FAQ"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Commencement Ceremony<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t<\/header>\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
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\"Commencement_P-044\"<\/figure>\n\n\t\n<\/figure>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow long does Commencement last?\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/button>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t
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The ceremony lasts about two hours.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow will I know if Commencement will be held indoors?\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/button>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t
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The decision to hold Commencement on the Campus Green or inside Skoglund will be announced during Baccalaureate at 9 a.m. Saturday morning. If the ceremony will take place inside, the news will be posted in Buntrock Commons and on the college website. You may also call the events office at (507) 786-3031 and listen to the updated greeting.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tIs accessible seating available at Commencement?\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/button>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t
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Accessible seating and sign language interpreting are available both on the Campus Green (outdoor ceremony) and in Skoglund Center Auditorium (indoor ceremony). Tickets are NOT required for this section whether the ceremony is indoors or outside.\u00a0 Up to 3 additional guests may be seated in the ADA section. Please let the usher know you would like to be seated in the ADA section, and they will assist you to your seats.<\/p>\n

Hearing devices are also available for use on the Campus Green or in Skoglund.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tAre tickets required for the Commencement ceremony?\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/button>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t
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No tickets are needed for general seating if Commencement is held outdoors.<\/p>\n

If Commencement is indoors due to inclement weather, all seating in Skoglund Auditorium will require tickets. Every graduating senior participating in the ceremony is guaranteed at least three tickets. Graduating seniors will receive these tickets at GradFest.<\/p>\n

The Commencement ceremony will be\u00a0live-streamed\u00a0to Viking Theater in Buntrock Commons, Tomson Hall 280, and Boe Memorial Chapel regardless of weather or ceremony location.\u00a0 No tickets are required for these venues, but arrive early to ensure seating.\u00a0\u00a0We encourage families with elderly guests or small children to take advantage of the air conditioned simulcast locations.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tCan family members who are unable to attend view the ceremony online?\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/button>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t
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Yes! The Last Lecture, Celebration Concert, Illumination Ceremony, Baccalaureate, and Commencement will be streamed and available on-demand<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow can I reserve indoor Commencement tickets?\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/button>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t
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Graduating seniors do not need to pre-reserve indoor tickets.\u00a0 All graduates will be automatically issued 3 tickets.\u00a0 These tickets will be distributed to each graduate during GradFest.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t

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Registration for Commencement Weekend<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t<\/header>\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
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\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tHow & when do I register for Commencement Weekend?\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/button>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t
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Registration is only needed for ticketed events during the weekend. The Illumination Social<\/a> (Friday night) and Commencement Brunch<\/a> (Saturday morning) are ticketed events. Tickets for the Social and Celebration Brunch can be purchased following the links above.<\/p>\n

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Events that include a fee do require pre-registration — this includes additional tickets to the Illumination Social,<\/a> and Saturday Brunch<\/a>.<\/p>\n

All other events during the weekend are free and open to the public, including the Celebration Concert, and Baccalaureate. Additional Illumination Social & Brunch Tickets can be purchased by following the links above and Rain\/Indoor Commencement tickets will be distributed to graduating seniors during GradFest.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat is the refund policy?\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/button>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t
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Any changes to a registration that result in a refund will be honored if they are made either online or by contacting the College Events office no later than May 18, 2026.\u00a0 We do not offer refunds after May 19, 2026.\u00a0 Please contact the College Events team by emailing events@stolaf.edu<\/a> or by calling (507) 786-3031 for assistance.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

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There is no cost to attend most of the events held during Commencement Weekend with the exception of the Illumination Social<\/a> and Celebration Brunch<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t

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Important Campus Information<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t<\/header>\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
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\"HDRtist<\/figure>\n\n\t\n<\/figure>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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General Parking
\n<\/strong>Guests may park in any of the lots located on campus. There is additional parking near New Hall on St. Olaf Ave. Golf cart shuttles will be available to assist those in need of assistance. Public Safety will also be on site helping to direct traffic.<\/p>\n

Handicap Parking
\n<\/strong>Handicap parking is available in marked spaces throughout the campus with additional spaces in the parking lot between Tomson Hall and Mellby Hall.<\/p>\n

Shuttles For Guests
\n<\/strong>There will be complimentary golf-cart shuttle pick up locations at Buntrock Commons and Skoglund Parking. Shuttles run Friday, May 22 from Noon to 8:30 pm & Saturday, May 23 from 8 am – 4 pm (pausing during the Ceremony between 1pm & 3pm).<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tI am unfamiliar with the St. Olaf campus. How can I find my way around?\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/button>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t
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Please check out our digital campus map<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

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We request that you do not bring any animals, other than service animals, to the St. Olaf campus.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

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Campus wheelchairs are limited to emergency use only. If you need a wheelchair or a scooter for use throughout the weekend, you will need to make arrangements with your local medical supply store.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

\n \t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat are the dining options for Commencement Weekend?\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n <\/button>\n \n\t\t\t\t\t
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Dining
\n<\/strong>Food and beverage will be available for purchase in the Cage and Stav Hall, both located in Buntrock Commons.<\/p>\n

For graduates not attending the Illumination Social on Friday night or Brunch on Saturday, food will be available through their normal meal plan.<\/p>\n

Special Dietary Requirements
\n<\/strong>Special dietary needs were collected during registration and have been shared with our culinary team. All foods will be labeled and will indicate if the item is Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Contains Nuts, etc.\u00a0 If you made a specific request in your registration (i.e. Kosher), please ask one of the servers to connect you to a Bon Appetit Supervisor, and they can assist with getting you the proper meal.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\n

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The St. Olaf Bookstore, offering clothing, general reading books, and gift items, is open extended hours during the weekend:<\/p>\n