FAQ Friends and Family | 2020

Class of 2020 University-wide Ceremony
Saturday, April 30 - Petersen Events Center, 4 pm

WHERE DO MY GUESTS ENTER:

  • All guests will enter the Petersen Events Center through either CONCOURSE A or LOBBY.  (Guests who enter through the CONCOURSE will be directed to the FLOOR)
  • Doors to the Petersen Events Center will open to guests at 2:30 p.m.

WHAT ACCOMMODATIONS HAVE BEEN MADE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES?

  • The entrance for family members (CONCOURSE AND LOBBY) and students (LOBBY) are both handicap accessible.
  • For graduates and their families who will be watching the ceremony online, open captioning will be automatically displayed during the broadcast.
  • Seating for individuals with disabilities is available on the event floor. Volunteers will be present to assist those guests.
  • Section 120 of the Petersen Events Center will be reserved for those family members and guests of graduates who are hearing impaired and will be staffed by a sign language interpreter.
  • If a graduate requires special accommodations due to a disability, he/she should contact the Office of Special Events at 412-624-7100. Arrangements will be handled individually.

WHERE SHOULD I PARK?

  • All University Lots will be open beginning at 8 a.m. on both Saturday, April 30 and Sunday, May 1, and will be free for graduates and their guests.
  • Accessible shuttles will begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 30. The shuttle will run before each ceremony and will continue running until one hour after the ceremony.  They will run from the OC Lot to the Petersen Events Center entrance on Allequippa Street in a continuous loop. Shuttle routes>>

ACCESSIBLE DROP-OFF POINTS

ANYTHING ELSE?

  • Please make sure to choose a meeting location for after the ceremony with your guests outside of the Petersen Events Center.  Guests will be asked to exit immediately after the ceremony.
  • Alcoholic beverages and items that can interfere with the ceremony (beach balls, bullhorns, etc.) are not permitted in the Petersen Events Center and will be confiscated.
  • All commencement related info will be available online at commencement.pitt.edu. 
  • Each ceremony should last between 2 – 2 ½ hours in length.
  • The University of Pittsburgh has partnered with GradImages to capture an image of each student as they cross the stage. Other shots may be offered, depending on the venue and mitigation policies. Graduates will be sent electronic copies of their photo proofs to the email address used during registration. Picture orders will be placed through GradImages directly. Should you have any questions about your photos, please contact GradImages. Guests are not permitted to approach the stage to take personal photos.

The Petersen Events Center has made changes to their security and policies, including but not limited to, the adoption of the CLEAR BAG policy. We ask that all graduates and guests view this policy online prior to attending your ceremony. Again, all graduates should refrain from bringing bags, backpacks, or purses with them to the ceremony as they might not return to the same seat after crossing the stage. Please review the CLEAR BAG policy set forth by the Petersen Events Center.

HOW DO I WATCH ONLINE?

  • The commencement ceremony will be livestreamed for guests who are unable to attend.  Visit commencement.pitt.edu to obtain the link to join at the scheduled time of your ceremony. The event will also live permanently on Pitt’s Official YouTube channel for guests who are unable to watch live.