GENERAL
When is Commencement?
Commencement is scheduled for Saturday, May 2, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. EST in Shapiro Field House. Doors to the venue will open at 12:00 p.m. on the day of the ceremony.
When is Commissioning?
The ROTC Joint Commissioning Ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. EST in Shapiro Field House. Doors to the venue will open at 8:00 a.m. on the day of the ceremony.
Individual branch commissioning ceremonies will follow at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Please reference the Weekend Schedule for venue locations for each service.
When is Commencement for online students?
Commencement information for online Bachelor’s and Master’s students is available at the CGCS Residency website.
I am a student who plans to participate in or attend Commencement & Commissioning weekend events. When is the last day to vacate my dorm room?
All Norwich dormitories close at noon on the Monday following Commencement and Commissioning weekend.
Where do I order and purchase academic regalia?
Academic regalia are ordered and purchased from Jostens via the University Bookstore. All graduating seniors are required to attend Grad Finale in March, where they will receive details on ordering academic regalia.
Are family members and guests invited to the senior class dinner?
Senior Dinner is for graduating students only.
Which events during Commencement and Commissioning weekend can family members and guests attend?
Family and guests are invited to join their graduates at all weekend ceremonies, awards, and recognition events, College receptions and open houses, and the Baccalaureate Community Worship Service on Friday evening.
Senior Dinner and all rehearsals are for graduating students only.
TICKETS & SEATING
Do family members and guests need tickets to attend the Commencement Ceremony?
Tickets are required for all seating in Shapiro Fieldhouse. Guests who do not have tickets are invited to join us in either Mack Hall Auditorium or the Abare Dining Room in Wise Campus Center to view the ceremony via live webcast.
The ROTC Joint Commissioning Ceremony and individual branch commissioning ceremonies are not ticketed.
Is there a fee to request tickets?
There is no fee to request tickets.
How many tickets can a student request for Commencement?
Students may request up to five (5) tickets on behalf of families and guests for seating in Shapiro Fieldhouse.
Can students request additional tickets for Commencement if they require extras?
Students may request up to three (3) additional tickets for guests by adding their names to a waitlist. The availability of additional tickets is based on the number of graduates attending the ceremony and the number of tickets that are left unclaimed when the student ticketing site closes on April 22. Waitlist tickets are not guaranteed, and if available, they will be released to those who have reserved them in advance on a first-come, first-served basis.
Additionally, a limited number of seats will be open to the public for reservation. Between April 1-22, 2020, members of the community (including families and guests of graduates) may request up to three (3) tickets for seating in Shapiro Fieldhouse. Requests must be made in writing by emailing the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and providing the following information:
- Requestor’s Name
- Requestor’s Email Address
- Requestor’s Phone Number
- Number of Tickets Requested (limit 3)
- Accessibility Requests (if applicable to anyone in your party)
Ticket requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets will be sent to the email address provided and must be printed and brought with guests to the venue. Guests will not be admitted to Shapiro Fieldhouse without a printed paper ticket.
If tickets are requested at separate times or by separate parties, will my full party be able to sit together?
All tickets are numbered and correspond to individual seats in Shapiro Fieldhouse seating areas. The University cannot guarantee that tickets requested separately will be grouped together.
Do tickets correspond to a specific seat number or section?
Yes, tickets are numbered and correspond to individual seats in Shapiro Fieldhouse seating areas. Ushers will be available to assist guests in locating their seats. Tickets must be presented for entry and re-entry to Shapiro Fieldhouse.
Do infants or children require a ticket for Commencement?
Tickets are not required for children who will be seated on an adult’s lap.
Where is ADA seating located?
Guests using wheelchairs will be seated in the chair or space corresponding to their ticket. For ease of access, it is recommended that an aisle seat be reserved for guests using wheelchairs.
Please note: One section of reserved seating is bleacher seating. While these seats provide guests a higher vantage point from which to view the ceremony, bleacher seating is not easily accessible by guests with disabilities and/or limited mobility, and bleacher seats do not have backs. Please plan accordingly when reserving seats in the bleachers.
How will I receive my reserved seating tickets?
Tickets for admission to Shapiro Fieldhouse and seating for the Commencement ceremony must be printed in advance.
Tickets requested by students may be printed at the time of reservation, or they may be downloaded and printed via a link sent to the registrant’s email.
Tickets requested by the public will be sent to the email address provided and must be printed and brought with guests to the venue.
All guests must present a paper ticket for entry and re-entry to Shapiro Fieldhouse on the day of the Commencement ceremony.
Can a parent or family member request tickets directly?
Graduating students will be able to request up to five (5) tickets for priority seating areas for family members and guests. Additionally, a limited number of seats will be open to the public for reservation between April 1-22, 2020. Requests for up to three (3) tickets must be made in writing by emailing the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and providing the following information:
- Requestor’s Name
- Requestor’s Email Address
- Requestor’s Phone Number
- Number of Tickets Requested (limit 3)
- Accessibility Requests (if applicable to anyone in your party)
Ticket requests will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets will be sent to the email address provided and must be printed and brought with guests to the venue. Guests will not be admitted to Shapiro Fieldhouse without a printed paper ticket.
I will be on campus for Commencement, but I do not have a ticket for reserved seating in Shapiro Fieldhouse. Can I still view the Commencement ceremony?
Guests who do not have tickets for Shapiro Fieldhouse are invited to celebrate graduates and view the Commencement ceremony via live webcast at either of two satellite viewing locations on campus: Mack Hall Auditorium or the Abare Dining Room in Wise Campus Center.
VENUE AND CEREMONY
Guests on campus for Commencement who do not have tickets for the ceremony in Shapiro Fieldhouse are invited to celebrate at either of two satellite viewing locations in Mack Hall Auditorium or in the Abare Dining Room in Wise Campus Center. Commencement will be livestreamed in both locations at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Will Commencement and Commissioning ceremonies be streamed online?
A live webcast of Commencement, Joint Commissioning, and Army Commissioning ceremonies will be available for family and friends unable to attend in person.
Commencement Ceremony
May 2, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time
Joint Commissioning Ceremony
May 3, 2020 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time
Army Commissioning Ceremony
May 3, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time
DVD videos of all weekend ceremonies, including the U.S. Air Force and Naval Commissioning ceremonies, will be available for purchase here.
What time do venue doors open?
Doors for Commencement open at 12:00 p.m. on the day of the ceremony.
Doors for Joint Commissioning open at 8:00 a.m. on the day of the ceremony.
How long does the Commencement ceremony last?
Typically, the Commencement ceremony lasts between 2 and 2.5 hours.
Is there a dress code for attending Commencement?
While Commencement and Commissioning ceremonies have no official dress code, we encourage families and guests to dress in a manner appropriate to the ceremonies. Many of our guests dress business casual.
Depending on the graduating student’s lifestyle, graduates wear academic regalia, Corps Uniform of the Day, or the dress uniform of their service if they are an active duty service member, Reservist, or National Guard.
Are concessions available in Shapiro Field House?
No food or drink is allowed in Shapiro Field House (with the exception of water and baby formula/food). No concessions are provided during either the Commencement or Joint Commissioning ceremonies.
Dining hall facilities in Wise Campus Center will be open throughout the weekend. Additionally, food is provided at the academic college receptions and open houses.
Please reference the Weekend Schedule for details regarding available dining services and reception event timing.
Will photos be taken at Commencement? How do I order photos taken at Commencement?
Official graduation portraits are taken at the Commencement ceremony, directly after graduates receive their diplomas. Both senior and graduate portraits are available for order from Gray School Portraits.
Will video of the Commencement and Commissioning ceremonies be available for purchase?
DVD videos of all weekend ceremonies will be available for purchase from the Office of Alumni & Family Relations.
Are family members and guests able to take personal photographs during the Commencement ceremony?
A dedicated, roped area for guests wishing to take closer-range photographs is located to the left of the stage. We ask that guests remain in the roped area dedicated for this purpose and respect all venue and security signage and direction from staff.
Where should we park during Commencement and Commissioning weekend?
All campus parking lots are open for parking during Commencement and Commissioning events. The campus will be well-marked for parking throughout the weekend, and parking attendants will be present to direct traffic.
Guests may be dropped off directly outside of Shapiro Field House; however, please be aware the road is narrow, and turning around can often be difficult due to heavy pedestrian and passenger cart traffic around the venue.
Where is ADA parking located? Are there passenger carts available?
Guests with a valid handicap parking tag or with mobility limitations will be able to park along I.D. White Avenue, at Shapiro Field House, and in designated accessible parking areas. Please comply with all posted signs and with parking staff direction.
Passenger carts driven by authorized Norwich staff are available throughout the weekend to assist guests with transportation between venues and from parking lots. Carts circulate through campus regularly and may be flagged by guests at any time. Priority will be given to guests with disabilities and/or limited mobility.
A member of my party is hearing-impaired. Will there be an ASL interpreter present for the Commencement ceremony?
Yes, an American Sign Language interpreter will be present to translate the Commencement ceremony for guests who are deaf or hearing-impaired. The interpreter will be located on the main stage.
We have a guest with special needs. Is there anything we need to do to make prior arrangements?
If you require specific services or accommodations, please contact Conference Services at (802) 485-2148 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Our top priority is an enjoyable experience for all of our guests.
Are animals allowed in ceremony and event venues?
Service animals are permitted in ceremony venues. Pets are not permitted in ceremony venues. We ask all guests to be aware that many parking areas on campus are not shaded.
TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATIONS
How do I get to Norwich University?
Norwich University is located at 158 Harmon Drive, Northfield, Vt.
Google Map view:
Airports servicing Vermont include:
| Burlington, Vt. (BTV) | 45- to 60-minute drive to NU |
| Manchester, N.H. (MHT) | 2-hour drive to NU |
| Albany, N.Y. (ALB) | 3-hour drive to NU |
| Montreal, Quebec (YUL) | 3-hour drive to NU |
| Boston, Mass. (BOS) | 3.5-hour drive to NU |
Printable, turn-by-turn driving directions from your location to Norwich can be found here.
Is there a list of local accommodations for Commencement and Commissioning weekend? Are there any blocked rooms available?
The Alumni Office maintains a comprehensive list of area accommodations. Although the University does not block rooms for guests, do not hesitate to ask hotels if they offer discounted rates for friends and family attending Norwich University Commencement and Commissioning.
