Commencement 2012

The Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2012 will be held on Sunday, May 13, 2012 at Benaroya Hall in Seattle, Washington. The ceremony begins promptly at 1 pm and will last until approximately 3 pm. A reception in the main auditorium will immediately follow the ceremony.

Guest tickets or invitations are not required for admittance.

• Driving Directions
• Parking Information
• Information for Candidates
• Information for Family & Friends
• Information for Faculty
• Information for Staff

Driving Directions

Benaroya Hall is in the heart of downtown Seattle between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, and Union and University Streets. Driving directions can be found at the Benaroya Hall website.

Parking Information

Benaroya Hall has a 430-car underground garage that provides direct access to the facility. The garage entrance is on 2nd Avenue, just south of Union Street. The maximum vehicle height is 6’8”.
If the Benaroya lot is full, parking is also available at the Cobb Building (enter on University Street between 3rd and 4th Avenue) and the Chase Center (enter on Union Street between First and Second Avenues.) All parking garage options charge a fee. For additional details, please visit the Benaroya Hall website.

Information for Candidates

Students are eligible to participate in the college’s commencement ceremony if they have six or fewer credits outstanding after the spring semester is complete. If a student has more than six credits unfulfilled then they are eligible to participate in the next year’s ceremony. If you are a prospective graduate and have questions regarding your eligibility to participate in ceremony or your graduation status, you should contact the Registration Office at 206.726.5089.

Diplomas are not given out at the ceremony. Final degree awards will be posted to a student’s record within 30 days of the last day of the semester. Diplomas will be available following the final graduation audit, and for most students by June 1.  Graduates must provide the Registration and Records Office (in person or via a graduation application on Compass) with the address where they would like their diploma sent; graduates who do not provide a diploma-specific address will have their diplomas held at the Registration and Records Office for in-person pick-up.

Graduation candidates are required to be check in at Benaroya Hall the day of the ceremony at 11:30am. This will allow us time to check in all graduates, take class/departmental photographs, and line up for the processional.  Coat-check services will be available for graduates in the foyer of Benaroya Hall.

Invitations may now be picked up from the Registration & Records Office beginning Wednesday, March 7.  Each graduating student will receive nine complimentary announcements.  Unclaimed announcements will be released to students who would like extras on April 9.

The Alumni Relations Office can be reached at 206.726.5052. More information about the Alumni Relations Office can be found here.

Information for Family & Friends

Family and friends of graduates should plan to arrive at the ceremony between 12:30-12:45. The doors to Benaroya Hall will open for guests at 12:30pm, and the ceremony will begin promptly at 1pm.  Late guests will need to enter the auditorium from the side doors.  Tickets are not required for entrance. Guests should plan to park within the Benaroya Hall parking garage or one of the many fee-based parking garages surrounding Benaroya Hall.
Out-of-town guests can view accommodation information here.
Professional pictures will be taken during the event and can be purchased from GradImages. To receive a link to your photos when they become available, you may pre-register at their site without obligation.

Information for Faculty

Faculty members of the college are encouraged to attend the ceremony and should plan to arrive at Benaroya Hall at 12:30pm. Sharron Starling, Director of Admission, will coordinate the faculty line-up for the commencement processional. The line-up will begin at 12:45 in the lobby just in front of the main doors to the auditorium.  All faculty in attendance will be seated in a reserved section of the auditorium and will walk in the processional just behind the graduating class.

Information for Staff

Staff members of the college are welcome to attend the ceremony. Please follow the guidelines for the guests and plan to arrive no earlier than 12:30pm. Staff who are working the event should be in contact with the Registrar’s Office regarding arrival time and assigned duties.