Information for Graduates
We are looking forward to celebrating this exciting milestone with you and recognizing your graduation and degree conferral at Gannon's Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 8, 2021 at the Erie Insurance Arena.
We have outlined various guidelines below in order for us to celebrate as safely as possible for you as well as maintain COVID-19 guidelines. Please continue reading for important information on what to expect and how to plan for Commencement.
Attire & Regalia
- If possible, arrive dressed in your regalia.
- Please wear comfortable shoes. Remember, the majority of students will be sitting in the bleachers of Erie Insurance Arena and will need to walk up and down stairs to receive your degree.
- Do not bring personal items with you. Try to bring only what you can carry on you.
- Congregating on campus or at the Erie Insurance Arena after the event is discouraged. Please dress appropriately for the weather, as well as traveling to and from campus.
Arrival & Lineup
Graduates should arrive 1 hour before their ceremony to go through the scanning process and lineup at the Holland Street doors.
Please be patient. This will be a tedious process to ensure safety continues to be our top priority.
You will be given an index card with your name and a number. Hold onto this card and carry it with you to the stage. Your name will be read from this card when you cross the stage.
Departure
Please remain in your seat until the ceremony is over out of respect for all graduating students. Graduates will exit through the Holland Street doors. Congregating on campus or at the Erie Insurance Arena after the event is discouraged to maintain social distancing and COVID-19 safety measures.
Tickets
Due to state and local COVID-19 restrictions, each graduate is permitted
two guests to attend the ceremony and Baccalaureate Mass in-person to
celebrate this exciting milestone.
Ceremony Tickets
Tickets for the Commencement ceremony will be distributed at
regalia pickup and must be shown upon entering the venue to attend
commencement.
Baccalaureate Mass Tickets
Tickets for the Baccalaureate Mass will be distributed at the Erie Insurance Arena starting
at 9 a.m. and must be shown upon entering the venue to attend
Baccalaureate Mass. You must register for these tickets in advance by completing the RSVP form for Baccalaureate Mass.
To access the livestream during the event and for more details about Commencement, click here.
Standard COVID-19 Guidelines
All COVID-19 guidelines will be enforced before, during and after the ceremony, including:
- Masks must be worn properly at all times.
- Social distancing. Maintain a six-foot distance from others. If you must be less than six feet apart, please do not stay within this distance for 15 minutes or more.
- Students will need to complete and show their LiveSafe app safety check.
- Hand sanitizing stations will be available in easy to access locations throughout the event, including near the graduation stage. Please be sure to sanitize before and after receiving your diploma.
Diploma
Your diploma will be mailed after the ceremony to the mailing address that we have on file. If we do not have an accurate mailing address, the delivery of your diploma will be delayed.
Please verify your mailing address by logging in to Student Planning:
- Go to User Options (icons in gray on left - bottom icon)
- Click on User Profile
- If you need to update your address, do so immediately, by completing this online form or by contacting the Registrar's office.