Commencement Day Details - Centennial Commencement
The Centennial Commencement Ceremony will take place outdoors in an open air stadium, on Saturday, October 9, 2021, in Kathy Zolad Stadium, on the University of New Haven Main Campus. (300 Boston Post Rd, West Haven, CT 06516)
Gates will open at 8 a.m. for the 9 a.m. ceremony.
All graduates must check in by 8 a.m., and must be seated by 8:30 a.m. Graduates should read the "Participating Student Information," below.
All guests should be seated by 8:45 a.m.
The ceremony will begin promptly at 9 a.m., rain or shine.
The ceremony will also be streamed live. A link to the live stream will appear on the Centennial Commencement website the morning of the ceremony.
In order to provide the best possible commencement experience, all participating graduates and their guests must abide by health and safety regulations meant to keep everyone safe.
COVID Mask Policy - ALL graduates and guests must adhere to the policy listed below:
- Unvaccinated/partially vaccinated attendees are required to wear a mask at all times.
- Fully vaccinated attendees are strongly encouraged to wear masks at all times.
Graduates should arrive dressed for the ceremony in regalia received in Summer 2020: caps, gowns, and if applicable, hoods. Due to COVID restrictions, there is no dressing space available on site.
Graduates must bring their PRINTED GRAD PASS to have scanned as they cross the stage. This pass will trigger the name call, name display, and be collected after scanning by the photography team to match your photo to your space in the procession. Your pass will not scan from a cell phone and must be printed.
Grads must be checked in with their student ticket AND GRADPASS (used to scan to read your name as you cross the stage) at Kathy Zolad Stadium 60 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Graduates must be in their seats 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
Diploma covers will be distributed to graduates in their seats upon arrival. It is suggested that the grad pass is then clipped inside the diploma cover to enable easy access as graduates cross the stage.
Admission is restricted to ticket holders only. One ticket is allowed per person.
All guests are required to follow COVID mask policy, listed on this page.
Children above the age of two are required to have a ticket. Each guest must have a ticket to enter, tickets are non-transferable and will be scanned upon entrance to the event.
Guests under two years of age, if not entering on a ticket, will not have a seat available and must sit in an adult's lap.
If there is inclement weather, umbrellas will be permitted inside the facility and rain ponchos will be distributed to all graduates.
Kathy Zolad Stadium is located at 300 Boston Post Road, West Haven, CT 06516, on the University of New Haven Main Campus.
Parking for commencement attendees is available in the following parking lots:
- P17 - Bergami Hall East Lot
- P18 - Bergami Hall North Lot
- P19 - Bergami Hall West Lot
- ESUMS (shown in pink on the map)
All parking lots will be labeled for commencement parking. If you registered to attend Homecoming, shuttles will be available from all of the lots listed above at the end of the commencement ceremony.
These lots are shown on our Interactive Parking Map. Graduates and guests will enter Zolad Stadium at the East field-level entrance, closest to the German Club (Arbeiter Maenner Chor).
A floor is being installed over the field for the commencement exercises and a ramp will be installed at the entrance to the field, to help with wheelchair accessibility. Signs will be posted denoting accessible seating. Staff are being assigned to assist with accessibility concerns that guests or graduates have on the day of the ceremony. Finally, handicapped parking spaces (accessible to those with a handicapped parking placard) are available in each of the lots designated for commencement.
If you are registered to attend Homecoming, shuttles will be available from all of the parking lots listed above at the end of the commencement ceremony.