Important Details About Winter 2022 Commencement Location

Ceremony Time and Location:

The Winter Commencement ceremony is Saturday, Dec. 17 at 10 a.m. in the Niss Athletic Center located on Moss Hill Drive. No tickets will be required for the indoor ceremony.

Lineup Information:

Graduates are to assemble at 9:00 a.m. inside the Niss Athletic Center. The lineup area will be on the far side of the track, opposite from the main entrance. Faculty volunteers will assist you in lining up according to the degree received.

Timeline:

9:00 a.m. - Graduates line up in the assigned area in the Niss Center, by degree, alphabetically. During this lineup, each graduate will be given a card with his or her name and honors listed.

9:55 a.m. The processional will begin with the platform party proceeding to the stage. The faculty and students will proceed to seating on the field.

Parking:

Parents and guests attending the ceremony can park in any of the parking lots on campus. The recommended parking lots for Commencement are Lots B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, or M. From these lots, guests will walk to the Niss Athletic Center. We will have passenger golf carts to shuttle guests in need of assistance from the parking lots to the commencement ceremony.

Please note, Lot T will be reserved for handicapped accessible parking only, thus we will have Broad Street closed off from Moss Hill Drive to Davis Street and only vehicles with a handicapped accessible placard/license plate will be permitted to drive through this area.

For more information about Commencement parking, see the Commencement Parking Map.

Commencement Information

Notice about Construction and Road Closure Affecting Commencement Routes

The City of Ashland will be beginning a Claremont Avenue improvement project, approximately 1.30 miles in length, beginning at Baney Road and extending to Smith Road located in the City of Ashland. Due to this improvement project and a road closure on Claremont Avenue that may affect your travel to Ashland University on the day of Commencement, please be advised of the following recommended routes.

From the West

Guests coming from the west on Claremont (State Route 42) may experience delays due to construction projects on Claremont Avenue, but Claremont will be open to the University.

From the East

Guests coming from the east should take Main Street into town and then turn left onto Center Street (State Route 60) going south to either College Avenue, or Samaritan Avenue. This is suggested because Claremont Avenue will be closed at Main Street due to bridge construction downtown.

From the North

Guests coming from the north should turn left onto Main Street and go east to Center Street (State Route 60). At Center Street they should turn right and take Center Street (south) to either College Avenue, or Samaritan Avenue. This is suggested because Claremont Avenue will be closed at Main Street due to bridge construction downtown.

We will have passenger golf carts to assist guests needing assistance from the parking lots to the commencement ceremony. Those needing handicapped accessible parking can utilize Lot T. (Lot T will be reserved for handicapped accessible parking only, thus we will have Broad Street closed off from Moss Hill Drive to Davis Street and only vehicles with a handicapped accessible placard/license plate will be permitted to drive through this area.

Map of alternate routes for getting to campus (PDF)

Parking for Spring 2022 Commencement (PDF)

Commencement FAQs

Where and when will commencement be held?

Commencement will be held Saturday, Dec. 17th, in the Jack Miller Stadium. There will be one combined ceremony for Undergraduates and Graduates held at 10 a.m.

How do I get my tickets?

Tickets will not be required for this event.

What should I expect the day of the event?

Undergraduates and graduates should plan to arrive to the Niss Athletic Center at 9 a.m. The lineup area will be on the far side of the track, opposite from the main entrance.

Each graduate will be recognized by name and will cross the stage where the platform committee will be seated.

After crossing the stage, graduates will proceed off the stage to have their photo taken.

What are the areas for seating?

Seating for Graduating Students - Undergraduates and graduates should plan to arrive at the Niss Athletic Center at 9 a.m. Students will process onto the field and will be seated in chairs on the field.
Wheelchairs and handicapped accessible seating for guests - Handicapped accessible seating will be available on the field.
Seating for parents and visitors - All parents and visitors will be seated in the available seats on the field.
Seating for faculty - Faculty should arrive at the Niss Athletic Center by 9:15 a.m. The lineup area will be on the far side of the track, opposite from the main entrance. They will line up at that location and lead the student procession onto the field. The faculty will then be seated in a faculty section on the field.
Seating for VIPs - There will be a roped off VIP area on the field.

Will the event be live-streamed and where?

The event will be live-streamed and can be viewed from anywhere via online streaming.

Will there be a photography service?

EagleEye Photography (www.ashland.edu/eagleeyephoto) will take photos of each graduate after they cross the stage. Each graduate will be contacted through their university email within 4-6 weeks with information regarding the viewing and purchase of photos. If you no longer have a university email, please provide an alternate email to the Registrar’s Office ASAP at regis@ashland.edu.

Will there be a Baccalaureate service?

A Baccalaureate Service of Worship recognizing the Class of 2022 will be held in the sanctuary of the Jack & Deb Miller Chapel on the morning of commencement, May 7, 2022. Graduates and their guests are invited to attend. Doors will open at 8:00 am and the service will begin promptly at 8:30 am. Graduates are encouraged to wear their graduation attire. The service will conclude in time for graduates to report to the commencement staging area to line up with their classmates.

Will there be a rose sale?

The Ashland University Honors Program will offer roses at Commencement. They are sold in advance, with the pre-ordered items available for pickup when graduates and their families arrive at the ceremony. For more information, contact the Honors Department at 419-289-5260 or go to the Rose Sales page.

Rose orders will be available for pickup from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. as you arrive at the entrance to Jack Miller Stadium on the day of the Commencement.

A variety of colors will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Quantities are limited and colors cannot be reserved. Earlier pick-up results in better selection! Rose orders MUST BE picked up by the start of Commencement. Orders not picked up by this time will be donated to a local charity. We regret that refunds cannot be made for orders not picked up.

Roses can be purchased online through PayPal.