When to arrive, where to park, and so much more. You’ve got questions and we’ve got answers. Get ready to graduate!
When should I arrive? Where will commencement be held?
We’re looking forward to welcoming you to the commencement ceremony, which begins promptly at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Hogan Center, Art Smith Arena.
General seating: Doors open at 1 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served. The general seating entrance is at the east-facing end of the Hogan Center.
Accessible seating: If you or one of your ticketed guests require accessibility accommodations, please complete this form by 5 p.m. April 11, 2025. Each request will be reviewed, and a response will be emailed back from our commencement email, commencement@alma.edu, which will include day-of instructions, as well as the number of members from your party that may accompany you in the accommodated seating section. To ensure all guests can fully participate in the commencement ceremony, we ask that you submit a separate request form for each guest requiring accommodations.
Where are these places located?
We have a number of campus maps available online.
Where can I park?
Accessible parking is available in the monitored lot behind the Heritage/Hogan buildings. This lot opens up at 11 a.m.
General parking is available in the monitored lot of Heritage/Hogan building, as well as in the lots to the north and east, near the railroad tracks. This map shows parking lots and accessible routes. Parking is free at Alma College and on city streets.
Can graduates decorate their mortarboards?
Candidates may personalize their mortarboard under the following provisions: No derogatory, indecent, profane images or words are allowed on mortarboards. Anything deemed offensive will not be tolerated and candidates will be asked to remove their mortarboard. All other adornments and ornamentation including pins, flowers, necklaces, flags, brooches, etc. are not permitted. Graduates will be asked to remove any such adornments prior to entering the arena.
How can I access my tickets?
Each graduate was provided eight commencement tickets. Upon your ticket order, graduates received an email with a PDF containing all of their tickets.
Every guest must have their own ticket to enter. Please be sure to have the complete code ready for scanning, print or electronic copy, if even a small portion is not showing, the ticket is not valid.
If you cannot find your tickets, please check spam and junk folders and ensure fansupport@hometownticketing.com is not a blocked address.
Please note: there are no additional tickets available for request or purchase from the college.
Is the ceremony being livestreamed?
Yes! You can watch it from the comfort of your own home on the Alma College YouTube channel. The stream will also be broadcast on campus, at the Thomas Andison Chapel. Doors open at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Can I purchase photos? Can I purchase flowers?
Graduating seniors may register for professional commencement photos here.
There are flower shops in the city of Alma that will be open prior to the commencement ceremony beginning. The college does not sell flowers.
How long does the ceremony last?
Commencement typically runs about two hours. Following the ceremony, staff will lead graduates out as they pass through the faculty gauntlet.
Who is the commencement speaker and honorary degree recipient?
We’re proud to announce that our keynote speaker and honorary degree recipient is social ethicist, theologian and member of the Class of 1974, Gary Dorrien. You can read all about the Rev. Dr. Dorrien here.
Who is the student speaker?
The student speaker is Toby Layson, who was awarded Alma’s most prestigious award for a graduating senior, the Barlow Trophy, at a ceremony earlier this month. You can read all about Toby and his many accomplishments here.
