ANNOUNCEMENT: All the tickets for the Academic Convocation have been distributed.

Academic Convocation Ticket Distribution

Tickets for the Academic Convocation featuring commencement speaker President Bill Clinton will be distributed through the Gordon Field House Box Office per the following schedule.  Gordon Field House Box Office hours are:  Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m-6 p.m., Wednesday, noon-8 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2p.m. All tickets are general admission tickets. Please note that tickets are required and they will be checked and collected at the designated entry points to U Lot.

1)  Monday, April 9-Saturday, April 28 - each graduating student may request in person or by calling (585)475-4121 up to three general admission guest tickets to the Academic Convocation held in U Lot.  Students must show their RIT ID card and their name must be on the list of students who have filed a degree application with a check-out date of 2006-1, 2006-2, 2006-3 or 2006-4.  Students who do not appear on this list will be asked to check with their advisors to verify their eligibility to participate in commencement activities. After April 28, graduating students are not guaranteed tickets.

2) Monday, April 30-Saturday, May 19 - if tickets remain, each graduating student may request in person or by calling (585)475-4121 up to three additional general admission guest tickets on a first-come, first-serve basis to the Academic Convocation on U Lot.  Same conditions as listed above apply.

3)  Monday, May 21-Thursday, May 24 - remaining general admission tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, limit of four, to faculty, staff and students.  RIT ID must be shown. 

Students on co-op, online students (not local to campus), and students who graduated at the end of fall (2006-1) or winter quarter (2006-2) may call (585)475-4121 during regular box office hours to request and reserve tickets per the schedule above.  Students may pick up these reserved tickets during regular business hours at the Gordon Field House Box Office until 8 p.m. Thursday, May 24.  Photo ID will be required when picking up tickets; RIT ID preferred.  Tickets cannot be mailed.

Graduating students and faculty participating in cap and gown with their colleges in the Convocation will not need a ticket.  If a graduating student or faculty member chooses not to participate in the formal Academic Convocation program wearing cap and gown and sitting with his/her college, he/she will need a ticket.  Tickets for faculty not participating in the formal program will be available beginning Monday, May 21 (if any tickets remain) per the process outlined in number 3 above. 

Children under the age of 1 and sitting on the lap of a parent or other adult will not need a ticket. 

The Academic Convocation is outside; please dress for the weather, including rain.

The Convocation will be televised live and real-timed captioned in the Gordon Field House and the Ritter Ice Arena.  It will also be cablecasted on the campus closed circuit TV system and broadcast on RIT's radio station, WITR, (89.7 FM).  Tickets will not be needed for admission to the overflow facilities unless the extreme weather plan is implemented.

Extreme Weather Plan:  At the time students are issued tickets to the Academic Convocation in U Lot, they will be given a sealed envelope labeled "Extreme Weather Plan"  with one ticket to the Field House and two tickets to an overflow facility.  These tickets will be used only in the case of extreme weather (lightening, high winds).  Please be sure to bring this envelope with you to the Academic Convocation.  Check the this website for weather updates the week of the Academic Convocation.

FINAL NOTE:  Remember that you do not need tickets to the college commencement ceremonies where graduating students are individually introduced and recognized.  There is no limit to the number of guests who may attend the college commencement ceremonies.