Graduation Preparation

Graduates: If you are unable to walk down stairs or have any mobility concerns, please email psych.saa@umich.edu as soon as possible. 

Graduates should arrive at Crisler Arena at 10am and use the Northeast (main) Entrance. Guests are also welcome to arrive and begin seating at 10am.

Graduates must check in at the Will Call Ticket Area of the Northeast entrance. You will then be given your name and photo cards, and directed to your place in the procession line. Your name and photo cards are needed as you cross the stage to be recognized.

After checking in, graduates should proceed around the concourse to the LEFT, while guests should go RIGHT to take their seats within the arena. 

Students with Special Needs

If you cannot walk down stairs or have any special needs not mentioned below, please contact psych.saa@umich.edu as soon as possible. 

Parking

There are 60 handicap parking spaces available in front of the NE (main) entrance of Crisler on a first come, first served basis. Guests can also be dropped off and picked up at the NE Entrance. If parking at Crisler fills, overflow parking will be available at Pioneer High School (free of charge).

Entrance/Time of Arrival

All graduates and guests use the NE Entrance. Guests with limited mobility or other accessibility needs may enter at 9:40am, along with their party. All other guests and graduates must enter at 10am. 

Stairs/Limited Mobility

Just inside the NE Entrance, there is an escalator and a small elevator that will take guests to the third (concourse) level. The closest entrance to the seating area is entrance B (between sections 104 & 101). This seating area is on the east side of Crisler and the stage will be on the south side of the arena floor. 

Wheelchairs

Crisler will have 10-12 wheelchairs and Event Staff available to take guests with limited mobility up to the concourse. Guests are not able to use these wheelchairs during the ceremony. There will also be many Psych Dept and Crisler Event staff available if you need assistance pushing a wheelchair or helping someone with limited mobility.

Seating within the Arena

Chairs are stadium style with padded folding seats and plastic (slightly padded) backs. The first two (top) rows of the lower bowl are reserved for families of those with mobility issues, but do require going down a couple stairs.

Guests in wheelchairs may sit around the concourse. To allow room for our many guests with need for this type of seating, we allow one guest (with mobility limitations) plus one companion. Folding chairs will be available for those sitting in this area. The rest of the family members may sit directly in front of the guest(s) sitting on the concourse.

Concourse and reserved seating are on a first come, first served basis. We encourage those with wheelchairs to go around to the farther side of the concourse seating to allow those who walk, but cannot climb stairs to sit on the near-side concourse.

Closed Captioning

We will provide closed captioning on the Jumbotron for guests with hearing impairments.

Graduation will be livestreamed here, as well as on the Psychology YouTube channel. Students are encouraged to share this link with family and friends who can't join us in person! The livestream will begin when the ceremony starts.

Lost & found items at the ceremony will be taken to Guest services on the Concourse at Crisler. Guests can email guestservices@umich.edu to inquire about lost items after the event has concluded. 

To assist us with correct pronunciation of your name, please be sure to complete your information in NameCoach by 4/1/25.  This step is VERY IMPORTANT if you have a name that is often mispronounced, or want your name to be announced as something different than what UM has on record.

Beginning in January 2025, graduates will receive an email invitation from NameCoach. **CHECK YOUR SPAM if you do not see this email!** Graduates can also click this link to record their name. 

There are two parking options available to graduates and their guests:

1. Pioneer High School Parking lot: spaces should be available; no charge, must use the Main St. entrance and park on the east side of the parking lot (close to the commuter lot/Main St). 

2. A limited number of spaces will be available at Crisler Center, as the lots are open to anyone on this day. You may park anywhere in the Crisler lot - there are no reserved areas for the Psychology Ceremony.

*Note: Handicapped spaces (60) will be available by the Northeast entrance of Crisler Center on a first come, first served basis. We will also reserve seating in the arena for guests with limited mobility.

The Department of Psychology hires a professional photographer to take photos before, during, and after the ceremony. These photos will be posted to our Photos & Videos website after the event. GradImages will also be onsite taking photos of each graduate before they walk across the stage and will email graduates with a link to purchase photos after the event. A video recording of the event will be available on the Photos & Videos website about a week after the event.

Graduates should bring their MCard or state-issued ID. The Michigan Stadium Prohibited Items list will be followed at Crisler Center during all commencement activities, and all graduates & guests will be required to pass through a weapons detection system. Bags will not be permitted. Exceptions for guests with medical or childcare needs (e.g., medical prescriptions, diapers for a baby, etc.) will be addressed individually at entry.