University of Oregon Spring Commencement Info

By KVAL News Published: Jun 13, 2012 at 4:00 AM PDT
University of Oregon Spring Commencement Info

EUGENE, Ore. -- The University of Oregon campus is set to host graduation ceremonies for the 2012 academic year on Monday, June 18.

The graduation 2012 festivities start at 9 a.m. with the traditional academic parade through campus called the "duck walk." The parade route ends at the Matthew Knight Arena, where the University Graduation Celebration will be held at 9:30 a.m.

After the University Graduation Celebration students will participate in their scheduled department ceremonies at either 12 or 3 p.m. at locations around the campus.

All of Monday's ceremonies will bring thousands of eager students and family members to the campus-area. The Eugene campus will also be hosting the U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials, starting later that week. Here are a few tips to make the ceremonies on graduation day memorable and stress free.

Weather: Most of the department ceremonies will be held outside, rain or shine. Since there has been a mix of rain and sun in the weeks leading up to June 18th it is recommended that graduates and observers dress accordingly. The University lawns retain moisture, so practical footwear is recommended.

Ticketing: Unlike past years, and in some graduations, no tickets are required to attend any of Monday's ceremonies. Seating will be doled out first come- first serve, so arrive early to ensure a good seat to see the graduates.

Transportation: The limited availability of parking spaces near the University of Oregon has always made finding a place to park a challenge on graduation day. The parking situation will only be increased due to the upcoming U.S. Olympic Track and Field trials closing streets near campus.

The University of Oregon is providing a shuttle service from the Autzen Stadium parking lot to the campus area. Both the parking and shuttle are free. If you plan on using the service, the UO recommends arriving an hour before the start of any ceremony they wish to attend.

For those trying to find a place on the street near the campus area parking meters go as high as 25 cents for 15 minutes, and most streets have a strictly enforced 2 hour maximum parking limit.

Extended stays: Hotel space in Eugene and the surrounding areas will be limited because of the upcoming U.S. Olympic Trials. However, UO graduation events take place a week before the bulk of Trial events, which means many overlapping reservations will not conflict until Monday evening.