General Information

Commencement Logistics and Rain Tickets

Update: Friday, May 3, 2024 – Commencement will be held in Smith Hall Theatre at 9 a.m. Students have already received their allotted rain tickets. No one will be admitted to Smith without a ticket. Please also note that no re-entry to the facility will be allowed once guests have arrived.

7:45 a.m.: Graduates and squires report to Smith Banquet Hall
8:15 a.m.: Doors to Smith Hall Theatre open
8:20 a.m.: Commencement livestream available
8:40 a.m.: Faculty report in robes to Alice Ashley Jack
8:45 a.m.: Commencement procession forms in Smith Banquet Hall
8:50 a.m.: Commencement procession begins
9 a.m.: Commencement begins

For those without tickets, overflow seating with a live webcast of the ceremony will be shown in Hampson Commons in the Student Center.

Commencement will be held at 9 a.m. Sunday morning in WildCat Stadium. It can be very warm in May, so we encourage you to bring conveniently sized bottles of drinking water to the event. Water stations will be also available in WildCat Stadium. Portable restrooms will be available at the entrance of WildCat Stadium.

In case of rain, the ceremony will be held in Smith Hall Theatre, which has approximately 800 seats. Should Commencement be held indoors, each senior will be allotted a number of rain tickets* for guests to attend the actual ceremony (graduates and squires do not require a ticket). Overflow seating with a live webcast of the Commencement ceremony will be shown in the Student Center in Hampson Commons – no ticket required. A system to reserve allotted rain tickets and request additional tickets will be emailed to graduates. Rain tickets will be available for pick up in the Office of the Dean of Students during final exam week.

Rain tickets will be available for pick up in the Office of the Dean of Students during final exam week. MAT and MACSL students will receive their rain tickets at the MAT Awards and MACSL Graduate Recognition Ceremonies.

Parking Information

Update: Friday, May 3, 2024

All front campus parking will be designated as handicapped parking only.

Please note that drop-offs will be allowed at Smith Hall. Drivers should then proceed to the general parking areas.

Shuttles will run on a regular basis.

All vehicular traffic will enter the campus from Norfolk Avenue onto East Campus Drive.
Traffic will move in one direction only, proceeding toward WildCat Stadium from the entrance. (See campus map here).
Passengers may be dropped off at Smith Hall ~~the stadium gate ramp~~ – volunteers will be there to help with seating information, further guidance, and greet other guests as they arrive.
Traffic will continue through campus following West Campus Drive as Campus Safety Officers will direct each vehicle into appropriate parking areas along the route.
As each lot fills to capacity, the lot will be closed.

Please remain alert as pedestrian and vehicular traffic will be in motion simultaneously on campus thoroughfares during arrival and departure. Your safety is of the utmost importance.

Once the ceremony has concluded, ALL traffic must exit the campus in a westerly direction onto North Princeton Circle from West Campus Drive. Lynchburg police will be present to assist with exit from North Princeton Circle onto Rivermont Avenue.

Specific parking details:

Handicap accessible parking will be available on front campus ~~near the stadium, across from the tennis courts~~. Please inform the Campus Safety Officer at the East Campus Drive entrance of your parking needs.
The entrance to Main Campus Drive will close no later than 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Parking Restrictions:

As a reminder, city police will enforce parking regulations on the streets surrounding the College throughout the weekend. Guests are reminded to observe all parking, traffic control, and informational signs.

The upper Magnolia Foods/Riverside Runners parking lot (between Rivermont Avenue and Norfolk Avenue) is limited to business patron use only.
The Rivermont Evangelical Presbyterian Church parking lot is limited to church guests only.

Improperly parked vehicles in these lots and other restricted lots or areas may be ticketed, or towed at owner’s expense without further notice.

Assistance for Guests with Special Needs

Requests for a sign language interpreter and/or handicap-accessible seating, and parking must be made in advance. If your party will include someone who has special needs, please contact Donna Burckhard in the Office of the Dean of Students, deanofstudents@bocci-life.com, (434) 947-8895.
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Cell Phones, Cameras, and Video Equipment

During Commencement, all cell phones should be turned to silent.
Use of cameras and video equipment during Commencement is permitted in designated areas, but should not interfere with the flow of the program.
A professional photographer will take a photo of each graduate receiving a diploma. Photographs will be available for free download on the Commencement website approximately two weeks after Commencement.

Noise Makers

The use of air horns, cowbells, and other noisemakers is not permitted during the ceremony.
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Pet Policy

Randolph College has a “no pet” policy that is strictly enforced. Pets are not allowed at the Commencement Ceremony. Service animals that provide assistance to individuals with disabilities are permitted.
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Digital Commencement Program

A digital Commencement program, which is a part of the College’s sustainability efforts, will be available for download on the Commencement website and will contain final information, including honors awarded.
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Important Reminder

It is important for graduates to be on time for Daisy Chain, Commencement rehearsal, and lineup. Instructions for graduates and squires will be emailed to graduates.
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Regalia for Ceremony

All graduates should come with full regalia, including robe, cap, tassel, and hood. Button Stoles are not worn during the formal commencement ceremony. Please do not wear heels for the ceremony. The procession (if outside) will require walking across the turf field, which is a somewhat unstable surface. We do not want anyone to lose their balance while processing into or recessing out of the stadium.

Caps must not be decorated with obscene language or images. Please do not decorate your robes. Caps that do not adhere to these guidelines will be exchanged for a new cap and a fee will be assessed.
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Hood Return

Undergraduate hoods must be returned or purchased in Main Hall Lobby between 11 a.m.–1 p.m. If you do not return your hood, a $35 charge will be placed on your student account.

Thank you for your time in reviewing this information. Additional information will be provided to you as the event gets closer.