Each ceremony is expected to last 1.5 to 2 hours.

Graduates can expect a traditional Commencement program including speakers, having their names called and walking across the stage. Students will not process into the stadium, but they will recess out of the stadium and through the Christy Mathewson Gates.

Commencement will be held outdoors rain or shine. In the case of severe weather including thunderstorms with lightning, high winds, and heavy or prolonged rain, Commencement may be delayed or moved indoors.

See the full Severe Weather Plan

Yes. Each ceremony will be livestreamed at bucknell.edu/commencement and facebook.com/BucknellU, so your friends and loved ones who are unable to attend in person can watch the ceremony live.

Recordings of the ceremonies will be available on Monday, May 24, and will be posted at bucknell.edu/commencement.

Yes. Graduates who finished their degrees in July 2020 and December 2020 will be able to participate. Students must have confirmed their intent to participate during Commencement Registration between March 29 and April 15.

As a graduating student, you may have extended contact with faculty, staff and other students before and during the ceremony. To help protect the health and safety of the community, all students who are not currently participating in the University's on-campus sequential COVID-19 testing protocols are required to submit one of the following by May 20:

• Evidence of immunity (documentation of COVID-19 infection in the last 90 days, or documentation of completed vaccination series)
• or
• Documentation of a negative COVID-19 test taken on or after May 16

Documents should be emailed to commencement@bucknell.edu and must be provided by May 20 in order to be able to pick up your Commencement packet.

We recognize that as a returning student, you may not be able to pick up your Commencement packet during the allotted times on Friday, May 21. Please note that you are the only person permitted to pick up your packet; proxies are not allowed. If you are unable to pick up your packet before 6 p.m. on May 21, you may pick it up from the University Switchboard in the Elaine Langone Center during the following times:

• Friday, May 21, 6:30–9:30 p.m.
• Saturday, May 22, 8:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, May 23, 6:30 a.m.–5 p.m.

Students must pick up their cap and gown, tickets and seating information on Friday, May 21, in the Terrace Room of the Elaine Langone Center. Pickup times will be based on ceremony, as follows.

Caps and gowns are provided to graduates at no charge and do not need to be returned. Caps and gowns must be picked up by the graduating student only. Pickup cannot be completed by a designee.

Stadium seating tickets and directions for the Commencement Ceremony will also be provided to graduates when caps and gowns are distributed.

It's important we learn of your post-graduate plans. In order to receive your cap and gown, you must complete the Center for Career Advancement's Senior Survey prior to pickup. This information is used to produce Bucknell’s annual postgraduate report of activity. Please watch your email for a message from Pam Keiser with the subject line "Senior Survey, Career Outcomes — Complete before Commencement." Please contact Linsey Trego at lrw011@bucknell.edu with any questions.

Students are assigned a ceremony based on their degree and in the order in which they will appear in the ceremony program. If you have questions concerning your degree designation please email registrar@bucknell.edu.

Graduating students should arrive at the following times, depending on their ceremony.

No. While we recognize the importance of Commencement for graduating seniors and their families, we must protect the health and safety of all in attendance. If you are feeling symptomatic or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 within 14 days of the ceremony, please do not come to campus or attend the ceremony.

On-campus sequential testing will be available for students until 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 21. Any student who tests positive after May 12, is identified as a close contact after May 9, or is symptomatic on May 23 will not be permitted to attend the event.

Graduating seniors will be required to vacate the residence halls no later than Monday, May 24, at noon.

The University is not accepting requests to stay past this time. For additional information or questions please visit the Housing Services website.

Diplomas will be mailed in June to the graduate's permanent address listed in myBucknell. Please confirm this address is correct.

Please contact the Office of the Registrar at 570-577-1201 or registrar@bucknell.edu.

The Center for Alumni & Family Engagement offers a variety of ways to stay connected with Bucknell: through programs on campus, at events in your region and through online programs. Learn more about ways to stay connected and be sure to follow Bucknell alumni social channels for news and updates: Twitter @BUalumninews and Instagram @bucknellalumni.

Each graduating student may invite up to four guests. Students will receive the tickets that they requested when they registered to take part in Commencement, as well as two additional tickets. The additional tickets are being provided due to modifications of state guidelines that allow a greater number of attendees at outdoor events. There is no need to register your additional guests — the tickets will be included in your Commencement packet when you pick up your cap and gown on Friday, May 21. If you have not yet registered, please email commencement@bucknell.edu.

Children under age 2 do not require a ticket if they can be seated on a guest's lap. All other children must have a ticket.

Pets will not be permitted at the Commencement Ceremony in Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.

Graduating students received a Commencement registration form in late March to confirm their plans to attend Commencement and register up to two guests by April 15. In addition, all graduates who registered for Commencement will receive two additional tickets. The additional tickets are being provided due to modifications of state guidelines that allow a greater number of attendees at outdoor events. There is no need to register your additional guests — the tickets will be included in your Commencement packet when you pick up your cap and gown on Friday, May 21. If you have not yet registered, please email commencement@bucknell.edu.

Registration for the first two guest tickets closed on April 15. However, each student will be allotted two additional guest tickets (for a total of up to four). These additional tickets will automatically be added to the cap and gown packets that students will pick up on Friday, May 21. These additional guests do not need to be registered.

Students will be seated on the field, physically distanced. 

Guest seating will be arranged in four-person pods. Each grouping of seats will be distanced from others. Unless you are the only guest for your student, you must arrive with all guests in your pod to be seated. Guests will be seated by ushers upon arrival. Open seating will not be permitted.

If you have questions or need special accommodations, please email commencement@bucknell.edu.

The stadium gates will open approximately one and a half hours before each ceremony.

Stadium seating is a combination of seatbacks and bleachers. Guests are permitted to bring seat cushions and/or portable seatbacks.

Guests will be seated in the stadium bleachers. Sensible shoes should be worn, especially if the weather has been wet. Dressing with layers is appropriate as the weather can change throughout the morning ranging from quite chilly to extreme heat.

Please note that both student and guest seating is in an unshaded area in the stadium. Alternative indoor viewing will not be available if the ceremony remains outdoors.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we ask that you please stay seated and do not approach the platform or field during the ceremony to take pictures.

A photography team from Island Photography will be at the ceremony to take a candid photograph of each graduate as they are recognized. You may pre-register for photos at islandphoto.com. Bucknell will also post many photographs from each ceremony on the Commencement page and the Bucknell Facebook page.

On-campus housing is not available for guests, and graduating seniors may not host overnight guests. The greater Lewisburg area offers many accommodations. 

Yes. The Bison Café will be open on the ground floor of the Elaine Langone Center from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Limited pre-packaged items will be available for purchase under a tent across from the stadium in front of McDonnell Hall. Complimentary water will be available.

The Commencement Parking map can be found here.

Yes, shuttles will circling the campus from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. An accessible shuttle is also available. Please contact the University Switchboard on Commencement day at 570-577-2000 for shuttle information.

Yes, restrooms are available inside the stadium. Additionally, portable restroom facilities will be available outside the stadium. Accessible restrooms will be available in both locations.

Yes. As you enter campus, Public Safety officers will direct you to the drop-off area at the intersection of Christy Mathewson Drive and Dent Drive. Staff will be there to assist your guests in exiting the vehicle and can provide information about restrooms, accessing the stadium and any other questions you may have. The driver of the vehicle can then park the car in one of the many parking lots offering shuttle service.

Yes. Call the hotline number at 570-577-1192 to reserve seating in this area and arrange other needs. Both guests of a graduate will be seated together in this section, and both guests must have tickets.

Yes. An American Sign Language Interpreter will be available on site by request. Please call the hotline number at 570-577-1192 to request this service by Monday, May 10.

All participants will be required to abide by University safety protocols, including wearing face coverings at all times and social distancing. The University will continue to monitor local, state and CDC guidelines and provide additional details in the weeks ahead.

Guests are required to perform a self-assessment before leaving to travel to campus for Commencement. Guests should not attend if they have any symptoms of COVID-19 (including but not limited to fever, cough or shortness of breath), have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days, or have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days. Instead we invite you to view the Commencement ceremony via live broadcast.

Yes, all attendees must wear a mask for the safety of themselves and others, regardless of their vaccination status.

No. While we recognize the importance of Commencement for graduating seniors and their families, we must protect the health and safety of all in attendance. If you are feeling symptomatic or have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 within 14 days of the ceremony, please do not come to campus.

On-campus sequential testing will be available for students until 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 21. Any student who tests positive after May 12, is identified as a close contact after May 9, or is symptomatic on May 23 will not be permitted to attend the event.

All are invited to watch the ceremony online. Each ceremony will be livestreamed at bucknell.edu/commencement and facebook.com/BucknellU. Videos of the ceremonies will also be available for viewing at bucknell.edu/commencement on Monday, May 24.

A photography team from Island Photography will be at the ceremony to take a candid photograph of each graduate as they are recognized. You may pre-register for photos at islandphoto.com. 

Graduates attending Commencement will receive an email with a link to view and order their proofs within 48 hours after the ceremony. In addition, copies of graduates' digital images and an order form will be distributed by first-class mail about one week after the ceremony. Graduates may also order online or call 800-869-0908. Questions should be emailed to custserv@islandphoto.com.

Bucknell will also post many photographs from each ceremony on the Commencement page and the Bucknell Facebook page. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we ask that guests please stay seated and do not approach the platform or field during the ceremony to take pictures.

Graduation announcements may be ordered through the Balfour website, balfour.com/bucknell, or by calling 1-877-225-3687.

L’Agenda, the 2021 Bucknell Yearbook, can be ordered online at smart-pay.com or by calling 1-800-853-1337. For questions, please email Brent Papson at bap023@bucknell.edu.