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The Commencement Ceremony will take place on Bellarmine Lawn, behind Bellarmine Hall, high on a hill overlooking Long Island Sound. As you prepare to visit, keep in mind that reaching Bellarmine Lawn requires navigating an uneven grassy surface and walking up a large hill. Entrance onto Bellarmine Lawn will open at 8:00 am.

For those who prefer to view the ceremony indoors, it will be live-streamed in the Leo D. Mahoney Area. Doors will open at 8:00 am.

Yes, the ceremony will be live-streamed and archived on the University website. Links will be posted on the Commencement website the morning of the ceremony.

The ceremony will be approximately three hours in length.

Please come prepared for inclement weather with appropriate gear as every attempt will be made to hold the ceremony outdoors, even in rain. We ask attendees to refrain from using umbrellas during the ceremony so as not to not block the view of others.

In the event of severe or dangerous weather, the University may postpone the ceremony for up to one hour. If conditions are too severe to allow a delay, the ceremony will be relocated to the Leo D. Mahoney Arena. ONLY TWO (2) GUESTS PER STUDENT WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE ARENA. Due to fire safety regulations and building capacity limits, we are unable to make any exceptions for additional guests.

A specially marked indoor ticket is required for entry to the Arena during the in-person ceremony. The three remaining tickets will provide access to an alternate indoor viewing location on a first-come, first-served basis. Exact locations will be posted on the website the morning of the ceremony.

The decision to move Commencement indoors will be broadcast starting at 6 a.m. on Sunday, May 18. Each student will receive a message on their cell phone via the University StagAlert emergency notification system, and full details will be posted on the Commencement website, digital signage in the Barone 啪啪啦 Center, and recording on the University鈥檚 main phone line, (203) 254-4000.

Each student will receive five (5) tickets to the outdoor ceremony on Bellarmine Lawn. Due to space limitations, the University is not able to distribute additional tickets. Students who do not need all their allotted tickets may transfer them to others.

In the event of severe or dangerous weather, the University may postpone the ceremony for up to one hour. If conditions are too severe to allow a delay, the ceremony will be relocated to the Leo D. Mahoney Arena. ONLY TWO (2) GUESTS PER STUDENT WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE ARENA. Due to fire safety regulations and building capacity limits, we are unable to make any exceptions for additional guests. A specially marked indoor ticket is required for entry into the Arena during the in-person ceremony. For further instructions, please reference the 鈥淚S THERE AN INCLEMENT AND SEVERE WEATHER PLAN鈥� section with the FAQ's.

Further information will be provided.

For those without tickets, the ceremony will be live-streamed on the University website.

Children three years or older need a ticket; those younger will be expected to sit on the lap of a family member for the duration of the ceremony.

Per the Academic Regalia Policy and Guidelines, all students participating in the ceremony are required to wear regalia which includes a gown, hood, and cap with a black tassel.

An accessory, such as a cord, pin or stole, can further adorn one鈥檚 regalia if the accessory was presented as recognition of one鈥檚 academic achievement through either 1) a nationally-recognized honor society, or 2) an academic program sanctioned by the University (e.g., the Honors Program). The Office of the Provost approves all academic accessories prior to their inclusion in Commencement.

There are no accessories for the undergraduate Latin Honors:Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude. Students who have achieved these honorary titles are noted in the Commencement program. The noted Latin Honors in the program are based on the student鈥檚 cumulative GPA at the end of the Fall 2024 semester. Once all final spring grades are cleared (post-Commencement), the student鈥檚 transcript and diploma will be updated with the final Latin Honors designation.

All students participating in the Commencement Ceremony are required to purchase regalia by Monday, March 31 so that your items ship and arrive on time to your preferred delivery address. Further details will be provided.

The Baccalaureate Mass will be celebrated in the Leo D. Mahoney Arena on Saturday, May 17 at 4 p.m. Tickets are not required and doors will open at 3 p.m. Members of the graduating class will gather in the Fieldhouse at the RecPlex, walk in the procession with their classmates (with whom they will be seated), and will offer a prayer of blessing to their parents, guardians, and mentors at the end of the liturgy.

Yes, the Baccalaureate Mass will be live-streamed. A link will be posted on the commencement website in the afternoon on Saturday, May 17.

No. Since many events are taking place on campus, we are unable to offer space for private functions. We would suggest you contact a local restaurant or hotel. Visit the area hotels & restaurant page for more details.

There is a wide selection of hotels within two to ten miles of campus. It is strongly recommended that you make reservations as soon as possible. Visit the area hotels & restaurant page for more details.

If you have any Commencement-related questions that were not addressed on this FAQ page, please email commencement@fairfield.edu.

Alumni Relations
alumni@fairfield.edu
(203) 254-4280

stagstickets@fairfield.edu
(203) 254-4136

Bursar
(203) 254-4095

College of Arts and Sciences
(203) 254-4000, ext. 2227

Charles F. Dolan School of Business
(203) 254-4070

Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies
(203) 254-4150

Public Relations

Public Safety
(203) 254-4090

Registrar
(203) 254-4288

School of Engineering & Computing
(203) 254-4147

Stag Spirit Shop
(203) 254-4262

Student Engagement
(203) 254-4053