Commencement

Volunteer Opportunities

Commencement is the culmination of everyone’s hard work! Volunteering is a great opportunity to celebrate with students, take one last photo and say farewell as they depart. 

Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Student Opportunities (business casual attire required): 

• Greeter
  Greeters welcome guests and graduates to the venue, hand out programs and answer guest questions. Greeter positions are open to alumni, faculty, staff, and students.
  • Please arrive 90 minutes before the ceremony at the Instructional Gym in the First Community Arena at the Vadalabene Center and stay for the duration of the event. Ceremonies last approximately 1-1.5 hours.
  • Greeters should park in Lot A or P-12.
    • See map for directions
  • A training will be held the Thursday before commencement weekend. Training is optional, but encouraged. 
  • Greeter assignments and an information booklet will be provided.
• Lineup Volunteer
  Lineup Volunteers welcome graduates in the Student Activity Center, check them in, give them their marching card and help them get in line to process to the gym for the commencement ceremony. Volunteer positions are open to alumni, faculty, staff, and students.
  • Please arrive 90 minutes before the ceremony at the Student Activity Center in the Vadalabene Center.
  • Volunteers should park in Lot A or P-12.
    • See map for directions
  • Volunteer assignments and an information booklet will be provided, no training is required.

Please do not sign up for more than one volunteer opportunity during the same ceremony. 

Faculty (regalia required)

• Faculty Participant
  Faculty lead graduates in the processional and recessional of commencement ceremonies. They are recognized by the Provost during the ceremony.
  • Faculty arrive 30 minutes before ceremony start time and stay for the duration of the event. Ceremonies typically last 1-1.5 hours.
  • Faculty park in Lot A.
    • See map for directions

• Marshal
  Marshals assist graduates during line up, and lead graduates in the processional, conferral and recessional during commencement ceremonies. Marshal positions are open to the administration and faculty. Faculty park in Lot A.
  • Marshals should arrive 45-60 minutes before ceremony start time in the Student Activity Center.
  • Marshals park in the Student Fitness Center parking lot (Lot F). 
    • See map for directions
  • A training will be held the Thursday before commencement weekend. Training is optional, but encouraged.
  • An instructions booklet with diagrams will be provided. 
    • Written instructions are also printed in commencement scripts. 

• Reader
  Readers read graduate names at each commencement ceremony. Reader positions are available to the administration and faculty. Readers are included on the platform party. 
  • Readers should arrive 45 minutes before ceremony start time at the Wellness Center in the Student Fitness Center. 
  • Readers park in Lot F. 
    • See map for directions
  • Prior to Commencement 
    • Commencement staff will send each reader a list of eligible graduate names for their ceremony to review a week before.
      • A phonetic spelling is requested at RSVP, but is not required.
  • Commencement Weekend
    • SIUE staff will assist with line up and instructions. 
      • Written instructions are also printed in commencement scripts.
    • Graduates will hand the reader a marching card. 
      • The reader should read the full name and honors of each graduate.

If you do not have regalia, please contact the Cougar Store immediately.

Please do not sign up for more than one volunteer opportunity during the same ceremony.