Commencement Staff FAQs

As part of our Commencement Staff program, you will receive a shirt to wear for commencement IF YOU SIGN UP BY MONDAY, MAY 1. If you do not sign up by that date, contact Alex Mikkelborg to make arrangements.

If you worked the June 2022 commencement, you probably already have a Commencement Staff polo. If so, please indicate so on your sign-up form. If you did not receive a shirt or if you are new to the commencement staff team, choose your shirt size from the options available on the sign-up form.

Staff working assignments that are more "behind the scenes" will receive a t-shirt, and staff working assignments that are more visible to graduates and guests will receive a polo.

We ask that you wear black pants. Don't forget your comfortable shoes!

You will also need to wear your Commencement Staff lanyard and your EWU name tag. If your assigned station is outdoors, we also recommend sunscreen and/or sunglasses (depending on the weather).

Yes! There will be a mandatory rehearsal/information session for all Commencement Staff during the week before. For more information on the mandatory staff rehearsal, click here.

Parking is free for faculty and staff at the Arena on Commencement Day.

Permits are required. Staff will receive a parking permit at the mandatory rehearsal during the week before commencement. For faculty permits, please contact your Dean's office or contact Alex Mikkelborg.

Click here to download the Faculty & Staff Parking Map.

Staff working the morning ceremony should arrive at 7:00 AM to assist with setting up the graduate bags on the main floor. Please expect a time commitment of about 5 hours from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

Staff working the afternoon ceremony should arrive at 12:00 PM to assist with resetting the graduate bags on the main floor and to relieve your morning ceremony counterparts. Please expect a time commitment of about 5 hours from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Lunch will be provided to staff who work both ceremonies or to faculty who attend their ceremony and work the other one.

There is no need to RSVP for lunch. Meal vouchers will be distributed to all staff working both the morning and afternoon ceremonies at the mandatory rehearsal.

All commencement staff volunteers may be compensated for their time with either compensatory time or possibly overtime.

Please check with your supervisor for more information.

Staff who sign up by the end of the day on Monday, May 1st will receive a free shirt for commencement day, which you can wear at future commencement ceremonies, too!

Please contact Alex Mikkelborg with any kind of special accommodations you may have. We may not be able to make accommodations for every situation, but we will certainly try!