Graduate Arrival Information
Graduating Student Check-In
All graduating students must check in inside the parking garage east of Credit Union 1 Arena. Please arrive in full regalia one hour before your ceremony start time. After checking in, graduating students will enter the venue and be directed to their seats. There will not be a processional for graduating students.
Commencement Ceremony One (Armour College of Engineering, College of Architecture, Institute of Design, and Stuart School of Business)
- Student check-in will begin promptly at 7 a.m.
Commencement Ceremony Two (College of Computing, and Lewis College of Science and Letters)
- Student check-in will begin promptly at Noon
Note: At check-in inside the garage, graduating students need to bring their HawkCard ID to receive a lanyard which will include the graduating student’s name and other information. Be sure to hold on to this lanyard at all times, as this will be given to the name reader as the student crosses.
Dress Code
All graduating students are required to wear regalia (including a cap, gown, and tassel) in order to participate in Commencement. All regalia orders must be placed by 11 p.m. (CDT) on March 31—no exceptions. Graduating students must bring regalia with them to the ceremony; there will not be any regalia available at the venue.
To help graduating students better understand how caps and gowns should be worn, please visit the Herff Jones’ website for more information and step-by-step videos.
Please note the following:
- The academic cap should be worn as near level on the head as possible. All tassels should be worn on the right side of the cap. Once all names are called, graduates will be instructed to move their tassels from the right to the left.
- Regalia should be closed in the front. Graduating students should wear business attire under their gowns. We highly recommend wearing comfortable shoes.
- If a jacket or a purse is brought, please leave it with one of your guests. NOTE: Illinois Tech will not assume responsibility for lost or misplaced belongings.
- Graduating students are encouraged to decorate their academic caps! However, all other adornments and ornamentations including pins, flowers, necklaces, brooches, etc.,will not be allowed. Graduates will be asked to remove any adornments that have not been approved prior to entering the arena floor. Commencement is a formal and traditional ceremony, and we ask that any attire or cap decoration worn by graduates be appropriate for the occasion.
- Historically, people who identify as men remove their caps during the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner,” while those who identify as women keep their caps on. Attendees should feel free to observe the custom that they prefer.
Behavior Expectations
Commencement is a time to celebrate our graduating class. Illinois Tech has set the following behavior expectations for graduates participating in our Commencement ceremonies:
- Give all attention and respect to all of the speakers during the ceremony. Pay attention to and follow the instructions of faculty marshals and venue staff.
- Refrain from disruptive or unapproved activity. This includes, but is not limited to, having unapproved guests or props during any part of the ceremony.
- Remain seated until the end of the ceremony and fully participate in the recessional.
Any violations of this, or any other university policy, during Commencement will be handled appropriately. Graduates exhibiting egregiously disruptive behavior may be removed from their ceremony.
Social Media
We invite graduating students to celebrate this accomplishment with us virtually by taking a video or photo and using supplied Commencement stickers or photo frames. Use #IllinoisTechGrad or tag @Illinoistech on your social media posts!
Follow us on the Illinois Tech Alumni Association Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube channels to learn more and stay connected!
GradImages and StageClip
GradImages is the official photographer for the May 16, 2026, Commencement ceremony. Photos will be available to view and order by visiting their website at www.gradimages.com (enter last name, university name, and select event year from the dropdown menu). For additional help, call the Customer Service Department at 800.261.2576 or email giservice@gradimages.net.
StageClip is the official personalized video clip vendor for the May 16, 2026, Commencement ceremony that captures the graduate’s special moment on stage. Visit their website at https://stageclip.com/. The personalized video clip will be available to view and order, which will be sent via the graduating student's email a few days after Commencement.
Guest Arrival Information
Ceremony Livestreams
Illinois Tech will livestream each ceremony for anyone to watch the ceremony where all degrees will be conferred by college. These links can be found under the Event Details and Schedules page.
Recommended Hotels
For families, friends, and other guests who would like to stay in a hotel during Commencement weekend, Illinois Tech recommends visiting our hotels page for a list of the university’s preferred vendors.
Parking
Convenient onsite parking is available for $10 per vehicle. For more information, please visit the Parking and Directions page.
Guest Arrival
Doors to Credit Union 1 Arena will open to guests one hour prior to the beginning of each ceremony. Guests should enter through the main entrance of the Credit Union 1 Arena at the southwest corner of the building (located at the intersection between Harrison Street and Racine Avenue). A digital ticket or printed ticket is required for entry.
Commencement Ceremony One (Armour College of Engineering, College of Architecture, Institute of Design, and Stuart School of Business)
- Doors will open to family/guests at 8 a.m. (all guests must arrive prior to 8:45 a.m.)
Commencement Ceremony Two (College of Computing, and Lewis College of Science and Letters)
Doors will open to family/guests at 1 p.m. (all guests must arrive prior to 1:45 p.m.)
Please note: Strollers, balloons, and large bags will not be allowed inside the venue. There will not be an area to check in any belongings. All smaller bags will be subject to search, and all guests will enter through a metal detector. For more information, please refer to the Credit Union 1 Arena Bag Policy and Metal Detection Policy.
Tickets
All guests (two years of age or older and excluding graduating students) will need a ticket to enter the arena. Tickets can be digitally shared or printed for guests by their graduating student, but please note that tickets can only be scanned once for admission.
Seating
Seating is general admission and available on a first-come, first-served basis. For ADA-related items, please note the following:
- Graduating students or guests with special needs should contact the Center for Disability Resources at www.iit.edu/cdr or 312.567.5744 prior to the day of Commencement to arrange for a seat location and assistance to enable them to participate in the ceremony. Special needs/hearing-impaired guests can also obtain seating assistance by going to Guest Services.
- Credit Union 1 Arena will have wheelchairs available for use, free of charge. The guest will need to exchange a photo ID to use a wheelchair around the building. At the end of the event, the guest will need to bring back the wheelchair to claim their ID. For more information, please refer to https://www.creditunion1arena.com/about/. There will also be a reserved seating section for wheelchair users, and each will be allowed one companion seat.
- All ceremonies will feature live captions and sign language interpreters, both on-screen and online, to ensure accessibility for graduating students and guests who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Photography and Videotaping
Graduates and guests are allowed to bring cameras to take photos. Guests are not allowed to leave their seats to photograph or videotape the graduates during either ceremony. The aisles need to remain clear at all times. No freestanding equipment is allowed.
Prohibited Items
Credit Union 1 Arena does not allow outside food, alcohol, strollers, balloons, noisemakers/air horns, large bags, or paraphernalia of any kind.
Ceremony Etiquette
We ask that everyone respect the speakers and the dignity of the ceremony by refraining from cell phone use during the event. Individuals in violation of these policies or whose conduct is disruptive or harmful to others may be removed from the ceremony.
Guests will not be allowed to go onto the floor to present flowers or otherwise interrupt the proceedings.
Ceremony Feedback
We truly value your input. Share feedback at commencement@illinoistech.edu so we can continue improving and creating an unforgettable experience for our graduates and guests.