Commencement ADA Services

Commencement Notes for Spring 2024

Guest Admission

The undergraduate commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 4, 2024 is an open-seat event. Tickets are not requied. More details will be available at rehearsal. Guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis. Seats may not be saved for individuals who are not present. The Gentry Center will serve as an overflow seating area for additional guests during the undergraduation ceremony. Re-entry is prohibited before, during, and after the event (unless otherwise specifically communicated).

We ask that all who attend the ceremony show their respect to all graduates by remaining in their seats throughout the ceremony and refraining from whistling and shouting. Every family attending the ceremony deserves to hear their graduate’s name announced and to see that student walk across the stage without distractions. Aisles must be kept clear throughout the ceremony. Guests wishing to take video and still photography may do so ONLY from their seats. During the recessional, guests should remain until ALL graduates and the audience have been dismissed.

Please note that the clear bag policy will be enforced. Cell phones should be turned off or set to vibrate.

Friends and family who are unable to physically attend are invited to view the commencement ceremony via live stream on the Tennessee State University Home Page. — Commencement Live Stream

Assistance for Persons with Disabilities

Limited accessible seating is available in designated areas in Hale Stadium for individuals with mobility issues, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Only one supporter may sit with an ADA guest in this section. Other family members will be directed to choose the general seating.

Wheelchair assistance options are available for the university commencement ceremony. Please note that wheelchairs are for transportation to ADA seating locations only and cannot be used for patron seating during the ceremony. Additionally, we are unable to loan wheelchairs for use throughout the day, due to the volume of patrons needing these services and our limited supply of wheelchairs. If you do not have a personal mobility device that you can bring with you, you may choose to rent one in your hometown or from a local rental agency.

ADA Parking

ADA parking near the ceremony site will be available on a limited, first-come, first-served basis. Guests should arrive early to be sure there is adequate parking for everyone and time for the security checkpoint. If your car has a State-issued ADA placard or license plate, you will be directed to park in the ADA parking spaces at the John Merritt Parking Lot, the temporary ADA lot across from Cooperative Agricultural Research Program (CARP) building, or the Performing Arts ADA lot.

Courtesy shuttles and golf carts will be available to assist family members from parking areas to the event security checkpoint. The checkpoint drop-off is located 200 or more feet from Hale Stadium. Once inside Hale Stadium, a courtesy golf cart will be available to transport the ADA guest and one supporter to the ADA seating area. You may also bring a mobility device if needed.