On Sunday, May 10, Syracuse University and the SUNY College of Environmental Science
and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) will hold joint Commencement exercises in the Carrier Dome.
The student procession begins at 9:30 a.m. U.S. Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., an
alumnus of the SU College of Law's Class of 1968, is Commencement speaker; his address is
open to the public.
Due to an anticipated larger-than-normal crowd and increased security measures, the Dome
will open at 7:15 a.m. Those participating in and attending Commencement should plan for
extra time to arrive on campus and complete the security process. Members of the public
wishing to attend must enter the Dome through Gates G, H, J, K, L, M, N and P. Seating
will be restricted to designated areas in the upper levels.
Metal detectors will be used at every Dome entrance, and everyone entering will be screened.
Guests, degree candidates and members of the public should not bring large bags (i.e.,
backpacks, duffel bags, large shopping bags) into the Dome. All purses, binocular cases and
camera cases will be opened and inspected. Trash cans will not be available outside the
Dome.
All degree candidates must enter at Gate D and show a valid SU or SUNY-ESF I.D. in order
to enter the Dome. Students will have their SU and SUNY-ESF identification scanned at the
top of the stairs to Gate D, prior to metal detection.
If the degree candidate's I.D. is successfully scanned, he/she will be directed down the stairs
to the metal detectors. Students who do not have a valid I.D. will require extra time to
validate their identity with staff from the SU and SUNY-ESF Registrar's Offices. At the
Registrar's table, students will be asked to provide an alternative form of picture
identification and show their cap and gown, and will be asked a series of questions to
validate their status. Once the student receives validation, he/she will move down the stairs to
the metal detectors at Gate D.
Space permitting, free parking is available in the Harrison, Lehman, Manley and Skytop
lots, and the University Avenue and Booth garages. Shuttles will run regularly to and from
the University Avenue Garage and the Manley and Skytop lots beginning at 7 a.m.
Disabled parking for the public, with direct bus service to Gate A of the Dome, is available in
the Manley North lot (entrance off of Comstock Avenue).
For maps of campus parking and the Carrier Dome, and additional information on the 2009
Commencement exercises, visit http://commencement.syr.edu.
