The Commencement Ceremony will take place in the Leo D. Mahoney Arena located at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, CT. Doors will open at 3 pm.

Yes, the ceremony will be live-streamed and archived on the Bellarmine website. Links will be posted on the Bellarmine website the afternoon of the ceremony.

The ceremony will be approximately one hour in length.

Commencement programs will be distributed at the entrance to the Leo D. Mahoney Arena.

Each student will receive five (5) tickets to the ceremony in the Leo D. Mahoney Arena. Students who do not need all their allotted tickets may transfer them to other students.

On Wednesday, May 6, all students participating in Commencement who have completed the Destination surveys will receive five (5) tickets to the ceremony*. All tickets will be delivered digitally to students’ online ticket accounts. They can then transfer tickets to their guests and/or other students through their online accounts. Tickets can be downloaded to Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. All guests must present a ticket which will be scanned upon entry. Each ticket has a unique barcode, therefore duplicate tickets will not be granted entry.

Additional information regarding the digital ticket process will be sent to students on Wednesday, April 22.

*The data collected from this anonymous survey helps us to measure student outcomes and experiences so that they may be shared with prospective students. The Destination survey will be sent to all students on April 22. If you cannot locate the survey in your email inbox, please contact student-surveys@fairfield.edu.

Students can access their online ticket account through the “University Tickets” task in my.Fairfield or by going to https://fairfield.evenue.net

Additional information will be sent to students on accessing their accounts on Wednesday, April 22.

Students are reminded to safeguard their tickets. LOST TICKETS WILL NOT BE REPLACED.

For those without tickets, the ceremony will be live-streamed on the Bellarmine website.

Children three years or older need a ticket; those younger will be expected to sit on the lap of a family member for the duration of the ceremony.

The Leo D. Mahoney Arena offers locations with accessible seating throughout the concourse level on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that this reserved location accommodates the guests with accessibility issues and only one additional companion. Guests are welcome to bring their own wheelchairs, as the University does not provide wheelchairs for use during Commencement.

Per the Academic Regalia Policy and Guidelines, all students participating in the ceremony are required to wear regalia which includes a gown, hood, and cap with a black tassel.

Students will work with a member of Bellarmine administration to provide the necessary information for their regalia. Fairfield University will order the regalia and have it shipped to the Bellarmine campus. Students will be able to pick up their regalia after completing all necessary tasks (e.g., completing the Destination Survey, addressing any holds, other school requirements).

On Thursday, May 14, immediately following the Bellarmine Commencement Ceremony, a reception will be held for all graduates and their families on the lawn next to the Leo D. Mahoney Arena. This optional event provides an informal opportunity to celebrate with your classmates along with faculty members. Light refreshments will be served.

In order to participate in the Bellarmine Commencement ceremony, please FIRST consult the Bellarmine catalog under the Academic Policies and Procedures section to confirm your eligibility. In addition, all holds on your account must be resolved. For additional questions, please consult directly with Dean Rivers.

• Arrive at the RecPlex on Thursday, May 14 no later than 2:30 p.m.
• Do not forget your regalia: gown, cap, tassel and hood.
• Students will meet in the Field House at the RecPlex for line up.
• Upon arrival, check in with your Faculty Marshal.
• Be sure to review your index card to verify the phonetic pronunciation of your name.

Diplomas will be mailed 4-6 weeks after degrees are conferred by Fairfield University. Parchment is the official provider of diplomas for Fairfield University. All paper diplomas are printed in Latin, as is University tradition. The electronic version of the diploma will be in English.

Please note that soon after degrees are conferred, students will receive an email at their Fairfield.edu address from Parchment requesting confirmation of the mailing address for their paper diploma.

Guests may park in the assigned lots throughout campus on a first-come, first-served basis. Lots K1, K2 and K3 are closest to the Leo D. Mahoney Arena. View campus map.

A limited number of designated accessible parking spaces will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis in all lots. View campus map.

To park in these spaces, visitors will need to display government-issued Accessible Parking Permits. Guests with accessibility needs may also be dropped off in the traffic circle directly in front of the Leo D. Mahoney Arena.

To ensure the safety and comfort of all guests, please note that the following items are not permitted inside the Leo D. Mahoney Arena, including balloons, megaphones, lasers, and pets (except certified service animals). Additionally, please refrain from bringing items that may obstruct the view or cause distractions during the ceremony. Backpacks and large bags may be subject to inspection. The Leo D. Mahoney Arena is a non-smoking facility.

Students must email globalfairfield@fairfield.edu and asimon1@fairfield.edu to determine invitation letters for close family ties only, such as for a mother, father, siblings, or children.

Did you know that there are regional chapters of Fairfield alumni located across the country from Boston to California? These groups of Stags host events throughout the year focused on networking, community service, social opportunities, lifelong learning, and more! All you have to do to stay involved is make sure we have your most up-to-date contact information once you graduate. Invitations about, and to, upcoming alumni programs and events is shared via email and are sent based on your geographic location. Be sure to update us so you don’t miss out; it’s quick and easy to do so! Simply activate your profile within our Alumni Online Community by visiting fairfield.edu/alumnicommunity.

From there, click “First Time Login”, search by your first and last name, enter your student ID when prompted, and follow subsequent prompts to set up your username and password and update your record. For questions, email communityhelp@fairfield.edu.

We can’t wait to see you at an alumni event soon! For a full listing of all alumni activities on campus and across the country, visit fairfield.edu/alumnievents. To learn about even more ways to get involved – including our affinity groups such as the Alumni of Color Network – visit fairfield.edu/getinvolved. There’s a way for everyone to stay connected to Fairfield long after graduation!

If you have any Commencement-related questions that were not addressed on this FAQ page, please email commencement@fairfield.edu.