Commencement Inclement Weather- Saturday, May 9, 2026
Commencement moved indoors - Saturday, May 9, 2026
Due to inclement weather, Messiah University has enacted an adjusted schedule for the 2026 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. The University will now hold two abbreviated indoor ceremonies (10 a.m. and 1 p.m.) both in Brubaker Auditorium in the Eisenhower Campus Center.
- Graduates are assigned a ceremony based on which academic department they are graduating from (see below).
- Seating is limited inside the auditorium, and guests will be required to have tickets for entry. Each graduate receives 5 tickets for their guests.
- Both ceremonies will be broadcast for livestream viewing from any remote location, or on-campus in the High Center as an overflow location for families and guests.
The University does not make this decision lightly; we understand the disappointment and challenges associated with moving indoors. The expected rain and wet, cool conditions, however, significantly affect the overall quality of the commencement experience for graduates and guests alike — from seating conditions, comfort and visibility to photography and stage conditions, and the movement of thousands of attendees across all areas of campus. Please see below for additional details on the day's adjusted schedule and how we will be working to ensure Commencement is a special milestone for our graduates and their families.
Commencement Livestream
Both ceremonies will be broadcast for livestream viewing.
Indoor Ceremony Schedule Adjustments
All graduates from the School of Science, Engineering and Health and Graduates from the following departments in the School of Arts, Culture and Society:
- Art and Design
- Biblical, Religious and Philosophical Studies
Graduates from the following departments in the School of Arts, Culture and Society:
- Business
- Communication
- Education
- History, Politics and International Relations
- Human Development and Family Science
- Language, Literature and Writing
- Music
- Peace and Conflict Studies
- Psychology, Criminal Justice and Sociology
- Social Work
- Theatre and Dance
Where and when to report on Commencement morning
Graduates must obtain tickets for their guests to attend the indoor ceremony.
- The continental breakfast for graduates will proceed as scheduled from 7-8:30 a.m. in Lottie Nelson Dining Room.
- Caps and gowns will be available for pickup by graduates at the check-in desk in Sawyer Gymnasium (in Sollenberger Sports Center) from 7:30-9:30 a.m.
- Graduates should report with their cap and gown to Sawyer Products Gymnasium (in Sollenberger Sports Center) 75 minutes before the start time of their respective ceremony. Graduates will be lined up and given marching instructions when they arrive.
- Graduates marching in the 10 a.m. ceremony should report to Sawyer no later than 8:45 a.m.
- Graduates marching in the 1 p.m. ceremony should report to Sawyer no later than 11:45 a.m.
- Following the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates are invited to meet with their guests in Hitchcock Arena. All guests will exit out of the pool hallway entrance of Sollenberger Sports Center
Shuttle service
- Prior to the ceremonies: Shuttle service will be provided to transport guests beginning at 7 a.m.
- For guests holding tickets to the Brubaker Auditorium ceremony, the shuttle drop-off location will be at the circle entrance to Eisenhower Campus Center.
- For guests who will be viewing the ceremony livestream in the High Center (no tickets required) the shuttle drop-off will be in front of the High Center.
- Following the ceremonies: Guests will be returned to their vehicles via the return shuttle/pick-up locations. These locations include: 1) near the pool hallway entrance to Sollenberger Sports Center or 2) at the main entrance to the High Center. The return shuttles will run for 90 minutes following the conclusion of the second ceremony (through approximately 4 p.m.)
Admittance to Brubaker Auditorium
- All guests holding indoor ceremony tickets—whether for Brubaker main level or Brubaker Balcony (for the 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. ceremony)—may report to the Eisenhower Campus Center Commons prior to the doors opening. Once doors are opened for your graduate’s ceremony, guests will be admitted directly into Brubaker Auditorium. (Doors will open about 90 minutes prior to ceremony start time.)
- Note: Only guests holding tickets for the 10 a.m. ceremony will be admitted to Brubaker Auditorium prior to 10 a.m.
- Note: Guests holding tickets for the 1 p.m. ceremony will not be admitted and should not report to the Eisenhower Campus Center building prior to 10:30 a.m.
- From Eisenhower Campus Center Commons, all guests will be escorted to their appropriate seating area once the auditorium is open for seating (approximately 90 minutes prior to each ceremony).
- Guests will be able to mingle in the Eisenhower Campus Center Commons until it is time to be escorted to their respective indoor ceremony.
- The Campus Store will be open from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
- The flower vendor table will be located inside the Campus Store.
- Coffee/tea will be available for purchase at the Falcon Café from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Exiting the indoor ceremony
- Following the conclusion of each ceremony, guests will be directed towards Hitchcock Arena to meet their graduates.
Location for meeting and dining
- The Falcon Cafe will be open from 8 a.m.–12 p.m. as a venue for guests and graduates to meet and congregate throughout the day.
Other guest services
- The Campus Store, located on the ground floor of Eisenhower Campus Center, will be open from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
The Platform Party will participate in BOTH ceremonies and should report by 8:45 a.m. to the Eisenhower Campus Center Board Room for a short briefing.
- Please enter the building by the Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors. You will then be directed to the Board Room.
- Members of the Platform Party will have lunch provided for them in between ceremonies in the Martin Dining Commons on the upper level of Eisenhower Campus Center.
- The Community of Educators will march only in the processional for the ceremony of their respective department or assigned ceremony and should report with their regalia to Sawyer Products Gymnasium in Sollenberger Sports Center, 30 minutes before the start time of their respective ceremony.
- Those members of the COE who do not have an affiliation with a particular academic department may find their assigned 10 a.m. or 1 p.m. ceremony time as listed in this marching order.
- Please enter the building by the Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors. You will then be directed to Sawyer Products Gymnasium.
- The COE will participate in the processional at the start of their respective ceremonies and will then be dismissed. Due to space limitations inside Brubaker Auditorium, there is no seating available for members of the Community of Educators during either Commencement ceremony.
- Educator Marshals should report to Sawyer Products Gymnasium in the Sollenberger Sports Center 30 minutes before their assigned ceremony’s start time.
- 10 a.m. ceremony (Doug Phillippy report 9:30 a.m.)
- 1 p.m. ceremony (Jennifer Dose; report 12:30 p.m.)
- Please enter the building by the Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors. You will then be directed to Sawyer Products Gymnasium.
- The educator marshals will lead their assigned ceremony processional through the auditorium and are then free to go.
Schedule for the Student Marshal for the 10 a.m. ceremony:
- Report by 8:45 a.m. to Sawyer Gymnasium to pick up your banner and robe and receive instructions on where to line up for the processional.
- Note: The student marshal is invited to join the Platform Party at the lunch buffet in Martin Commons between ceremonies.
Schedule for the Student Marshal for the 1 p.m. ceremony:
- Report by 12:15 p.m. to Sawyer Gymnasium to pick up your banner and robe and receive instructions on where to line up for the processional.
- Banner carriers should report 75 minutes before the start time of the ceremony in which they are assigned to march (i.e., 8:45 a.m. for the 10 a.m. ceremony; and 11:45 a.m. for the 1 p.m. ceremony).
- Please enter Eisenhower Campus Center lobby main entrance doors.
- Report to Sawyer Gymnasium to pick up your banner and robe and receive instructions on where to line up for the processional.
Department Chairs marching with the graduates will march only in the processional for the ceremony of their respective department and should report with their regalia to Sawyer Products Gymnasium in the Sollenberger Sports Center 45 minutes before their assigned ceremony’s start time.
- 10 a.m. ceremony (report at 9:15 a.m.)
- School of Science, Engineering and Health
- School of Arts Culture and Society (Departments of Art and Design and Biblical, Religious and Philosophical Studies ONLY)
- 1 p.m. ceremony (report at 12:15 p.m.)
- School of Arts Culture and Society (EXCEPT for Departments of Art and Design and Biblical, Religious and Philosophical Studies)
Faculty and students who are a part of the Concert Choir or President’s Brass will NOT be performing as part of either indoor ceremony. If you have no other assigned role in the Commencement ceremony, there is no need to report to campus.