Commencement Guide for
Faculty

Parking and Transportation

With another event scheduled at the same time on May 22, 2025 in the venue adjacent to Total Mortgage Arena, we strongly encourage all guests to arrive early for Commencement—ideally before 8:30 a.m.

Southern has secured use of the Housatonic College Parking Garage, a short walk from the arena. This garage is easily accessible from the Merritt Parkway and Route 8, helping to avoid the traffic bottlenecks that often occur when exiting I-95. For those driving, this is the fastest and most efficient parking option, especially since multiple events will be releasing at the same time, and delays are expected when leaving the area.

You might also consider carpooling or taking Metro-North to the Bridgeport Transportation Center, located just two blocks from the arena. This is the quickest and most convenient option for avoiding traffic altogether. Train schedules can be found on Metro-North's website.

Arrival times from Union Station to Bridgeport: 8:12 AM, 8:20 AM, 8:39 AM, 9:12 AM, 9:47 AM, 10:15 AM

Given the anticipated volume in the area, please plan ahead and arrive as early as possible on Commencement day.

Commencement Directions and Parking (PDF)

Arrival

• The university will hold its undergraduate commencement at the Total Mortgage Arena, 600 Main Street, Bridgeport, CT., beginning with an academic procession at 10:15 a.m.
• The university will provide shuttle service from campus to the Total Mortgage Arena for faculty and staff participating in the commencement ceremony.
• Because more than 8,000 people are expected to attend the ceremony, faculty are asked to arrive at the parking lots by 9 a.m.
• Expect traffic delays, so plan extra travel time. To alleviate traffic congestion, students and families are encouraged to travel together or car pool. Persons with state-issued handicapped parking permits may park in the handicapped parking areas of the garage or as directed by traffic personnel.
• The procession assembly area opens at 8:15 a.m.

Academic Procession and Ceremony

• Faculty members planning to march in the undergraduate commencement academic procession should assemble in the arena parking garage lower level beginning at 8:45 a.m. and no later than 9:45 a.m.
• The faculty procession must begin promptly at 10:15 a.m. so that commencement can start at 10:30 a.m.
• Ticketed guests of graduates will enter the arena through the front entrance beginning at 8:15 a.m. No guests will be allowed into the assembly area.
• Faculty participants are invited to a light reception following the ceremony.

Honoring the Ceremony

We ask for your support in helping us maintain respectful student conduct throughout the ceremony, so that all graduates can enjoy a meaningful and dignified experience.

• Students are expected to remain until the end of the ceremony. As a courtesy to other graduates waiting to receive their degrees, students should return to their seats after they have been recognized at the ceremony.
• To maintain the dignity of the ceremony, students are asked not to affix large messages to their caps or gowns. The marshals will request that messages be removed from the student’s academic regalia before he or she will be allowed to march in the procession.
• We want to avoid having students seek special notoriety at the event by indulging in such distractions as blowing bubbles or passing beach balls among the graduates during the ceremony.
• For their own safety and the safety of people sitting near them, we ask students not to stand on chairs during the ceremony.