Commencement

Friday, May 9

10 a.m. | Phi Beta Kappa Ceremony

3 p.m. | Rehearsal for Graduating Seniors

All graduates participating in the in-person Commencement ceremony must attend the graduate rehearsal. 

4 p.m. | Lux et Lex Walk

Graduating seniors walk the campus and pass under the Lux et Lex archway to signify the beginning of alumni careers. Hosted by the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Family and friends are welcome to join and support the graduates during the Lux et Lex Walk for the Class of 2025.

Saturday, May 10

8:30 a.m. | Ceremony Doors Open

9:00 a.m. | Graduate Check-in and Line-up

All graduates are to report to the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center at 9 a.m. for line-up. 

10 a.m. | 238th Commencement for the Class of 2025

The 238th Commencement ceremony begins promptly at 10 a.m. in the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center.

Tickets are required for admission to the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center for the Commencement ceremony.

Graduates can receive up to 5 guest tickets through the MarchingOrder graduation registration online portal. All guests aged three years and older should possess a ticket to enter, exit and re-enter the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center for the Commencement ceremony.

Graduates will receive information about their MarchingOrder account in March. Tickets are electronic (e-tickets) and are distributed to graduates via MarchingOrder in April.

Family and friends are also welcome to join and support the graduates during the Lux et Lex Walk for the Class of 2025.

Commencement main doors open to guests at 8:30 a.m. 

Guest seating for the ceremony is general admission and set at ground level with plastic folding chairs. Seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved in advance. Guests are required to remain in their seats throughout the program and are not allowed to gather along the fence areas.

The ceremony will commence promptly at 10 a.m. with an academic processional. There will be a seating hold during the academic processional at the beginning and end of the ceremony. The event is expected to last approximately two and a half hours.

Please refrain from bringing large posters, balloons, horns, or other large celebratory items into the seating areas. Food and beverages are not permitted. 

Accessible Seating Accommodations

Attendees requiring extra assistance should plan ahead and arrive when doors open at 8:30 a.m. If additional support or comfort is desired, guests are welcome to bring a padded stadium seat. 

Please note that wheelchairs are not provided by the College, so attendees needing assistance should bring their own. Aisles must be kept clear during the ceremony, and any walking aids should be stored safely away from seating areas. Ushers are on hand to offer support as needed.

A shuttle service will operate continuously beginning at 8 a.m. from the Thomas H. Armstrong Blvd. and W. Liberty Street lots on the day of the ceremony. 

Limited accessible parking spaces are available in Alumni Sports & Fitness Center's West Lot K. Accessible parking spaces are first-come, first-served for guests with state-issued accessible parking placards. A designated drop-off location near the entry doors is available. Please see a parking attendant for additional assistance.

There are several hotels near campus, including our hotel and bed and breakfast partners that offer a special rate for F&M visitors. We recommend making reservations early as overnight accommodations tend to book up quickly.

Lancaster is also home to more than 100 restaurants, cafes and eateries, featuring food from around the world.

The 2025 Commencement ceremony will be live-streamed virtually and available on-demand on the F&M Commencement website.

An indoor viewing of the virtual Commencement live stream is also available at the Ann & Richard Barshinger Center for Musical Arts. Tickets are not required. Doors open at 9:00 a.m. 

The virtual live broadcast of the ceremony will begin 30 minutes before the start of the ceremony on the F&M Commencement website.