Due to inclement weather, the Main Ceremony will be moved to Worthen Arena. The following schedule will be followed:

Main Ceremony at Worthen Arena

Start time: 10 a.m. Gates open at 9 a.m.
Watch the Livestream

UNDERGRADUATE AND MASTER’S DEGREE STUDENTS

Enter Worthen Arena through Lower Level Gate 1 by the ticket office. Go directly to the arena floor to be seated by staff. Please be in your seats by 9:45 a.m. so the ceremony can start on time. Gates open at 9 a.m.

DOCTORAL AND SPECIALIST IN EDUCATION DEGREE CANDIDATES

Enter Worthen Arena through Lower Level Gate 1 by the ticket office. Go directly to the arena floor where a seating section will be reserved for you near the stage. Please be in your seats by 9:45 a.m. so the ceremony can start on time. Gates open at 9 a.m.

FACULTY

Enter Worthen Arena through Lower Level Gate 1 by the ticket office. Go directly to the arena floor where a section will be reserved for faculty. Please be in your seats by 9:45 a.m. so the ceremony can start on time. Gates open at 9 a.m.

GUESTS

Enter Worthen Arena through Gates 2, 3, and 4 and Upper Level Gate 1. An accessible entrance is located at Lower Level Gate 1. Gates open at 9 a.m.

College Ceremonies

  • 12:30 p.m. – R. Wayne Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning at Emens Auditorium
  • 12:30 p.m. – Miller College of Business and College of Communication, Information, and Media at Worthen Arena
  • 4 p.m. –  College of Fine Arts at Emens Auditorium
  • 4 p.m. – College of Sciences and Humanities at Worthen Arena
  • 7:30 p.m. – College of Health and Teachers College at Worthen Arena

Frequently Asked Questions

Main and College Ceremonies, Worthen Arena

Yes, it could be moved to Worthen Arena. Go to bsu.edu for the latest information Commencement ceremonies on the website. You can also follow us on X, @Ball State Alert, and Facebook @BallState. The call will be made by 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. Please note: if the main ceremony does move inside to Worthen Arena, the college ceremony locations/times are not affected and remain the same.

Undergraduate candidates, master’s candidates, and faculty should proceed directly to their seats via Lower Level Gate 1 in Worthen Arena. Doctoral and specialist candidates will have reserved seating on the arena floor near the stage. Please be in your seats 15 minutes before the ceremony starts.

Faculty should enter at Lower Level Gate 1 near the Ticket Office with the graduates. Since there is no line-up or processional, they will be directed straight to the arena floor to take their seats at the front of the seating area. They are welcome to greet and interact with their graduates. We just ask they be in their seats 15 minutes prior to their ceremony start time.

The Registrar’s Office will be set up inside Lower Level Gate 1 before the main ceremony to distribute honors medallions.

The Ball State Bookstore will have a booth with these items located at Upper Level Gate 1. The Ball State Bookstore will also be open from 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Lower Level – Gate 1
Concourse Level – Gates 1 and 3
A gender-neutral restroom is available at Gate 2.

There is a family restroom that can be used for this purpose at Gate 2, between aisles 4 and 6.

On campus, the following dining areas will be open:

Student Center Tally

  • Food Court: 9:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
  • Starbucks: 7:30 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

In the Sports Facilities Management office, Worthen Arena, Room 140. If you take the elevator to the lower level, the office will be right across the hall. You can also find an event staff member in yellow to assist you.

First aid is available at Gate 2. If you need EMS, please find the closest arena staff member.

The Commencement Office does their best to be as accurate as possible. Please know if your graduate’s name is missing, it might be due to the deadline in which the graduate had to apply for graduation to be included in the printed program. The deadline this Spring was April 3. Please ask them to email commencement@bsu.edu, and we can check on their situation.

If a graduate has earned a double major, they will receive one diploma and be listed in the program once. If a graduate has earned two different degrees (example: Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science), they will earn two diplomas and be listed in the program twice.
We estimate the main ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes.
There is reserved seating at the front of the arena floor near the stage, and these graduate’s seats will be marked with their last name. We have asked them to arrive by 9:30 a.m.
Bachelor of General Studies students can choose what college they sit/walk with. Often, this is decided based on their minor or concentration. It’s whatever they are comfortable with.

Please go to Section P. It can be accessed via Aisles 10 or 11.

We will follow instructions from University Police. Their instructions may involve directing attendees back to their vehicles or evacuating them from the bowl of the arena to nearby hallways or connecting buildings.
Diplomas are mailed four to eight weeks after final grades are posted to the address listed on the graduation application. Each graduate should have received an email from the Registrar’s Office confirming the name that would be printed on their diploma, the address it would be sent to, and the primary major that would be printed on it.

The Commencement Group will have stations available at Worthen Arena and Emens Auditorium.