Information for Guests
Tickets are not required if the ceremony is held outside. If the Commencement ceremony must be held indoors, tickets will be required to sit inside Orr Auditorium. Guests without tickets will be able to view a livestream feed of the ceremony from rooms on campus or from home through the College’s website.
Each graduate will receive a to-be-determined number of tickets for their commencement guests. The number of tickets each student receives will be announced in late March. Tickets will be mailed in mid-April to the address in the student’s record. Replacement or additional tickets will not be available, and guests without tickets will not be allowed to stand/sit in Orr.
The baccalaureate service will take place in Wallace Memorial Chapel.
The Commencement ceremony for the Class of 2026 will be held on the south lawn of Old Main and Weisel Senior Terrace. Our intention is to hold Commencement on the south lawn, unless there are extreme temperatures or thunder and lightning. Guests are encouraged to bring an umbrella and light jacket in case of light drizzle or chilly temperatures.
IIf dangerous weather is forecast, the ceremony will be held in Orr Auditorium. A final call about any anticipated need to move the ceremony indoors will be made by Thursday, May 7 at 4:30 p.m. Please check the Commencement website for current information, as changing weather conditions may force us indoors at the last minute.
1 - Wallace Memorial Chapel (Baccalaureate Service location)
2 - Weisel Senior Terrace (Commencement Ceremony location)
3 - Will W. Orr Auditorium (inclement weather location for Commencement Ceremony)
Graduates and their guests should park in the lots for Admissions, Shaw/McKelvey, and Patterson. If these lots are full, guests may park in any other lot on campus. Accessible parking will be available in the Old Main lot if ceremony is outdoors, and the Shaw/McKelvey lot if we are in Orr Auditorium. Check lot signage to ensure you park in an appropriate space. Guests are encouraged to wear comfortable shoes and clothing that enable the short walk. A free shuttle service will be available between parking lots and the ceremony venue.
1 - Wallace Memorial Chapel (Baccalaureate Service location)
2 - Weisel Senior Terrace (Commencement Ceremony location)
3 - Will W. Orr Auditorium (inclement weather location for Commencement Ceremony)
4 - McKelvey Campus Center (Picnic lunch available for purchase)
P - Parking
- Accessible parking
- Shuttle stop
- Drop-off area
A designated area for accessible seating will be available both outside and inside. When Commencement is held outside, the front row will be reserved for accessible seating. When Commencement is held inside Orr Auditorium, the back row will be reserved for accessible seating to comfortably accommodate those in wheelchairs. Guests in the accessible seating area are allowed to have one support person sit with them. All accessible seats are first come, first serve, so it is recommended that guests arrive early.
Accessible parking will be available in the Old Main, Admissions, and Shaw/McKelvey lots. Please see the parking section of this page for a map indicating these lots. There will also be a designated drop off spot at each venue for those with limited mobility.
Guests requiring special arrangements or with accessibility questions should contact winfieka@westminster.edu.
For family and friends unable to attend in person, the Westminster Cable Network (WCN) will telecast the ceremony live over Armstrong (Channel 72, New Wilmington; Channel 204, Grove City) and on Comcast (Channel 183, New Castle) Cable systems. The ceremony will also be streamed live online at WCNLive.com and will be archived for on-demand viewing.
When the ceremony is held inside Orr Auditorium, guests without a ticket will be able to view the ceremony via live stream from 2nd floor classrooms in Patterson Hall. When the ceremony is held outside on Senior Terrace, guests that are sensitive to heat or light rain can view a livestream from Mueller Theater, 2nd floor, McKelvey Campus Center.
A buffet-style lunch will be available following Baccalaureate and continuing until 12:45 p.m. in the TUB of McKelvey Campus Center. Every graduate will receive a complimentary lunch ticket, and family and friends can purchase lunch at a cost of $15 for adults and $8 for children (ages 4-11). Lunch can be purchased in advance through Friday, May 1, and is highly recommended. Only cash will be accepted the day of the event.
The menu includes: Roasted Veggie (vegan) on Focaccia, Roast Turkey and Cheddar on Ciabatta, Italian Sub on French Baguette, Pesto Pasta Salad, Fresh Fruit Salad, Traditional Potato Salad, Tortilla Chips with fresh Pico De Gallo, and Cookies. Additionally, a gluten-free option will be available.
On-campus parking options are limited, so we encourage you to consider this dining opportunity and suggest that you remain on campus for the entire day.
For a list of local resources, including area accommodations, please visit our local resources page.