APRIL 11, 2024 UPDATE: The university has increased the number of tickets given to each student that will be walking at commencement; they will receive a total of six tickets. The status of Price Auditorium has not changed and is no longer going to be utilized for overflow seating. Students that wish to have more than six loved ones in attendance are welcome to use extra tickets that their friends may not be using.
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – In a surprise decision by Commonwealth University, the Lock Haven campus is no longer going to be utilizing Price Auditorium for overflow seating at undergraduate commencement. The undergraduate commencement ceremony is scheduled for May 11 at 11 a.m. at Hubert Jack Stadium. Students are being awarded four tickets that can be utilized by loved ones who wish to attend the ceremony in person at the stadium.
In an attempt to confirm the details of this decision, The Eagle Eye reached out to the commencement organizers via the commencement@commonwealthu.edu address listed on the commencement website. The following response is from Steph Bissinger, an administrative assistant from the vice provost office:
“There were a variety of reasons that this shift was made and it was not made lightly. One reason being, the ease of the ceremony to be live streamed from anywhere. We have found that families enjoy the freedom of being at a location of their choosing where they are more comfortable. We absolutely encourage families to use the time before and after the ceremony to come and enjoy the campus and take photos.”
This change, which has yet to be directly shared en masse to students and their families by university officials, is causing frustration for those who have been planning to take advantage of the previously accessible overflow seating option.
“My daughter wants both sets of grandparents and her aunt/Godmother there. With only four tickets, she has to pick who she wants there and that is definitely leaving her two brothers off the list to attend,” said Tammi Hallman, parent of a graduating senior, in a thread in the CU-Lock Haven Parents Facebook group. “The family already booked hotel rooms since I was told previously they would have overflow, but now they changed their mind and are not doing it this year. It is not fair, especially since they have done it in years past.”
Anyone who has additional questions, comments or concerns relating to commencement can reach out to commencement@commwealthu.edu.
