April 2023 Department Debrief: Ohio State Commencement
April 11, 2023
Ohio State Commencement
To contact Ohio State Commencement: Call (614) 292-9051, email commencement@osu.edu or visit their website at commencement.osu.edu.
Department Debrief is a monthly article from the Parent and Family Relations office dedicated to helping family members and supporters better understand the services, opportunities and support offered by particular offices for students.
This month, our team met with the Commencement office to help families of graduating students prepare for the big day. See this month's Department Debrief for tips and tricks to make commencement a stress-free celebration.
1. There is a student that has never heard of commencement and does not know what it is. In 30 seconds or less, could you describe commencement, what it is and your role in the event?
Jake Snoble, the Director of Commencement and Special Events, stated in our monthly interview for Department Debriefs that commencement is simply a graduation ceremony. At The Ohio State University, this event is held university-wide once every semester. Particularly for the upcoming spring ceremony, Snoble stated they are expecting around 12,500 graduates, of which about 9,000 will attend. With an event this large, coordination is of dire need and of great importance. In particular, Snoble is responsible for overseeing commencement logistics and coordinating with partners to ensure the event is a successful and positive experience for students and families. Snoble stated he works with CampusParc, Transportation and Traffic Management, Facilities Operations and Development, Public Safety, and a variety of campus partners and external vendors to guarantee a safe and joyful graduation experience. The Commencement office manages the process, printing, and packaging of “live” diplomas (a student’s actual diploma) which The Ohio State University uniquely provides students with during their graduation ceremony.
2. Regarding The Ohio State University’s upcoming spring commencement, what are some of the logistics and essential information you would like parents and families to be aware of?
Beyond just attending the in-person commencement ceremony, The Ohio State University offers parents and families an opportunity to watch from home. By providing a way for families to watch on their televisions, phones, or computers, commencement is a celebratory event available for anyone who would like to attend, even if they are unable to be there in person.
For any upcoming commencements, Snoble recommended that students read their emails. Colleges often communicate with their students through email within the upcoming weeks and months of graduation. Snoble emphasized that being attentive towards your emails and responsibly meeting all commencement requirements is incredibly important. Specifically, Snoble asks students to be aware of any emails from commencement within the upcoming weeks regarding the construction that will be taking place on campus during the ceremony period. However, Snoble states that it is mostly your students’ individual college that will provide them with information in the days and weeks ahead of the ceremony: Making sure your student has applied to graduate, confirming their name is spelled correctly for various materials and checking the commencement website to be prepared for the event are all recommended and encouraged steps Snoble stated your student should take. Although these are requirements your student must complete before commencement, Snoble also recommends your student wears the correct clothes for the weather, comfortable walking shoes and simply enjoys the day and their accomplishments.
It is also recommended that your student attends commencement rehearsal, which Snoble stated is “the most important part.” At rehearsal, students practice the procession and acquire basic knowledge that makes the process easier, quicker and smoother. Graduates will be sitting in thirteen different sections within the stadium, each of which will have letters associated with them and signs placed alongside them to make the process easier for graduates. Attending rehearsal is recommended, but not required. If your student attends rehearsal, they gain basic information about the day such as what order the program will be in and what their role is in the event.
Specifically for the upcoming 2023 spring commencement, Snoble stated the ceremony itself typically takes 1 ½-2 hours. The diploma awarding usually takes an additional hour. He also stated tickets are not required for the ceremony and your student is allowed to bring as many family members as they want. However, families and guests should plan to arrive early to the ceremony. The stadium opens two hours prior to the beginning of graduation so for spring commencement, the doors will open at 10 a.m. Additionally, accessible or ADA parking traditionally goes quickly and within the last half hour before the commencement begins, traffic becomes difficult to maneuver around. Furthermore, Spring commencement is located within the Ohio Stadium (411 Woody Hayes Drive) at noon.
In addition to describing the logistics of Spring commencement, Snoble briefly provided information for summer commencement. This event begins at 2:00 p.m. on August 6. At this ceremony, around 1,800 students will be attending, and the ceremony similarly lasts about 2 ½-3 hours.
3. Do different colleges at The Ohio State University offer their own ceremonies or smaller events to their graduates?
Particularly for this upcoming ceremony, it is a combination of undergraduates and those graduating from their masters, PhDs, or other professional doctorates. During spring commencement, a lot of professional colleges hold their own ceremony for their students to provide additional recognition. However, not all colleges will provide smaller ceremony’s during graduation. Typically, colleges do not do anything separate, but some will hold smaller events during the day.
4. Does Ohio State Commencement run Commencement Week?
The Commencement office does not host Commencement Week, but rather posts the information on their website to provide students with the opportunity to learn about various activities being hosted at The Ohio State University throughout Commencement Week. This program is run through Student Life but is recommended as a last hurrah for your student to experience while spending their last week as a Buckeye. These events include the Candlelight Ceremony, planetarium shows and opportunities to win tours of Ohio Stadium and the Schottenstein Center.
5. How are the commencement speakers chosen and when is that typically announced? Has the speaker for this commencement been announced yet?
Regarding the upcoming Spring Commencement, Snoble stated the speaker has not yet been released, but soon will. Specifically, regarding the process of selecting a commencement speaker, Snoble stated it is a technical process that begins with an online portal through which anyone is able to submit possible candidates. Once a year, a group of individuals from Student Life and the Office of Academic Affairs then go through the nominations submitted through the online portal and condense the list to 10-15 recommended candidates for the next three ceremonies. This list then goes to the provost (the Ohio State University’s chief academic officer) who further condenses the list. Lastly, the finalized list of recommendations is sent to the President to makes the ultimate decision on who The Ohio State University will ask to speak at commencement. Typically, it is preferred that the speaker is announced five weeks before the ceremony, but depending on logistics and communications, the speaker can sometimes be announced as early as December or as late as a week before the event.
6. Additional information regarding the upcoming 2023 spring commencement ceremony:
For spring commencement or any future upcoming graduation ceremonies, Parent and Family Relations strongly recommends all family members go to https://commencement.osu.edu/ for a variety of important material regarding upcoming graduations can be found. This website includes information about the ceremony and diplomas for graduates, families and guests, and faculty. Furthermore, this website contains information about parking, seating, accessibility accommodations, possible weather conditions, photography and security precautions. Additionally, the link to watch the 2023 spring commencement online can be found on this website along with future commencement dates as far out as 2028. If you or your student have any additional questions or concerns, feel free to contact Commencement at 614-292-9051 or Parent and Family Relations at 614-292-9153.
Brooke Tacsar
Student Assistant
Parent and Family Relations