Arrival Times
Family and friends should arrive no sooner than 60 minutes prior to the start of the processionals as there are other graduation ceremonies scheduled in XFINITY Center prior to the Clark School’s ceremonies. Tickets are not required and plenty of seating is available.
Items Allowed & Security Procedures
Take a few minutes to review the Xfinity Center guidelines for items allowed and security procedures for the facility during commencement ceremonies.
The XFINITY Center is designed with parking, restrooms, water fountains, ATMs, and seating areas accessible to guests with disabilities. Power-assisted doors and closed captioning are also provided.
Parking and Shuttles
Parking in all surface and pay lots is free and available first come, first serve on commencement days.
Parking for guests with disabilities is available at the XFINITY Center in Lot 4, 6 (Terrapin Trail Garage), 9 and 11 surrounding the Xfinity Center. No special permit is required for the Clark School ceremony.
The University of Maryland does not have wheelchairs available. If you have difficulty walking long distances, consider renting a wheelchair from an off-campus vendor. If you require accessible transportation for a disabled guest the day of commencement, please make arrangements by calling dispatch services at 301-314-0318.
Additional Information about Parking & Shuttles
Entrances
Entrances for guests with disabilities are available at four locations:
- Gate C: Southeast corner of the arena on the Ground Level
- Gate D: Northeast corner of the arena on the Ground Level
- Gate E: Southwest corner of the arena on the Concourse Level
- Gate F: Northwest corner of the arena on the Concourse Level (Student Entrance)
Seating
Section 105 and 110 inside Xfinity is reserved for elderly or disable guest seating. Ushers are can direct you to these sections one inside the building. Due to limited space, the university recommends that only the person with the disability and one other guest sit in the accessible seating. Additional members of your party should sit in regular seating areas. You do not need to reserve seating for special needs guests.
Restrooms
Each of the 37 restrooms located conveniently throughout XFINITY Center is ADA compliant and accessible to our guests with disabilities. Xfinity Center has four private bathrooms have been designed for use by persons with disabilities:
- Top of Sections 105 and 110 on the Plaza Level (Level 2).
- Behind Sections 122 and 217 on the Concourse Level (Level 3).
The university does not issue invitation letters for guests to visit the U.S. to attend commencement ceremonies. These letters are not required by the embassy to issue a B2 visa, which is designated for tourist activities such as sightseeing, visiting friends and relatives, and obtaining medical treatment.
The graduating student should submit a copy of their I-20 or DS-2019 to the relative applying for the tourist visa. Students can also send a Enrollment Verification Certificate along with the copy of your passport. Enrollment Verification Certificate can be requested from the Office of the Registrar.
Closed-Captioned
All Clark School ceremonies are closed-captioned.
Sign Language Interpretation
If you have guests attending the Engineering commencement ceremony who will need sign language interpretation be sure to contact the Disability Support Service at 301-314-7209 or dhhs@umd.edu to make arrangements. The ceremony will be closed captioned. If you will be utilizing this service, please email engr-commencement@umd.edu providing your information.
Live Stream
Family and friends can watch our commencement live stream.
Fall 2020 Commencement Ceremonies
Engineering - December 20, 2020 - Xfinity
Campus Wide Ceremony - December 2020 - Xfinity
Future Dates
There is a range of dates posted on the University Commencement website under Future Commencements. We are acutely aware that families and friends are anxious and excited to make their reservations based on the individual ceremony schedules. Unfortunately, the University has not approved a schedule for publication because those schedules could change prior to release.
We do not know when the dates will be released but as soon as they are, they will be posted on the University Commencement website and then on the Clark School of Engineering Commencement website.
We appreciate your patience in this process!