FGCU Commencement

Arrival:

Candidates should arrive 1 hour prior to the ceremony start at Alico Arena, wearing your cap and gown. Leave personal belongings with your guest or in your vehicle.

Parking:

Due to the large attendance, early arrival and carpooling are encouraged.

Parking is located in parking garage 1, near the Cohen Student Union. Guests parking in Garage 1 can enjoy a 1/2 mile walk along the boardwalk to the Arena.

Pick up and drop off for guests with limited mobility are available at the front of the arena before and after the ceremony.

There are limited disabled parking spaces located in the front of Alico Arena and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A disabled person parking permit or license plate is required.

More information about directions and parking is located in the Directions section below.

Check In:

Check in starts 1 hour prior to the ceremony. Check in will be to the left of Alico Arena. Candidates will receive a card at check in. This card will inform the reader how to correctly pronounce your name.

Attire:

Please dress appropriately: shoes, shirts, etc. are required. High heels are not recommended as you will be standing for long periods of time.

Ceremony:

The ceremony is expected to last about 2-2.5 hours. There is no rehearsal for the ceremony.

Gown Return:

Gowns are required to be turned in to the Bookstore. If purchased online, you are able to return your gown through the mail. You are welcome to keep your cap.

What you need to know video

Arrival:

Doors open 1 hour prior to the ceremony. Guests will enter through the main doors at Alico Arena. Due to the large attendance, early arrival and carpooling are encouraged. 

Ceremony:

The ceremony is expected to last about 2-2.5 hours.

Parking:

Due to the large attendance, early arrival and carpooling are encouraged.

Parking is located in parking garage 1, near the Cohen Student Union. Guests parking in Garage 1 can enjoy a 1/2 mile walk along the boardwalk to the Arena.

Pick up and drop off for guests with limited mobility are available at the front of the arena before and after the ceremony.

There are limited disabled parking spaces located in the front of Alico Arena and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A disabled person parking permit or license plate is required.

More information about directions and parking is located in the Directions section below.

Tickets:

Each guest must have a ticket. No ticket = no entry.

Children 3 and over must have a ticket.

Tickets can either be printed or saved to a phone.

Guests will not be able to re-enter once their ticket has been scanned.

Tickets are only valid for the ceremony listed on the ticket.

Seating:

There are no assigned seats. All seating, including accessible seating, is located on the second floor of the Arena. There is an elevator available.

Attire:

Business casual attire is highly recommended.

Photography:

No one is allowed to enter the main floor to take pictures.

There will be professional photographers that will be taking pictures of each candidate before, during, and after crossing the stage.

Proofs of photos will be sent to candidates within 2 weeks after the ceremony with the opportunity to purchase photos.

By entering the event premises, you consent to the recording of your image and likeness, and you authorize Florida Gulf Coast University to release, publish, exhibit or reproduce any audio or video recordings, as well as photographs, which include your likeness in connection with this event. 

Bag Check:

Security will be checking bags and ensuring prohibited items do not enter Alico Arena.

Prohibited Items:

• Large bags (nothing larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches)
• Signs
• Backpacks
• Balloons
• Horns
• Canned string
• Air horns
• Noisemakers
• Alcohol
• Weapons
• Firearms
• Glassware
• Outside food or beverage
• Tripods
• Beach balls

Details on deadlines and how to order your cap and gown will be released in the early part of the Fall semester.

Masters gowns are blue. Bachelors gowns are black.

Gowns are required to be turned in to the Bookstore. If purchased online, you are able to return your gown through the mail. You are welcome to keep your cap.

Stoles:

• College or major specific stoles are coordinated through each college or program. For more information about these stoles, reach out to your advisor.
• First Gen stoles are distributed by First Year Experience. An email will be sent out in November with more information about how to get them. These are first-come, first-serve. For any questions about this stole, please email fye@fgcu.edu.
• The white FGCU stoles are available for purchase for everyone through the Herff Jones website when ordering your cap and gown.
• Honors stoles and cords are distributed by the Bookstore in person only, starting in November. This includes the GPA specific cords.

More information about the number of tickets and how to receive them will be released in the early part of the Fall semester.

Each guest must have a ticket. Children 3 and over must have a ticket. Tickets can be printed or saved to a phone. We suggest downloading your tickets to your phone before you get to the Arena. Guests will not be able to re-enter once their ticket has been scanned.

Each ticket will have a unique barcode. Duplicate tickets will not be accepted. Tickets are only valid for the ceremony listed on the ticket.

Pick-up and drop-off for guests with limited mobility is available at the front of Alico Arena before and after each ceremony. There are limited accessible parking spaces located in front of Alico Arena and are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  A disabled person parking permit or license plate is required.

Seating for individuals with special needs is located in designated areas on the second floor of Alico Arena and is available on a first come, first served basis. 

FGCU Adaptive Services: We're here to enhance access for students, faculty, staff and guests with disabilities. We help by providing effective, reasonable accommodations, educating the campus community and promoting equal access and opportunity in the process.

Visit FGCU Adaptive Services

Each ceremony will be streamed live. This will be published on the Commencement website on the day of the ceremony.

Driving directions to FGCU:

From the north (via I-75)

• Take I-75 south to Alico Road at exit 128. (Tip: stay in right two lanes due to split highway)
• Go east (left) on Alico Road for half-mile.
• Go south (right) on Ben Hill Griffin Parkway for 2 miles.
• Turn left at the stoplight onto FGCU Boulevard at the main entrance (marked by FGCU tower and wall monument).

From the south (via I-75)

• Take I-75 north to Corkscrew Road at Exit 123.
• Go east (right) onto Corkscrew Road for half-mile.
• Turn north (left) onto Ben Hill Griffin Parkway.
• Drive 3 miles to main entrance (marked by FGCU tower and wall monument) and turn right onto FGCU Boulevard.

How to get to Alico Arena:

Parking is located in parking garage 1 near the Cohen Student Union. Guests parking in garage 1 can enjoy a 1/2 mile walk along the boardwalk toward the arena.

Additional parking is located in garage 3 near McTarnaghan and Howard Halls.  From garage 3 it is a .8 mile walk to the arena.

Limited parking is available in the housing parking lot adjacent to Alico Arena.

Pick up and drop off for guests with limited mobility are available at the front of the arena before and after the ceremony.

There are limited disabled parking spaces located in the front of Alico Arena and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. A disabled person parking permit or license plate is required.

For other locations on campus, use our interactive map:

FGCU CAMPUS MAP

Bag Check:

Security will be checking bags and ensuring prohibited items do not enter Alico Arena.

Prohibited Items:

• Large bags (nothing larger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches)
• Signs
• Backpacks
• Balloons
• Horns
• Canned string
• Air horns
• Noisemakers
• Alcohol
• Weapons
• Firearms
• Glassware
• Outside food or beverage (this includes reusable and plastic water bottles)
• Tripods
• Beach balls

The local FGCU community offers numerous restaurants and hotels for visitors. Search hotels near Florida Gulf Coast University. This information is provided to help you search for lodging. It is not an FGCU endorsement of listed properties.

Hotels close to campus

Explore galleries that bring our university to life by showcasing the unique features that define the FGCU experience...and make for great photo spots.

Photo Galleries

A professional photography company is has been hired to take photos of each candidate before, during, and after crossing the stage. Proofs of photos will be sent to candidates after the ceremony with the opportunity to purchase photos.

By entering the event premises, you consent to the recording of your image and likeness, and you authorize Florida Gulf Coast University to release, publish, exhibit or reproduce any audio or video recordings, as well as photographs, which include your likeness in connection with this event. 

More information about commencement worker opportunities will be released as we get closer to the ceremonies.

Graduation and commencement are two separate activities and have different requirements, processes and deadlines.

As you complete your academic journey, students apply to graduate in order to receive their degree and diploma.

Commencement is a ceremony that celebrates students' accomplishments and marks the transition of becoming part of the FGCU alumni family.