IMPORTANT:
NEW GUIDELINES FOR PUBLIC SEATING AT THE UNIVERSITY-WIDE CEREMONY ON MAY 21

The following policies for public seating at the university-wide evening ceremony are a significant departure from past years. We call your attention to policy changes that will be in effect on the day of the event.

For the safety of all guests, public seating on the Main and South Malls for the university-wide Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 21, will not open until 5 p.m. when all work in the event arena is complete and event personnel are in place for the evening ceremony. At 5 p.m., admission to the Main and South Malls will be on a first come, first served basis so everyone planning to attend the ceremony will have an equal opportunity for seating. No tickets are required for Commencement guests. Standing in aisles will not be allowed.

PLEASE NOTE: In the interest of public safety, aisles and sidewalks leading to and inside the seating area must be kept clear of obstacles. Guests attending the university-wide ceremony on Saturday evening will not be allowed to bring the following items into the seating area:

* alcoholic beverages
* coolers
* picnic baskets
* lawn chairs
* large strollers or other items that cannot fit beneath a folding chair

These items should be left in vehicles. Thank you for your cooperation in observing these public safety guidelines to help ensure a safe event for all participants.

Beginning at 6 p.m., guest seating will also be available in adjacent indoor air-conditioned locations where a live video telecast can be viewed in comfort.

Families and friends of graduating students may prefer to view Commencement preparations and the university-wide ceremony on Saturday, May 21, in the comfort of an indoor, air-conditioned space. The following rooms offer remote indoor viewing of the ceremony. Locations will open and telecasts will begin at 6 p.m. and continue until the ceremony ends (approximately 10 p.m.).

Flawn Academic Center (FAC), Room 21
Hogg Auditorium (HMA)
Jessen Auditorium-Homer Rainey Hall (HRH) 2.104
University Teaching Center (UTC), Room 2.112A
W. C. Hogg Building (WCH), Room 1.120
Garrison Hall (GAR), Room 1
Mezes Hall (MEZ), Room 1.306

Parking for Commencement activities is free in designated areas on a first come, first served basis. On Friday, May 20, all University parking garages will be available as well as campus lots marked “C” Parking. On Saturday, May 21, with the exception of spaces marked “At All Times,” all University parking garages and most surface lots are available.

Parking Garages are located as follows:

• San Jacinto Garage (SJG) - located on the east side of San Jacinto Boulevard just north of 24th Street.
• Brazos Garage (BRG) - located on the northeast corner of MLK Boulevard and Brazos Street.
• Twenty-seventh Street Garage (TSG) - located on the southeast corner of University Avenue and 27th Street.
• Manor Garage (MAG) - located on the southeast corner of Robert Dedman Drive and Clyde Littlefield Drive.  
• Speedway Garage (SWG) located on the southwest corner of Speedway and 27th Streets.
• Trinity Garage (TRG) - located on the southeast corner of Trinity Street and MLK Boulevard

Additional parking information is available at http://www.utexas.edu/parking/parking/visitor/

Special services are available to accommodate needs for individuals with disabilities. If you require accommodations due to a disability, please contact the appropriate office listed below at least five days prior to Commencement activities. More information about campus resources for people with disabilities is available at http://www.utexas.edu/disability. This information includes a map with details of accessibility on campus.

For information on services for the university-wide ceremony on Saturday evening, please call, Equal Opportunity Services, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at (512) 471-1849. On Saturday, May 21 information is available by calling the University Police Department at (512) 471-4441 or by TDD (512) 471-4777. While every effort will be made, the University may be unable to fulfill last-minute requests. A reserved seating section for guests with hearing impairments will be available near the stage on the southwest corner. An interpreter will be provided. In addition, a limited number of wheelchairs will be available to help transport those with mobility issues to and from their seats. Those requiring wheelchairs for the duration of a Commencement program should plan on making their own accommodations prior to arriving on campus.

For information on services at the Frank Erwin Center, please call (512) 471-7744. For information on disability services at the Performing Arts Center, Bass Concert Hall, Bates Recital Hall and Hogg Auditorium, please call the Performing Arts Center Patron Services Office at (512) 471-0610. For other venues, please consult the schedule and contact the coordinators listed.

Please visit our visitor Web site at http://www.utexas.edu/visitors/ or contact the Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau at http://www.austintexas.org or by telephone at (512) 478-0098 or 1-800-926-2282.