Welcome to our Commencement Team!
As we plan for Commencement 2025 we WILL NEED YOUR HELP! We are thrilled to have you join us in making Commencement Day a memorable and seamless experience for our graduates and their families.
From assisting guests to guiding graduates, your service is invaluable. This is your chance to shine, connect with others, and play a crucial role in one of the most important days in our students’ lives.
Join the Team and help us celebrate excellence!
Email Aaron Brenton at abrenton35@ewu.edu
Any other questions please email us at commencement@ewu.edu with any questions.
Remember to check with your supervisor prior to signing up.
Staff Schedules By Ceremony
There will be THREE commencement ceremonies on BOTH Friday, June 13th and Saturday, June 14th, 2025, and we need your help for all of them!
Each of these tabs lists important schedule information for a specific ceremony. Please review the schedules for each ceremony you are working on Commencement Day.
Note: If you are working more than one ceremony, lunch will be provided. Lunches will be available at approximately 11:00 AM.
Staff Schedule: Morning Ceremonies Friday & Saturday
6:30 AM – 11:00 AM (4.5 hours)
Arrive 6:30am to check in.
6:45am Ceremony Prep
7:00am Graduate Line-Up begins
8:00am CEREMONY BEGINS
Reset Venue once graduates leave the floor
Staff Schedule: Afternoon Ceremony
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM (4 hours)
11:00am arrive and check in.
11:15am Ceremony Prep
11:30am Graduate Line Up begins
12:30pm CEREMONY BEGINS
Reset Venue once all graduates have left the floor.
Staff Schedule: Evening Ceremony
3:00 PM – 7:00 PM (4 hours)
3:00pm Arrive and Check in
3:15 Ceremony Prep
3:30pm Graduate Line Up begins
4:30 pm CEREMONY BEGINS
Reset Venue once all Graduates have left the floor.
Roles & Responsibilities
Types of Roles
When you sign up, you will be asked what your availability is and what role you may wish to have. There are different types of roles you can help with on Commencement Day:
- Wayfinding
- Student Lineup
- Line Marshals
Please review the responsibilities for your assigned role. In addition to these tasks, all staff will assist in setting out grad bags for students before the ceremonies.
Day-Of Contacts
If interested please email us at commencement@ewu.edu
It’s all in the name: your job is to help our guests and graduates find their way!
As a wayfinder, you’ll be smack-dab in the middle of the joyful chaos. You might be stationed at the info table, outdoors near the entrances, or inside the venue to help our grads and guests navigate.
Job Duties
- Help direct graduates, guests, and faculty to wherever they need to be
- Become familiar with the commencement information you receive prior to the ceremony. This will help you respond to questions and requests for information, especially about:
- Maps/locations (parking, info, restrooms, entrances, medical room, etc.)
- How long the ceremony is expected to last
- Where the student lineup area begins
- Contact appropriate personnel for problem resolution (line marshals, college lineup assistants, crowd management, police, etc.)
Lineup is a coordinated effort between the college lineup leads, line marshals, and you!
When working in the lineup, you will help students make sure they are lining up in the right place, which will depend on the student’s major and college.
Job Duties
- Become familiar with the commencement information you receive prior to the ceremony. This will help you respond to questions and requests for information, especially about:
- Maps/locations (parking, info, restrooms, entrances, medical room, etc.)
- When to expect diplomas in the mail
- How long the ceremony is expected to last
- Where the student’s specific lineup area is
- How to wear caps, gowns, tassels, hoods, etc.
- Contact appropriate personnel for problem resolution (line marshals, college lineup leads, crowd management, police, etc.)
Things to Know
All commencement staff are invited to park for FREE in Lot P-3. Student and Guest Parking will be in Lots P-9, P-12 & P-16.
If you don’t receive a commencement t-shirt please wear a simple red EWU polo or similar shirt. If you need to obtain a commencement shirt, please contact Aaron Brenton to make arrangements (limited sizes and quantity available).
We ask that you wear black pants, as well as your Commencement Staff lanyard and your EWU name tag. Don’t forget your comfortable shoes! If your assigned station is outdoors, we also recommend sunscreen and/or sunglasses (depending on the weather).
Please review the staff schedule for each ceremony that you will be working.
There should be available time the week prior to ceremonies for event walk-throughs. Contact your team leader for information. If you have additional questions, please contact Commencement Admin.
Please contact Brock Sieb with any kind of special accommodations you may have. We may not be able to make accommodations for every situation, but we will certainly try!
