Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, will award 635 degrees at it spring commencement ceremony, to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4, in downtown Erie's Louis J. Tullio Arena.
No tickets are required and guest admission is unlimited. In keeping with the Penn State Behrend tradition of having a faculty member address the graduates, the commencement speaker will be Christopher S. Coulston, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.
Other important details for candidates and their families:
-- Tullio Arena is undergoing a major renovation. Blue ribbons will mark the useable entrance.
-- Because of the renovation, the surface parking lot outside of the arena is closed. Free parking will be available in the Erie Parking Authority ramp at the corner of East Eighth and French streets, and in the Erie Insurance surface lot at East Seventh and French. Paid parking is available in the Erie Parking Authority ramp at East Tenth and French streets.
-- Metered on-street parking also is an option; street meters must be fed only until 6 p.m. Some nearby surface lots also have meters, but those must be paid at all times.
-- Another renovation change: Candidates for all degrees will gather in the Warner Theatre at 6 p.m. and process as a group across French Street to the Tullio Arena. Candidates should enter the Warner through the State Street doors.
-- Candidates MUST wear academic regalia to process at the ceremony.
-- Professional photographs of each graduate will be taken by Sonneys Photography. Photo orders can be placed one week following commencement.
-- Graduates’ diplomas will be mailed to their home addresses during the week of May 28, after final grades are determined.
Additional questions about commencement can be directed to the Office of the Registrar, phone 814-898-6104.