Case Western Reserve
University grants degrees to
qualified candidates three times per
year—in August, for students who
complete their programs during
the summer semester; January,
for students who complete their
programs during the fall semester;
and May, for students who
complete their programs during
the spring semester. Students
who complete their programs in
August and January are invited and encouraged to attend Commencement the following May.
Convocation Seating
Since seating in the Veale Center is limited, each graduating student who plans to attend the Convocation will be offered guest tickets. Guests without tickets to Convocation are encouraged to view the ceremony at
the overflow location nearest to their next destination. For those attending the
Undergraduate Diploma Ceremony, additional seating will be available in the
Horsburgh Gymnasium (adjacent to the Convocation Center in Veale). For those
attending the graduate and professional schools’ diploma ceremonies, overflow
viewing will be available at Strosacker Auditorium on the Case Quad, the Ford
Auditorium at the Allen Memorial Library, and in the Moot Court Room (Gund Hall
Room A59) of the School of Law. All overflow viewing locations will be equipped
with large-screen video projection, providing an excellent view of the Convocation
ceremony. All overflow viewing locations are handicap accessible.
Guests wishing to select seats providing the best visibility are advised to arrive early. All facilities will be open at 8:00 a.m. Ushers will be
available to assist with seating. Following the Convocation, ample seating willl be available for all diploma ceremonies.
Information about changes or cancellation of scheduled activities will be posted on campus, on this Web site, and broadcast throughout the greater Cleveland area by the campus radio station, WRUW, at 91.1FM.
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Convocation Ticket Information
The University Convocation will be in Case Western Reserve University's Veale Center, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on May 17, 2009. Since seating in Veale is limited, tickets for guests of graduates are issued for
this event. Graduates do not need tickets for themselves, but must register by
April 1, 2009, at 5:00 p.m. EDT. Students participating in the 2009 Commencement
ceremonies can reserve tickets for their guests online.
Tickets are required for the University Convocation
in the Veale Center and the Law School diploma ceremony in Severance Hall.
Tickets are not required for any other diploma ceremonies.
The initial allotment for the University Convocation will be two (2) tickets to each graduating student who plans to attend the Convocation. Tickets will be distributed through the professional schools and the Offices of Undergraduate Studies and Graduate Studies. Depending on the number of graduates planning to participate in the Convocation, extra tickets may be available for general distribution at a later date. Graduates can request extra tickets by contacting
the school from which they will receive their diploma (i.e. Undergraduate Studies).
Lost tickets are not replaceable. Students who have received tickets will not receive
duplicates.
Overflow Viewing for Convocation
Guests without tickets to Convocation are encouraged to view the ceremony at
the overflow location nearest to their next destination. For those attending the
Undergraduate Diploma Ceremony, additional seating will be available in the
Horsburgh Gymnasium (adjacent to the Convocation Center in Veale). For those
attending the graduate and professional schools’ diploma ceremonies, overflow
viewing will be available at Strosacker Auditorium on the Case Quad, the Ford
Auditorium at the Allen Memorial Library, and in the Moot Court Room (Gund Hall
Room A59) of the School of Law. All overflow viewing locations will be equipped
with large-screen video projection, providing an excellent view of the Convocation
ceremony. All overflow viewing locations are handicap accessible.
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University Bookstore
Bookstore hours: Monday, May 11 through Friday, May 15, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Bookstore hours: Saturday, May 16, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, May 17, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For information about purchasing regalia, class rings, diploma frames, and
personalized Commencement announcements, call the bookstore at 800-825-2650,
or visit the website at www.case.bncollege.com.
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Hotels
Hotels within University Circle book quickly for Commencement Day. To reserve hotels for Commencement weekend, guests should contact the hotels directly for the best available rates. Please call early
for the best availability. Visit www.case.edu/finadmin/security/travel/visit.htm for more
information and specific hotel rates.
InterContinental Hotel & Conference Center
216-707-4300
Holiday Inn - Cleveland/Mayfield
440-461-9200
Marriott Key Center
216-696-9200
Renaissance Cleveland Hotel
216-696-5600
Residence Inn by Marriott - Beachwood
216-831-3030
Ritz Carlton, Cleveland
216-623-1300
The Glidden House has informed us as of Summer 2008, they are fully booked for Commencement Weekend 2009, which is why their contact information is not included in this list.
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Facilities for Disabled Guests
Case Western Reserve University makes efforts to accommodate guests with
disabilities to the extent that requests are readily achievable.
Parking areas for disabled guests are designated at all ceremony locations. Any visitors to campus who have a state-issued handicapped parking tag will be permitted to park in designated handicapped parking spots. The
Veale Center parking garage is immediately adjacent to the Veale Center, about 375
feet door-to-door.
The ground level of the Veale parking garage is half a floor lower than the sidewalk
outside, and is serviced by an elevator. There are no stairs at the entrance to the
Veale Center or the Horsburgh Gymnasium.
We provide several seats in the Veale Center that are reserved for our guests in wheelchairs and their companions. These seats do not need to be requested in advance.
The University cannot offer wheelchair service. Guests requiring wheelchairs must
bring their own. Spaces for guests with wheelchairs and a companion will be reserved throughout the Veale Convocation Center. All seating, including spaces for wheelchairs, is on a first-come first-served basis.
ASL Interpreters for guests with hearing impairments will be available at the Convocation and Undergraduate Diploma ceremonies. We also provide assistive hearing devices for ceremonies in the Veale Convocation Center. Guests who wish to use the assisted hearing devices should visit the information desk at the main entrance to Veale.
On each of the three shuttle routes, we have one shuttle that is wheelchair accessible.
Please note that the University does not offer wheelchair service to our guests. Guests requiring wheelchairs must bring their own.
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Restrooms
All campus buildings with public restrooms will be open and signs will indicate restroom locations.
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Security
Case Western Reserve University welcomes all guests; however, to ensure everyone’s
comfort and in accordance with local fire safety laws, only guests with a ticket will be
admitted into the Veale Center Fieldhouse for Convocation.
To accommodate all of our guests, only small bags, which fit under the seat, will be
permitted inside Veale Center. All bags are subject to search. Strollers will not be
permitted inside the seating area. Please check strollers at the information desk inside
the lobby.
Pets are not permitted in or near any outdoor or indoor areas where Commencement
activities are occurring.
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Public Transportation
Cleveland is easily accessible by road, rail and air. The city is served by Greyhound Bus Lines and by Amtrak. Cleveland is
a hub for Continental Airlines and is also served by other major U.S. airlines.
Taxis are readily available at bus and train stations and at the airport. Car rentals are available at Cleveland Hopkins
Airport; advance reservations are suggested. The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) offers local rail service connecting the
airport, downtown's Tower City Center and the Case Western Reserve University campus. To travel from the airport to campus, take
the Red Line Windermere train and exit at University Circle. The ride takes approximately 40 minutes. A free shuttle bus at the
University Circle rapid transit station connects toall points on campus. For information about the RTA from the airport to campus, please visit: http://www.gcrta.org/
The RTA's new Healthline connects downtown Cleveland with University Circle, including several stops on our campus. For more information about the Healthline and its route, please visit the RTA website at: http://www.rtahealthline.com/
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Parking and Shuttle Service
Free parking is available all day beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday May 17, in all Case Western Reserve University parking lots. These lots will be clearly
marked. Please note that University Hospitals visitor lots do not offer free parking for commencement guests.
Free
parking off campus also will be provided at The Temple, site of the MSASS diploma
ceremony, and at Lot 29/Campus Center garage (adjacent to Severance Hall). Attendants will be available at all lots
to assist and answer questions.
Click to see a parking lot map for campus
We recommend that visitors park closest to the location of the event they will attend last and take the free shuttle buses
throughout the day. Shuttles will stop at clearly marked locations. Shuttle buses run on a continuous loop throughout the day. The University
makes every effort to limit the time between buses.
The Shuttle Map and Ceremony Schedule is now available as a PDF.
The updated Commencement Travel Advisory is now available as a PDF.
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