2024 Commencement

2–4 pm at Moore College of Art and Design Galleries: This is an opportunity for students to show their work to family and friends the day before Commencement. Refreshments will be available. 

9:30 am: Seniors to arrive at Kimmel Center

10:30 am: VIP and Accessible Seating

10:45 am: General Admission Seating 

11 am: Commencement ceremony begins 

The Commencement Ceremony is approximately 90 minutes in length.

Each graduating student will be allotted six tickets for the Commencement ceremony. Students will receive their tickets either several weeks prior to or during the Commencement Rehearsal in the Great Hall on Wednesday, May 6 (4 pm). If there are seniors who will not use all allotted tickets, we ask that they return unused tickets to the lottery so that they may be redistributed. 

Tickets are required for all guests 2 years old and older. Children under the age of 2 are expected to sit on the lap of a parent or guardian.

Lost or stolen tickets will not be replaced. No additional tickets will be available.

If any Commencement guests are in need of assistance, please alert Sarah Stalter in Student Affairs at 215-965-4040 or email sstalter@moore.edu

Seating is on a first-come first-served basis starting at 10:45 am.

Please, arrive a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the start of event to be seated by Kimmel Center staff. Kimmel Center staff will seat guests who need accessible seating and their companions first.

The Kimmel Center is a wheelchair-accessible location. Features of these accessible locations include stair-free access and either open space to accommodate a variety of mobility devices, or an upholstered, loose chair can be provided.

The items listed below, and any additional items that The Kimmel Cultural Campus management determines could potentially distract from the audience’s safety and enjoyment, will not be allowed inside the venue**.

• Backpacks or oversized bags
• Weapons of any kind
• Illegal drugs/substances
• Selfie sticks
• Laser pointers/flashlights
• Balloons
• Pets (service animals exempt)
• Tripods/monopods
• Signs/flags/banners
• Beach balls or projectiles
• Fireworks or noise making devices
• Skateboards/scooters/roller blades

**Exceptions will be made for those with disabilities, medical requirements and/or special needs. Guests with specific needs due to disabilities or medical conditions can contact Kimmel Center Patron Services prior to attending the event to arrange for reasonable accommodations.

Commencement is a celebration of our students’ accomplishments; it is also a formal academic event.

We ask that guests remain in their seats for the duration of the procession and recession and refrain from blocking aisles and passageways by attempting to greet or take photos of graduates. Cellular phones must be silenced during the ceremony to ensure that all guests can hear and enjoy the Commencement activities. After the ceremony is over, we ask that you allow the faculty & board to exit and the seniors to follow, and then you may exit after them to meet outside of Verizon Hall in the Kimmel Center. We suggest you designate a meeting spot away in advance to lessen the confusion and allow everyone to exit Verizon Hall.

The gowns will be rented by Moore College. They will be distributed during the Commencement Rehearsal on May 6 along with the caps. Each graduate is responsible for bringing their gown, cap, and regalia to the Kimmel Center. After the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates are required to return their gown by 1:30 pm in the Kimmel Center. If the gown is not returned, there will be a fee. 

Graduates will be able to pick up their diploma after the Commencement ceremony when they turn in their gowns in the Kimmel Center. The diplomas will not be distributed on stage.

At the ceremony, a professional photographer will be taking photos to capture this special day. We ask that you refrain taking photos from anywhere other than your seat in order to avoid obstructing the view of others. Each graduate will be professionally photographed as they receive their diploma on stage. The prints will be available after the ceremony for purchase through our photographer’s website 4-6 weeks after each event. 

Nearby Parking Garages:

Latimer Garage

• 1510 Latimer Street
• 0.4 mi to Kimmel Cultural Campus
• $13 for 2 hours, cash only

13th & Locust

• 219 S 13th Street
• 0.4 mi to Kimmel Cultural Campus
• $23 for 2 hours, accepts ParkMobile and Credit Card

Avenue of the Arts

• 1501 Spruce Street
• 0.1 mi to Kimmel Cultural Campus
• $18 per 1 hour, card only

Holiday Inn Garage

• 1305 Walnut Street
• 0.3 mi to the Kimmel Cultural Campus
• $30 (it changes), keys might be held depending on parking occupancy

1314 Spruce Street

• 0.2 mi to Kimmel Cultural Campus
• $15 per hour, Valet parking only

Juniper & Locust Garage

• 1327 Locust Street
• 0.2 mi to Kimmel Cultural Campus
• $33.76 per 2 hours, self-park, valet, accepts card and Apple Pay

Symphony House Garage

• 440 South Broad Street
• 0.2 mil to Kimmel Cultural Campus
• $28.75 per 2 hours, self-park, accepts Apple Pay/ any kind of mobile payment and card

Bellevue Garage

• 220 S Broad St
• 0.3 mi to Kimmel Cultural Campus
• $18 per hour, does not accept cash (does accept card and Apple Pay)

SEPTA Subway – Walnut-Locust Station on the Broad Street Line

SEPTA Regional Rails – Suburban Station at 17th and JFK Blvd 

For SEPTA information see www.septa.com

Greyhound Bus Terminal – 1001 N. Filbert Street. 

For Greyhound information www.greyhound.com or 215.931.4075

Amtrak trains – 30th Street Station at 30th and Market St. 

For Amtrak information, see www.amtrak.com or 1.800.872.7245

Philadelphia International Airport

See www.phl.org or 215.937.6937. 

Trains to and from the airport can be boarded at 30th Street Station or Suburban Station.