Frequently Asked Questions

Hello, Chargers,

We hope that you’re healthy and enjoying all the fun that winter brings. Today, we are writing with news about Commencement on Saturday, May 9.

You may remember that last year the ceremony was moved inside Hogan Sports Center due to safety concerns related to wind gusts and standing water caused by significant rainfall. We received a great deal of positive feedback about the ceremony from the Class of 2025, guests, the Commencement Planning Committee, and professionals who photographed and livestreamed the ceremony.

The Senior Leadership Team — which shared the idea with the Student Government Association and senior class officers — has decided to hold Commencement in Hogan Sports Center again this spring.

Hogan is accessible to all participants and guests and provides protection from inclement weather. We’re still very much looking forward to having an outdoor post-ceremony reception, though, weather permitting.

The 2026 Commencement website is now live. More information, including a schedule of events and answers to frequently asked questions, will be added as details are finalized.

Wishing you a healthy and fulfilling semester.

Sincerely,

The Senior Leadership Team

Commencement is Saturday, May 9, at 10:30 a.m. inside the Dan and Kathleen Hogan Sports Center. Doors open at 9 a.m. 

Generally 90 minutes 

We will mail diplomas to students who cannot take part in the ceremony. 

Tickets are not required.

In the event Hogan Sports Center reaches capacity, guests will be invited to enjoy the ceremony via livestream in Clements Hall, a 180-seat auditorium on the first floor of the Curtis L. Ivey Science Center.

Please submit the form below so we can best meet your needs. Email commencement@colby-sawyer.edu if you have any additional questions.

Bring a camera, if you’d like. And tissues, if you think you might cry. And perhaps a bottle of water.

Yes.

Please do! We ask that family and friends who take photos of their grads keep the aisles clear.  

Absolutely! Get your favorite Colby-Sawyer gear, and gifts for your graduate from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Commencement Day at The Stable in the Ware Student Center. If you'd like to prepurchase presents to be picked up on Commencement Day, please note this on your order and we'll have your items ready for you inside Hogan Center beginning at 9 a.m.

All lots will be open. Accessible parking is available in Shepard Lot. Here’s a campus map for reference. 

Yes, look for Colby-Sawyer vans making loops throughout campus. 

No.

Please do so here. We want to stay connected.  

The area has a number of restaurants, from bakeries to fine dining, as well as outdoor activities and shops to browse. Here are a few suggestions: Restaurants & Activities

Check out these excellent places to stay — from campgrounds to country clubs.