Parking

Candlelight Service parking (Friday evening)

As guests arrive on campus for the Candlelight Service of Worship and Celebration (formerly Baccalaureate), traffic personal will be directing vehicles to parking areas. The doors for the Candlelight Service open at 6 p.m., one hour before the start of the ceremony, so please plan accordingly to allow time for you and your party to park and walk to Eisenhower Campus Center, the location of the service. There will not be shuttle services available for this event. 

Guest disability parking

Disability parking is available for the Candlelight Service and requires either: 1) an official state-issued parking hang tag or license plate or 2) a special university-issued parking pass. University-issued passes will need to be picked up by the graduate for his/her guests, beginning April, 14, 2025, from the Dispatch office located on the first floor of Eisenhower Campus Center. The university-issued disability parking pass may be used both for the Candlelight Service and for the Commencement ceremony. 

Commencement day parking (Saturday)

On Commencement day, traffic personnel will direct guests to designated parking areas on campus. Shuttle buses will transport guests between their parking area and Starry Athletic Complex, both before and after the Commencement ceremony. There is an approximate 10-15 minute wait between shuttles, so please plan accordingly. The distance from the parking shuttle drop-off point (near the Covered Bridge) to the ceremony site at Shoemaker Field is about 1/4-mile on a paved surface with a slight incline. 

Guest disability parking

Limited disability parking is available for the Commencement service and requires either: 1) an official state issued parking hang tag or disability license plate or 2) a special university-issued parking pass. University-issued passes will need to be picked up by the graduate for his/her guests, beginning April 14, 2025, from the Dispatch Office located in the Eisenhower Campus Center. The university-issued disability parking pass may be used both for the Candlelight Service and for the Commencement ceremony. 

Special assistance

Golf cart transportation assistance will be available 1) from the disability parking lot and 2) on a limited basis for those guests requiring mobility assistance between the parking shuttle drop point near the Covered Bridge and the ceremony site. There are no advance arrangements needed for this service. However, guests should be aware of the longer wait times coinciding with the high demand before and immediately following the ceremony, so please allow extra time in your planning. 

Golf carts are not able to transport guests all the way up to Shoemaker Field. Guests will need to walk from the golf cart drop-off point at the Starry Athletic Complex parking area to Shoemaker Field. (It is approximately 100 yards, up a slight incline, to get to the field and then additional walking to seating areas.) Questions regarding mobility and transportation at Commencement may be directed to the Office of Conference and Event Services at 717.691.6009.

Return shuttles

Following the conclusion of the Commencement ceremony, shuttles will run every 10-15 minutes for approximately 90 minutes following the ceremony to return guests to their vehicles from Starry Athletic Complex.

Commuter student and December graduates parking

Graduating seniors who are commuter students and December graduates participating in the Commencement ceremony may pick up a university-issued commuter parking pass at the Dispatch Office (open 24/7), located on the first floor of Eisenhower Campus Center beginning April 14, 2025. Commuters and December graduates must have a pass in order to park near Eisenhower Campus Center on Commencement day, and should arrive early on campus to avoid delays in getting to the line-up location for the ceremony. 

Adult degree program graduates

Adult degree program graduates will receive their parking passes via U.S. mail at the home address they have on file with the University. These students must display their university-issued pass in order to park near Eisenhower Campus Center on Commencement day, and should arrive early on campus to avoid delays in getting to the line-up location for the ceremony. As needed, these students may also request a disability parking pass be mailed to them for their guests by calling the Messiah Box Office at 717-691-6036 beginning April 14, 2025.The University-issued disability parking pass may be used both for the Baccalaureate service and for the Commencement ceremony.

Restrooms

Restrooms for Commencement guests are located in the main parking lot at Starry Athletic Complex (just a short walk from the shuttle drop-off point). Additional restrooms are located in the Sawyer Pavilion adjacent to the Commencement ceremony location at Shoemaker Field. 

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