Information for Guests

Visit the main Stanford University Commencement page for visitor information, including driving directions, as well as lodging and dining information.

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Review accommodations and available resources for family members and guests with mobility concerns and disabilities. Information specific to the SLS ceremony is available in the FAQs below.

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We recommend guests park in the Wilbur Field Garage (Parking Structure 6). The law school will run 2 golf carts before and after the ceremony for guests with limited mobility. The pick up site will be located at the corner of Bowdoin Lane and Arguello Way. See below for a map of locations related to the Stanford Law diploma ceremony.

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Graduate with family and friends

SLS Diploma Ceremony Map

General FAQs

How many tickets do graduates get?

Tickets are not required for graduation. We ask each graduate to keep the number of guests to 6 or fewer if at all possible, and to RSVP to let us know how many guests they plan to bring.

Is there reserved seating?

We do not reserve seating except for wheelchair users (see relevant FAQ). We will have plenty of seating for everyone, so there is no need to arrive super early. Most folks arrive about 30-45 minutes early. We’ll have a live quartet to entertain you while you wait for the ceremony.

When will the festivities end?

The ceremony usually lasts about an hour and a half and no more than two hours. The reception will last another hour and a half, or until the food runs out.

What should guests wear?

The norm seems to be business or business casual or summer garden party. We recommend layering as the bay area microclimates are a thing. It can be terribly hot in the afternoon and then drop 15 degrees once the sun goes down.

Where should we park?

Parking Structure #6 (aka Wilbur Field Garage) is located at 560 Wilbur Way.

FROM HIGHWAY 101 Take the Embarcadero Road (West) exit. Embarcadero turns into Galvez right after El Camino. Turn left on Campus Drive (the first stop sign after the stadium), turn right on Bowdoin way, and proceed to 560 Wilbur Way.

FROM HIGHWAY 280 Take the Alpine Road exit and proceed east. Turn right at the first traffic light (Junipero Serra) and left at the second light (Campus Drive East). Proceed to the traffic circle at Bowdoin Way, go 3/4 around the circle to Bowdoin Way, and proceed to 560 Wilbur Way.

SLS will operate golf carts between the parking garage and the ceremony site to shuttle guests with mobility concerns to the ceremony. Pick up will be located at the corner of Bowdoin Lane and Arguello Way.

Will the event be live-streamed?

Yes, we will webcast the ceremony live. We’ll post a link to the webcast on our main graduation page a day or so before the ceremony. The ceremony will also be videotaped and posted to the website a few days after the ceremony.

Is there any help for elderly or people with disabilities?

Yes. Golf carts will be available near Parking Structure #6, at the corner of Bowdoin Lane and Arguello Way (see map of graduation locations), to shuttle guests with mobility concerns to the ceremony. Please let Holly Parrish (hparrish@law.stanford.edu) know if anyone in your party will need wheelchair accessible seating. The law school does not have wheelchairs to provide. In order to accommodate guests using wheelchairs, or those with other disability-related needs, we request that only one companion accompany the guest needing reserved seating.

We will have assistive listening devices available, please see a staff person at the guest services table if you need one.

For other accessibility concerns (sign language or captioning services, alternative materials requests, etc.), please submit a request no later than May 24 through the commencement webpage: https://commencement.stanford.edu/accessibility

We will do our best to accommodate requests made within a two-week window.

What if I have family who can’t sit in the sun forever?

We will have a tent to cover the stage and graduate seating. The tent will include seating for most guests, but not everyone. Seating outside the tent will be placed under trees as much as possible; but, unfortunately, some seats will be in the sun. If the shade is not sufficient for your family member, the upper breezeway will be open. The ceremony is amplified, so they should be able to hear.

In addition, we will have bottled water available for guests.

When is University Commencement?

Stanford University’s Commencement ceremony is typically in Stanford Stadium (on the corner of El Camino and Galvez) on the Sunday morning following our law school ceremony. More information is available here: https://commencement.stanford.edu/.

How do I share the thrill of graduation?

In the land of iPhone apps, tech start-ups and social networks, it only seems natural that graduates should end their time here at SLS by tweeting. So, if you use Twitter or Instagram, you can use the hashtag #SLSgrad throughout graduation day and share your thoughts and pictures with the SLS community.

Do I need to rush the stage to get pictures of my graduate?

We ask that you remain comfortably in your seat during the ceremony. Staff from Grad Images will take individual photographs of each graduate during the ceremony. After the ceremony, graduates will be able to go on-line, view their photograph and place an order.

If you must get near the stage to take a photo, please do so quickly and do not block any aisles or obstruct the view of others. The area around the stage will be roped off to keep our path clear during the ceremony. Please do not enter the roped-off area, and respect any instructions provided by on-site staff.

Share This SLS Moment

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Recording will be available shortly after graduation

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Photos will be available shortly after graduation