Parent and Family Information
Commencement Checklist
Now!
- Book your hotel and flights if you haven't done so already
- Check out the Commencement
Week schedule - Bookmark the Commencement web pages for the latest information
May
- Order announcements if you're interested (3 week delivery
minimum) - Ask your student if he or she has given to the Senior Challenge
- Make meal reservations for the
picnic lunch or at other Galesburg venues
- Remind your student to check in with the Registrar to make sure
everything is good to go - Make sure your student's account balance is cleared
Commencement Week
- Remind your student to pick up tickets from Alumni Relations in
case of severe weather - Join us for Commencement Week events
Commencement Day
- Arrive early to grab your seats and enjoy the day
- Designate a location to meet your student after the ceremony
- Join us for lunch or dine off campus after the ceremony
Lodging and Accommodations
Please book your hotel room(s) as soon as possible. Refer to the lodging and accommodations page for area hotels, bed and breakfasts, etc. One Galesburg hotel has a block of rooms reserved for Knox College Commencement, but book soon -- only a few rooms are left, and they will fill up quickly.
Ceremony and Tickets
The Commencement ceremony is held outside on the South Lawn of Old Main and lasts from 10:00 a.m. to around noon. Seating is open, so arrive early to grab your seats! Refer to the directions and campus parking map for more details. Tickets are only required if the ceremony is moved indoors (T. Fleming Fieldhouse) due to severe weather, and your student can pick up a maximum of 10 free tickets from Alumni Relations during Senior Week. Seniors will receive an e-mail from Alumni Relations about when and where to get tickets.
Disability Services
Please contact Kathleen Drake at 309-341-7303 or kdrake@knox.edu if you need special accommodations or wheelchairs for you or a family member.
Announcements and Memorabilia
With Honors Graduation Services, Inc. will offer Commencement memorabilia -- from announcements, class rings, diploma frames, and more. From the date of purchase, please allow the following timeframe for delivery:
- 7-10 days for announcements
- 6-8 weeks for rings
- 2 weeks for frames
Check the With Honors website for more information in the coming weeks.
Photography and Video
Personal photography is allowed. In addition, a professional photographer from Grad Images will capture your graduate receiving his/her diploma. They will send you an e-mail after the ceremony when the proofs are ready.
Commencement videos are $40. To order, please complete the Commencement video form and mail it, along with a check, to Artistic Portrait Studio, 419 E. Main Street, Galesburg, IL 61401. You may also call the videographer at 309-343-5550.
Food
Rolls, coffee, tea, and water will be available for Commencement guests prior to the ceremony. A picnic lunch will be served after the ceremony on the lawn south of Seymour Union. In the event of severe weather, the picnic will be held in Seymour Union. Lunch tickets are required if you're planning to attend. You are also welcome to eat lunch off campus at one of many Galesburg restaurants.
Dress Code
There is no formal dress code. Some people will dress more formally, but the majority dress casual. Please remember to come prepared for any kind of weather (warm coats, raincoats, umbrellas, etc.), and be sure to wear shoes appropriate for damp, grassy terrain.
Invitations
Knox will mail a formal invitation to your home address this spring, and it will include a schedule of events and ticket information.
Dorm Check-Out
Seniors check out of their dorm/apartment by 1:00 p.m. Sunday, June 9. Keys are returned to Campus Security.
More Questions? Need Help?
Contact the Campus Life Office at 309-341-7527.