It’s important to ask questions! Below are answers to some of the questions frequently asked about Commencement.
1. May we purchase personalized Lake Forest College Commencement announcements?
2. When and where will students pick up their regalia (caps and gowns)?
4. When should we plan to arrive in Lake Forest?
5. To which Commencement events, in addition to the ceremony, are families invited?
6. When should we make our hotel reservations?
7. Where is Commencement held? How long is the ceremony?
8. Does the College provide transportation to Ravinia for students or family members?
9. Will we need tickets to Commencement?
10. What if we require additional tickets above and beyond the 7 College-issued tickets?
11. Will small children be required to have tickets at Ravinia Festival Park?
12. What is Lake Forest’s weather like in May?
13. What time should we arrive at the Commencement ceremony?
14. How do we arrange for handicap accessible parking and seating?
16. When are graduates required to be moved out of the residence halls?
1. May we purchase personalized Lake Forest College Commencement announcements?
Yes, personalized announcements may be ordered through our vendor, Jostens, by calling 1-800-854-7464 or by visiting their website: www.jostens.com/college.
2. How do students pick up their caps and gowns?
Students will pick up their caps and gowns on Tuesday, April 21 from 10:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. in the Pierson Rooms inside the Mohr Student Center. If they are unable to attend cap and gown pick up, they may visit the Alumni Office between 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. The cost of the cap and gown is included in senior dues.
3. During the Commencement ceremony, am I allowed to wear a cord or stole indicating membership in an academic honor society, or a fraternity or sorority?
Students who are members of College-recognized national academic honor societies or approved fraternity and sorority organizations are permitted to wear an appropriate stole or cord during the Commencement ceremony. The cord or stole must be sanctioned by the national office of the society or organization. Members of the Senior 25 may wear a College-approved stole. Kente stoles and serapes have also been approved for wear.
4. When should we plan to arrive in Lake Forest?
The main festivities will begin on Friday, May 8. Some families will choose to arrive early and enjoy campus one last time; others will prefer to attend only the Commencement ceremony on Saturday morning.
5. Which Commencement events are families invited to attend?
Immediate family members are invited to the following events:
Friday, May 8:
- Senior Brunch
- Senior Honors Convocation (if applicable)
Saturday, May 9:
- Commencement
6. When should we make our hotel reservations?
Reservations for accommodations and dining out should be made as soon as possible. Be sure to mention that you’re attending the College’s Commencement ceremony! Some hotels offer a reduced rate for College guests.
7. Where is Commencement held? How long is the ceremony?
Lake Forest College’s Commencement will be held at Ravinia Festival Park, a covered, open-air facility approximately 11 miles south of the campus. The address is 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park, IL. Commencement begins at 10:15 a.m. and ends at approximately 12:30 p.m.
8. Does the College provide transportation to Ravinia for students or family members?
The College does not provide transportation to Ravinia, but train service for the 15-minute ride from Lake Forest to the Braeside stop near Ravinia is available through the Metra Union Pacific North Line. Please visit www.metrarail.com for more information.
9. Will we need tickets to Commencement?
The Pavilion at Ravinia Festival Park will accommodate 3,300 participants and their guests. Tickets are mandatory. Graduates will receive 7 tickets, which will be distributed at Cap and Gown Pick Up on Tuesday, April 21.
10. What if we require additional tickets beyond the 7 College-issued tickets?
Graduates are encouraged to offer tickets they don’t need to fellow grads who need additional tickets. 11. Will small children be required to have tickets at Ravinia Festival Park?
Small children who can sit in the lap of an accompanying adult for the ceremony will not require a ticket. Please note that the Pavilion is approximately a two block walk from the parking lot. Should you plan to use a stroller for your child, it must collapse and fit under the seats in the Pavilion. (Strollers can not be parked in the aisles due to fire code regulations.) In keeping with the College’s agreement with Ravinia Festival Park, children will not be allowed to run around the facility.
12. What is the weather like in May?
The outdoor pavilion at Ravinia has a concrete floor that typically keeps temperatures ten degrees cooler than outside the shelter. Combined with the wind off of Lake Michigan, the result is a very cold environment. Warm clothing and shoes, winter coats, hats, and gloves, and blankets are recommended for guest comfort, especially for children and grandparents.
13. What time should we arrive at the Commencement ceremony?
The parking lot opens at 8:30 a.m. and the gates open at 9:00 a.m. The main public parking lot is the West Lot, accessible from Green Bay Road. Please note that the Pavilion is approximately a two block walk from the parking lot. Graduates must arrive for check-in at 9:00 a.m.
14. How do we arrange for handicap accessible parking and seating?
If you need handicap accessible parking and seating, please contact Suzanne Nyren in the Office of Alumni Relations at 847-735-6015 or nyren@lakeforest.edu. A valid handicap parking permit or license plate is required for admission to the accessible parking lot adjacent to the Tyler (West) Gate. Ravinia Festival Park does not provide wheelchairs.
15. May we take photographs of our graduate during the ceremony?
There will be two designated areas for families wishing to photograph graduates. Individuals taking pictures at the ceremony are asked to be respectful of those around them and to promptly return to their seats after taking pictures. Aisles must remain clear at Ravinia Festival Park in accordance with fire code regulations.
Families can purchase photos taken by GradImages online.
16. When are graduates required to have moved out of the residence halls?
The deadline for graduates to move out of the residence halls is noon on Sunday, May 10.
Additional questions?
Office of Development and Alumni Relations
847-735-6015
alumni@lakeforest.edu