Parking
The main parking lot for Salem State's commencement ceremonies is located at the O'Keefe Complex at 225 Canal Street in Salem. The university also provides satellite lots in case of overflow. These lots are located at our North and Harrington campuses and are within walking distance to the O’Keefe Complex.
Please note that satellite viewing during commencement ceremonies takes place in the Ellison Campus Center on North Campus. Download a commencement parking map.
Arrival time
Candidates for graduation should arrive at O'Keefe Sports Complex no later than 90 minutes prior to their ceremony. Late arrivals may not be admitted to commencement activities.
Check-in will take place at the main entrance of the Harold E. and Marilyn J. Gassett Fitness and Recreation Center. Commencement staff will assist the candidates with lining up in the Twohig Gymnasium and will guide them to the seating area on the rink floor. There is no secure storage for personal belongings at the O’Keefe Sports Complex, so please plan accordingly.
Security Measures
For the safety and security of everyone, please be aware that all bags are subject to inspection prior to admittance. Small purses are permitted once checked by security personnel. However, items such as bags, backpacks, briefcases, laptop computers and tablets, balloons, banners, strollers, baby carriers, baby car seats, and wrapped packages of any kind are prohibited. Other than bottled water, food and beverages are prohibited. Please be aware that any signage, flags, etc. that are not made from flexible material (paper, cloth, vinyl) and are larger than 11”x17” will be confiscated. No items with handles, sticks or poles will be allowed, no matter how small the item. Anyone carrying prohibited items will be turned away.
Stage Procession
At check-in candidates will receive a colored 3 x 5” index card with a number. Keep this card with you at all times. The card will be presented on stage just prior to the announcement of your degree. Once candidates are placed in order in the gym by commencement staff, the candidates must remain in that position. Because students’ names will be called in the order of the student lines, failure to maintain the correct place in line or present the card on stage will disrupt the procession of students across the stage. Once a student has presented their card on stage, their name will be called and the student will proceed across the stage to be congratulated by a university academic leader and professionally photographed. If candidates need to leave the arena after checking in, they must show the index card and a hand stamp for re-entry.
Photography
The ceremonies are photographed and streamed. Participation implies consent to photos and/or images being shown or used by the university.
A commercial photographer will take two pictures of each student, 1) posed, prior to them crossing the stage, and 2) on the stage with the University President. A few weeks prior to commencement, degree candidates will receive detailed information from the photographer.
No private photographers will be allowed on the floor or near the stage.
Students will receive a code from Grad Images, the ceremony photographer, for one free 5x7 digital photo from Graduation Portraits and/or one free 5x7 print photo from Commencement with their proofs from all photos taken. There is a shipping charge to order the print with the Grad Images code for the free photo from Commencement.
Contacting the Photographer
Grad Images will send the proofs to your SSU email address. For more information, contact Grad Images at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or by email. After the ceremony, photographers will also move among the guests and graduates to take candid photographs.
