Schedules, Directions, Parking & Maps

All ceremonies will be held on Memorial Field, located behind the Old Main building in the heart of campus. Please see Chester Campus Commencement Map for more information. 

GPS address: 1 University Place, Chester, PA 19013

From New York, Northern New Jersey, and New England

Take the New Jersey Turnpike South to Exit 2. Proceed on Route 322 West across the Commodore Barry Bridge. Coming off the bridge, follow signs for I-95 North and Philadelphia. Take I-95 North to Exit 6 (Routes 320 and 352). At first traffic light, turn left onto Edgmont Avenue and go over the bridge. Bear right onto Providence Avenue at the fork on other side of bridge.  

Go to first traffic light and turn right onto E 14th St. into the main entrance of the university. 

From Philadelphia and Philadelphia Airport 

Take I-95 South to Exit 6. Bear right at the off ramp. Turn right onto Walnut Street, and right again onto E 14th St.  

From Western & Northern Pennsylvania 

Follow the Pennsylvania Turnpike to Exit 333, I-476. Take I-476 South to Exit 1, MacDade Blvd. exit. Keep right to take the MacDade Blvd. West ramp. Merge onto MacDade Blvd., which becomes E 22nd St. Turn left onto Providence Ave/PA-320.  

Turn left onto E 14th St.  

From Delaware, Maryland & Washington, D.C.  

Take I-95 North to Exit 6 (Routes 320 and 352). At first traffic light, turn left onto Edgmont Avenue and go over the bridge. Bear right onto Providence Avenue at the fork on other side of bridge. 

Go to first traffic light and turn right onto E 14th St. into the main entrance of the university. 

From Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 

Follow I-76 East (exiting the Pennsylvania Turnpike at Valley Forge) to Exit 331A (I-476 South). Take I-476 South to Exit 1, MacDade Blvd. Turn right onto MacDade Blvd., which becomes E 22nd St. Turn left onto Providence Ave/PA 320. 

Turn left onto E 14th St. 

From Southern New Jersey 

Take the Atlantic City Expressway to Rt. 42 North. Route 42 North becomes I-76 West. Follow I-76 West across the Walt Whitman Bridge into Pennsylvania. After the bridge, follow signs for I-95 South. Merge onto I-476 N via EXIT 7 toward Plymouth Meeting.  

Take EXIT 1, MacDade Blvd. Keep right to take the MacDade Blvd. West ramp. Merge onto MacDade Blvd., which becomes E 22nd St.  

Turn left onto Providence Ave/PA-320.  

Turn left onto E 14th St. 

From the Swarthmore Train Station

Go west on North Chester Rd.  At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit onto South Chester Rd (PA 320). Turn slightly left onto S Providence Road (PA 320). Turn left onto E 14th St. Turn left onto University Place. 

General Parking 

Guests are welcome to park in any unreserved lot on campus. All on-campus parking is complimentary and lot permits will not be required. View the map below for available locations. 

ADA Parking

Vehicles WITH Disability Parking Placards

All vehicles with an official government issued “Disability Parking Placard” (formerly known as a “Handicap Parking Placard”) will be granted access to the Wolfgram parking lot on 17th Street, which is reserved as our designated ADA lot closest to the ceremony site. Walking distance will vary depending on where in the lot you are parked, but you can anticipate traveling approximately 300-600 feet from lot to ceremony site, which is the equivalent of 1-2 football fields. (Before pulling into a space, cars may drop loved ones off in an area of the lot that is closest to the ceremony site, which will reduce the walking distance to approximately 200-300 feet.) 

Vehicles WITHOUT Disability Parking Placards

Vehicles traveling with individuals who are unable to walk extended distances, but do NOT have an official government issued "Disability Parking Placard" are invited to drop loved ones off in the ACN/Library parking lot on 17th Street, which will reduce the walking distance to the ceremony site to approximately 200-300 feet. After drop-off, drivers will be directed to the closest available parking.   

All guests are asked to come prepared with their own mobility devices that work for their specific needs. Any mobility devices or transportation onsite are reserved for cases of emergencies only. 

Chester Campus Commencement Map
 

Please do not arrive early. Rest assured there will be ample parking and seating, and the transitions between our multiple ceremonies may create complications for early birds! The scheduled arrival windows will give you adequate time to park, check-in and be seated/lined up.

For Guests

Guests will be directed to visit the welcome tent for pre-ceremony music, candid photos, concessions, and keepsakes from the Widener Bookstore, including branded apparel, décor, and more. Approximately 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time, guests will be encouraged to proceed into the ceremony tent to take their seats. 

For Graduates

All graduates will be directed to the welcome tent where they will formally check-in alphabetically by last name. At this time, they will receive a lanyard holding their printed GradPass. Graduates must keep their GradPass with them at all times as it will be scanned as they cross the stage to announce their name and degree(s). After check-in, graduates will be able to mingle with their guests under the welcome tent until they are called to line up for the processional approximately 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.

For Guests and Graduates with Pre-registered ADA Accommodation Requests

Guests/graduates who have pre-registered an ADA accommodation request through the Office of Student Accessibility Services must check-in at the designated ADA tent located on the edge of Memorial Field between Freedom Hall and Academic Center North. Our staff of professionals will review arrangements and, when necessary, escort attendees to their reserved seating. 

If you and/or your guest require an accommodation and did not submit a request during the graduate RSVP process, please contact the Office of Student Accessibility Services immediately at disabilities@widener.edu or 610-499-1266. We will make every attempt to meet the needs of late requests as space, time, and availability allow.

Guests will be invited to take their seats approximately 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. At the same time, graduates will be asked to line up around the back and side of Alumni Auditorium.  

All ceremonies will start PROMPTLY at their scheduled times with graduates processing* through the Bown Garden, under the dome, through the rear of the ceremony tent, and up the center aisle to the front rows. The faculty and platform party will follow to the stage. 

After brief remarks from campus leaders, graduates will cross the stage with their GradPass in hand to hear their name and degree(s) announced; doctoral candidates from the School of Nursing and College of Health and Human Services will also bring their hood to the stage to be formally hooded. (Note – Doctoral candidates from Delaware Law School will be hooded at an event on the Delaware campus the evening before commencement.) Before returning to their seat, an individual professional photo will be taken of each graduate while holding their symbolic Widener-branded diploma cover. 

Upon conclusion of the ceremony, the faculty and platform party will formally recess followed by a graduate recessional. Upon conclusion of their exit, guests will be invited to reunite with their graduates on the lawn areas adjacent to the tent. 

Ceremony run times will average 60-90 minutes depending on the number of graduates per college/school. We ask ALL graduates and their guests to remain seated until the ceremony concludes. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

*Weather permitting. In the event of inclement weather, graduates will be directed to their seats from the welcome tent.

Restrooms

Restroom facilities will be open in ACN, Freedom Hall, Alumni Auditorium, and Founders Hall. 

• Accessible restrooms are available on the 1st floor of each building listed above.
• All-gender restrooms are available on the 1st floor of ACN, Alumni Auditorium, and Founders Hall. 

What to Wear

• Graduate Attire – Don’t forget to purchase your regalia!
• Guest Attire – While there is no official dress code, we recommend smart casual.  
• Footwear – Comfortable and weather appropriate footwear is HIGHLY recommended! The ceremonies are outdoors on a grassy field. Limited solid walkways will be installed to help graduates process and guests reach their seats. Please note that the seating is on grass and there is a small step down from the solid walkway. There will be extensive standing and walking for graduates and guests on a surface that is prone to puddling during and after rainfall. 

Indoor Viewing

If you would prefer to watch the ceremony from a climate-controlled environment, the ceremony livestream will be available for viewing in Alumni Auditorium. (Pro tip – access the ceremony livestream at widener.edu/watchcommencement. The livestream will go live shortly before each ceremony and is viewable from anywhere around the world! Be sure to share with your family and friends who can’t join in person!)

Gifts

The Widener Bookstore will be onsite under the welcome tent offering a variety of Widener-branded keepsakes, apparel, and more!

Concessions

Light refreshments will be available for purchase from Savor the Moment, a concession-style food truck featuring a variety of soft drinks, chips, cookies, candies, and water ice.  Savor the Moment will be located under the welcome tent on Memorial Field and gladly accepts cash, credit cards, Cash App, and Apple Pay. 

Looking for something simpler?  Visit our Info Tents, located near both Freedom Hall and Alumni Auditorium, for complimentary water stations. 

Animals

For the safety and comfort of all our attendees, pets and emotional support animals are not permitted to attend commencement ceremonies. Trained service animals are welcome, which are defined by the ADA as a dog or mini-horse that is specifically trained to perform a task for a person with a disability. We truly appreciate your understanding and cooperation!

ADA Accommodations

If you and/or your guest require an accommodation and did not submit a request during the graduate RSVP process, please contact the Office of Student Accessibility Services immediately at disabilities@widener.edu or 610-499-1266. We will make every attempt to meet the needs of late requests as space, time, and availability allow.

Lastly, graduates and guests need to prepare accordingly to bring their own mobility devices that work for their specific needs. Any mobility devices or transportation onsite are reserved for cases of emergencies only. 

Weather

In most cases, ceremonies will take place rain or shine; graduates and guests are asked to dress accordingly. In the event of severe inclement weather that could impact the safety of all involved, plans will be adjusted and graduates will be notified via text and email. 

We have reserved time on Friday, May 16 for make-up options, but depending on the severity/duration of the situation, ceremonies could be canceled without the ability to reschedule