Commencement

The Commencement ceremony will take place in person on Monday, May 20, at the Wintrust Arena, located at 200 East Cermak Road. The ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. and doors for guests and graduating students will open at 12:30 p.m. All students must arrive by 1:15 p.m. to participate in the ceremony. We expect the ceremony to end at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Graduates will receive five guest tickets, plus their own individual ticket. No one will be allowed to enter the Wintrust Arena without a ticket. At the time graduates pick up their tickets, they may request additional tickets, and the request will be granted if space is available.

Tickets will be available during the weekday Tuesday, April 9, through Wednesday, May 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the LeRoy Neiman Center Desk, 37 South Wabash Avenue, second floor. An ARTICard is required to pick up Commencement tickets.

SAIC does not require a cap and gown for the ceremony. This is a celebratory event where graduates are invited to dress as they feel appropriate. Should you wish to wear a cap and gown, you may order one by visiting herff.ly/saic. Orders are due by April 1. Your regalia will be delivered to you directly.

SAIC is partnering with Herff Jones to provide graduates with an opportunity to purchase graduation announcements, diploma frames, and caps and gowns for the ceremony. Visit herff.ly/saic for more information.

SAIC has contracted with Grad Images to take professional photos of graduates as they walk across the stage. A variety of photo packages will be available for purchase, and proofs will be emailed to the student’s SAIC email address within one week of the ceremony. Learn more about the options available for pictures at gradimages.com.

Please plan ahead for hotel accommodations. While there are many hotel options in the area, SAIC has compiled a few convenient options here.

If you are unable to pick up your tickets from Campus Life, you can email graduation@saic.edu to set aside tickets for will call, which can be picked up the day of the ceremony on Monday, May 20. Any person with a disability who would like to request an accommodation should contact graduation@saic.edu as soon as possible to allow adequate time to make proper arrangements. 

Guests will enter through the main entrance to the arena, on the corner of Cermak Road and Indiana Avenue. Staff will be available to direct you. Guests with mobility impairments will be assisted to the appropriate seating accommodation. 

Students will enter at the north end of the arena at the corner of Indiana Avenue and 21st Street. Students will receive their seating assignment and be assisted to their assigned seats. Students should arrive no later than 1:15 p.m. For directions on how to get to Wintrust Arena, please click here. 

A livestream of the ceremony will be available for family and friends not able to attend. The livestream will begin around 2:00 p.m. CST on Monday, May 20.

For questions or concerns about your degree requirements or completing your degree, please contact an academic advisor (for undergraduates) or your department (for graduates and post-bacc) as soon as possible. Students may also review their unofficial transcript by visiting saic.edu/students and click “Self Service” under “Quicklinks.” Click “My Academics,” then “View My Advisement Report,” then select “Unofficial Transcript – Deg Aud.”

If you are scheduled to complete your degree requirements by spring 2024 or are within six credits of completing your requirements, please click here and then click “Academic Records” to find “Apply to Graduate.” Please complete this application by March 15. Note: December graduates have already received the application via email.

Only students who have completed their graduation application may pick up tickets. Tickets are available during the weekday beginning on Tuesday, April 9, through Wednesday, May 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Students may pick up tickets from the LeRoy Neiman Center desk, 37 South Wabash Avenue, second floor. 

SAIC does not require a cap and gown for the ceremony. This is a celebratory event where graduates are invited to dress as they feel appropriate. Should you wish to wear a cap and gown, you may order one by visiting herff.ly/saic. Orders are due by April 1. Your regalia will be delivered directly to you.

Outstanding holds and balances (e.g., tuition balance, library and media center fines) must be cleared before you receive your diploma. In addition, if you have borrowed a Federal Direct Stafford or Graduate PLUS loan, you must complete online exit counseling at StudentLoans.gov. If you have borrowed a Federal Perkins loan, you must also complete separate online exit counseling at mycampusloan.com. Check your financial status in SAIC Self-Service.

Public Transportation

The CTA Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station is located at Cermak Road and State Street, two and a half blocks (0.15 miles) west of the Wintrust Arena. The CTA Cermak-Chinatown Red Line Station is located four blocks west (0.5 miles) of the Wintrust Arena and two blocks west of the Cermak-McCormick Place Green Line Station.

Parking

Wintrust Arena has ample parking for the venue. Lot A is the closest to the venue and has access to the pedestrian bridges to the arena. For a GPS location to Lot A, use 2301 South Prairie Avenue, Chicago, IL 60616 as your destination. For more parking options, visit wintrustarena.com/plan-your-visit/parking.

Important Restrictions for Wintrust Arena

The arena strongly discourages bags or purses of any kind. Exceptions will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at the entrance. Please click here to review the policy. Any bag brought to the arena will be subject to a search. In addition, all guests and students will go through a metal detector as they enter the building.   
 

A livestream of the ceremony will be available for family and friends not able to attend. The livestream will begin around 2:00 p.m. CST on Monday, May 20.

SAIC does not require a cap and gown for the ceremony. This is a celebratory event where graduates are invited to dress as they feel appropriate. Should you wish to wear a cap and gown, you may order one by visiting herff.ly/saic. Orders are due by April 1. Your regalia will be delivered directly to you.

SAIC has contracted with Grad Images to take professional photos of graduates as they walk across the stage. A variety of photo packages will be available for purchase, and proofs will be emailed to the student's SAIC email address within one week of the ceremony. Learn more about the options available for pictures at gradimages.com.

Please plan ahead for hotel accommodations. While there are many hotel options in the area, SAIC has compiled a few convenient options here.

If you are unable to pick up your tickets from Campus Life, you can email graduation@saic.edu to set aside tickets for will call which can be picked up the day of the ceremony on Monday, May 20. Any person with a disability who would like to request an accommodation should contact graduation@saic.edu as soon as possible to allow adequate time to make proper arrangements. 

SAIC Campus Map [PDF] 
Parking and Travel 
Career and Professional Experience (CAPX) 
Alumni Association 
Registration and Records 
Academic Advising 
Financial Aid and Tuition and Fees (Student Financial Services) 
Herff Jones – Commencement Regalia