Information for Families and Guests

All commencement ceremonies are held in the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center.  The address is 500 South Washington Street, Warrensburg, MO 64093. Click  here for campus locations, then choose the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center from the list of Entertainment locations, then click the icon for driving directions. 

The following is a list of some Warrensburg and surrounding area accommodations: 

Warrensburg: 

Comfort Inn - Warrensburg Station  609 E. Russell Ave.  660-429-4848 or 800-228-5150	Days Inn  204 Cleveland  660-429-2400 or 800-329-7466
Holiday Inn Express & Suites 1005 Hawthorne Blvd. 660-656-2020 www.ihg.com	Super 8 Motel  439 E. Russell Ave.  660-429-2183 or 800-800-8000
Cena's Nook Bed & Breakfast 110 East Hale Lake Road 660-624-1925 www.cenasnook.com	Warrensburg Fairfield Inn & Suites 355 E. Russell Ave.  660-422-3540 www.marriott.com/DMOFI
Best Western 626 E. Russell Ave.  660-747-3000  www.bestwestern.com

 

  

Knob Noster (10 Miles East of Warrensburg): 

Econo Lodge  2340 W. Irish Ln.  660-563-3000

AirBnb  611 Hillcrest Dr.  Book online

 

  

Sedalia (28 Miles East of Warrensburg):  

Best Western State Fair Inn  3120 S. Limit Ave.  660-826-6100	Budget Host Super 7 Motel  5650 S. Limit Ave.  660-827-0215
Comfort Inn  3600 W. Broadway Blvd.  660-829-5050	Econo Lodge Truman Inn  3501 W. Broadway Blvd.  660-826-8400
Holiday Inn Express  4001 W. Broadway Blvd.  660-826-4000	Super 8 Motel  3402 W. Broadway Blvd.  660-827-5890

 

Ample parking is available near the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center (500 S. Washington Street) at no charge. Disability parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in spots marked on both the east and west sides of the building.  
 
Click here to view parking map.  

Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Tickets are not required.  

The Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center provides easy access for guests with permanent or temporary disabilities. Seating for those guests is located throughout the arena. Guests with special needs are encouraged to arrive early.  

Spaces to accommodate guests in wheelchairs, with one companion, are available in two areas: (1) on the second floor (via the elevator in the east hallway) of the north (home team) stands and (2) the first row of the south (away team) stands via a ramp on the east side of the stands.  

Additional seating for those who are unable to climb stairs, and one companion, are so marked and located in the first few rows of the north (home team) stands. 

An American Sign Language interpreter will be present for the ceremony. Hearing impaired guests are encouraged to sit near the stage in the stands to right of the stage (north/home side). Due to space limitations, we ask that only one other person be seated with the guest in this area. 

Commencement is not a ticketed event, and it is not necessary to purchase tickets in accessible seating areas. 

The Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center  (500 S. Washington Street) will open 1 hour prior to each commencement ceremony and will close approximately 15 minutes after the end of each ceremony.

Ceremony times are typically decided in February for the May ceremonies and in September for the December ceremonies.  The schedule of events for both May and December can be found here.

Guests with temporary or permanent disabilities are encouraged to arrive early for parking and seating accommodations. 

Parking 

Ample parking is available near the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center  (500 S. Washington Street) at no charge. Disability parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis in spots marked on both the east and west sides of the building.  
 
Click here to view parking map.  

Seating 

The Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center (500 S. Washington Street) will open one hour prior to each commencement ceremony. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.  Tickets are not required.   

The Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center  provides easy access for guests with permanent or temporary disabilities. Seating for those guests is located throughout the arena. Guests with special needs are encouraged to arrive early.  

Spaces to accommodate guests in wheelchairs, with one companion, are available in two areas: (1) on the second floor (via the elevator in the east hallway) of the north (home team) stands and (2) the first row of the south (away team) stands via a ramp on the east side of the stands.  

Additional seating for those who are unable to climb stairs, and one companion, are so marked and located in the first few rows of the north (home team) stands. Space to store walkers is available at each end of the stands. 

An American Sign Language interpreter will be present for the ceremony. Hearing impaired guests are encouraged to sit near the stage in the stands to right of the stage (north/home side). Due to space limitations, we ask that only one other person be seated with the guest in this area. 

 

Taking pictures and videotaping are allowed, but tripods and monopods are not permitted. Cameras must be battery-operated. Photographs may only be taken from the stands and guests are asked to not block the aisles or view of other guests. Only press photographers with proper credentials are permitted on the arena floor. 

A professional photographer from GradImages will take 3-4 photographs of each degree candidate as they cross the stage. Students will receive a digital proof of their photos on an order card within 5 to 7 days following the ceremony.  

Students are not obligated to purchase any of these photos. GradImages may be contacted Monday-Friday 8-5 (central time) at 800-261-2576 and at giservice@gradimages.net. Students can register with GradImages to ensure that their graduation proofs can be delivered in a timely manner. Students may also select "Pre-event Registration" to enter their e-mail address and add addresses of family and friends that would like to view the proofs. There is no obligation to order photographs; this is merely a service. 

 

The ceremony will last approximately 60-75 minutes. Before the ceremony please make a plan to meet your graduate outside of the building.  The recessional will lead students outside.  At the end of the ceremony, participants and guests will have 15 minutes to exit the building so that preparations for the next commencement ceremony or event may begin. 

Yes! Broadcasting will begin 30 minutes prior to start of the ceremony and can be found at https://www.ucmo.edu/current-students/office-of-the-registrar-and-student-records/graduation-and-commencement/index.php. It may take several seconds for the video to load and begin playing. 

 

Undergraduate students are seated by college.  Graduate students are seated by college and then by program, and will be seated with their "program hooder".  This is the faculty member who will hood the students during the ceremony.  Students will approach the stage from the right, cross the stage, and come down the left side.  

To be included in the printed commencement program, students had to submit their graduation application and be approved for graduation approximately 10 weeks before the date of the ceremony. The printed Commencement Program is not an official document, nor is it proof of graduation. All students participating in the ceremony are degree candidates and will be evaluated for completing graduation requirements in the weeks following the actual ceremony. 

Students who successfully complete all degree requirements will be emailed confirmation of successful degree completion 2-3 weeks after the ceremony and mailed their diploma in 8-12 weeks after the commencement ceremony.  Students who do not successfully complete all degree requirements will be sent an email outlining their deficiencies.