Student Ceremony Information

Due to the forecast for severe weather, Bowie State University’s Spring 2026 Commencement will move indoors to A.C. Jordan Arena on Friday, May 22 at 9 a.m. We appreciate your flexibility and understanding as we make this change to prioritize safety and ensure the best possible experience for graduates and their guests. Please review the updated information below carefully, as several details have changed.

Senior Portraits  

  • April 11 – 13, 2026
  • April 23 – 30, 2026

Get professional graduation photos. Photo Magic Media provide senior portrait services to Bowie State University students with their signature style.

To order your photos or make an appointment:

855-416-0016
PhotoMagicMedia.com

Commencement Day Photos

Professional photos of graduates with their diplomas will also be available through Photo Magic Media after the ceremony. Please sign up to get copies of your photo.

 

 

Graduate Sendoff  

  • Wednesday, May 20, 2026
  • Noon to 7 p.m.
  • Student Center Patio

Activities may include: 

  • Decorating your mortarboard (cap) 
  • Meeting alumni 
  • Light refreshments 
  • Giveaways and celebration 

Regalia  

All regalia must be purchased in person at the Bowie State University Bookstore.  Please ensure you have your cap, gown, and (if applicable) hood prior to rehearsal. 

Rehearsal and Evening Reception (Mandatory)  

  • Thursday, May 21, 2026
  • 3 p.m.
  • A.C. Jordan Arena

Rehearsal will include a full commencement walkthrough for graduates, platform party, and program flow review.

  • Graduates should bring their cap and hood

Rehearsal will conclude with a reception immediately afterward. All graduates and program participants are invited to attend. 

Commencement Day  

  • Friday, May 22, 2026
  • A.C. Jordan Arena
  • 7 a.m. – Graduates arrive for assembly/check-in (A.C. Jordan Arena)
  • 8:20 a.m. – Processional begins
  • 9 a.m. – Ceremony begins

Arrival Time and Location

Graduates must arrive no later than 7 a.m., wearing regalia, to check in at A.C. Jordan Arena. 

There are no storage areas for belongings, and breakfast will be provided for graduates until 8 a.m.

Tickets

Tickets will be sent to your BSU email and may be used either digitally or in printed form. All guests age 2 and older require a ticket, and no additional tickets are available.

  • 2 guests per graduate will be permitted inside A.C. Jordan Arena.
  • 5 guests per graduate will be permitted in designated viewing locations across campus to watch the ceremony live.

Graduates do not need a ticket for themselves to participate in the ceremony. Duplicating or copying tickets is strictly prohibited; duplicated ticket holders will be denied entry. 

Satellite Viewing Locations

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Center
  • Student Center
  • James E. Proctor Jr. Building

Graduates do not need tickets to participate.

Duplicating or copying tickets is strictly prohibited; duplicated ticket holders will be denied entry.

Honor Cords

Honor cords and name cards will be distributed during the graduate breakfast on Friday, May 22. Pickup time is 7:30 a.m. Photo ID may be required at pickup. Honor cords are for undergraduate students only.

Guests

  • Gates open at 7:30 a.m.
  • General seating will pause at 8:15 a.m. until after the processional

Important Notes

  • Guests are encouraged to arrive early
  • Family and guests of graduates are not allowed in the assembly area
  • Strollers and umbrellas are not permitted in A.C. Jordan Arena

Parking

Graduate Parking Information

Each graduate will receive 3 on-campus parking passes:

  • 2 for guests
  • 1 for the graduate

On-Campus Parking Notes

  • ADA parking is in Lot A and requires a hangtag or permit.
  • Parking is first-come, first-served.

View the campus map online.

Additional Guest Parking

Guests without passes must park at a satellite parking lot. There will be no parking on campus without a parking pass.

Satellite Parking Locations

  • Marc Train Station
  • Jericho Park – 9510 Laurel-Bowie Rd., Bowie, MD 20720
  • Horsepen Park – 8609 Race Track Rd., Bowie, MD 20715
  • Saddlebrook East Community Park – 8311 Race Track Rd., Bowie, MD 20715

Attire and Security

A clear bag policy will be enforced to provide a safer environment for the public and expedite entry into the A.C. Jordan Arena. Graduates are required to wear a cap and gown, and high heels are not recommended due to the stadium’s grass surface..  

Donations 

Make your class gift of $18.65 at bowiestate.edu/give.