What do marshals do?

There are two basic groups of marshals.

• Commencement marshals are generally involved in directing the movement of the graduates during the opening procession, when they all enter the stadium and take their seats (this process takes about 40 minutes), and when the graduates all walk to the stage to receive a diploma cover with messages from the President and Alumni Association.  All the graduates walk – it takes about 90 minutes.  Other marshals help out on stage, directing the members of the stage party to their seats during the procession and helping out with the distribution of diploma covers during the walk.  There are about 80 Commencement marshals in total and those positions are fairly active.  You’re on your feet when the students are moving.
• The College Marshals, lead the lines of bachelor’s degree candidates into the stadium during the opening  procession and then go to their stage seats – with no other duties.

Marshal rehearsal is always the Thursday before Commencement, at the Touchdown Terrace at Husky Stadium.  It’s not mandatory (we understand faculty have many obligations around this time) but can be quite helpful.  You can meet the other marshals, get a general idea of what happens at Commencement, and go out to the field (the stage is set up by that time) to better understand the instructions for your position.  If you can’t make the rehearsal we can go over whatever position you are assigned to on the morning of the ceremony.

There is a marshal brunch on the morning of Commencement Day, from 11:00 A.M. – 12:30 p.m.  College marshals are asked to be in position in the graduate lineup area (the Outdoor Practice Facility just east of the stadium) by 12:30 p.m.  Commencement marshals need to be in their starting positions by 1:00 p.m.

The opening procession starts at 1:30 p.m. and the ceremony runs to about 4:30 p.m.  Around 6,000 – 7,000 graduates and 40,000 family members and friends attend – lot of auto and people traffic before and after the ceremony, so it’s a full-day commitment.

To participate, faculty and staff just fill out our Commencement registration/order form at https://www.ubookstore.com/regalia.  They can order academic regalia (our office covers the regalia rental cost for all faculty and staff who participate) and request a parking permit.  After a marshal signs up,  we assign them a marshal position and send online instructions for their position.  Regalia orders can be picked up at the University Book Store on the Ave, starting the day after Memorial Day.