Guidance for Black Graduation STOLERS:
We look forward to your participation in this memorable moment in graduates’ lives! Here are some important notes to keep in mind.
- Each stoler must have a ticket to enter. Your graduate will get this to you. No tickets will be held for people at the check-in table. Your ticket will be collected by staff at the door. There will be no reentry if you leave the building.
- Stolers should arrive no later than 3PM at Woolsey Hall (500 College Street in New Haven). Doors will open at 3:05PM.
- There will be a separate line for stolers; other guests will not be able to enter with you, unless you are attending alone with a small child. Look for the sign that says “Stoler Line”, or ask the student workers who will be wearing silver badges.
- Stolers should sit on the first floor of the hall and near the aisles so that you’re able to move quickly to the stage area when it is time. Stolers will not have reserved seating, which is why we have a separate line for you to enter quickly when doors open.
- Stolers should not try to hold seats for other guests. We appreciate your understanding.
- There is no air conditioning in Woolsey Hall. There will be over 1,200 guests in the building, so it will be warm. Please dress accordingly. We will provide paper fans upon entry to anyone who wants one.
- No food is permitted inside Woolsey Hall. Water bottles with a top or cover are fine.
- Absolutely no noisemakers are permitted (bull-horns, sirens, cow-bells, tambourines, etc.)
- No balloons are permitted at the ceremony or the reception. You will be asked to return them to your vehicle or deflate them, and risk losing your place in line. Staff will not hold/store balloons.
Guidance for ALL Black Graduation GUESTS:
We look forward to welcoming you at this memorable event! Here are some important notes to keep in mind.
- Doors will open at 3:05PM at Woolsey Hall (500 College Street in New Haven). In previous years, people have started lining up as early as 1:30PM.
- Stolers will be allowed to enter first so they are seated in an area that allows them to get to the stage quickly when it is their time. Non-stolers may not enter with stolers, and stolers may not save seats for others. We appreciate your understanding.
- There is no air conditioning in Woolsey Hall. There will be hundreds of guests in the building, so it will be warm. Please dress accordingly. We will provide paper fans upon entry to anyone who wants one.
- No food is permitted inside Woolsey Hall. Water bottles with a top are fine.
- Absolutely no noisemakers are permitted (bull-horns, sirens, cow-bells, tambourines, etc.)
- No balloons are permitted at the ceremony or the reception. You will be asked to return them to your vehicle or deflate them, and risk losing your place in line. Staff will not hold/store balloons.
- The event will be on this website for anyone who would like to watch virtually.
Yale Black Graduates' Celebration 