Volunteers

Share the joy of our graduates. Help make it a day to remember.

Why Volunteer?

Commencement is one of the happiest days of the year on our campus and is at the core of what we do as a university community. Volunteers play a crucial role in the overall success of Commencement exercises.

Current and retired staff, faculty (not participating in the procession or stage party), and alumni have the opportunity to lend their skills and talents to achieve a smooth and spectacular event while delivering the best possible guest experience.

There are many benefits to volunteering on our students' special day:

  • meeting new people, seeing old friends, and networking with others
  • building relationships across the university community
  • sharing your TU pride with guests, degree candidates and families
  • having the opportunity to publicly demonstrate your commitment to the university's missions and values
  • joining other volunteers and Commencement staff at a special volunteer appreciation celebration 

tiger volunteers

Call for Volunteers

Online registration will open soon for Winter Commencement 2024. Positions are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

What Roles Exist?

Volunteers engage directly with visiting guests by providing directions, guidance and a celebratory atmosphere throughout campus. Each volunteer role is vital to ensuring a positive experience for many families who are visiting Towson University for the first time during this celebration.

Volunteer assignments are claimed on a first-come first-served basis when signing up. Descriptions are provided below.

Volunteers are needed at each ceremony to assist guests along the concourse offering directions and controlling the crowd flow. Volunteers will also assist with seating in the lower sections of the TU Arena. Volunteers will help find open seating and field general inquiries. Volunteers may be asked to assist guests with mobility impairments in the accessible seating area, to assist with both steps and seating, and should be comfortable with physically assisting a guest and supporting additional weight and with going up and down stairs in the lower bowl of the TU Arena to ask guests to fill in open seats.
Volunteers are needed at each ceremony to greet guests and distribute programs at the TU Arena east and west entrances. Volunteers may need to lift boxes of 15-20 pounds.
Volunteers are needed to direct guests and graduates regarding how and where to enter.  Outdoor Directional Assistants will be outdoors at the Towson Center shuttle stop, the Towson Center/Arena courtyard, and/or along the Arena walkway. 
Volunteers are needed to transfer guests needing mobility assistance from Towson Center to the TU Arena using wheelchairs. This assignment will take place indoors and runs through the entire ceremony.  
Assist with directing parkers to assigned areas and event shuttles and conduct lot counts. 
Recessional Assistants will guide graduates along the proper routes while exiting from the arena.
Robing and Processional Assistants will assist students with robing, lining up for the processional, and monitoring the processional route. Robing and Processional Assistants will also be asked to report student behavioral concerns to the appropriate staff, assist candidates in safe travel from Towson Center to TU Arena, and assist candidates with staying in designated lines.
Assist passengers load and unload from shuttles safely.

Visit our Ceremony Day page to find volunteer check-in information, logistics and resources.

More about Ceremony Day

Questions?

Please email for additional information about becoming an employee or alumni volunteer.