Disability Accessibility
Navigating Liberty’s Campus during Commencement involves considerable walking, often through congested areas. Please also be aware that the Commencement ceremonies require graduates to stand for periods of time and/or use stairs to access the stage where you are recognized. We desire for all graduates to participate in their ceremonies and events. Graduating students that require specific accommodations should email commencement@liberty.edu.
Parking
- Please familiarize yourselves with the Weekend Guide (PDF coming soon) and Liberty University Map
- Thomas Road Baptist Church- Parking lot directly adjacent to the main entrance
- Vines Center and Liberty Arena- The DeMoss Hall parking lot
- Williams Stadium- Speakman parking lot behind the Liberty University Bookstore
- Liberty Multipurpose Center- Tennis lot
- Shuttles will be available near all parking locations throughout campus. See the maps below for the Commencement shuttle routes and for a link of the live status of buses arriving at the shuttle stops.
- Commencement Parking & Transportation
Please note: If you need a handicapped parking permit and do not have one please contact your local DMV and request a temporary pass for the Commencement weekend.
Commencement Main Ceremony parking
For the Main Ceremony on Friday, May 9th, guests should enter campus from the tunnel entrance (3501 Wards Road) off of Wards Road and turn right onto Regents Parkway and follow the road around campus until you get to the stop where you will be asked to show valid ADA credentials to enter the Speakman lot. This lot will be identified by a traffic message board sign. There will be shuttle services from the Speakman parking lot to the front gate of Williams Stadium.
Degree Presentation Ceremonies parking
Guests needing ADA parking are encouraged to use the ADA lot closest to the venue they will attend. Complementary shuttles will be available near all parking locations if additional transport is needed. Shuttle stops will be marked with a banner flag. Guests must present a valid handicapped parking permit to gain access to designated ADA parking lots.
Graduate participation
Main Ceremony
The Main Commencement ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 9th at 7:00 p.m. The gates will open at 3:00 p.m. Graduates need to report to Osbourne Stadium (Liberty’s soccer field) no later than 5:00 p.m. to line up and prepare for the student processional. Graduates with ADA needs can be seated on Liberty’s football field ahead of the graduate processional. Please park in the Williams Stadium Speakman lot (ADA placard required). From here graduates can take an ADA shuttle to Osbourne Stadium. This program will be open captioned.
Degree Presentation Ceremony
Degree presentation ceremonies are held at various venues across campus. These events are where graduates would have their name called as they proceed across the stage. Please review our Degree Presentation Ceremony Schedule to familiarize yourself with your ceremony’s location on campus. Stage access varies depending on the venue. Graduates with accessibility needs are strongly encouraged to email the Commencement Team in advance (Commencement@liberty.edu) to discuss any accommodations needed for participating in a degree presentation ceremony.
Additional information:
For the Main Ceremony, seating for guests who need the services of a sign language interpreter will be available at the bottom of section 109, located to the left of the stage in the stadium bleachers. The program will be open captioned.
For degree presentation ceremonies, sign language interpreters are available upon request. Guests are required to contact the Commencement Team (Commencement@liberty.edu) in advance to arrange this accommodation.
Guests needing the assistance of services dogs are permitted to do so. Service dogs are recognized by their vest/harness and must be on a leash and under control at all times.
The University is committed to providing all graduates and guests with the same access to events and venues during Commencement weekend. However, it is the guest’s responsibility to acquire any additional equipment needed for accessibility purposes (i.e. wheelchairs, motorized chairs, walkers).
Equipment can be rented in advance from the following local companies;
Lincare: (434)-237-3712
Independent Lifestyles: (434)-846-7510
- Live Bus Tracking: Ride Systems Live Tracker
- Campus map link: Liberty University Campus Map
In an effort to further improve the Liberty Commencement experience, the University now livestreams all graduation events online and in real-time. This tends to be a great option for family members who want to stay involved with Commencement weekend celebrations while staying in the comfort of their home or hotel.
Ceremonies will be streamed online at this link; Commencement Livestream. (Graduates need to attend their degree ceremony in-person in order to have their names read).