Information regarding formal photographs and printed announcements, suitable for mailing to your family and friends, is available from the URI Bookstore (401-874-2722).

Audience members may take photographs during the ceremony only while seated and are not permitted near the graduate-seating or platform areas at any time.

For your convenience, we have made arrangements with Chappell Studios to record the moment you are awarded your degree. If you are interested, a passport-sized proof will be sent directly to your home. There is no obligation to purchase. To make arrangements, call 1-800-424-3686 or log on to www.chappell.com.

Personalized announcements can be ordered directly from Jostens by calling 1-800-854-7464 or online at www.shop.jostens.com. Purchase is voluntary and all orders are shipped directly to your home. The URI Bookstore will have a limited supply of generic announcements for sale.

Yearbooks

The Renaissance will be on sale during Commencement in the booth across from Memorial Union. To order the Renaissance now through Sunday, May 18, call the Yearbook Office at 401-874-5897 or the Office of Student Involvement and Experiential Learning at 401-874-2726. Or go to uri.edu/yearbook/buy to print out the form you'll need to purchase by mail or in person. Books will be shipped in late Fall 2008 to the permanent address listed on the order form received from the Yearbook Office.

Disability Assistance

If you have a disability and need an accomodation, please call 401-874-2098 at least three business days before Commencement. For TTY assistance, please call the Rhode Island Relay Service at 1-800-745-5555.

• FM listening stations, wheelchairs, and transportation are available at Disability Services Stations located at the north entrance to the Ryan Center on Saturday and in front of Bliss Hall on Sunday. Maps in the Commencement Program will indicate the locations of the Services Stations, as well as disability seating sections.
• Sign language interpreters for both the Main and Graduate Commencement ceremonies will be provided. Requests for additional sign language interpreters must be made no later than April 30.
• Wheelchair reservations are required. Please note that reservations can be held only until noon on Saturday (Graduate Ceremony) and until 11:30a.m. on Sunday (Main Ceremony). After these times, wheelchairs will be available on a first-come, first-served basis to individuals without reservations.
• Pets: Only certified service animals are permitted on campus during commencement exercises. For the safety of all guests, please leave pets at home.
• If you have a physical or medical liability, you can reserve a priority parking permit by calling Parking Services at 401-874-5258 at least one week before commencement.

Parking and Information Services

Upon your arrival, University police and security officers will direct you to designated parking lots within walking distance of the commencement ceremonies. For additional information, visit the Parking Services web site at uri.edu/parking.

–Graduate Commencement (Saturday): Attendees may park on the North and South sides of the Ryan Center in lots 20 and 35.

–Main Commencement (Sunday): Enter the campus via Upper College Road or Old North Road and follow directions of University Police and security officers. The RIPTA campus transit service will be operating throughout the campus.

Tickets and Rain Plan

Tickets are not required for either Commencement ceremony, and there are no guest limits. Guests will be seated on a first-come, first-served basis.

• HOWEVER, in the event of rain, the Main Commencement Ceremony will be held at the Ryan Center. Bachelor's degree recipients will be allowed two guest tickets to the Ryan Center. Tickets are required and will be given to graduates upon their purchase of academic regalia at the University Bookstore in the Memorial Union. Additional guests should go directly to the indoor rain sites listed for each of the Colleges. The Main Commencement Ceremony will be simulcast to the indoor college rain sites.
  

If the rain plan is implemented, the decision will be made in the early morning, and information will be available on the Web site (uri.edu) and automated phone lines (401-874-7669, 401-874-1000, 401-874-NEWS). Signs will be posted at all campus entrances.