Special Needs

The University of New Mexico wants to ensure that all guests and graduates safely share in the experience of the Commencement ceremony and have developed the following accommodations.

All seating at Tingley Coliseum is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Guests

Graduate should request special assistance for their guests when he/she signs up to participate in the commencement ceremony.  If required, we will mail instructions to the graduate. 

The stage will be equipped with a large video screen.  Signed language interpreters will be present, and they can be viewed on the video screen. 

Limited seating for those in wheelchairs is located at the lowest level of the stands.  To access this seating, an elevator at the northwest area of the concourse can be used.  There is no seating for an accompanying person from the party in the wheelchair cutouts.  Anyone accompanying a person who sits in the cutout in their wheelchair must sit behind that person in the stands. 

There will be limited additional seating for those in wheelchairs on the floor of Tingley Coliseum.  To access this seating, enter the door designated on the outside of Tingley to the southwest for “Special Needs.”  Ushers will be available to show you to your seats.  An area will be designated on the south end of the Coliseum for this purpose.  Only one person in the party may sit with the person in this designated area.    

Guests with the inability to negotiate stairs should take the elevator at the northwest area of the concourse and sit in the first row in the stands.  Additional seating for these guests will be on the floor of Tingley Coliseum.  To access this seating, enter the door designated on the outside of Tingley to the southwest for “Special Needs.”  Ushers will be available to show you to your seats.  Only one person in the party may sit with the person in this designated area.

Graduates

Graduates with special needs should request special assistance while signing up on our web site to participate in the commencement ceremony. They will be contacted a few weeks prior to the ceremony to make appropriate accommodations.

Graduates with special needs may be pre-seated prior to the ceremony.  Graduates will receive instructions in the mail that will show you where you will sit, how you will approach the stage, and will include assistance as requested to maneuver the ramp up to the stage to receive congratulations and return to your seat.