SALISBURY, MD — Salisbury University’s Spring Commencement celebrations will bring substantial traffic challenges to the area this Wednesday and Thursday, May 20-21, as thousands of graduates and family members converge on campus.
Graduate students will receive their diplomas Wednesday evening at 6 p.m. during ceremonies held at the Maggs Physical Activities Center. University officials have designated parking lots A and B (near Chesapeake Hall and the Patricia R. Guerrieri Academic Commons) exclusively for graduating students and their families. Lot C by Perdue Hall will serve as handicapped-accessible parking, available only to those who received special passes from the university ahead of time.
Additional parking for the graduate ceremony will be provided at Lot D near the Guerrieri University Center, Lot E at the Commons, and the Wayne Street Garage. Motorists should expect minor traffic backups on Route 13 near the campus starting around 4 p.m. as attendees begin arriving.
Thursday’s undergraduate ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at Sea Gull Stadium and is expected to create more significant traffic problems. To accommodate event setup and breakdown, Wayne Street between Bateman and Power streets will remain closed from 6 p.m. Sunday, May 17, through 6 p.m. Thursday, May 21.
Thursday morning will bring the heaviest traffic impacts, with congestion anticipated from 6-9 a.m. and again from noon-2 p.m. on all campus approach routes, including Route 13, Milford Street, Beaglin Park Drive and College Avenue. University officials will completely shut down Avery, Bateman, Wayne, and Power streets to regular traffic from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., allowing only commencement-related vehicles.
Families driving via Bateman Street from Route 13 will be guided to the Wayne Street Garage for parking. Those coming from South Division Street should plan to use the Avery Street Parking Lot.
Special accommodations include a drop-off zone on Power Street south of the stadium for guests with mobility challenges. Accessible parking with advance university permits will be situated at the East Campus Complex on Power Street.
When primary parking areas reach capacity, overflow spaces will open in Parking Lots A, B, and D near the Guerrieri Student Union. Families planning to watch the ceremony via livestream in viewing areas at the Guerrieri Academic Commons and Maggs Physical Activities Center should also utilize these overflow lots.
Regular shuttle service will operate throughout the undergraduate ceremony, picking up passengers from the Lot A bus stop, Lot D at the Guerrieri Student Union entrance, Lot E at the Commons, and Lot H at the College Avenue solar facility.
University officials stress that street parking near campus and athletic facilities is prohibited. Unauthorized parking on private property, including local businesses and schools, could result in tickets or vehicle towing. Officials encourage carpooling when possible to reduce traffic volume.
Employee parking arrangements for May 21 will be posted on the university’s website. Detailed parking maps for both ceremonies can be found at https://www.salisbury.edu/administration/academic-affairs/commencement/guest-information.aspx#maps.
Complete information about Spring Commencement is available at www.salisbury.edu/administration/academic-affairs/commencement.
