Commencement
Mitchell Hamline holds one ceremony that celebrates all graduates at the end of each academic year. The ceremony will be held at 2 pm CST on Saturday, May 30, 2026 at the Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium in downtown Saint Paul, Minnesota.
Additional details for the 2026 ceremony will be available soon. If you are intending to participate in the 2026 ceremony, please contact [email protected] with questions.
The Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium
Who was Roy Wilkins?
We are glad to host commencement in a venue named after a civil rights activist and Saint Paul local, Mr. Roy Wilkins, and invite you to go here to learn more about his life and legacy.
Accessibility / ADA Services
Guests requiring special accommodations can contact the Guest Services Department at [email protected] or 651-726-8200 prior to the event to make any needed arrangements.
There are ADA accessible parking spaces in the RiverCentre Parking Ramp which is located across the street from Saint Paul RiverCentre at 150 W. Kellogg Boulevard. The parking ramp elevators on the west end of the ramp provide skyway access to Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
The balcony seating in Roy Wilkins Auditorium is not accessible by elevator. Raised ADA floor seating is designated for all Roy Wilkins Auditorium events.
Visit the Accessibility/ADA Services page for more information on accessible services at Saint Paul RiverCentre and Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
Drop off/Pick up
The recommended drop-off and pick-up location is the Rice Park entrance which is located at the intersection of Washington Street and 4th Street in downtown Saint Paul (near Rice Park).
Drop-off and pick-up at the curb cut-out in front of Saint Paul RiverCentre, located at 175 W. Kellogg Boulevard, is also permitted.
Lost and Found
During events, lost and found items are turned in at the Guest Services desk, located in the lobby of Roy Wilkins Auditorium.
Items not retrieved during an event are brought to the Guest Experience Team within our facility.
To report a lost item after an event, please fill out the lost and found form. In the “Item Description” section, please include as much information about the item as possible, such as color and physical description. If an item is turned in that matches your item, you will be contacted to verify details of the item.
Unclaimed items will be discarded/donated 7 days after the date the item is turned in.
For more information, please call 651-726-8200
Parking
Saint Paul features approximately 13,000 parking spots within three blocks of the Roy Wilkins Auditorium and Saint Paul RiverCentre.
The closest parking to Roy Wilkins Auditorium is the RiverCentre Parking Ramp. which is located at 150 W. Kellogg Boulevard. Parking rates vary depending on the event.
Ride Share Services
Ride Share services are encouraged to drop off and pick up at the main entrance: 175 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55102. There is not a designated ride share stand unless coordinated directly by an event promoter.
Smoking/Vaping
Roy Wilkins Auditorium is a smoke-free facility. Smoking, including e-cigarettes, anywhere in the building is strictly prohibited.
Taxis
Taxis are encouraged to drop off and pick up at the main entrance: 175 West Kellogg Boulevard, Saint Paul, MN 55102.
Wheelchair Escorts
Wheelchairs may be checked out from the box office or at the Guest Services desk, located in the lobby of Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Wheelchair availability is on a first come, first serve basis.
Wi-Fi (Wireless Internet)
Roy Wilkins Auditorium and Saint Paul RiverCentre have free, venue-wide Wi-Fi available for all events. Inside the venues, there are more than 100 Wi-Fi access points covering all levels. Guests can easily connect to the Wi-Fi network by selecting “RC_FreeWiFi” from among the connection options appearing on their device
Mitchell Hamline Backgrounds
Here are some virtual backgrounds you can use to Photoshop graduation photos if you were unable to come to campus to take photos. We invite you to use #MitchellHamline when posting these on your social media pages!
