Student and guest instructions

2025 First-year Convocation will take place at Popejoy Hall.

Instructions for Students

You will need to report to the Popejoy Hall for your free t-shirt, and then be seated with other first-year students. Please note that first-year students and their families and guests will not be seated together. First-year students will be seated on the main level and guests will be seated in the balcony seating, and overflow into nearby theaters or the Student Union Building.

• 3:00pm UNM t-shirt distribution begins
• 3:00pm First-year student seating in Popejoy Hall begins
  • All students must enter carrying their UNM t-shirt
  • Late arrivals may not receive a t-shirt or be seated with other first-year students
• 3:30pm Pre-convocation program begins with speakers and entertainment from various UNM student organizations
• 3:45pm President will lead students in the Lobo Pledge
  • Students will be instructed to put on t-shirts at this time
• 4:00pm Convocation ceremony begins
• 5:00pm Ceremony ends and reception and classroom tours begin in the Cornell Mall and SUB

Instructions for Families and Guests

Family and guest seating begins at 3:00 pm. Families and guests will be seated separately from the first-year students. Seating for families and guests will seated in the spectator seating with overflow seating in the Student Union Building (SUB).

Parking

Please allow ample time to park and get to Popejoy Hall. Please note that when paid guest parking at the Cornell Parking Structure is full, attendees will be directed to nearby lots, and then to the Yale Parking Structure. You may save yourself time by going directly to the Yale Structure.

Free parking is available at the Yale Parking Structure on the SE corner of Lomas and Yale. Enter directly from east-bound Lomas. There are 850 FREE parking spaces available. Park in a lighted, covered structure and enjoy a short walk across the beautiful campus and Duck Pond to Johnson Center. Free parking is also available in parking lot R on the corner of Central and Girard.

Paid parking is available at the Cornell Parking Structure. Parking is limited and the lot will be closed to general parking once it is full. Guests will be directed to other lots.

Special Accommodations: Limited ADA accessible parking is available at the Cornell/Visitor Parking Structure. You will need to show a state-issued parking placard and also show proof of ownership of that placard.