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MU wants everyone attending its commencement ceremonies to be comfortable. Guests requiring special assistance should contact the coordinators of the buildings in which their ceremonies will be held or see the MU Campus Accessibility Map for accessible routes.

Accessible/handicapped parking - People will need permits to use these spaces, as they do throughout the year. A state-issued handicapped parking permit suffices for parking in designated accessible spaces on campus, except for spaces designated for employees and students only. There are a number of such parking spaces in the Turner parking facility and at Hearnes.

Preferential seating requests - These are generally for people who have difficulty with mobility, sight, or hearing. There are also designated wheelchair seating locations in Jesse Hall, the Hearnes Center and Mizzou Arena.

American Sign Language Interpreters - Columbia Interpreting Services 442-9876 or Advent Enterprises 696-0291 are two sources.

Assistive listening devices - These amplify sound and are installed at Jesse Hall and the Hearnes Center. For Jesse Hall, please contact John Murray at 884-9044. For the Hearnes Center, please contact the Arena Operations Office at 573-884-1212 or, on the day of the event, please visit Room 258 at Hearnes or call 882-6501. These two people will also assist with any other event issues.

Wheelchair loans - We sometimes get requests for loaner chairs, often on behalf of people who don't use wheelchairs on a regular basis but who face difficulty walking from a parking location to a commencement site and back. MU may have a few loaner manual wheelchairs for use by visitors along these lines as needed. The chairs can be obtained through Mr. Murray or Athletic Arena Operations (see item immediately above) shortly before a commencement event and must be returned right after the event. Wheelchairs needed for longer periods of time can be rented from United Seating and Mobility, 443-2212, or other durable medical equipment vendors.

Accessible public restrooms - In Jesse, there are accessible restrooms in the lower level, as well as on the first and second floors. In Hearnes, all the public restrooms are accessible.

Venue contact information:

Jesse Auditorium

The loading zone is adjacent to the north door facing Francis Quadrangle is most convenient for persons with special needs to be dropped off and picked up. See the campus map for details. Wheelchair space is reserved at the front of the auditorium on either side.

For information regarding Jesse Hall, contact (573) 882-7254.

Hearnes Center Arena (and Fieldhouse)

The east entrance (see map for details) is wheelchair accessible and most convenient for persons with special needs to be dropped off and picked up. The majority of the handicapped-designated parking spaces also are located on the east side, with a few spaces available on the west side. Limited handicapped-designated seating is available. The Hearnes Center elevator also is accessible from the east entrance.

For more information regarding the Hearnes Center, contact (573) 882-2056, or visit the Hearnes Center web site.

Memorial Union

The entrance to North Memorial Union, between the Union and Whitten Hall is wheelchair accessible and most convenient for persons with special needs to enter the building. Elevators to higher floors are near this entrance.

For visitors to the South Memorial Union, the entrance between the Union and Gwynn Hall is most convenient for persons with special needs. Elevators to higher floors are near this entrance, as well.

For additional information regarding Memorial Union, which includes the Mark Twain Ballroom and Stotler Lounge, contact (573) 882-7614.

Mizzou Arena

The north side of Mizzou Arena at the pullout on Champions Drive is wheelchair accessible and most convenient for persons with disabilities to be dropped off and picked up.  There are handicapped designated parking spaces located in the parking lots.  Mizzou Arena event staff will be available to direct you to the handicapped-designated seating. 

The Mizzou Arena elevator, to access the lower sections 106-105 and 104, is located on the Southwest corner of the building.