Commencement

Parking and Transportation Information

Parking & Shuttle - On Campus Ceremonies

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Parking Assignments

Parking assignments for on campus ceremonies, including the University Commencement Ceremony, Patrick Leahy Honors College Ceremony, and Larner College of Medicine Ceremony are designated below. Please view the On Campus Commencement Parking Map (PDF) for reference. Shuttle buses will be available for all on campus ceremonies.  

  • Agriculture and Life Sciences – Zone 2: Lot C (Jeffords, Given, and adjacent Lots) 
  • Arts and Sciences – Zone 3: Lot B (Gutterson Parking Garage and Lot, Harris-Millis, and Marsh-Austin-Tupper Lots) 
  • Education and Social Services – Zone 2: Lot C (Jeffords, Given, and adjacent Lots) 
  • Engineering and Mathematical Sciences – Zone 1: Lot F (DoubleTree Hotel and Catamount East Lot as overflow) 
  • Grossman School of Business – Zone 4: Lot D (UHC Lot) 
  • Larner College of Medicine – Zone 2: Lot C (Jeffords, Given, and adjacent Lots) 
  • Patrick Leahy Honors College - Friday, Jeffords & Given Lots (Zone 2: Lot C); Saturday, please park in the lot designated for your school or college 
  • Nursing and Health Sciences – Zone 2: Lot C (Jeffords, Given, and adjacent Lots)
  • Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources – Zone 3: Lot B (Gutterson Parking Garage and Lot, Harris Millis, and Marsh-Austin-Tupper Lots) 

Accessible Parking is available at the College Street lot, Jeffords lot, Votey lot, and Gutterson Garage.  

Please respect our neighbors. Parking on residential streets is by city-issued permit only. Violators will be subject to the City of Burlington policy of ticketing and towing vehicles parked in these areas.  

We strongly encourage carpooling when possible. Due to the anticipated volume of traffic, expect delays during peak times and pay special attention to the directions of Enforcement Officers, traffic patterns, directional signs, and traffic cones. Please allow for extra time when traveling.

Shuttle Bus Service 

Friday, May 15  

4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. For the Patrick Leahy Honors College Scholars Recognition Ceremony, shuttle bus service will be available between the Jeffords Lot, Davis Center Oval, Morrill Road and Ira Allen Chapel.  

Saturday, May 16  

6:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Shuttle buses serving the University Commencement Ceremony on the University Green will run every 10-15 minutes from designated bus stops at the DoubleTree, Jeffords parking lot, U Heights raceway, Harris-Millis West side on raceway, and Royal Tyler Theatre. Catamount East will be added if overflow parking is necessary. Look for Commencement Shuttle signage at each stop (see the On Campus Commencement Parking Map (PDF) for reference). 

Sunday, May 17

1:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. For the Larner College of Medicine (LCOM) ceremony, shuttle buses will be available to bring graduates and guests to the Ira Allen Chapel, picking up at the Jeffords parking lot shuttle stop. The shuttle will also bring guests to the parking area and the Davis Center for the reception after the ceremony. (see the On Campus Commencement Parking Map (PDF) for reference). 

Parking & Shuttle - The Robert E. Miller Expo Centre at the Champlain Valley Exposition

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The Robert E. Miller Expo Centre at the Champlain Valley Exposition is located at 105 Pearl Street, Essex Junction, VT (6 miles from UVM’s campus). We encourage all attending (graduates and guests) to drive directly to the Champlain Valley Exposition for ceremonies via their personal vehicles. 

Directions to the Champlain Valley Exposition Center 

From points south:

  • Take Interstate 89 north to exit 15 
  • Turn right onto Route 15 East at the bottom of the ramp 
  • Follow that to the Exposition 
  • The Exposition entrance will be approximately three miles on your left 

From points north: 

  • Take Interstate 89 south to exit 16
  • Turn right at the bottom of the ramp onto Main Street towards Winooski/Burlington   
  • Follow Main Street to the rotary and take the third exit out of the rotary onto route 15 east towards Essex 
  • Follow route 15 for approximately three miles 
  • The Exposition entrance will be on your left

Please view the UVM EXPO Commencement Parking Map (PDF) for reference. 

Please note the following important details and tips regarding parking at the Champlain Valley Exposition Center:  

  • All vehicles will enter the Expo through Gate B on Pearl Street (Route 15).  
  • Once you turn into the Champlain Valley Exposition through Gate B, continue driving on Weston Way.  Parking attendants will direct you to designated parking areas on the grounds. 
  • If you have an ADA/Accessible Parking pass, please place your pass on the dashboard of your vehicle and follow all parking attendants’ directions. Please reference the ADA/Accessible parking area on the UVM EXPO Commencement Parking Map (PDF). Upon arrival and after turning into Gate B (Main entrance) off Route 15 (Pearl Street) continue on Weston Way, turning right onto East Infield Road after approximately 1500 feet, where you will be directed into the ADA/Accessible Parking Area after an additional 300 feet.
  • Golf carts and wheelchair transport will be available for attendees who may need additional assistance to get to the building and their seats. 
  • Please allow yourself extra time to travel and for arrival at the Champlain Valley Exposition.  Due to the anticipated volume of traffic, expect delays during peak times and pay special attention to the directions of Enforcement Officers, traffic patterns, directional signs, and traffic cones.  This includes planned travel by bus; traffic will impact everyone, regardless of vehicle.  
  • Doors to the indoor ceremony venues (Expo North and Expo South) will not open until 45 minutes before ceremonies, however the outdoor grounds will be open to attendees two hours before each ceremony.  Please plan ahead. 
  • When departing the Champlain Valley Exposition, all attendees will be directed to depart via Gate E via Weston Way and Gate F via St. James Place.  These exits will take attendees to Route 2A.  Attendees will be directed to take a left at each exit onto 2A. From 2A, attendees will be able to make their way back to Route 15 via Susie Wilson Road, North to US 7, or continue to VT Route 289 to their destination.

For UVM graduates/affiliates or guests who do not have a personal vehicle, there are several alternative modes of transportation to the Champlain Valley Exposition Center, including carpooling, rideshare, Green Mountain Transit bus service, and UVM shuttle service.

UVM Expo Shuttle (Bus Service) 

Please view the On Campus Commencement Parking Map (PDF) for the UVM Expo shuttle bus stops for shuttles traveling to and from the Champlain Valley Exposition on Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17. Expo Shuttle stops are located at the Jeffords parking lot, and U-Heights raceway on campus, and the Champlain Valley Exposition pull-off loop across from McDonald's on Route 15/Pearl Street.  Reference the UVM EXPO Commencement Parking Map (PDF) for the UVM Expo shuttle bus stop at the Champlain Valley Exposition.  UVM Expo Shuttle bus service is intended only for UVM graduates/affiliates and their guests or UVM employees who cannot travel to the Champlain Valley Exposition via a personal vehicle. 

Shuttle Schedule: 

Saturday May 16, 2026

10:00a.m. - 8:30p.m. UVM Expo Shuttle buses will run approximately every 25 minutes looping from campus to the Champlain Valley Exposition. Real-time tracking is available via the CATS bus app under the Commencement Expo route.

Sunday, May 17, 2026 

7:00a.m. - 8:45 p.m. UVM Expo Shuttle buses will run approximately every 25 minutes looping from campus to the Champlain Valley Exposition.  Real-time tracking is available via the CATS bus app under the Commencement Expo route.

Please allow yourself extra time to travel and for arrival at the Champlain Valley Exposition.  Due to the anticipated volume of traffic, expect delays during peak times. 

Green Mountain Transit (Bus Service) - Green Mountain Transit – Getting you where you need to go! (https://ridegmt.com/) 

The #2 GMT Bus stops directly across from the Champlain Valley Exposition. Please visit #2 Essex for the full schedule.  Note: from downtown the bus picks up at the Downtown Transit Center and at the UVM Medical Center. 

All UVM students, faculty and staff can ride the GMT bus for free with the Ride Ready App. 

Ride Ready instructions for students.

Ride Ready instructions for employees.

Note: The GMT bus stop is across the street from the Champlain Valley Expo. Please walk to the flagger on Route 15 across from the Expo bus stop who can assist you in crossing the street. 

Need some guidance? Simplify Your Trip with Transit, real-time urban travel companion. Transit will help you navigate GMT’s bus system with accurate real-time predictions, simple trip planning, step-by-step navigation, service disruption notifications, and departure and stop reminders. 

Street Closings

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University Place will be closed from Colchester Avenue to Main Street starting on Thursday, May 14, 7:00 a.m. through Sunday, May 17, 7:00 p.m. 

South Prospect Street will be closed from College Street to the University Health Center entrance starting at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 14 until Saturday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m.  We will make every effort to re-open the street as quickly as possible on Saturday, May 16. 

In addition, on Saturday, May 16, from 6:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., South Prospect Street will be closed from Colchester Avenue to Main Street, and College Street will be closed from South Prospect Street to South Williams Street from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The northernmost west bound lane on Main Street from University Heights Road to South Prospect Street will also be closed from 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.

ADA Accommodations and Accessible Parking Requests

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For details, please visit the 2026 ADA Accommodations & Accessible Parking Requests Page.

We make every effort to fulfill all requests. To help us plan and prepare please submit your requests as soon as possible, and no later than Thursday, May 14, 2026. 

Travel Resources

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Please plan ahead. Below are some excellent travel resources for families and guests travelling from near and far: