There is no bigger day of the year for us than commencement. After four years of hard work, we celebrate ICO’s newest doctors of optometry.
Please join us as we celebrate the Class of 2024 at ICO’s 181st Commencement. Our students will enter the profession as doctors, surrounded by the support of loved ones, friends, and the entire ICO family.
This year’s ICO Commencement will again be held at Chicago’s iconic Symphony Center. Bookmark this page and check back frequently for updated information.
Where:
Symphony Center
220 S. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60604
When:
Saturday, May 18, 2024, 10 a.m.
Guests with tickets may enter Symphony Center at approximately 9:00 a.m. on a first come basis. (Any child occupying a seat will need a ticket.) At approximately 9:45 a.m., guests without tickets will be allowed seating as it is available.
For your planning purposes, the Ceremony lasts approximately 90 minutes. Please note that the Symphony Center does not allow balloons and loud noise makers at their venue.
Public Transportation
Symphony Center is conveniently located near several Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), train and bus stations. The Adams/Wabash CTA train station (Brown, Green, Orange, and Pink lines) is located one block west. Buses that service the area include routes 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 26, 28, 126, 143, 147 and 151.
Metra provides service to many suburbs, departing from four downtown stations.
Parking:
There are many parking garages nearby. The Grant Park South Garage is located at 325 South Michigan Avenue and has direct access to Symphony Center. Look for signs in the garage to identify the best exit to access Symphony Center.
For discounted parking, try apps like ParkWhiz or SpotHero on your smartphone.
Photography:
Feel free to sit back and enjoy the festivities - we’ll have photography covered! A professional photographer will be capturing each graduate’s big moment on stage as s/he receives their diploma. ICO provides one portrait to each graduate at no cost of this picture. A formal group picture will also be taken. A gallery of candid photos will also become available on our Flickr page. Personal photography is allowed, but due to a very strict fire code, please do not step out of your seat or block aisles.
Social Media:
We’ll be posting Commencement news and pictures to ICO’s Instagram throughout the day. Be sure to tag us and we'll make sure to repost!
Live Streaming:
For loved ones who cannot attend Commencement in person, ICO will be live-streaming the ceremony on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. You can visit the page at 10 a.m. on May 18 to join in the celebration.
Additional Questions? Please contact Debra Albers in the Student Affairs Office with any questions. She can be reached at dalbers@ico.edu.