General Information
Commencement Day is a solemn joyful
day. We ask that you and your guests uphold a tradition of courtesy and respect
to your colleagues on June 4 by following the customary observances during
the ceremony and obeying the ushers and police in their efforts to provide
for the efficient movement of so many people on campus. The campus will be
host to around 1,000 graduates and 5,000 guests. Because of these numbers,
the day requires a good deal of structure. Campus police and ushers will be
here to assist you and maintain order. 1. The Commencement ceremony will
be held in the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Amphitheater, regardless of weather.
In case of rain, the ceremony will be shortened and you will be instructed
to pick up your diploma in the designated building after the ceremony. 2. Graduates, dressed in caps and
gowns, should assemble in the quadrangle at 10:45 a.m. No graduate will be
allowed to participate in the ceremony without wearing complete academic regalia.
3. Graduates from the College of
Business and the College of Engineering will assemble near the Group II Building.
Graduates of the Graduate School, CVPA, and the College of Nursing will assemble
near the campanile (bell tower). Graduates of the College of Arts and Science
will assemble near the Foster Administration Building (see map). Signs will
be posted at each assembly area. Immediately upon arrival in your
staging area, graduates should go the Registrar's table and get their name
card. Graduates must have their name card in order to have your name announced
as you walk across the stage. Then line up in alphabetical order by major.
There will be signs listing each major. For those with a double major, please
choose the major with whom you wish to march. Please do not wander off to
visit friends in other colleges or majors. 4. Although the ceremony itself
starts at 12:00 noon, the procession begins earlier. Anyone who wishes to
have seats should plan on arriving early. 5. At 11:30 a.m., all graduates
should be in line as the procession will begin at approximately 11:40 a.m.
with the pealing of the campanile bells. Graduates arriving after the procession
has begun will not be able to sit with their colleagues. Space will be provided
at the end of the line. Graduates who arrive late and who wish to walk across
the stage with their colleagues in their major must figure out on their own
when to come to the stage. Since there are about 1,000 diplomas to be handed
out, graduates who do not arrive at the Registrar's diploma table in the amphitheater
may find that their diplomas have been removed and replaced with a blank folder.
6. The faculty marshals will lead
the procession into the amphitheater and to the assigned seats. The marshals
will bring the graduates of each college to and from the stage at the appropriate
part of the ceremony. The marshals are also responsible for ensuring order
during the ceremony and are empowered to relieve graduates of alcoholic beverages
and other disruptive items. 7. Because of the importance of
the ceremony, no usher will take gifts, notes or messages to or from guests
or graduates. They will not take any photos. For this and other reasons, vendors
are not permitted on the campus. Please restrain any impulse to surprise graduates
with gifts during the ceremony since this will be impossible. Graduates are
also expected to remain seated throughout the ceremony because that too creates
a discourteous atmosphere for other graduates. The campus police, marshals
and ushers will assist in maintaining order. 8. On Commencement Day, diplomas
will not be handed out to anyone who is not dressed in academic regalia or
fully participating in the ceremony. 9. At the end of the ceremony,
please file out into the quadrangle where receptions for graduates, their
families, alumni, and faculty will be held. 10. A note of caution in your planning:
The campus welcomes all of your family for this critical day in your life
and wants every family to enjoy the day as much as possible. We will have
reserved seating areas for people with physical disabilities. The ceremony
usually lasts approximately 3 hours, but seems longer if your family arrives
early to secure seating. Many small children have difficulty remaining seated
and quiet for this period of time and elderly family members may find the
seats uncomfortable. Please make appropriate plans for your family and guests.
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