Answers to All Your Commencement Questions
(Or What Should I Do Graduation Morning!)
WHO?: All those who plan to participate in the Commencement Ceremony.
WHEN?: Saturday, May 10. Please arrive by 7:45 am. Traffic is heavy around the University on Commencement morning – if you arrive late you may not make it in time to line up!
WHERE?: On the street in front of Stevenson House (on College Road, directly across from the campus front lawn). Note: In the event of inclement weather, Undergraduate Commencement will be held at 9 a.m. in the Melvin Price Convocation Center (graduates should go to the Intramural Gym). Master’s degree candidates will have a separate ceremony at 2 p.m. More detailed information available in the inclement weather plan.
WHAT?: Wear your camp, gown, and hood.
HOW?: Proceed to the table which has your degree sign. Records Office personnel will hand you your name card. Your card will have your name, degree, number in line (the order in which you will march), and honors if you are receiving any. Note: Honors hand-written on the card will NOT be read during the ceremony.
If you wish to have your name read differently than is printed on the front of the card, you may cross off the printed name and print it as you would like to have it read (no nicknames, only given names).
You will proceed to your degree sign. Your name card will have your number in line printed in the upper left corner. Please do not wander off and visit with friends, there will be plenty of time for that after the ceremony. After you pick up your card, please go and find your place in line.
After all graduates are lined up according to degree, you will be given instructions about how to form two lines for the procession. You will line up according to the Order of Assembly which appears at the bottom of this paper. Please pay careful attention to all instructions given about lining up and marching; remember, you want to make yourself and your family proud!
Processional: When you march in, be sure to walk next to the person who is your partner. This looks much better than straggling in any which way. You will be following the faculty, administrators, and marshals. The marshals and ushers will direct seating, and will direct you when it is time to go forward to pick up your diploma cover.
Graduates should remain standing for National Anthem, Invocation and Hymn. Men remove caps for National Anthem and replace them just prior to “Presentation of Candidates for Degrees.” Men remove caps for Benediction. Women wear caps throughout ceremony.
Recessional: Marshals and ushers will direct the recessional whichwill disband on the front lawn. Graduates will be the last to recess and should continue marching to the end of the lawn to allow space for other marchers to disperse.
Order of Assembly: Students will process in the following order for
Commencement:
(NOTE: Master of Arts Students will process first, but will be called forward last, after the undergraduate students):
- Master of Arts in Professional Counseling (white hood)
- Master of Arts in Education (light blue hood)
- Master of Business Administration (drab [light brown] hood)
- Master of Science in Nursing (apricot hood)
- Bachelor of Arts (white hood)
- Bachelor of Science (gold hood)
- Bachelor of Science in Education (light blue hood)
- Bachelor of Music Education (pink hood)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (dark brown hood)
- Bachelor of Business Administration (drab [light brown] hood)
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (apricot hood)