Commencement

Commencement Day Procedures

• Graduate students are to report to the Jones Recital Hall* of the Cathedral on the afternoon of Saturday, December 19, by 1:00 p.m. for pictures. Processional lineup will begin at 1:30 p.m. Family and guests are not allowed in Jones Recital hall during pictures and processional lineup. Personal items (phones, purses, coats, etc) are to be left with family or friends as the room is not locked during the ceremony.  *The Jones Recital Hall is located just inside the East entrance of the Cathedral and is easily accessible from University Street (at the corner of Holly and University). This entrance will be open only to faculty and graduates.
• Graduate students will wear their tassel on the left side at all times.
• Men will remove their caps for the singing of the National Anthem, Invocation, Commencement Address, singing of the Alma Mater, and Benediction. Women will wear their caps at all times. Men will wear their caps during the processional, receiving their diploma on stage, and recessional.
• Students will stand for the Processional, National Anthem, Invocation, Conferring of Degrees, Alma Mater, and Benediction. Students will be seated during the special music and commencement address. Student/staff marshals will assist students during the processional, ceremony and recessional.
• Students will be presented by their division chair or program director. When the Master of Ceremony requests the designated group of graduates to come to the platform, the first row will lead and the remaining rows will be seated. Students will approach the platform by division/program and hand their student card to their division chair/program director. One student will stand at the top of the stairs, the remaining students will wait at the bottom of the stairs - moving up one at a time once a name is read. Each row will approach the platform when there are three (3) students on the floor at the base of the steps (from the previous row). As the student's name, degree, and applicable honors are being read, the student will proceed across the platform and receive their diploma (cover) from Dr. Pollard. . . receiving the diploma with their left hand and shaking hands with their right hand (right hand above left).
• Graduate students will be hooded by Dr. Richard Ellis, Dean of Graduate and Professional Studies. After the student is “hooded”, the student will proceed across the platform and receive their diploma (cover) from Dr. Pollard and then exit the platform.
• After receiving the diploma (cover), exit the stage, stop for a picture, and then return to your row and be seated.
• To be considered an official Fall 2009 graduate, documentation of all work completed must be received in the Registrar's Office by January 11, 2010. Diplomas will be mailed in early March. Please contact the Business Office to confirm that your account is in good standing as this may prevent your diploma/official transcript from being released.