Commencement
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Commencement Information
The Summer, 2008 Commencement ceremony will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, August 2 in the Gymnasium on the SPSU campus. (Location SP on the Campus map.) The following is intended mainly for candidates for graduation, their families and friends. There is information for faculty at Commencement Information for Faculty.
Candidates for graduation should arrive no later than 1:00 PM and and check in on the main level of the Architecture Building. When you have checked in , you will report to your assigned assembly area. (All candidates check in at Architecture before going to the assembly areas.) All master's degree candidates and undergraduate degree candidates from the School of Engineering Technology and Management should report to the Apparel and Textile Building (Building M) after you have checked in at the Architecture Building. All other degree candidates will remain in the Architecture Building.
Family and other guests should go directly to the Gymnasium. We suggest that family and guests plan to arrive by 1:30 to allow time to park, walk to the gymnasium, and find a seat prior to the start of the ceremony. Family and other guests will not be admitted to the assembly and check-in areas, and we expect the seats in the Gym to fill up quickly.
Family and Friends
There is no limit on the number of family and friends you may invite to the commencement ceremony and reception. They will not need tickets. Please have them go directly to the gym to find seats.
Please inform your family and friends that the gym has two levels with no elevator. The small parking area on the left side of the gym will be available for unloading physically challenged guests. Campus Safety personnel will be nearby to assist your guests. The lower bleachers will be reserved for physically challenged guests. Please have them arrive early so that they can be seated before other guests fill up those spaces.
If you or one of your guests need assistance because of a physical limitation, please contact Brenda Farrell at (678) 915-7295 well in advance of the ceremony. She will be able to give you additional information regarding parking and seating.
Pictures
A professional photographer will take formal pictures of each graduate as he or she receives the diploma and also as each graduate leaves the stage. Graduates will receive proofs and have an opportunity to order prints. If your family or friends want to take their own pictures, President Rossbacher, the Commencement speaker, and Regent Potts will be available in the Gym with the University Mace after the ceremony. There will also be ample opportunity to take pictures of graduates with family, friends, and some faculty members after the ceremony.
Dress
Caps, gowns, rings and invitations are available in the Barnes & Noble bookstore on campus. You must have a cap and gown to participate in the ceremony. Check that you have cap, gown, and tassel as soon as you have picked up your regalia.
Candidates for master's degrees should order a hood and be sure it is in your package when you pick up your regalia. All master's hoods are black with green and white satin lining. The color of the velvet band indicates your field of study. Bookstore representatives will help you order the correct hood for your major.
When you put on your cap and gown is also a good time to turn off your cell phone and anything else that might make noise.
Gentlemen should wear dark dress pants, a light-colored dress shirt, tie, and dark shoes and socks. No jeans or athletic shoes please. This is a formal ceremony and you should dress appropriately.
Ladies should wear a dress or skirt shorter than their gown (with pockets for car keys) and dark shoes. You will be walking up and down stairs and ramps, and should choose your shoes accordingly; heels over one inch are a hazard for tripping. Ladies may want to secure their caps with hair pins, but keep in mind that you will have to remove your cap before going on stage so your medallion can be placed around your neck. Please leave your purse in a safe place before coming to the check-in area.
If you are graduating with honors, you will pick up your gold cap tassel at check-in. Masters students do not earn honors.
Master's degree candidates should not put your hoods on. That will happen at the hooding ceremony on stage just before you receive your diploma.
Check-In Instructions
All candidates for graduation will check in on the main level of the Architecture Building. When you have checked in, you will be directed to your assembly area. Please put your cap and gown on before you arrive. Also, please do not bring any personal belongings such as cameras, jackets, purses, etc. with you since there is no storage available and you will not be returning to the check-in and assembly area.
Please be at your check-in area by 1:00 pm. The ceremony will begin promptly at 2:00 pm. Anyone arriving after the ceremony starts will not be admitted to the ceremony. When you check in, you will be given a card with your name and marching order number on it. You will be briefed about what to do during the ceremony. You will line up in numerical order and be given final marching instructions.
Family members and friends should go to the gym for seating. They will not be admitted to the check-in and assembly areas.
Restrooms are located on the same floor as check-in. Please use these facilities prior to the line check. It is very important that you do not leave the line once you are in place.
Masters candidates will be given hooding instructions during briefing.
The Commencement Marshals will lead the candidates for graduation down to the lower level of the gym at 1:50 pm. At this point, please double-check to make sure you have your card with you and are in proper numerical order. The processional will begin promptly at 2:00 pm.
Make sure to take your check-in card to the platform with you. When it is time to receive your diploma, your Dean will read your name aloud from the card.
Commencement Marshals
A number of faculty members have volunteered to serve as commencement marshals. That is marshal as in "marshal the troops" as opposed to law enforcement. It is the job of the marshals to make your commencement ceremony flow as smoothly as possible. There will be a marshal in your assembly area to explain your role during the ceremony.
You can identify the marshals by their green academic stoles with the University Seal on the right side. If you are asked to do something by a marshal, please do it. Most importantly, do not argue with the marshals. They know what is supposed to happen because they've been working for months to be sure your graduation day goes off without a hitch. Please help them make that happen.
About Final Grades and Holds
Final grades are not posted until the last minute. Our staff does everything possible to try to certify graduates so you can receive your diploma at the ceremony. Students who do not meet graduation requirements and students with "holds" will be given an empty diploma cover on stage. Due to the short turn-around time, it is impossible to notify candidates who fail to meet graduation requirements prior to the ceremony. The Registrar's Office will be open for 30 minutes after the ceremony to take care of any problems.
If Your Plans Change
If you had indicated that you would attend the ceremony and your plans change, please notify Brenda Farrell using the email address you received with your graduation information. You will need to notify her whether to mail your diploma or hold it for pick up. Your diploma will be held in the Records Office until you notify us of what to do with it.
"Rights, Privileges, and Responsibilities"
When the President of the University confers upon you your new degree, she will confer all the "rights, privileges, and responsibilities appurtaining thereunto."
Don't let that go unto your head. You have almost no new rights nor privileges; you may add the initials of your degree after your name, but outside academia, and before the Ph.D., almost no one does that.
What you do have are the responsibilities of an educated person, one example of which is the responsibility to help others understand the social and political implications of what's going on. That turns out to be a substantial amount of work. So, enjoy your new status and exercise your new reponsibilities well! We're proud of you, SPSU grads!
External Links
American Council on Education Academic Costume Code and Academic Ceremony Guide
