Commencement

Commencement Day Procedures

• Traditional Undergraduate, Professional Studies and Graduate students are to report to Murray Sells Gym in the Walton Lifetime Health Complex on the morning of Saturday, December 20, by 9:00 a.m. for pictures. Processional lineup will begin at 9:30 a.m. Family and guests are not allowed in Murray Sells Gym during pictures and processional lineup.
• Undergraduate students will wear their tassel on their right side and will move it to the left side during the ceremony when Dr. Pollard confers their degree with the words “and all rights, privileges and obligations.” 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 2008 graduate, documentation of all work completed must be received in the Registrar's Office by january 9, 2009. Diplomas will be mailed in mid February 2009. 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.