You must arrive by 9:30 a.m. with your cap, gown and hood. (Please take your gowns out of the package before the
day of the ceremony and iron or steam them.)
Arrangements have been made for a changing area with bathrooms. We will have people
ready to help you with your hoods, should you have any problems with it. At exactly
10 a.m., group pictures will be taken. At exactly 10:45 a.m., all graduates will line
up by campus and prepare to march into the auditorium to be seated together in reserved
seating. The ceremonial procession will begin PROMPTLY at 11 a.m. Late arrivals will
be seated behind all other students and will not be able to cross the stage with their
campus.
Please leave all valuables, including purses, with a guest.
Please note: balloons are not allowed inside the auditorium!
The Ceremony: The presentation of degrees will follow the commencement address and awards. A professional
photographer will be present, and photos of the ceremony can be ordered.
Please ask your guests to refrain from taking photos during the ceremony. The graduates
will approach the stage one campus at a time. When it is your turn, you will hand
your information card (distributed during sign-in), which lists your name and degree,
to the announcer. You will then proceed onto the stage where another stage official
will hand a congratulatory letter to you and you will pause for the photographer.
Then you will continue across the stage with the other remaining stage officials and
return to your seat.
At the conclusion of the ceremony the recessional will leave the auditorium in the
same order in which it entered: stage party, faculty and graduates.
Once all graduates have left the area, they may be joined by family members and guests
for pictures, etc. in the front hall. We request that all pictures be taken with family
and friends after the ceremony