Commencement FAQ
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 9. Please arrive by 7:45 am. Traffic is heavy around the college 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).
In the event of rain, Master’s degree candidates will have a separate ceremony at 2:00 PM. Commencement will be held in the Convocation Center (graduates should go to the Intramural Gym at 1:00 PM). All other instructions are the same.
WHAT?: Wear your cap and gown, and carry your 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, number in line (the order in which you will march). 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 on the reverse side 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.
Diploma and Hooding: Marshals and ushers will direct you to the stage. Carry your hood over your left arm and hand it to ________. After you are hooded, proceed to Dr. Dennis who will present your diploma.
Recessional: Marshals and ushers will direct the recessional which will 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 exercises (NOTE: Master of Arts Students will process first, but will be called forward last, after the undergraduate students):
Master’s students:
School of Business (MBA – drab [tan, light brown] hood)
School of Education (MAED – light blue hood)
School of Nursing and Health Professions (MSN [apricot hood] & MAPC [white hood])
Undergraduate students:
College of Arts and Sciences
School of Business
School of Education
School of Nursing and Health Professions
Miscellaneous Tips and Hints for Commencement
- Tassels should be worn on the right side of your cap until the end of the Commencement ceremony, when you will turn them to the left. (Please note: Graduate students should wear tassels on the left side of your cap.)
- Women should leave purses with friends or relatives so you do not have to carry them with you during the ceremonies. You don’t want to carry it across the stage with you.
- Please leave cell phones with friends or relatives or be sure to turn them off so they do not ring during the ceremonies.
- Pay attention to weather reports and plan to wear something cool underneath your robe if Commencement day is a hot one. The robes are very warm and graduates are seated in the sun.
- Please be courteous. Once you have marched and been seated, please do not get up and leave for any reason. Even after you have received your diploma tube, be considerate of those who are still waiting.
Parking for Commencement Exercises
The Chapel parking lot will be set aside for disabled persons in vehicles displaying valid disabled parking certification from the state of Illinois or another state. Drop off and pickup service is available in this lot upon arrival by request of the Public Safety Officer assigned to the parking lot.
Advance parking reservations cannot be accepted.
Please be aware that the Bogey Bus will be in operation for transport of persons from remote parking lots.
Please note that traffic is very heavy around the University on Commencement morning. Plan to arrive early!!
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Commencement Rain Back-up Plan
In the event of rain, Commencement will be moved to the Melvin Price Convocation Center (located on Alton Street).
The ceremony for undergraduate students will remain at 9:00 am;
a separate ceremony will be held for Master’s degree candidates at 2:00 pm.
If this occurs, please observe the following procedures:
Graduates should assemble in the Intramural Gym at 1:00 pm.
Graduate students will not be issued tickets for their guests since we will be able to accommodate guests for this group.
Please do not bring strollers; the seating in the gym is very crowded and there will not be room to accommodate them. They cannot be parked in the aisles or in front of the bleachers due to access issues and fire codes.
There will be a special seating section for those in wheelchairs.