Graduate/Doctoral Commencement
Information
I. DATE AND TIME: Sunday,
December 20, 2009, Eastern Michigan
University Convocation Center. Graduates
must be in academic dress and in line before
the processional begins in
order to participate.
12:30 p.m. Doors open.
1:30 p.m. Graduates assemble in the
lower level of the Convocation Center.
1:40 p.m. Processional begins to file
into the Convocation Center Arena.
2:00 p.m. Commencement program begins
II. FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS AND
TRANSFER CREDIT
All bills, including library charges, parking fines and
health service accounts, must be paid by the close of
the current session. Persons holding certain student loans
must arrange for an exit interview with the Student Loan
Office, 203 Pierce Hall, 734.487.3335. Any candidate for
graduation who needs credit transferred to Eastern from
another institution to fulfill graduation requirements
must be certain the transcript reaches the Office of Records
and Registration by the close of the current session.
III. CAP, GOWN, TASSEL AND HOOD
Academic dress for commencement
(cap, gown, tassel and hood) may
be purchased from the University Bookstore,
Student Center, during the following
days/times:
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to
8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Bookstore
hours are subject to change due to
University schedule. Call 734.483.2823.
Academic hoods are assigned according to the college (not
department) from which you are graduating. The colors are
as follows:
White: College of Arts and Sciences
Drab: College of Business
Light Blue: College of Education
Citron: College of Health and Human Services
Gold: College of Technology
Purple: All Specialists
White/Green/Blue: Ed.D.
Please call the
University Bookstore (734.483.2823)
with any academic-dress questions.
IV. HOW TO WEAR YOUR CAP, GOWN AND HOOD
The gown must be hooked at the collar and remain
hooked. The long point of the cap should be at the back
with the tassel over the left temple. Place the hood over
your head so the narrow velvet edge is at your throat. Take
the bottom part of the velvet in the back and flip just
the velvet so the colored satin is exposed. Dark shoes are
preferred; flowers should not be worn. Men should remove
their caps during the national anthem.
V. TICKETS
TICKETS, WHICH MUST BE PICKED
UP IN ADVANCE, ARE REQUIRED FOR
EVERY GUEST WHO WILL ATTEND COMMENCEMENT.
Please read the following carefully.
- Each graduating student is allocated
up to six tickets for family/guests.
- There is no charge for the tickets,
but you MUST
PICK UP YOUR TICKETS at
the Convocation Center by 7
p.m. December 15, 2009,
which is five days BEFORE
COMMENCEMENT.
- Tickets
will be available December
7, 10, 11, and 14 from 8 a.m. to 5
p.m. Hours are extended until 7
p.m. December 8, 9, and 15. Photo
ID is required when picking
up your tickets.
- IF any
tickets remain after the ticket
office closes December 15, they will
be made available on a first-come,
first-served basis, beginning Wednesday,
December 16 at 8 a.m. There
is NO
GUARANTEE THAT ANY TICKETS
WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE AFTER
7 p.m. December 15.
- If there
are remaining tickets, these tickets
will be distributed on a limited
basis, December 16, depending on
how many remain. Any and all tickets
not distributed as of 7 p.m. December
15 will be given away December 16
- Students MUST pick
up their originally allotted tickets
by December 15. Students are NOT
guaranteed ANY tickets at all
if they do not pick up their
allotted tickets by December
15.
- If you
do not pick up your tickets by
December 15, you will not be able
to bring family/guests to commencement.
- NO
TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE COMMENCEMENT
DAY.
- For information
regarding handicapped seating,
please call the Convocation
Center Ticket Office at 734.487.2282.
VI. GRADUATION PHOTOS
A photographer will take a color photo of all graduates
as they receive their diploma covers on stage. Each graduate
will receive a FREE color proof. There is no obligation
to buy enlargements. A photo company representative will
receive your name/address card on the day of commencement.
The completed cards will be collected at the stage. The
proofs will be sent to graduates seven days after the ceremony.
VII. PARKING AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION
Thousands of students
and their guests will make their way
to the Convocation Center on Commencement
Day. Please be aware that traffic
congestion can become extreme, and
it is important to allow
a LOT of extra time to
arrive, park and enter the Convocation
Center.
When traffic on Hewitt Road nears
gridlocked conditions, it can take
30 EXTRA MINUTES or more to travel
less than 1/2 mile down Hewitt Road
to the parking areas. Car pool when
possible. Plan to arrive by the time the
doors open for your ceremony
-- and plan for the fact that there
WILL be a lot of traffic congestion.
You need more time than you think!
VIII. GRADUATION CEREMONY INSTRUCTIONS
Prior to the procession:
- Make sure your guests have their tickets and that you have previously
arranged for handicapped seating, if needed.
- Do not bring coats, purses, or other
personal items, as the rooms will
NOT be locked and there will be
no place to leave your valuables
during the ceremony. You will not
be readmitted to the robing rooms
after the ceremony. There will
be no room for these items on the
Convocation Center floor. PLEASE
leave these items with your family
and guests.
- No food or beverages will be permitted in the Convocation Center.
- Assemble in lower level of the Convocation
Center no later than 30 minutes prior
to the start of the ceremony. Doors
open at 12:30 p.m.
The procession:
- Candidates for graduation who are
attired in academic dress will form a line in the football
locker room (left at the bottom of the stairs).
- At the proper signal
from the Marshals and staff, graduates will proceed into
the Convocation Center arena.
The ceremony:
- Upon the request of the provost
and the associate vice president for graduate studies
and research, the candidates for doctoral
degrees will stand as called. They will walk to the
stage and present their name/address card to the person
announcing the graduates' names.
(Please print your name and address on the card and bring it with
you to commencement. The card is used to announce your name as you walk
across the stage to receive your diploma cover and to mail your photo proof.)
- After
the students names are called, the students will walk forward, receive their
diploma covers and doctoral hoods, have their photo taken and return to their
chairs. Candidates for specialist's, master's and graduate certificate degrees
will rise as a group, be presented to the Board of Regents and faculty, walk
to the stage and present their name card to the person announcing the graduates'
names.
- All candidates
will remain in their seats throughout the ceremony.
- Candidates will follow the direction of the
Marshals for the recessional.
After the ceremony: - Graduates will be directed outside the Convocation Center. Please make arrangements with your
guests to meet at a designated spot
OUTSIDE the Convocation Center after the ceremony has
ended. There will be no re-entrance to the
Convocation Center after the ceremony.
IX. DIPLOMAS
Diplomas for students who
submitted their applications for
graduation by the deadline will be
mailed approximately
six to eight weeks after commencement.
X. TRANSCRIPTS
All students will receive
a complimentary official transcript
showing all Eastern Michigan University
course work upon conferral of their
degree/certificate. The graduation
date listed on the transcript will
be December 18, 2009.
REMINDER: If you have outstanding
financial obligations to the University
after graduation, we will not be
able to send your diploma or transcript
until your account is paid in full.
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