Undergraduate Commencement
Date: Saturday, December 19, 2009
Time: 10:00 a.m. (GUESTS SHOULD BE SEATED NOT LATER THAN 9:15 a.m.)
Location: California University of Pennsylvania ~ Hamer Hall Gymnasium
INSTRUCTIONS TO DEGREE CANDIDATES
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY. These instructions have been prepared in order to make our commencement a special occasion for all involved.
TIME OF ASSEMBLY: 8:45 A.M. Do not be late. We need this time to line-up and organize the procession. Failure to be on time may result in a student to be placed in a different seat causing that student to be out of alphabetical order and/or out of their designated college. Late students will be placed at the end of the line.
All students should arrive dressed in their caps and gowns. Caps should be worn level and straight and tassels to the right. Honors regalia should be worn by any students eligible for honors.
ASSEMBLY PLACE:
Education Majors--TBD
Liberal Arts Majors--TBD
Science & Tech Majors--TBD
Associate Degree--TBD
DISABILITY ACCESS: There are a substantial number of steps at the Commencement Dinner and for the Commencement Processional. Alternate access arrangements for these events and/or all other access requests should be made to the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD), preferably by Monday, November 16, 2009. Contact OSD in person (Azorsky Hall – Room 105) or by phone, (724) 938-5781. (Guests with disabilities may call OSD or go to the Disability Access link on the Commencement Web page: http://www.cup.edu/academic/commencement.)
LINE OF MARCH: Form a single line in back of the Color Guard (Flags). There will be staff members directing the students. Candidates will be given printed instructions indicating their location in the line of march and their seat numbers. Find your place in line and stay there. You will be given a small card to carry in your hand indicating your seat number.
PROCESSIONAL: As you march in the processional to your seat, please keep in step, at least three steps behind the person in front of you, and keeps the lines straight.
PROGRAM: Remain standing at your seat until after the National Anthem and Invocation. During the National Anthem, Invocation and the Alma Mater, men should remove their mortarboard.
RECEIVING DIPLOMAS: When the Dean presents the degree candidates for a college, all degree candidates should stand. If you are seated in a row with candidates from another college, rise with that group. Proceed as directed by the Page to the ramp leading to the platform and wait at the top of the ramp until your name is called by the Dean. While waiting, and before your name is called, hold your seat number card in your left hand so that the number is plainly visible to the Dean. Please do NOT give your Dean your number card. You should receive your diploma in your left hand leaving your right hand free to shake hands with the President. After receiving your diploma, return to your row and remain standing until instructed by the Dean to take your seat
- A professional photographer will be taking photos of all graduates after they receive their dipolmas and as they exit the stage. Members of the Cal U marketing staff will also be taking photographs for general marketing purposes throughout the ceremony.
CONFERRING THE DEGREE: After the President has conferred your degree and closed with the words, “I hereby confer the degree of (Bachelor of ____, etc.) with all the rights, honors and privileges which throughout the world pertain to that degree,” all graduates in that degree should, in unison, change the position of their tassel from right to left, using their left hand.
RECESSIONAL: After the Platform Party has recessed and while the faculty is recessing out the front, you should follow the pages’ and ushers’ directions and recess out the back of the gymnasium (the same way you came in). Please remain standing at your assigned seat until all faculty have left the gymnasium.
You will NOT be returning to the graduate assembly area so please be sure to leave all personal belongings with family members or friends for safekeeping during the ceremony. We are not responsible for any lost or stolen property.
The above information is for bachelor/associate degree (undergraduate) commencement ceremony only.