Guide to the 71 st Commencement Exercises Graduate & Adult Undergraduate Ceremony Friday, May 19, 2017
Adult and Graduate Commencement Guide 2017 2 Page 3 Application for Graduation Line-up Cards/Cap and Gown Distribution Pronunciation of Names Page 4 Commencement Day Parking Information General Seating Disabled Guests Closed Circuit Viewing Web Broadcasting Red and White Cords Page 5 Virtual Rehearsal Weather Policy Helpful Hints Alcohol Policy Area Accommodations Diplomas Flowers Photographs Page 6 Hometown Newspaper Announcements Personalized Announcements Alumni Information Important Dates and Deadlines Page 7 Commencement Ceremony Site Maps
3 Congratulations! The countdown to your graduation is here. Congratulations on making it to this point a culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Just as your studies required careful attention to directions and deadlines, participating in Commencement activities requires advanced planning. The following information is intended to help you and your guests enjoy Commencement 2017 exercises to the fullest. You deserve it! Application for Graduation By now, all candidates should have submitted a completed Application for Graduation form to the Registrar s office. Forms are available in the Registrar s office or on the Commencement web site (www.marist.edu/commencement). If you have not done so, please submit your application by March 20. The information provided on the form will be used to order your diploma and for the Commencement program. Line-up Cards/Cap and Gown Distribution All graduates must have a line-up card for cap and gown pickup and for the Commencement ceremony itself. Line-up cards and caps and gowns will be available in Donnelly Hall on Thursday, May 18, from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. and Friday, May 19, before the ceremony. Please note regalia is not available earlier than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday. Signs will be posted throughout the building directing you where to go. Students must pick up their line-up card in person and will be required to show photo ID and sign the alcohol policy statement. Line-up cards are required for cap and gown pick up and in order to cross the stage. The Registrar s office should be contacted immediately if the line-up card is lost. Pronunciation of Names Marist wants to make sure each name called on Commencement day is pronounced correctly. For this reason, names are all prerecorded by the Dean of each school. Marist provides students with the opportunity to record their own names so that the Deans may use those recordings as a reference. To record your name, log into ilearn. Under your sites you will find a course named Commencement Name Recording. Follow the directions described in the assignment. You will need a computer with a built-in microphone. If you don t have one of your own, stop by the Help Desk in Donnelly or the Media Center in LT 208 for assistance. The Commencement name recording course will be available from March 27 - April 17. If you have questions, please contact the Media Center at (845) 575-3635. Caps are provided by the College to all graduates at no cost to the student, and they may be kept as keepsakes. Gowns and hoods are rented by the College for all graduates. There is no cost to the student for gowns and hoods, but they must be returned to the distribution room in Donnelly Hall by 8:00 p.m. after the ceremony, or the student s account will be charged for replacement of the rental unit ($400- $700). If students are interested in purchasing gowns or hoods, please see the Registrar s office for ordering information.
Adult and Graduate Commencement Guide 2017 4 For a complete list of parking sites and instructions, please see the Parking Information & Map link on the Commencement web site (www.marist.edu/commencement). General Seating Admittance to the outdoor ceremony is by general admission. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis, and no saving of seats will be allowed. Please inform your guests to follow the directives of the security staff and ushers. All persons must stay within the roped-off areas to allow the best visibility for everyone. Please do not block the view of others by standing on chairs or in the aisles. Commencement Day The Marist College 2017 Adult Undergraduate and Graduate Commencement Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 19 at 6:00 p.m. Weather permitting, the ceremony is held outdoors on the Campus Green. Students, faculty, and staff will assemble for the procession at 5:15 p.m. on the Lowell Thomas Quad, between the Hancock and Dyson Centers. The procession is scheduled to begin promptly at 5:45 p.m. Candidates for bachelor s degrees will march together, led by their marshal, and will be called to receive their diploma covers in alphabetical order. Candidates for master s degrees will march together, led by their marshal, and will be called to receive their diploma covers by graduate program. Line-up cards will be collected from students as they approach the platform. Family and guests are encouraged to arrive before 5:30 p.m. However, no guests will be permitted to enter the actual ceremony site before 5:00 p.m. The ceremony is expected to last approximately one hour. Immediately following the ceremony, all graduating students and their guests are invited to join their fellow graduates at a reception on the Saint Peter s Meadow. In the case of rain or severe weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to the McCann Center (See the Weather Policy on page 5). Details will be available on the Marist web site (www.marist.edu) and the Marist weather hotline at (845) 575-5500. A virtual rehearsal video with more information for Friday graduates is available on the Marist Commencement web site. Parking Information Family and guests are encouraged to arrive before 5:30 p.m. to better ensure a parking space. Parking will be available on the east and west campuses. Vehicular access to the main campus will become increasingly difficult as the parking lots become filled. Guests with handicapped permits should enter the North Entrance only. There is no access to handicapped parking from the South Entrance. In addition to the outdoor seating area, the College has arranged for a special live-viewing of the ceremony to be broadcast indoors in several campus locations. Please see Closed Circuit Viewing below for further information. Disabled Guests There will be a designated seating section to accommodate disabled guests, and the ceremony will be interpreted in sign for the hearing impaired. Graduating students may request disabled seating tickets and parking permits in the Registrar s office starting Wednesday, May 3. A limit of one disabled parking permit and two disabled seating tickets per graduate will be issued. Lots are reserved for vehicles with handicapped license plates, handicapped parking placards issued by a municipality, or special parking permits issued by the Registrar s office. Guests with handicapped parking permits should enter the North Entrance only and should be prepared to show their permits to the security guard, who will direct them to the appropriate parking area. There is no access to the handicapped parking areas from the South Entrance. Closed Circuit Viewing In addition to the outdoor seating area, the College offers live-broadcasting of the ceremony in posted campus locations. These locations offer air-conditioned venues for guests who prefer to be out of the elements. Please see site maps on page 7. Web Broadcasting Family and friends of graduates who are unable to attend the event can view the ceremony streaming live by visiting Marist s homepage at www.marist.edu and clicking on the commencement link. Red and White Cords At the time of cap and gown pick up, all adult students undergraduate and graduate will receive a red and white cord, known as the Putting Him/Her Through (PHT) recognition cord. Students are to give the cord to one of their guests to wear during the ceremony. The cord is intended to recognize the support, patience, and encouragement that helped the graduate on his or her journey toward degree completion.
Adult and Graduate Commencement Guide 2017 5 Virtual Rehearsal There is no rehearsal for Friday s Commencement ceremony. Graduates should assemble for the Commencement procession at 5:15 p.m. on the Lowell Thomas Quad, between the Hancock and Dyson Centers. There will b e plenty o f staff on hand to help the graduates line up. A virtual rehearsal is available on the Commencement web site (www.marist.edu/commencement), and graduates are encouraged to take a few moments to watch the video. Weather Policy Commencement is such an important occasion for graduates and families that the College strives to accommodate as many of your guests as possible. Weather permitting, the Marist Commencement Ceremony is held on the Campus Green. In the event of rain or severe weather, the ceremony will be moved to the McCann Center. Indoor Guidelines If the ceremony is moved indoors, students should report to the small gymnasium in the McCann Center for the procession line-up. Caps and gowns will be available for pick-up in the small gymnasium. The ceremony will begin as close to 6:00 p.m. as conditions allow. Much of the guest seating in the McCann Center is on bleachers. Some individuals may find the climb to the upper seats difficult and may prefer to view the ceremony in areas designated for live broadcast. Seating for disabled guests will be available for those who prearranged for disabled seating tickets. As with outdoor exercises, Marist will have the ceremony professionally recorded and have professional photographers on hand to capture graduates as they receive their diploma covers. Listen For Announcements Announcements will be made on the Marist web site (www. marist.edu) and the Marist weather hotline (845) 575-5500 as early as possible on Commencement day. Please check these sources before traveling to campus. Helpful Hints Your tassel should be worn on the right until President Yellen confers all graduates degrees. Only one honor cord should be worn with regalia. The weather can be unpredictable, so remember both your umbrella and your sunblock. Remember the grass can be wet even if it isn t raining, so consider your footwear carefully. Leave ample time for parking. All graduates and guests must turn off cell phones. Please be considerate of others. Alcohol Policy Alcohol is not permitted before or during the Commencement exercises and will be confiscated if brought to the ceremony. Please advise all guests of this policy. Graduates participating in the Commencement ceremony will be required to sign a statement to acknowledge that they understand the College s alcohol policy. These statements will be available on Thursday, May 18, between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (during line-up card distribution). Area Accommodations A list of local hotels, motels, bed and breakfasts, and restaurants is available on the Commencement web site. Diplomas Diplomas will be mailed by June 16 to all who have met graduation requirements. Graduates must be clear of all financial obligations, including loan exit interviews and library fees, before a diploma will be mailed. Questions about financial obligations should be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services (845) 575-3230. Flowers Bouquets, corsages, and boutonnières can be purchased in advance courtesy of the Alumni Office and picked up on campus on graduation day between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Please download the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM order form found on the Commencement web site. Photographs Professional photographers from Island Photography (www. islandphoto.com) will photograph all graduates as they receive their diplomas from President Yellen. To receive proofs online, please provide an email address on the back of your line-up card, and you will be notified when they are available for viewing. Graduates will also receive two complimentary proofs and an order form by mail.
Adult and Graduate Commencement Guide 2017 6 Due to the large number of people attending Commencement, it is necessary to restrict access to the platform and the graduates seating area. Guests will not be able to walk or stand in the aisles to take photographs or videotape. However, there will be designated areas for families to take pictures following the ceremony. The Commencement program, which you will receive on Commencement day, will show these locations. Hometown Newspaper Announcements The Office of Public Affairs would like to tell the world about your graduation or at least your hometown newspaper. Public Affairs receives a list of graduating students, and the office is able to match your hometown with your local paper automatically and send the release out electronically. Graduates who do not wish to have a news release sent to their hometown paper must opt out of this process. To opt out, please email publicaffairs@marist.edu or call (845) 575-3174 by Friday, April 7. If Public Affairs does not hear from graduates by April 7, releases are sent to hometown newspapers. Alumni Information The Marist College Alumni Association is a network of more than 39,000 Marist graduates with 15 regional chapters spanning from New York to California. The chapters are designed to keep you involved and connected with your alma mater and fellow alumni, and can be a lot of fun. A list of regional chapters is available at maristconnect.marist.edu/chapters. The best way we can keep you updated on Marist events and send Marist Magazine, the Marist Minute enewsletter, invitations, and other communications, is if we have your correct contact information. We have no way of knowing if you re using your Marist email address or a different address unless you tell us. You can easily update your personal and business contact information online by logging into maristconnect.marist.edu. Please feel free to contact the Office of Alumni Relations at any time at maristalumni@marist.edu or (845) 575-3283. Marist cannot guarantee that newspapers will print the release, but we will make sure the newspaper gets it. Personalized Announcements Students may wish to order announcements to alert family and friends about their upcoming graduation. Orders for personalized announcements can be placed online at https:// collegegrad.herffjones.com. Important Dates and Deadlines Friday, March 1 Monday, March 2 Monday, April 17 ednesday, May 3 Last day to place cap and gown orders Application for Graduation forms are due to the Registrar s office Last day for graduates to record their own names for reference in the ilearn system Disabled seating/parking permits become available in the Registrar s office Thursday, May 18 4:30-7:00 p.m. Line-up card and cap and gown distribution in Donnelly Hall (photo ID required) Commencement Day: Friday, May 19 9:00 a.m. -5:00 p.m. Continued line-up card and cap and gown distribution in Donnelly Hall (photo ID required) 9:00 a.m. -8:00 p.m. Bookstore open 5:00-7:00 p.m. Flower tent open (see order form on Commencement web site) 5:00 p.m. Guests allowed to enter ceremony site 5:15 p.m. Graduates line up on Lowell Thomas Quad, between the Hancock and Dyson Centers 6:00-7:00 p.m. Commencement Ceremony Friday, June 16 Diplomas mailed to all eligible graduates
7 Commencement Ceremony Site Maps Upper Map 10 7 9 8 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. General Admission Seating Graduate Seating Reserved Seating (tickets required) Disabled Seating (tickets required) Restricted Area/Steep Ground 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Murray Student Center - Health Services/Bookstore/Live Broadcast/Restrooms Marian Hall - Restrooms Water Tent/Flower Tent James A. Cannavino Library - Closed during Commencement Champagnat Hall Lower Map 20 18 17 19 16 11. Ceremony Site 12. McCann Center - Live Broadcast/Severe Weather Contingency Site 13. South Gate 14. Donnelly Hall - Restrooms/Cafe open until 6:00 p.m. 15. Pedestrian Walkway 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. Saint Peter s Meadow - Reception Tent/Photo Opportunity Area Lowell Thomas Communications Center - Restrooms Dyson Center - Restrooms Main Gate - Open to pedestrians North Gate - Handicapped parking entrance