Undergraduate Commencement
General Information

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Announcements

Each graduate is entitled to ten announcements. You can pick up your announcements at Grad Finale. If you cannot attend Grad Finale, you can pick up your announcements at Career Services in Ciszek Hall (next to the Wellness Center on Mulberry St.). CGCE Undergraduate students can pick up their announcements at CGCE, 2nd floor, O'Hara Hall. You will be asked to complete a short survey questionnaire. Tickets are not required for entry to Commencement at the Wachovia Arena.

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Academic Attire

All graduates participating in the baccalaureate mass and the commencement ceremony must wear proper academic attire: robe for mass; robe, cap with tassel, and hood for commencement. There are no exceptions. Men should wear shoes, shirt and long pants under their robes. Women should wear dresses or skirts and tops and shoes appropriate for the occasion under their robes. Robes should be steamed or lightly pressed before wearing for ceremonies.

The charge for academic attire is included in the graduation fee. Distribution of the academic attire will take place during Grad Finale in the DeNaples Center Ballroom during the following dates and times:

After Grad Finale distribution of academic attire will take place at the University Bookstore in the DeNaples Center. Normal Bookstore hours are:

Bookstore hours for Senior Week are:

If you are away doing an internship or you will not attend Commencement and would like your cap and gown and announcements mailed to you (U.S. addresses only), please send a written request with a check for $5.00 to cover shipping and handling to:
University of Scranton Bookstore
DeNaples Center
900 Mulberry Street
Scranton, PA 18503

Be sure to include your height and weight as well as your name and address. Requests must be received by May 1 to insure sufficient time for shipment.

If you need your cap and gown sent to an address outside the United States, please contact the Bookstore Manager at (570) 941-7454 prior to graduation to make arrangements.

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President's Reception for Graduates & Parents

The reception will be held at 8:30 PM on Saturday, May 30 at the Byron Center. Drinks and desserts will be served. Invitations are sent to students families in April. Each family will have three complementary tickets and can purchase additional tickets. The Office of Student Affairs hosts the event and questions can be directed to: (570)941- 7680.

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Participating in Commencement

Important: If you are a graduation candidate with special needs to access the stage, please contact Mary Clare Brill at (570) 941-4330 by May 1.

Students will need to have placement cards in order to line up at the Wachovia Arena for Commencement. The placement cards for CAS, KSOM, and PCPS graduates can be obtained at the Registraton Brunch on Sunday, May 24, 2009 and also from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday of Senior Week in the lobby of the The DeNaples Center. Placement cards for students graduating from the CGCE will be mailed to the graduates during Senior Week.

The cards will be numbered showing your position in the line of march for the commencement procession, your place in the printed program, and the order in which you will receive your diploma. You must bring this card with you to the Arena in order to participate in commencement.

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Baccalaureate Mass

Robing for Baccalaureate Mass on Saturday will take place in the classrooms on the second, third, and fourth floors of St. Thomas Hall. Please use the following rooms:

Please follow the directions of the marshals and ambassadors who will organize the line of march from St. Thomas to the Byron Center. For Mass, you will only need your robe. Do not bring your hood or cap. Also, do not bring any personal possessions.

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Parking / Special Assistance / Seating

For campus events, please use the main campus parking lots (Campus Map).

Parking at the Arena is free and parking attendants will be on hand to direct traffic both before and after the ceremony. Parking for persons with disabilities is available near the West Gate; you should stay in the left lane as you enter the Arena grounds. To obtain a permit for accessible parking please send a written request to:
Office of the Provost
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA 18510

Seating for guests with disabilities is available in Row S which surrounds the Arena at the main concourse level. In order to best serve persons with disabilities, we ask that no more than 2 persons sit with guests with disabilities in Row S. If you have any concerns, please contact Peggy Burke in the Office of the Provost at (570) 941-7520.

In order to facilitate quick and efficient seating, we ask that guests do not save seats for later arriving guests. We also ask that you please refrain from bringing laser pointers. They are dangerous to everyone's eyes and can cause problems with the technical equipment.

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Commencement at the Wachovia Arena

The Wachovia Arena at Casey Plaza, 255 Highland Park Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, PA is located off exit 168 of Interstate 81 and is 18 miles south of campus. Please arrange your own transportation. If you have no way of getting to the Arena, please call Mary Clare Brill at (570) 941-4330 to get the schedule of buses leaving from campus.

The doors will open at 10:45 a.m. Water will be available for graduates and concession stands will be open for light refreshments and snacks for guests. Graduates should enter the East Gate by 11:00 a.m. wearing academic attire. Guests may enter the Arena through either the West or East Gates. Smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages are prohibited inside the Arena. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in the parking lots.

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Diplomas

The Dean of each college announces the names of the graduates in alphabetical order by college and degree. Make sure you are in proper order according to your placement number and follow the directions of the marshals as you approach the stage to receive your diploma. You will ascend the stage on the right, receive a scroll from the President and exit the stage on the left. As you exit the stage, you will receive your diploma near the bottom of the steps. The diploma reflects the degree you have earned in your program of study but does not reflect the major. Latin honors will also be reflected for those who have achieved the required grade point average, adjusted to reflect final grades. The size of the diploma is 16 by 20 inches and is suitable for framing. The scroll you receive from the president is an English translation of the Latin inscription on the diploma.

If you have an outstanding debt to the university, you will not receive your diploma until the debt is satisfied. All debts must be satisfied by Noon on Friday, May 29, 2009 or your diploma will not be in the diploma envelope that you will receive at commencement.

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Photographs

Chappell Graduation Images will photograph all graduation candidates three times: once as they stand in line to approach the stage, once at the bottom of the stage in front of the banner, and once as they receive their scrolls. Within approximately 5-7 days, proofs will be mailed to the graduates' home addresses. Enlargements may be ordered directly from Chappell Graduation Images. You can also order on-line from their web site: www.chappell.com or call 1-800-424-3686.

We ask all other photographers to refrain from disrupting the ceremony.

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Videotaping of the Commencement Events

The Commencement ceremony, Baccalaureate Mass, and Class Night will be videotaped. VHS tapes or DVDs of the events can be purchased from the Office of Instructional Technologies for $15.00 each. Please use the video order form to place your order. Print out the order form and mail it, or use the order form that can be found in the Commencement Instructions Booklet.

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University Bookstore Concession at the Arena

Our bookstore will sell flower arrangements, diploma frames and University of Scranton gift items / clothing during the commencement ceremony.

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Conclusion of Commencement Ceremony

At the end of the ceremony, graduates will exit the Arena to the East parking lot. (In the case of severe weather, graduates will exit to the concourse level of the Arena). There will be an area outside the Arena that families can use to take photographs of graduates.

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Senior Survey

A random sample of senior students will receive an invitation via email to participate in this study. We encourage seniors to complete the survey, as it will provide the University with important feedback to improve programs and services for students. Questions about the study can be directed to the Planning, Assessment & Institutional Research Office at 941-4177.

Questions

If you have any questions, please call the Registrar's Office at (570) 941-7721 or via e-mail. During Commencement weekend please call:
     Registrar at 941-7721 or
     Public Safety at 941-7888

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