INSTRUCTIONS TO SENIORS
FOR COMMENCEMENT ACTIVITIES

Please READ carefully and KEEP for reference so that you may FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS accurately.  Be PROMPT for each appointment.

Both services, Baccalaureate and Commencement, will be in Shirk Stadium.  The stadium seats are open to anyone on a first-come-first-served basis. There will be 4 reserved seat tickets for the stadium field for relatives and friends.  These tickets can be picked up at the Campus Center Main desk after May 5th.  The tickets will also be available on graduation day.  For those guests not wishing to sit in the stadium, closed circuit TV will be available underneath the bleachers, in the meeting room next to the locker room.

Breakfast and lunch will be available to visitors, guests and graduating seniors on Commencement Day by ticket only.  Meals are free for the graduating seniors.  For guests, tickets can be purchased at the Cashiers window in the Administration Building.  Tickets will be available until May 16th.  Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. in the Dining Hall at a cost of $5.00.  From 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., the luncheon on Kelchner Field will be served at a cost of $8.00 (children under 5 are free).  No tickets will be sold on the day of graduation.

On May 5th we will be having different departments represented in the Campus Center from 5 to 7 p.m. where you can pick up your cap and gown, commencement tickets, and meet with Financial Aid Counselors, etc.

SUNDAY, MAY 18 - BACCALAUREATE SERVICE - 10:00 A.M.
(Report to the Campus Center at 9:00 a.m.)

All seniors are expected to attend the Baccalaureate Service in Shirk Stadium.  If you have reservations about attending, please write a letter or email of explanation to the Provost, Dr. Andrea E. Chapdelaine.  Guest tickets can be picked up at the Campus Center Main desk after May 5th.  Academic costume must be worn.  May we suggest that dark slacks and dark shoes would be most appropriate with the academic costume for men.  Women should wear dark shoes.  Spiked heels will not be allowed due to the turf.  Please check with your class officers as to the correct size deemed appropriate to walk on the turf.  Flowers and decorative jewelry should not be attached to the academic gown.  Women should not pin their caps, as they will need to be removed during the ceremony.

NOTE:  Tassel should hang from the RIGHT side of the cap.

1. Students report, with cap and gown, in the Campus Center promptly at 8:45 a.m. to meet with Dr. Campbell and Dr. Mech for final instructions. 
   
   NOTE:  In the event of severe inclement weather, please call your voice mail or call 610-921-7800 to hear an announcement with instructions.  You will be requested to report to the Bollman Gym if so instructed.  Follow the signs and instructions of marshals when you arrive at the building.
   
   
2. The processional will start at 9:45 a.m.  Follow the directions of the marshals for the processional.
   
   
3. Men please remove your mortarboards for the entire service. 
   
   
4. Remain standing for the invocation.  Follow the Order of Service carefully as indicated in your program.
   
   
5. Follow the directions of the marshals for the hooding ceremony and the recessional.  Caps will not be worn during the hooding ceremony itself, leave on seat when called forward. 
   
   Hooding instructions follow:
   
   
   1. Students rise as complete rows at signal from one of the faculty marshals starting with first row on south side, and each student places hood over the right arm.
      
      
   2. Each row moves to the south outside aisle and front to riser in single file.
      
      
   3. Each graduate stops in front of his or her respective hooder, hands hood to hooder, and turns to face the audience.  In unison, from the rear, the faculty members place the hoods over the students’ heads and adjust folds in back.
      
      
   4. When all have received hoods, the faculty member at extreme north will tap the student in front of him/her on shoulder, and following this student, all will return to their seats, single file, using the center aisle.  The marshals will direct each group back to the proper row and all will be seated.
      
      
   5. Each succeeding south row follows same procedure.
      
      
   6. The marshal will move to the north outside aisle front and continue same procedure beginning with first row coming forward via north outside aisle.
      
      
   7. The only changes for the north rows are that each student places hood over the left arm  when going forward; the first student in each row stops in front of faculty member at extreme south.  Following the hooding, this same student will lead the row back to their seats via the center aisle. 

SUNDAY, MAY 18 - COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES – SHIRK STADIUM - 2:30 P.M.
(In case of severe weather, report to the gymnasium at 1:15 p.m.; see note in previous section.)

1. Students report, with cap and gown, to the campus center, promptly at 1:15 p.m. 
2. The marshals will direct the formation of the line for the processional.  The order of march will be faculty, administrators, trustees, platform party, who will form a double line through which the seniors will pass in A.B. - B.S. alphabetical order.
   
   DO NOT CHANGE PARTNERS OR REARRANGE THE ORDER after you are given your position in this line, so that you will be seated in correct order alphabetically  according to groups.  This order is most important because your names will be called in alphabetical order when you are presented to Dr. McMillan for your diploma.
   
   
3. The processional will start promptly at 2:15 p.m.  Follow the directions of marshals.
   
   
4. The class will be seated in groups according to the order in which degrees are to be conferred -A.B. then B.S.  Each group will be arranged alphabetically beginning with the right side of the first row of your group as you face the platform.
   
   
5. Remain standing for the “National Anthem” and “Invocation.”  Men will remove their mortarboards for the National Anthem, invocation prayer, benediction and Alma Mater.
   
   
6. The following procedure will be observed in the conferring of degrees and presentation of  diplomas:
   1. The class as a whole will remain seated - each degree group will rise for its degree as the group is called.
      
      
   2. Candidates for the A.B. degree will rise as a group when the Provost says:  “Will the candidates for the degree of Bachelor of Arts please rise?”  Your group will remain standing at your seats while the Provost recommends you to the President for your degree.
      
      
   3. As soon as President McMillan has conferred your degree upon you as a group, all will be seated.  Each row in your group will rise and proceed in alphabetical order to the right side of the platform (as you face it).  Keep at least three feet behind the person in front of you.  One of the marshals will assist you.  There should only be three people on the ramp  at any given time.  One at the base, one at the midpoint, and one at the top.
      
      
   4. When you reach the platform, pause at the top of the ramp for a moment while your name is being announced to the audience.  You will then proceed across the platform to the President.
      
      
   5. As you approach the President, nod and recognize Dr. McMillan with the words, “President McMillan.”  The President will then give you your diploma, which you will take in your left hand as you shake hands with your right.
      
      
   6. You will then continue across the platform and return to your seat following the directionof the marshal.  You may be seated immediately.
      
      
   7. The same procedure will then be followed by the B.S. group in order.
      
      
7. Once all degrees have been conferred, instructions will be delivered by the class officers to switch the tassel on the cap to the LEFT.
   
   
8. Join in the singing of the Alma Mater.
   
   
9. Follow the instructions of the marshals for the recessional. 
   
   
10. Housing office will remain open on graduation day until 6:00 p.m. for check out.
    
    
11. Please see the website at www.albright.edu/commencement for more information.
    
    
12. If family members or guests have disabilities or require special attention, please call Susan Miller at 7654 or smiller@alb.edu so that we can make appropriate arrangements.
    
    
13. If there is someone in your immediate family (father, mother, brother, sister) that is an Albright alumnus/alumna and would like to greet you after receiving your diploma, please contact Albright Alumni Office at 610-921-7510.

Careful attention to these suggested procedures will help make these last activities of your college days at Albright both pleasant and meaningful.  I very much look forward to seeing you on graduation day.  Good luck with finals and enjoy your Senior Week Activities. 

With Warm Regards,

Andrea E. Chapdelaine, Ph.D.
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs