Important Commencement Information Spring Commencement Saturday, May 9, 2015 Ceremony Time and Location Information AM Ceremony: (10 a.m.) Graduate Studies College of Health, Environment and Science College of Liberal Arts Location: Morrow Field House Assembling of Graduates: Line-up by 9:00 a.m. Guest seating begins at 9:00 a.m. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PM Ceremony: College of Business (2 p.m.) College of Education Location: Morrow Field House Assembling of Graduates: Line-up by 1 p.m. Guest seating begins at 1 p.m. Rehearsal Friday, May 8, 2015 1:30 p.m., Morrow Field House All commencement participants must attend to obtain graduation authorization cards (required for participating in the ceremony) Tickets Each participating graduate will receive four guest tickets. All guests (including children) are required to have a ticket to enter Morrow Field House. Extra tickets will not be available due to the number of graduates. Overflow seating (no ticket required) is available in the Alumni House, and ATS Auditorium where guests may watch the ceremony via live Webcast. Both overflow areas are air-conditioned and have seating with backs. Unable to visit campus? View the ceremony live at www.sru.edu. Tickets will be distributed Apr. 14, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the Graduation Fair at the Robert M. Smith Center Ballroom (third floor) or April 15-30: M-F 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 201 Old Main. Commencement Tickets are not for sale or re-sale. All tickets must be picked up by Thursday, April 30. Reception There will be a commencement reception from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Smith Student Center Ballroom. If you are graduating in the morning, you and your guests (with or without tickets) are invited to the reception following your ceremony. If you are graduating in the afternoon, you and your guests (with or without tickets) are invited to the reception prior to your ceremony. Academic Regalia Approved academic regalia (cap, gown, tassel) must be worn for commencement. For graduate students, a hood specific to your degree is also required. Candidates for a baccalaureate degree wear the tassel over the right temple; once the degree is conferred, the tassel is moved to the left temple. All other degree candidates place the tassel on the left side of the mortarboard, where it will remain. Academic Regalia, announcements, and class rings may be purchased beginning Apr.14, at the Graduation Fair or at the SGA Bookstore from Apr. 14 – May 9.  Summa Cum Laude (3.8-4.0) graduates wear a University Medallion on green ribbon, which is provided by the SRU Alumni Association. Medallions will be distributed at the Graduation Fair Apr. 14; after Apr. 14 at the Alumni House.  Magna Cum Laude (3.6-3.799) graduates wear a white honor cord. You may pick this up from the SGA Bookstore beginning Apr. 14. Free.  Cum Laude (3.5-3.599) graduates wear a green honor cord. You may pick this up from the SGA Bookstore beginning Apr.14. Free.  Latin honors are awarded only to undergraduates.  Phi Kappa Phi medallions and approved SRU Honors Program cords may be worn at commencement.  Please note: No other cords or stoles may be worn at commencement. Applying to Graduate Graduating is not automatic. You must apply to graduate. On-line applications are due Mar. 1. After Mar. 1, you must apply in person at 107 Old Main. The university cannot guarantee your name will be included in the May commencement program if your application is submitted after Mar. 1. All coursework must be completed by May 12. Failure to complete the required coursework will result in changing your graduation date to the end of the semester during which the coursework/application is completed. You must reapply for graduation should this happen. There is no graduation fee. Academic Honors Honors designations of cum laude (3.50 GPA), magna cum (3.60 GPA), and summa cum laude (3.80 GPA) will not be placed on your transcript until your final semester grades are received and a final GPA is computed. A minimum 60 credits must be completed at SRU (excluding credit by exam). GPAs used for determining academic honors are computed at the end of the semester preceding your last semester of enrollment. Conferral of Degrees You will receive a diploma cover at commencement. Diplomas will be mailed via first class mail to the address indicated on the graduation application. Notify Academic Records of any change in your diploma mailing address. Undergraduate degrees will be conferred en masses by college. Each graduate’s name will be read as they walk across stage. Masters degree candidates will wear their hoods. Each graduate’s name will be read as they walk across the stage. Degree requirements must be completed by May 12. All financial obligations to the University must be paid in order to receive your degree. Photographer A professional photographer will photograph you as you cross the stage. Information will be available at rehearsal. Families and friends are prohibited in the stage area or in the aisles before, during or after the ceremony. Publicity The University Communication and Public Affairs office will provide a list of all graduates to in-state newspapers mid-June. Graduates with interesting stories – fourth or fifth generation SRU graduates, senior citizens, returning veterans, etc. are encouraged to contact 724.738.2199 prior to commencement. Transportation, Parking, Shuttle University police will direct you to the nearest available parking. Shuttle bus transportation will be provided from the parking lots to the field house both before and after the ceremony. Guests should arrive early to avoid traffic congestion. Special Needs Seating A limited number of seats are available for guests with special needs. Guests needing special seating should arrive early and check in with the student ambassador on the lower level of Morrow Field House. The special needs guests should use the lower level entrance to the Field House. The special needs guest and ONE additional guest may sit in the special seating area. The University does not have wheelchairs available for guest use. An interpreter for hearing-impaired persons will be provided for the ceremony. Guest Instructions Please help us provide a memorable event for all graduates and their guests. We ask that you please be seated before the procession of graduates begins. Late arrivals will not be seated during the processional, and must wait to be seated until its conclusion. For safety and security reasons, guests must remain in their seats for the entire ceremony and are asked to remain seated as a sign of respect for all graduates. Cell phones and pagers should be turned off. Photographs are encouraged, but guests must remain in their seats while taking photos or videotaping any part of the ceremony. No guests will be allowed on the stage following commencement. Thank you for your participation in commencement and for following this protocol. With everyone’s cooperation, it will surely be a special and memorable day. Last Minute Updates, Information In the event that the ceremony should be cancelled for any reason, graduates will be notified via the e2Campus alert system. Commencement updates will be posted to www.sru.edu and on the SRU newsline, 724.738.2998. Commencement Inquiries Commencement inquiries should be directed to 724.738.2849 or via Email to commencementoffice@sru.edu. Visit us at: www.sru.edu/president/commencement/Pages/Commencement.aspx Lodging and Directions to Campus: http://www.sru.edu/commencement/Documents/Lodging%20and%20Directions%20to%20Campus[1].pdf