Ceremony Information
Graduate Information Guest Information Special Needs
Graduation Candidates:
Apply
for Graduation in the counseling office by April 29 in order to have your name listed in the Commencement Program.- Students may continue to apply for graduation and participate in the ceremony until Thursday, May 28.
- Caps, gowns, tassels and five announcements should be purchased at your home campus bookstore April 1 through May 28, 2009, at a cost of $35.95. Honors cords will be available at a cost of $11.00. Separate pieces (cap, gown, tassel) may also be purchased. Caps and gowns will NOT be available on the day of commencement. Students may not march ungowned. Please dress appropriately for the occasion. (Shorts are not recommended).
- Commencement gowns are hunter green in color. No other gown colors are allowed, including pearl-gray from previous years.
- Announcements may be purchased ($5.50 per five) at each campus bookstore beginning in April.
- Allowable gown adornments include Phi Theta Kappa stoles and/or honors cords only.
- Graduates should NOT bring purses, flowers, cameras, etc. to the loading dock area. There is no secure storage area available, and you will not be allowed to carry any items with you.
- Children will not be allowed to sit with or walk across the stage with graduates. Please make arrangements for their care during the ceremony.
- Please arrive no later than 6:15 PM Enter off Lapeer Road/M24; follow the road signs to the Palace. (See area map) Late arrivals are not guaranteed participation in the ceremony. Remember to allow time for rush hour traffic, construction traffic, and Commencement traffic.
- Graduates ONLY should proceed to the loading dock area (South Entrance) of the Palace and locate your home campus, identified by large signs. There you will receive directions for the ceremony. All guests should enter through the NORTH entrance, which is handicap accessible. Doors will open at 5:30 PM Children must be accompanied by an adult.
- At graduation, you will receive a diploma cover. Your official diploma and academic record will be mailed to the address on file within 90 days after degree completion. Diplomas will be mailed after Commencement, beginning with Fall 2008 graduates.
- If you have an address change, please go to any campus Enrollment Services Office and/or Welcome Center to make the change as soon as possible.
- All students are encouraged to attend Commencement. The ceremony will last approximately two hours – you should be out of the Palace by 9:30 PM at the latest. PLEASE plan on remaining for the entire program to honor your fellow graduates.
- Students are not allowed to use cellular phones or pagers during the ceremony.
- You will not need tickets for your guests, and you are welcome to ask as many people as you wish. To help your guests determine their seating: if your last name begins with the letters "A" through "K", you will be seated facing left of the stage; if your last name begins with the letters "L" through "Z", you will be seated facing right of the stage.
- Guests must enter at the NORTH entrance of The Palace, and will not be allowed to enter the loading dock area at the South entrance.
- Please ask your guests to remain at their seats until all graduates have exited the floor of the Palace.
- In consideration of the graduates and the guests around them, please ask your guests to turn off their cellular phones and pagers during the ceremony.
ACCESS/Disability Assistance Accommodations and Services available at the Commencement Ceremony
- Students, or their guests, who may need special assistance at the ceremony must notify ACCESS for assistance two weeks prior to the ceremony.
- Wheelchairs and assistants will be on hand at the North entrance of The Palace. An accessible seating area in section 120 is available for guests. One person may accompany each wheelchair guest. Other family and/or friends may be seated in the rows directly in front of the wheelchair accessible area.
- Sign Language interpreters will be located at the right of the stage, from the audience perspective. Section 112 will be made available for those who require this service.
