SUNY Orange

ABC's of Commencement

ACADEMIC ATTIRE

All faculty, staff and graduates are required to wear academic regalia (caps & gowns).  Immediately after rehearsal students are to proceed to the George F. Shepard Student Center where they will pick up their regalia.  Students may keep their cap, gown and tassel as a memento of their achievement.

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AUGUST & DECEMBER GRADS

If you are participating in the Commencement Exercises and have already received your diploma, you should return it to the Records and Registration Office so that it can be given to you at the ceremony; otherwise you will receive only a cover.

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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND TICKETS

may be picked up beginning Monday, April 28th in the Office of the Vice President for Student Services, third floor, George F. Shepard Student Center. Each graduate is entitled to five admission tickets and five announcements (at no charge).   The five admission tickets are to be used, in case of rain, for the indoor location.  Some extra tickets may be available following rehearsal.  Additional announcements will be available at .50 cents each (limit 5).

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BAND MEMBERS

If you plan to play in the band you will not march in the procession.  You will receive instructions from Mr. Kevin Scott, Director and also at rehearsal.

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CHORUS MEMBERS

You will march. You will receive instructions from Ms. Christa Damaris, Director and also at rehearsal.

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FORMATION

The graduates will assemble as instructed at rehearsal, in the Concourse area of Horton Hall at 9:25 a.m. SHARP.  A band fanfare will assemble the graduates to formation at that time.  The last fanfare call will be at 9:35. The faculty and emeriti will line up on the Orange Hall walkway. The platform party will form at Morrison Hall and will be at the end of the procession line.  Formation time for faculty & emeriti will be 9:40 a.m.

At 9:45, Mr. Harpst and Mr. Foley will REMOVE the names of the ABSENT GRADUATES from the list to be announced and REMOVE THEIR DIPLOMAS from the platform.  Once the attendance is taken and the DIPLOMAS ARE REMOVED, (NO ONE) will be added to the procession.  The formation will be completed at 9:45.  At precisely 10:00 a.m., the procession will begin.

LINE UP EARLY - DON'T BE LATE.

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GOLD HONOR CORDS

Graduates who achieve a final cumulative average of 3.2 or higher are eligible to wear gold honor cords with their gowns at graduation to designate their achievement.  The honor cords will be available following rehearsal, at the same time you pick up your cap and gown.  They can be purchased after rehearsal for $15.00 in the Bookstore.

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IN CASE OF INCLEMENT WEATHER

EXERCISES WILL TAKE PLACE IN THE PHYS. ED. BUILDING,

IN WHICH CASE:

Graduates will form in line in the upper corridors.  The head of the line will be in the corridor which is near the snack bar (South field side.)  The line will run through the observation deck of the handball courts and continue down the corridor adjacent to the P.E. offices, ending in the main lobby.  The faculty and emeriti will form in the basement of the P.E. Building. The head of the line will be in the area adjacent to the main men's locker room (South field side), continue down the corridor and through the entrance level to the handball courts.  The line may be long enough to extend beyond the handball court area down the adjacent corridor.  They will march up the stairs to the upper corridor and into the gym. The Platform Party will form in Room 222.

In general, the setting in the gym will parallel the Alumni Green setting. Because no rehearsal may have taken place for the gym setting and the building will be crowded, there is apt to be confusion.  Please pay strict attention to the student and the faculty formation leaders.

After lining up, on signal from the MARSHAL-of-the-Exercise, the formation will proceed to the gymnasium.

Marching Order:    (1) Marshal of the Exercise (2) Student Marshal (3) Graduates

(4) Professors Emeriti (5) Faculty & Staff (6) Platform Party.  

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PARKING

All student and staff lots will be open to everyone on a "first-come, first-served" basis.  Advise your guests to come early in order to park in campus lots.   Parking is also allowed on city side streets. If you have a family member who has special needs and/or handicapped you can have that person come into the Harriman entrance off East Conklin Avenue where they will be directed by security to drive around the inner circle to drop off the handicapped person.  Security will help them over to a spot reserved for the handicapped.  The person driving the car will then be directed over to the Morrison lot (handicapped spot).  

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PHOTOGRAPHY

An official photographer (Island Photography) will take a picture of each graduate as he/she receives his/her diploma.  This will assure graduates that photographs of this special event will be available for purchase.  Please tell your family and friends that your pic­ture will be taken.  You will receive two complimentary wallet size color proofs with no obligation to purchase photos. You must try to place an order within 3 weeks of receiving proofs or there will be a late charge.  Their website is www.islandphoto.com.

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PROCESSION AND CEREMONY

The procession will begin promptly at 10 a.m. and will proceed to the Alumni Green.   IT MUST BE EMPHASIZED THAT ALL GRADUATES WHO APPEAR AFTER THE FINAL ATTENDANCE IS TAKEN AT  9:45 A.M., (WILL NOT) BE INCLUDED IN THE CEREMONY.

Men only will remove their caps for the National Anthem and the Alma Mater.

Graduates will be seated upon the signal from the Marshall of the Exercise and will remain seated until it is announced "Will the graduates please rise."

On signal from the faculty member, graduates in the front row will face left, walk out of their row and proceed to the platform to receive diplomas.  When the first row begins to move to receive diplomas, the remaining graduates will be seated in order not to obstruct the view of the audience.

When the first row has reached the end of the far left seats (watch the faculty member), the graduates of the second row will stand and follow behind the last graduate of the first row…the third row will follow the second…etc., through all the rows.  Graduates will not go forward to receive their diplomas until their names are called (watch Mr. Harpst).  Upon receiving diplomas, graduates will return to their original seats by entering their rows on the same side as when first seated and sit down immediately.

After the last diploma is given, Dr. Catherine Chew will instruct all graduates to move their tassels to the left signifying they are now Alumni of the College.

All assembled will then rise for the Alma Mater, remain standing and then will march out in the Recession.

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RECESSION

The aisle for the recession will be the aisle on the graduates' left, as they are seated facing the platform. In the recession, the reverse order of the procession will be used - i.e. Marshal of the Exercise, the Platform Party, Professors Emeriti, Faculty & Staff­, Student Marshal and Graduates. In the recession the graduates march out last, after the faculty.­ It is most important that the student marshal lead the graduates along the roadway passing the Library, Morrison Hall, Orange Hall, Sarah Wells Building to Harriman Hall before they break.  This is to assure that there will not be a jam-up at the end of the line. 

IF GRADUATION HAS TO BE IN THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION BUILDING, space will not permit the graduates to recess (march out of the gym).  Only the platform party and faculty will be in the recession.  Graduates will remain at their seats in the Gym.  When the music stops, graduates will then be free to leave, meet parents and friends, etc.  Please advise your guests to leave the Physical Education Building as soon as possible to relieve congestion.  They may leave from all doors marked "EXIT" including those leading directly out from the large gymnasium.

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RECEPTION AFTER COMMENCEMENT

Following the ceremony there will be a reception hosted by the Alumni Association on the Library porch.  Refreshments will be served.

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RECOMMENDED ATTIRE

Graduation is a dignified, important event.  Please wear appropriate dress and shoes with your gown.  Please do not wear harsh perfumes as they attract bees or wear high heels as the ramp is steep.

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