INSTRUCTIONS & SCHEDULE
KEEP THIS INFORMATION HANDY
Information for Degree Candidates participating in Purchase College's 41st Annual Commencement on Friday, May 17th at 1:00pm at the Westchester County Center.
Commencement will take place on Friday, May 17th at the Westchester County Center in White Plains. The Basement of the County Center will be the gathering place for all students. Bring your cap and gown with you. Your guests should proceed directly to the main hall of the county center, as seating is available beginning at 11:00am on a first-come, first-serve basis. A reminder that tickets are required to attend.
If you are a student with special needs, please click on the link below to fill out a quick survey about how we can assist you at commencement.
| Thursday, May 16, 2013 | |
| 11:00 a.m. |
Rehearsal for Commencement -- Rehearsal will take place at 11:00 a.m. at the Performing Arts Center (PAC) Concert Hall. It will last less than one hour! Promise.
|
| Friday, May 17, 2013 | ||
| 10:30 a.m. |
Commencement Check-In **Note: Snacks will be served at check-in** | |
| 11:30 a.m. |
Processional Line up | |
|
Left Side of aisle School of Art + Design (BFA, BS & MFA) |
Right side of aisle Liberal Studies (BA) | |
| NOTES: 1) MFA, MM, Performer Certificate, Artist Diploma and MA candidates will march together in alphabetical order, following the Bachelor’s candidates in their respective divisions. 2) Interdisciplinary students will march with the Natural & Social Sciences. | ||
| 12:15 p.m. | Processional Begins Degree candidates depart from the basement, following the directions of the student/staff marshals. Color guard leads staff marshals and candidates proceed to the front of the main area and are seated by staff marshals. | |
| 12:20 p.m. | Faculty and Staff leave the 2nd floor of the county center and proceed to the foyer, form a double-sided line at the entrance and follow Mace-bearer and faculty marshals to the stage. | |
| 12:40 p.m. | After faculty/staff and students are seated, the Platform Party follows into the main hall area. | |
| 1:00 p.m. | The Ceremony Begins Commencement includes greetings from the President, presentation of the President's Award for Distinguished Alumni, the presentation of Honorary Doctorate degrees, the Senior Class Speaker, and the conferral of your hard earned degrees. After the Senior Speaker concludes, you will be directed to the stage where your chair/director will announce your School/Conservatory and degree category. The staff marshal in the aisle will direct you when your row should stand to approach the stage and you should only stand when directed by the staff marshal. Students on the left side will file out to the left and students on the right side will file out of their row to the right. (You should only bring items to commencement that you can carry with you to the stage, as you may not end up in the same seat when you are reseated after going across the stage.) Follow the instructions of the student and staff marshals as they lead you up to the stage. Basic guideline is: stay in alphabetical or numerical order! Stay seated until its time for your row to move. Once at the stage, hand the reader your name card. As your name is announced, walk up to your Dean, shake his/her hand, then proceed to the President, shake his hand (with your right hand) and receive your diploma cover (with your left hand). (Note: A picture is being taken when you receive your diploma cover.) As you leave the stage, smile again for the folks at home - a photographer will be snapping away. You then return to your seat. Follow student and staff marshals for the route back to your seat. When all the degrees have been handed out, the President will then officially confer the degrees. Out of respect for your fellow classmates, you must stay seated until all students have received their degrees. Congratulations!!!!! | |
| 3:15 p.m. | With any luck, the ceremony will end at approximately 3:15 p.m.Stay in your seats until your row is released by the staff marshals. The President and the Platform Party leave first, followed by the faculty and staff, then the graduates. The front row of graduates leaves next, in a double column, following the faculty and staff. Keep moving until you have reached the open area of the foyer. Staff will direct you accordingly. Please do not stop in the lobby as it backs up your fellow graduates in the arena. | |
Special Needs:
The County Center is wheelchair accessible, Sign Language services will be provided, and first aid service will be available in case of an emergency. Upon arrival to the County Center, guests should follow signs with the Handicap symbol to the reserved parking and drop-off area. Guests will be greeted by a Commencement volunteer who will assist them to a reserved seating area. Parking in the Reserved Area will be for persons who have a Handicap permit only. If you have further questions, please contact the County Center at (914) 995-4050.
Diplomas:
During the ceremony you will receive a diploma cover, not the actual diploma. Diplomas will be mailed to your permanent address in August once all grades have been recorded, the Registrar has conducted a degree audit, and all outstanding bills/flags are satisfied.
Caps & Gowns:
Your cap and gown will be available for pick-up at the More Store in early May. We recommend that you pick it up early so that you can iron it or at least shake out some of the wrinkles. You’ve come a long way and deserve to look your best. You will also pay your $90 commencement fee at the More Store at the time of your cap and gown pick up. If you pre-order your cap and gown by March 9th, you pay the fee online at the time of your order. If you forget, the More Store will open at 8:00 a.m. on commencement day. When putting on your cap, the tassel stays on the left side until you get in line to have your degree is conferred – then you switch it to the right side of the cap in order to not have it block your face for the photographer. Please note that your 2 tickets plus an extra invitation will be given to you when you pick up your cap and gown.
Photographs:
A photograph will be taken of you as you receive your diploma cover. Proofs and order cards will be mailed to you; you are not obliged to buy these photographs. Commencement will be broadcast live on the web. Those wishing to view Commencement online can go to www.purchase.edu/live to be brought directly to the webcast. They can also go to the Purchase College homepage (www.purchase.edu) and click on “Live” located below the links on the left side of the page. (This “Live” link is not currently there, but it will be there by Commencement day). This is an excellent choice for friends and family who cannot attend the ceremony.
Safety/Emergency Concerns:
County Center staff will be on site to assist in case of an emergency. Please tell your family and friends that no one will be permitted to stand, sit or photograph in the main aisles or emergency access areas.
Food:
On Commencement Day, CCN Food Court - The Hub will be open from 7:30am -1:00pm. Starbucks Cafe at Fort Awesome will be open from 7:30am to 1:00pm for beverages, pastries, and hot and cold sandwiches. Beverages, light food fare, and snacks may be purchased in the County Center before and during the Commencement Ceremony.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE E-MAIL US ATCOMMENCEMENT@PURCHASE.EDU
