December 2008 Ceremony - Details for Graduates
The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's fall semester Commencement ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, December 20, 2008, in the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts. The ceremony is approximately 2 hours in length.
In order to participate in the ceremony, you must sign up online by December 12, 2008. (Important Note: To have your name included in the program booklet, please sign up by November 21 .) To do this, go to www.uwgb.edu/sis. Log in as you normally do, select Academics, then Update Graduation Information (or Apply for Graduation, if you haven't done so yet). After all the fields are complete, click on SAVE at the bottom and then GRADUATION CONFIRMATION.
Guests/Tickets (click here for more
info)
Tickets are required for all guests. Based on seating capacity at The Weidner Center for the Performing Arts, each graduate
can request up to four admission
tickets when registering to participate in the ceremony. Because seating is limited, please order only the number of tickets you need. All tickets requested MUST be picked up in Cofrin Library Room 835 no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, December 12. Unclaimed tickets will be distributed to other students requesting them.. After the signup deadline, one additional
ticket per day can be picked up in person from the Office of the Provost, CL835, starting Monday, December 15, 9:00
a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis until the remaining tickets are gone. Please call 465-2082 if you have questions or concerns.
Although we can’t guarantee that all of your guests will be able to get seated in the main hall, we do encourage you to bring all of your guests to the ceremony even if they don’t have tickets. More often than not, students only use some of the tickets they order and seats are available shortly before the start of the ceremony. In addition, keep in mind that the entire ceremony will be running on closed-circuit monitors in the lobbies on all three levels of the Weidner, including large monitors in the main lobby, along with limited seating. We do want your family and friends to be able to see you graduate, so please don’t let a lack of tickets keep them from attending.
Handicapped parking is available in the Weidner Center parking lot, and wheelchair accessible seating is available for either indoor or outdoor ceremonies. An usher will seat your guest(s) in the designated area upon arrival. The Weidner Center has accessible seating on all levels and there is an elevator.
Graduation Day
The front doors to the Weidner Center for the Performing Arts will open at 10:00 a.m. Cofrin Family Hall (main seating area) will open at 10:30 a.m. for guest seating. Robing and assembly will take place in Fort Howard Hall. There will be signs directing you where to go. Plan to arrive no later than 10:30 a.m. in order to robe and be ready for the assembly. Please note: Due to limited space, guests are not allowed in the assembly area.
Graduate Robing and Processional
Student marshals and volunteer
staff will assist you with robing and finding your chair. Graduates
line up in alphabetical order by major. A name announcement card
will be taped to your assigned chair in the appropriate assembly
area. YOU WILL NEED TO TAKE THIS WITH YOU
TO THE CEREMONY.
We cannot guarantee the security of any personal items, so do not leave any valuables in the assembly area during the ceremony.
Please be robed and in your seat no
later than 10:45 for a lineup count
and final instructions. As there will be
no rehearsal, it is very important that you hear and follow these
instructions. The processional begins from Fort Howard Hall at 11:15 sharp and proceeds to Cofrin Family Hall.
Program
Follow the lead of the student marshals during the processional. When you arrive at your chair in Cofrin Family Hall, remain standing.
Three categories of degrees are awarded: Masters, Associate of Arts and Sciences, and Bachelor's degrees. Following a certain amount of pomp and circumstance, the Chancellor will call graduates in the degree categories to the platform to receive their diplomas.
Bachelors degree
and associate degree candidates:
Tassels worn on the right of your cap until directed to switch.
Master’s degree
candidates:
Tassels worn on the left for the
duration of the ceremony. You will carry your hoods to the stage and
will be hooded by the Registrar, Dean of Professional and Graduate
Studies, and your major professor.
Student marshals will direct you through the ceremony. As you approach the stage, hand your name announcement card to the announcer. You will receive your diploma, walk across the stage, and be congratulated by the discipline chair from your academic area, the Dean, Chancellor Shepard and Provost Hammersmith. A photographer will take your picture at the far end of the stage. A student marshal will then direct you back to your chair. (See photography note below.)
Recessional
After the
faculty and staff have recessed, the student marshals will lead graduates to alternating exits leading to the main lobby. Your guests will join you there after the recessional.
A cake and punch reception will be held in the lobby of the Weidner Center following the ceremony.
GENERAL INFORMATION
- The commencement ceremony length is approximately 2 hours in length.
- Your ankles and feet will be visible beneath your robe, so please wear appropriate footwear.
- We have contracted with Empire Photography to take your picture as you receive your diploma. The picture will be available for purchase from the vendor at a later date. Please inform your guests taking pictures that the aisles must be kept clear during the ceremony.
- Commencement will be electronically recorded and DVD's will be available for purchase by contacting the campus Media Services department at (920) 465-2416, or you may order online at www.thephoenixbookstore.com.
- University
policy prohibits the use of alcoholic beverages during
commencement exercises.