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May 2010 Ceremony Details for Grads

The University of Wisconsin-Green Bay's spring semester Commencement ceremony will be held Saturday, May 15, 2010 at 11:30 a.m. at the Kress Events Center (click here for directions and locate building #18).

Masters graduate being hoodedThe Commencement ceremony is approximately 2-1/2 hours in length.

In order to participate in the ceremony, you must sign up online by May 7, 2010.  (Important note: To have your name included in the program booklet, please sign up by April 16.) 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)
Based on seating capacity at The Kress Events Center, 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, May 7. 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, May 10, 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 auditorium, 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 Special Events Room, where there will be 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 Kress Events Center parking lot, and wheelchair accessible seating is available.  An usher will seat your guest(s) in the designated area upon arrival.

Graduation Day

The robing and assembly of graduates will take place in the Dick Bennett Gym and the processional will lead into the Kress Center (main gym).  There will be signs directing you where to go for assembly. The outside doors of the Kress Events Center will be open at 8:00 a.m., as for normal business hours. The Kress Center will open at 10:00 a.m. for guest seating. Graduates should plan to arrive no later than 10:30 in order to robe and be ready for the assembly and processional instructions. Please note: 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 Dick Bennett Gym.  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 for a lineup count and final instructions. Anyone not seated at this time will be placed at the end of the processional - NO EXCEPTIONS.   As there will be no rehearsal, it is very important that you hear and follow the instructions.  The processional begins at 11:15 sharp.

Program
Follow the lead of the student marshals during the processional. When you arrive at your chair in the Kress Center (main gym), 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:  T
assels 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, the Chancellor, and the Provost. 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.

General Information