How do I participate in Commencement?
By now, all candidates should have filled out an Application for Graduation form in the Registrar's office or downloaded the form from the Commencement web site. If you have not done so, please stop by the Registrar's office by April 3. The information provided on the form will be used to order your diploma and for the Commencement program.
When and where is Commencement?
The Marist College 63rd Commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, May 22. Weather permitting, the ceremony will be held outdoors on the Campus Green. Students, faculty, and staff will assemble for the procession at 5:15 p.m. on the roadway between St. Peter's and Donnelly Hall. Students will need their line-up cards to participate in the ceremony. The procession is scheduled to begin promptly at 5:45 p.m. Candidates for bachelor's degrees will march together, led by their marshal, and will be called to the platform to receive their diploma covers in alphabetical order. Candidates for master's degrees will march together and will be called to receive their diploma covers by graduate program. Line-up cards will be collected from students just before they approach the platform.
Who will correctly pronunciate my name?
Marist wants to make sure each name called on Commencement day is pronounced correctly. For this reason, names are all pre-recorded by the Dean of each School. Please contact your Dean's office to help him or her with correct pronunciation. You may also drop by the Media Center in Lowell Thomas 203 and pre-record your name for your Dean to use as a reference. You are encouraged to do this early, as no changes will be made after April 30.
Do you know who the speaker will be?
This announcement is usually made in mid-April.
Are there announcements available that I may send to relatives and friends?
Announcements are available for you to alert your family and friends about your graduation. These are not admission tickets. Graduates will be mailed their announcements in March. Each student will be provided six announcements. Orders for personalized announcements can be placed online at www.herffjones.com/college/graduation.
How do I order my cap and gown?
Regalia is ordered using our web application at www.marist.edu/registrar/commencement/.
We begin accepting orders on February 9, 2009, and will continue until March 27, 2009. A Marist Computer Account Access code and password are required.
When do I pick up my cap and gown?
Regalia may be picked up as follows: Friday ceremony: Thursday, May 21, 2009, from 4:30 pm to 7:00 pm. or before the ceremony on Friday, May 22, no earlier than noon.
If ceremony is moved inside due to inclement weather, caps and gowns will be available in the small gym of the McCann Center.
Caps, gowns, and hoods are rented by the College for all graduates at no cost to the student. These must be returned to the cap and gown room in Donnelly Hall by 8:00 p.m. after the ceremony, or the student's account will be charged for replacement of the rental unit ($400 - $700). If students are interested in purchasing hoods or any part of the regalia please see below.
Do students get to keep the cap, gown, and hood?
No. The cap, gown and hood (regalia) are rented by the College for the student at no cost to the student. Regalia MUST be returned to the college immediately after the ceremony so that it may be sent back to the rental company. Students are encouraged to keep the commemorative tassel. The tassel is included in the packet of regalia. This item is purchased for the student by the College and, again, there is no cost to the student.
May students purchase the cap, gown, and/or hood?
Regalia may be purchased directly from Herff-Jones, the regalia supply company. Marist does not act as an intermediary for this transaction. The local Herff-Jones representative may be contacted at:
What is a line-up card and why do I need it?
It is imperative that all graduates have a line-up card for cap and gown pick-up and for the Commencement ceremony itself.Line-up cards and caps and gowns will be available on Thursday, May 21, from 4:30 - 7:00 p.m. in Donnelly Hall. There will be signs posted directing you to the proper distribution room. Students must show a picture ID and sign the alcohol policy statement in order to receive a line-up card. The Registrar's office should be contacted immediately if the line-up card is lost.
Is there a rehearsal?
There is no rehearsal for Friday's Commencement ceremony. There will be plenty of staff on hand to help the graduates' line up. Graduates should assemble for the Commencement procession at 5:15 p.m. on the roadway between St. Peter's and Donnelly Hall.
What is the suggested attire?
Weather conditions have varied from picture-perfect to extreme rain or heat. Graduates are advised to dress comfortably and be prepared for the weather. If it is raining you may want to bring appropriate rain gear. Bring sunblock and sunglasses for sunny conditions. Wear shoes appropriate for grassy areas. Also, students should be cautious of the clothes they wear underneath their gowns. Neither the College nor the manufacturer of the caps and gowns guarantees that they are colorfast.
Are tickets required and is there a limit to how many guests can be invited?
No, tickets are NOT required for the outdoor ceremony. Seating is on a first-come, first served basis. No saving of seats will be allowed. If rain forces the ceremony and reception indoors to the McCann Center, tickets are NOT required for the Friday ceremony but guest seating in the McCann Center will be on wooden bleachers. Students are asked to limit their party to six guests out of consideration for their fellow graduates.
What if it rains?
If weather conditions prevent us from holding the ceremony outside, the College will move the ceremony and the reception inside the McCann Center. If the ceremony is moved indoors, students should report to the small gymnasium in the McCann Center for the procession line-up. The ceremony will begin as close to 6:00 p.m. as conditions allow. Caps and gowns will be available for pick up in the small gymnasium. Guest seating in the McCann Center is on wooden bleachers. Some individuals may find the climb to the upper bleachers difficult and may prefer to view the ceremony in areas designated for live broadcast. These areas include the Nelly Goletti Theatre, Performing Arts Room, Cabaret, and Main Dining Hall (all located in the Student Center). Seating for disabled guests will be available for those who prearranged for disabled seating tickets. As with outdoor exercises, Marist will have the ceremony professionally videotaped and have professional photographers on hand to capture graduates as they shake hands with President Dennis Murray.
When should my guests arrive?
Family and guests are encouraged to arrive before 5:30 p.m. However, no guests will be permitted to enter the actual ceremony site before 5:00 p.m. The ceremony is expected to last approximately one hour. You are invited to join fellow graduates and their families at a reception immediately following graduation on the Champagnat Mall.
What about parking?
Family and guests are encouraged to arrive before 5:30 p.m. to better ensure a parking space. Vehicular access to the campus will become increasingly difficult as the parking lots fill. The south entrance to the campus will be the first to close. Once the academic procession has formed, the main entrance will also close. For a complete list of parking sites and instructions, see the Commencement web site. This year Lower West Cedar, Upper West Cedar, and the Fulton Street lots will be available for guest parking.
Are there special arrangements for parking and seating for disabled guests?
The College has made arrangements to have the ceremony interpreted in sign for the hearing impaired. There will be a designated seating section to accommodate disabled guests. Requests for disabled seating tickets and parking permits can be made to the Registrar's office starting Wednesday, May 6. A limit of one disabled parking permit and two disabled seating tickets per graduate will be issued. As guests enter the campus, please be prepared to show your disabled parking permit to the security guard, who will then direct you to the appropriate parking area. The Mid-Rise, Dyson, and Fontaine lots are reserved for vehicles with handicapped license plates, handicapped parking placards issued by a municipality, or special parking permits issued by the College Registrar. Guests with handicapped permits should enter at the main or north entrances only. There is no access to the handicapped parking areas from the south entrance.
Is there an alcohol policy?
Alcohol is not permitted before or during the Commencement exercises and will be confiscated if brought to the ceremony. Please advise all guests of this policy. Graduates participating in the Commencement ceremony will be required to sign a statement to acknowledge that they understand the College's alcohol policy. These statements will be available on Thursday, May 21, between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. (during line-up card distribution).
Will a DVD of the Commencement ceremony be available?
We are pleased to announce that Marist College's 63rd Commencement will be available on DVD. This edited program will feature both undergraduate and graduate Commencement ceremonies, including the academic procession, candid shots of graduates, and more. It may or may not include shots of individual students receiving their diploma covers. To order, please send a check or money order for $30.00 to the Marist College Media Center, 3399 North Road, LT 203, Poughkeepsie, New York, 12601 along with your name, address, and graduate's name. Please allow six weeks for delivery. Any questions can be directed to (845) 575-3635.
Will my guests be able to take pictures during the ceremony?
Professional photographers will be on hand to photograph all graduates as they shake hands with President Dennis Murray. Three to four weeks after graduation, the graduate will receive two proofs from which prints may be ordered. If you have any questions, please contact Island Photography directly at (800) 869-0908. Due to the large number of people attending Commencement, it is necessary to restrict access to the platform and the graduates' seating area. Guests will not be able to walk or stand in the aisles to take photographs or to videotape. There will be, however, a designated area for family to take pictures following the ceremony. The Commencement program, which you will receive on Commencement day, will show the location of this area.
When do I receive my diploma?
Diplomas will be mailed by June 23 to all who have met graduation requirements. Graduates must be clear of all financial obligations, including loan exit interviews and library fees, before their diploma will be mailed. Questions about financial obligations should be directed to the Office of Student Financial Services (845-575-3231).
What are the bookstore hours on Commencement day?
For your convenience the bookstore will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, May 22. Diploma frames are available at the bookstore for purchase.
What if my guests need overnight accommodations?
For those students whose guests will need overnight accommodations, a list of local hotels/bed and breakfasts/motels, as well as an area restaurant listing, is available on our Commencement web site at www.marist.edu/registrar/commencement.
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