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?
Commencement will take place on the Campus Green on Saturday, May 23, at 11:00 a.m. The graduates will begin lining up at 9:30 a.m. and the procession will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m.
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.
How long does the ceremony last?
The ceremony is expected to last approximately two hours. Following the ceremony you are invited to join fellow graduates and their families at a reception under the tents on the Champagnat Mall.
How do I obtain graduation announcements?
Announcements are available for you to alert your family and friends about your graduation. These are not admission tickets. Each student will be provided six announcements. The announcements will be mailed home along with the informational guide booklet to parents in early March. 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: Saturday ceremony: After rehearsal on Friday, May 22, 2009, until 4:00 p.m. or before the ceremony on Saturday, May 23, no earlier than 8:00 a.m.
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 3:00 p.m., 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. Students must 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.
Where do I pick up my line-up card?
Line-up cards and severe weather tickets will be available on Thursday, May 21, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Donnelly Hall. Please note that a picture ID is required to obtain the line-up card.
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 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. (during line-up card distribution).
Is there a rehearsal?
All graduates are required to attend a mandatory rehearsal on Friday, May 22, at 11:30 a.m. Students will convene on the roadway between St. Peter's and Donnelly Hall in the area designated for their School. Signs will be prominently displayed. Line-up cards are needed for rehearsal, which is expected to last approximately one hour.
What time do I line up on Commencement day? What time does the procession begin?
Students will assemble for the procession at 9:15 a.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 10:30 a.m. Candidates and faculty will march together, led by their marshal, and be seated by School. Graduates will be called to receive their diplomas in alphabetical order by School. Line-up cards will be collected from students just before they approach the platform to receive their diploma covers.
How should I dress?
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. 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 umbrellas. Bring sunblock and sunglasses for sunny conditions. Wear shoes appropriate for grassy areas.
When should my guests plan on arriving?
Family and guests are encouraged to arrive before 9:45 a.m. to better ensure a parking space and seating. However, no guests will be permitted to enter the actual ceremony site before 8:30 a.m.
Are tickets required and is there a limit to how many guests I can invite?
Tickets are NOT required for the outdoor ceremony. Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are asked to limit their party to six guests out of consideration for their fellow graduates. No saving of seats will be allowed. If severe weather forces the ceremony indoors, tickets will be required.
I have a guest who is disabled. Is there special seating?
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 by the graduating senior 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 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. There is no access to the handicapped parking areas from the south entrance.
What if it rains?
Unless weather conditions are severe, Commencement will take place rain or shine on the Campus Green. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony may be delayed from its scheduled start if clearing is anticipated within a reasonable period. Announcement of a delayed ceremony will be made on campus prior to 10:30 a.m. Commencement morning. If it is determined due to severe weather that we must utilize the severe weather contingency plan, it will be announced as early as possible on Saturday, May 23. Please check www.marist.edu for updates or call the severe weather hotline (845) 575-5500.
Why are tickets required for indoor seating in severe weather?
Unfortunately the McCann Center isn't large enough to accommodate everyone on campus for Commencement. In order to guarantee that each senior will have two guests at the ceremony (either in the McCann Center or at a live feed area) a ticket system was established. It is the graduate's responsibility to distribute these two tickets to his or her guests prior to the ceremony.
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.
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.
Where do I meet my parents after Commencement?
We suggest that you prearrange a meeting place with your parents at the conclusion of the full recessional.
When do graduates have to be out of their rooms?
All residence halls will close at 5:00 p.m. Commencement day, Saturday, May 23.
Are there additional campus weekend activities?
Various campus organizations conduct special celebrations with students, families and friends. Students will receive separate invitations, with reservations required, for these events.
What about Senior Week activities?
At the end of March you will receive in your mailbox the 2009 Senior Week Schedule outlining all the activities planned by the Senior Week Committee under the direction of Student Activities.
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 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 23. Diploma frames are available at the bookstore for purchase.
Is there a yearbook I can purchase?
Yes. Contact College Activities at ext. 3279 for more information.
How do I purchase a class ring?
Questions or information regarding class rings should be directed to Celebrate the Tradition at www.CelebrateTheTradition.com Please contact customer service representative Careese Laross at 800-297-4723 or 630-389-3612.
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