What you need to know... Commencement ceremonies

Mount Saint Mary College • 330 Powell Avenue, Newburgh, NY 12550 • www.msmc.edu
What you need to know...
preparing for graduation
Application for graduation
August 2009 and December 2009 graduates participate in the May 15 commencement ceremony. If you are
graduating in May 2010, your Intent to Graduate form should have been filed with the Registrar’s Office by
October 20, 2009. Students filing after October 20 may be ineligible for graduation. Transfer credit and
permission credits must be received by the Registrar’s Office by May 10, 2010.
Cap and Gown Orders
In your first commencement mailing, you were sent a cap and gown order form. This form should be completed
and returned to the Campus Store by April 16. Graduates are responsible for ordering and picking up their cap &
gown!
Academic hoods and tassels will be ordered by the college and distributed at the commencement rehearsal.
Graduates may NOT wear academic attire from another institution.
-2-
RSVP form
In order for the Ceremonials Committee to plan effectively, graduates are asked to RSVP to the commencement
ceremonies. You may complete and detach the RSVP card sent in the first commencement mailing, or you may
respond online by clicking on the RSVP link on the commencement site.
Graduates must RSVP by April 23, 2010. If you don’t RSVP by the due date, you will not have tickets reserved for
you, you will not have a seat reserved for you, you will not be included in the commencement procession, and
you will not have a name card for the ceremony.
Graduation Announcements and Tickets
Announcements are available for you to send to family and friends. Each graduate will receive ten
announcements. Announcements are NOT tickets to the ceremony.
Each graduate will be given six guest tickets. All guests must have a ticket to the commencement ceremony. No
one, including small children, will be admitted without a ticket. DO NOT CALL requesting additional tickets. They
are simply NOT available.
Tickets and announcements may be picked up in the Continuing Education Office,
361 Powell Avenue, during the following days and times:
Monday, April 26 through Thursday, April 29: 1:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 30: 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
PICTURE ID is required for pick-up! Tickets will be given only to graduates; no one may pick up tickets for
someone else.
After April 30, tickets will not be available for commencement. If you do not pick up your tickets during the
distribution times, you will not have guest tickets for the graduation ceremony. Tickets will not be held for
graduates after April 30. PLEASE BE ADVISED that lost tickets will not be replaced under any circumstances.
-3-
What you need to know...
Commencement ceremonies
Graduation Rehearsal
Thursday, May 13, 2010
All graduates are required to attend a graduation rehearsal on Thursday, May 13, 2010 in the Aquinas Hall
Theater. The rehearsal for traditional students is 10:00 a.m.; Continuing Education and Masters graduates will
rehearse at 6:45 p.m. Seat numbers, academic hoods and tassels will be distributed at the graduation rehearsal,
and important procedures will be reviewed. Hoods and tassels will not be distributed after the rehearsal dates.
Nursing Pinning Ceremony
Friday, May 14, 2010
1:00 p.m.
Aquinas Hall Theater
Graduates’ Reception
Friday, May 14, 2010
5:30 p.m.
MST Atrium
-4-
Hooding and Awards Ceremony
Friday, May 14, 2010
7:00 p.m.
Aquinas Hall Theater
The Hooding and Awards Ceremony is a traditional commencement ceremony where graduates are formally
vested with their academic hoods. At this ceremony, students earning awards for academic excellence, college
service and community leadership will be recognized. The prestigious Mount Saint Mary College Award and the
Father Michael J. Gileece Memorial Award are presented at the Hooding and Awards Ceremony.
Graduates should wear their academic gowns (no caps) to this ceremony and carry their academic hoods draped
over their left arm. Tickets are not required for this event. Family and friends are encouraged to attend in support
of the graduates.
Commencement Liturgy
Saturday, May 15, 2010
9:30 a.m.
Founders Chapel
Commencement day begins with a Commencement Liturgy for graduates, their friends & families. The Mass will
be celebrated by Fr. Kevin Mackin, O.F.M., President of Mount Saint Mary College, in Founders Chapel. Tickets
are not required for this event.
Graduate Line-up and Vesting
Saturday, May 15, 2010
11:00 a.m.
Aquinas Hall
Academic Procession
Saturday, May 15, 2010
12:30 p.m.
Begins at Aquinas Hall
Commencement Exercises
Saturday, May 15, 2010
1:00 p.m.
Kaplan Field
-5-
Photographs and DVD
Each graduate will be photographed by a professional photographer as he/she receives a congratulatory
handshake on stage. Island Photography is the company commissioned by the college. The company will send
color proofs to the graduates, and orders may be placed directly with them.
A professionally produced DVD of the commencement ceremony is available for purchase. The DVD captures
the complete ceremony, from processional to recessional. This includes each graduate being congratulated by
the college President and the Board of Trustees Chair.
Designated Area For Picture-Taking
Guests may not approach the stage or stand in aisles to photograph any part of the commencement ceremony.
Photographs and/or videos may be taken from a designated area. Guests will be permitted to remain in this
designated space for just a few minutes, not throughout the entire ceremony. This ensures that others who wish
to take photos of graduates will be able to do so.
Photo Stations On Campus
Two photo stations will be set up on the Mount’s scenic campus so that graduates may pose for pictures with
family & friends.
Release Statement
All attendees of, and participants in, the commencement ceremonies consent to be photographed, videotaped
and recorded by Mount Saint Mary College or its designees, for the purpose of producing a documentary of the
event for distribution to the College Community and the news media. All attendees and participants release and
otherwise agree to hold the College harmless and to indemnify the College and its licensees and/or assigns from
any and all claims arising out of, or resulting from, their appearance or statements in the above documentary.
-6-
Diplomas
Diplomas will be distributed at the commencement ceremony. Only those students who have fulfilled all
academic responsibilities along with all financial obligations will be issued a diploma.
Persons With Disabilities
Persons with disabilities who require accommodations should contact The Office of Disability Services (845-5693115) at least three weeks prior to commencement. Every attempt will be made to arrange accommodations.
Late requests cannot be guaranteed.
Service animals are welcome, but no other animals are permitted on campus.
Students should advise their guests that walking on campus includes some inclines and to reach
commencement seating involves walking on grass. There will be seating immediately inside the first gate to
allow ticketed guests to wait for the rest of their party.
Security personnel will be available to direct traffic in order to accommodate persons who need to be dropped
off near the event (i.e. those guest unable to walk or use provided shuttles). This area will be limited to drop off
only; vehicles cannot be left unattended. Please be advised that the need for handicap parking near the event far
exceeds daily demand and to best accommodate the number of people in need we request that only those who
are unable to “drop off” use handicap parking closest to the event (State permit required). After the ceremonies,
for safety reasons, pick up near the event will be delayed until the immediate area is clear. This can sometimes
exceed thirty minutes.
The college has made arrangements to have wheelchairs available. To assure availability for all those in need,
wheelchair requests must be received three weeks prior to commencement. Every effort will be made to
accommodate last minute needs, but there are no guarantees.
To request a wheelchair, please print out or ask for a copy of the Wheelchair Request Form, complete and return
to Health Services (fax 845-569-3514, email [email protected])
For the health and safety of all, no smoking is permitted within the Kaplan Athletic Field area or in any buildings.
Additional questions should be directed to Health Services, 845-569-3152 or The Office of Disability Services,
845-569-3115.
-7-
Important Notes...
Parking
On campus parking will be limited! Satellite parking lots will be made available, and shuttle buses will transport
guests from the satellite lots to the campus. The college encourages family members to car pool to
commencement. The roads to the college and on to the campus will be closed by 12:15 p.m.
Refreshments
Snacks and beverages will be available for sale at various locations throughout the campus. Food and drinks will
not be permitted inside the tent. Lawn chairs and/or coolers are not allowed on the grounds surrounding the
commencement ceremony.
Campus Store
The Campus Store will be open on commencement day from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Ceremonial Etiquette
The college wants to ensure that commencement is a dignified academic ceremony, enjoyed by both graduates
and guests.
Boisterous behavior during the conferring of degrees, such as yelling or whistling, is both rude and
inconsiderate. So that guests may hear the name of their graduate announced, we ask that those in attendance
refrain from clapping, yelling, shouting or whistling until all the graduates have been individually acknowledged
on stage.
Cell phones and pagers must be turned off when guests are inside the tent.
Balloons, confetti, horns and similar items are not permitted inside the fenced area.
Small children and babies must be properly attended to at all times during the ceremony. Crying or boisterous
children must leave the entire fenced area with a responsible adult.
Weather Policy
The commencement ceremony will be held on the Kaplan Field inside a tent. Only in the event of extreme
weather, such as dangerous lightning or hurricane/tornado conditions, will the ceremony be moved to the
Kaplan Gymnasium. Should this happen, each graduate will be limited to two guest tickets—no exceptions. It is
the graduates’ responsibility to distribute the severe weather tickets to his or her guests prior to the ceremony.
-8-
Kaplan Field
-9-
Note From The Alumni Association
Dear Graduates:
Congratulations on your upcoming Mount Saint Mary College commencement exercises!
On May 15th, you will automatically become a member of the Mount Saint Mary College
Alumni Association – an ever-growing community of more than 12,000 MSMC graduates
living in 49 states and five foreign countries.
Let us be the first to welcome you into the ranks of the Mount Saint Mary College Alumni
Association
The MSMC Alumni Association provides the opportunity to continue your participation in
the life of your alma mater and access the diverse talents, interests and contacts of Mount
graduates in virtually every field of endeavor. The Alumni Affairs Office is your link to the
Alumni Association and the college. As you begin the next chapter in your life I encourage
you to keep the Alumni Office informed of your personal and professional achievements. All
alumni receive Happenings, the Mount’s magazine. Through the Alumni Notes section in
Happenings, you can keep classmates abreast of achievements and personal news.
The Alumni Association and the Alumni Office host a variety of events during the year,
enabling you to keep in contact with fellow classmates, faculty, and staff. Please visit the
Mount’s web site at www.msmc.edu often to learn about new events and programs available
to alumni.
If you change your address, please let us know by calling the Alumni Office at 845-5693286 or e-mail us at [email protected].
We don’t want you to miss any issues of Happenings, invitations to alumni events or
opportunities to catch up with classmates or network with fellow alumni. Over the summer,
you will receive a packet from us letting you know of all the benefits afforded to you as a
Mount graduate.
Again, congratulations on this notable achievement and welcome to the Mount Saint Mary
College Alumni Association!
Warm regards,
Mysia Haight-Hoogsten ’84, President, MSMC Alumni Association
Michelle Iacuessa ’94, Director of Alumni Affair
- 10 -