Commencement Schedule of Events

Five (5) tickets per graduating student for Commencement will be distributed to undergraduates prior to graduation as follows:

Tuesday: 1:00 - 6:00 p.m., Alliot Lobby
Wednesday: 9:00 - 1:00 p.m., Alliot Lobby
Thursday: 8:00 - 10:00 a.m., Tarrant Lobby

Master candidates can pick up tickets from their program administrative assistant.

Honor tassels for summa cum laude, magna cum laude & cum laude graduates will be available for pickup at these times also.

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BACCALAUREATE
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
 

The Baccalaureate consists of a 45 minute awards ceremony and a 60 minute mass.  Families are encouraged to attend.  No tickets are required.

2:30 p.m.  Robing (See below)
2:50 p.m.  Procession
3:00 p.m.  Baccalaureate, Ross Sports Center 

AWARDS CEREMONY 
Presiding: Dr. John Neuhauser, President

LITURGY
Main Celebrant & Homilist: Most Reverend Salvatore R. Matano, Bishop of Burlington

The following groups will assemble at 2:30 p.m. as indicated for the academic procession (rain or shine): 

  • GRADUATES  Green Mountain Dining Room, Alliot Student Center
  • MASTERS CANDIDATES  Vermont Room, Alliot Student Center
  • FACULTY & STAFF  Cheray Hall 101
  • HONORED GUESTS AND TRUSTEES  Room 113 of Saint Edmund's Hall
  • CLERGY  Room 106 of Ross Sports Center 

Order of Procession: 

  • Grand Marshall - Prof. George Dameron
  • Seniors
  • Masters Candidates
  • Faculty Marshall - Prof. Donna Bozzone
  • Faculty/Staff
  • Honored Guests Marshall - Mr. Richard DiVenere
  • Trustees
  • Dais Party
  • Provost William Wilson
  • President John Neuhauser

At Baccalaureate, remove caps when the priest begins Mass. Remain uncovered until the end of Mass and the beginning of the recessional. Rise by rows when going up to receive Communion.

PROVOST'S RECEPTION
Immediately following Mass the Provost's Reception will begin in the Tarrant Recreational Center.

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COMMENCEMENT
Thursday, May 15, 2008
 

9:00 a.m.  Senior class picture w/cap & gown
(Front of Library, rain or shine)

9:15 a.m.  Robing - (Masters Candidates - 9:00 a.m.) (see below)

9:50 a.m.  Procession

10:00 a.m.  Commencement, Ross Sports Center
Speaker: Unity Dow, Botswana High Court Judge

Immediately following Commencement there will be a reception on the lawn in front of the Library (weather permitting)
 
Commencement will take place in the Ross Sports Center.  Tickets are required.  Live broadcasts can be seen in McCarthy (no tickets required).  Please plan to be at the Alliot Student Center no later than 9:15.m. (For Honored Guests - St. Edmund's Room 113 by 9:15 a.m.) to robe and form the academic procession. The following locations will be used for assembling (rain or shine): 

  • GRADUATES  Green Mountain Dining Room, Alliot Student Center
  • MASTERS CANDIDATES  Vermont Room, Alliot Student Center
  • FACULTY & STAFF  Cheray Hall 101
  • HONORED GUESTS  Saint Edmund's Hall, Room 113 

Seniors will be placed alphabetically by the Student Life Staff. Masters Candidates will be placed by degree by Jeremy Bachelder. Faculty/Staff will be lined up by the Faculty Marshall, Prof. Donna Bozzone.
 
Order of Procession: 

  • Grand Marshall - Prof. George Dameron
  • Seniors
  • Masters Candidates
  • Faculty Marshall - Prof. Donna Bozzone
  • Faculty/Staff
  • Honored Guests Marshall - Mr. Richard DiVenere
  • Trustees
  • Dais Party
  • Provost William Wilson
  • President John Neuhauser

For standing or sitting, covering head or removing cap, simply follow the example of the marshall and/or your class president.

On first taking places, remain standing for the National Anthem and Invocation. Rise by rows when going up to receive degree.  Receive degree from President and then shake his hand.  After official conferral of degree, switch tassel from right to left.  At the end of the ceremony, follow marshall and stage group in recessional.  Recessional will continue to the reception area on the lawn in front of the Library.