Instructions for Graduating Students

2011 Commencement

The Commencement exercises will be held on Sunday, May 15, 2011, at noon, in the McLane Center on the Alfred University campus.

Graduation Packets

Packets may be picked up from the Campus Bookstore anytime after April 11. The packet contains your graduation gown, cap, and tassel; a photo card; and several notices regarding the graduation ceremony.

Packets picked up prior to May 5 will contain four seating tickets. Seating will be limited, so remember to bring these tickets with you. Those without tickets will not be admitted. Only students who pick up their graduation packets prior to May 5 are guaranteed four seating tickets. Beginning May 5, remaining tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Guest admission to the exercises will begin at 11:30 a.m. Parking and seating for guests with disabilities (including wheelchairs) is available; contact the University Police at (607) 587-3999 for a temporary handicapped parking permit and this reserved seating. If additional special accommodations are necessary due to a disability, the graduate should inform Student Disability Services in The Learning Center at (607) 587-4122 so appropriate arrangements can be made.

Commencement exercises begin promptly and will last approximately two-and-a-half hours. Students should arrive no later than 11:20 a.m. with academic regalia. Students assemble outside the parking lot entrance of the McLane Center according to academic area. (Look for the sign identifying your area.) If you are a prospective honor student, be sure to get an honor cord from the Honor Marshal who will have a listing of the honor students. Honor students’ names will be posted on a “sandwich” board. As Commencement begins, all graduating students will march to their seats by academic area.

Important

Each student’s name is announced as he/she crosses the stage. It is extremely important that you complete and bring the photograph card (from the graduation packet) with you to Commencement. When your area is called forward, bring the photograph card with you. Hand the card to the name reader on stage.

Attire

You are expected to dress professionally for this prestigious ceremony. Try on your academic gown to check for size as soon as you pick it up. Please iron your gown prior to Commencement.

• Men should wear dark slacks and dress shoes.
• Women should also wear dress shoes.
• Please do not wear jeans, sweats, casual sandals, or sneakers.

Approved Commencement dress consists of black robe, black mortarboard, appropriate colored tassel. Hoods are a required part of bachelor regalia. Honor society medals, ribbons, stoles, and ropes designating academic achievement as formally approved by the Academic Regalia Policy are also permitted. All other ornamentation including, but not limited to, signs on the top of mortarboards, buttons, patches, corsages, etc. are considered extraneous and are not permitted. Students with such ornamentation will be asked to remove it prior to the ceremony. Failure to comply with these rules will necessitate the removal of the graduate from the ceremony.

The mortarboard (the Commencement cap) should be worn with the tassel on the right. After the College Council member authorizes the awarding of degrees in your school, the name reader invites the students to come forward for recognition. Be sure to keep the tassel on the right. After all candidates have walked across the stage, you will be inducted into the Alumni Council and the tassels will then be moved to the left. This tradition signifies the conferment of the degree. Men should remove their mortarboards during the National Anthem, the invocation, and the benediction.

Please Note

The May 15 event is a ceremony to recognize graduation. Attending the ceremony does not signify that you have, in fact, successfully completed all requirements; unfortunately, some will go through the ceremony, but not be recommended for graduation by the faculty. You will receive only the diploma cover at the Commencement ceremony. The actual diploma will be mailed in mid-July.

Alfred State College will provide a live streaming broadcast of the 2011 Commencement ceremony. To view the proceedings on the Web, access the following link: http://web.alfredstate.edu/video.

Receptions

A reception for graduates, guests, and faculty will be held immediately following Commencement at the Central Dining Hall. Light refreshments will be served. Separate sections will be designated for the individual schools. This is an excellent time for final good-byes and photographs.

Campus Bookstore

The Campus Bookstore will be open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. The store phone number is (607) 587-4020.