undergraduate commencement
Welcome letter from Alumni Association president Tom Bruce '67 (PDF)
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| Friday, May 23, 2008 | |
| 12:00 p.m. | Commencement Rehearsal, Stadium |
| 5:00 pm | Baccalaureate Mass, McKeon Pavilion |
| Saturday, May 24, 2008 | |
| 8:45 a.m. | Graduates line-up, Practice Field |
| 9:20 a.m. | Procession Begins, Stadium |
| 9:30 a.m. | Commencement, Stadium |
| 12:00 p.m. | Individual Receptions, Campus wide |
There is No Need To R.S.V.P. for The Baccalaureate or Commencement Ceremonies as there is ample seating available for both ceremonies.
The graduation ceremony for the Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP) program will take place during Graduate Commencement.
DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS
Commencement Rehearsal
(Friday, May 23, 2008 at 12 noon in the stadium)
All graduates must attend this practice at 12 noon in the stadium to receive instructions before going through the Commencement Ceremonies. Directions regarding the progression of the event will be given, and the Master of Ceremonies will be available for consultation regarding the proper pronunciation of more difficult names. The practice usually runs one hour. Please be punctual.
Baccalaureate Mass
(Friday, May 23, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. in McKeon Pavilion)
Just as an incoming student’s experience of Saint Mary’s College begins with a Welcome Mass, so too does that experience end within a liturgical setting, the Baccalaureate Mass. Students of all faiths, their families and friends, are cordially invited to participate in this celebration. You do not have to be Roman Catholic to attend. It is a time for giving thanks and praise for gifts given and received while at Saint Mary’s College, and for asking a blessing on the graduates and their future lives.
Graduates will line up on the sidewalk in front of Madigan Gymnasium by 4:45 p.m. Wear your gown but not the cap or hood. No tickets are needed for this event. Unlike the Commencement Ceremony you will not line up in alphabetical order or by academic department. Please be mindful that the Baccalaureate Mass is a religious celebration that calls for proper respect and decorum from all in attendance.
Commencement Line-up
(Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. on the Practice Field)
Graduates must be lined up by their appropriate schools and in alphabetical order by 8:45 a.m. so that the Commencement can begin on time. The line up will take place on the Practice Field outside of the stadium. You should be in full academic dress: cap, gown, and hood. IMPORTANT: Allow yourself enough time for arrival since both traffic and parking are major challenges on this day. We will not wait for you. If you are late you must line up at the end of the line and your name will be called out of order.
Commencement Ceremony
(Saturday, May 24, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. in the stadium)
The Commencement is a time to celebrate the culmination of your undergraduate college life. It is a time for sharing with family, friends, faculty, and staff the joy and result of your effort. It is a time to thank those most responsible for helping you arrive at this moment.
Note: The joy and dignity of Commencement make it a memorable event for everyone. None of us want that memory marred by inappropriate conduct. Alcohol is prohibited at the Commencement Ceremony. Also, please remain in your place at the end of the ceremony until the faculty and administration have passed between you down the aisle.
