Graduation is more than Commencement
Graduation is almost here and there will be a few changes to this year’s commencement activities, including a graduation fair that is scheduled for March 17 and 18 in the Taggart Student Center Ballroom to help students prepare.
Students will be able to order announcements, have their pictures taken and pick up their cap and gown, according to the Commencement Web site at www.usu.edu/commencement. Outside vendors will also be offering their services to students.
Those students who have not already ordered their cap and gown will have one last chance to do so March 18 from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. in the TSC Ballroom. According to the Web site, students will no longer be able to rent their gown but must purchase their graduation attire “at little extra cost and without the worry and hassle of return.”
Before graduation, all graduating seniors are invited to celebrate at a free senior send-off April 14 from 7 to 10 p.m. in the TSC. Tickets are $5 for non-graduating seniors and all tickets can be picked up at the David B. Haight Alumni Center starting April 1. The price includes food, giveaways, and entertainment.
The Commencement Ceremony for undergraduates will take place Saturday, May 1 in the Spectrum at 9 a.m. The procession will begin at 8:30 a.m. with students lining up on the Quad with their colleges no later than 8 a.m. Students must have their processional line-up card with them.
Rehearsal for the undergraduate ceremony will be on Wednesday, April 28, at noon on the HPER Field.
The ceremony for master’s and doctoral students will be held Friday, April 30, at 1 p.m. in the Spectrum. Graduates should line up at noon in the tunnel of the Spectrum. Immediately following the ceremony, a reception will be held in the Sunburst Lounge in the TSC for all graduates and guests.
Graduate students who wish to attend a graduation dinner later that night can purchase tickets at the TSC ticket office for $13.50 for adults and $6.50 for children starting April 1.
Tickets are not required for any ceremony taking place in the Spectrum, but guests will be seated on a first-come-first-serve basis with doors opening one hour before the ceremonies begin.
In addition to the university’s commencement ceremony, many colleges will be holding their own ceremonial walks and celebrations:
College of Agriculture
Jan Pichette from the College of Agriculture said its celebration will be the same in years past, including an individual commencement ceremony where each graduate will have their name read. The ceremony will be followed by a reception so parents and guests can meet faculty and the college can “wish our graduates good luck.” The ceremony will begin at 12:30 p.m. on May 1 in the Kent Concert Hall.
College of Business
The College of Business will hold its individual commencement at 12:30 p.m. in the Spectrum where students will have their names read. Ruth Harrison from the college said no reception is planned.
College of Education and Human Services
College of Education graduation contact Terri Gass said the College of Education will have its own commencement ceremony in the Spectrum beginning at 2:30 p.m. Names will be read, pictures will be taken with the dean and a couple of speeches will be given including one from the valedictorian.
College of Engineering
The College of Engineering will be taking full advantage of their new building and holding a reception in the building’s atrium following the large commencement ceremony, said graduation contact Carolyn Krebs. The reception will begin at 12:30 p.m. and will include food. One addition from last year will be displays available for parents to view in addition to being able to mingle with faculty. The college will not be holding an individual ceremony.
College of HASS
A celebration will be held in the Spectrum at 4:30 p.m.
College of Natural Resources
Graduation contact Maureen Wagner said the College of Natural Resources will be hosting a celebration that is the “same thing as last year because the students liked it.”
Beginning at 12:30 p.m., students will walk across a stage in the Morgan Theater of the Chase Fine Arts Center, shake hands with the dean and listen to the valedictorian read a speech. Wagner expects the ceremony to be “short and sweet.” Following the ceremony a free luncheon will be provided so families and guests of students can meet the college’s professors.
College of Science
The individual commencement for College of Science graduates will take place in the TSC Ballroom at noon, Karen Bindrup, graduation contact, said. A reception will be held following the ceremony.
R.O.T.C.
The U.S. Army R.O.T.C. Commissioning Ceremony will be held in the Eccles Conference Center Friday, April 30 at 9 a.m. and the U.S. Air Force R.O.T.C. Commission Ceremony will be held the same day and place at 11 a.m. Receptions will follow both ceremonies.
Graduates and guests can attend a Graduation Picnic May 1 hosted by the Alumni Association from 11:30 to 2:30 p.m. on the HPER Field. Tickets will be available in the USU Ticket Office April 1 and will cost $6.50 a person.
Students who do not plan on attending commencement must be officially excused by the Registrar’s Office.
-bnelson@cc.usu.edu