Graduation Information for Seniors and Their Families
Congratulations, seniors! The time to celebrate your degree is not so far away.
Commencement 2013 will be on Saturday, May 4. There are two official events that day: the Baccalaureate church service at 10:30 a.m. and the Commencement service at 1:30 p.m. Plan to attend both.
The official photo of the graduating class will be taken right after the Baccalaureate service. Then there will be time for lunch, available in the dining hall, and then the Commencement service itself, where you will walk across the stage and get your actual diploma, in a personalized cover, from President Hester.
In the week leading up to Commencement there are preliminary activities:
- Wednesday, May 1
- Senior Picnic
- Friday, May 3
- Noon, Senior Rehearsal in Annie Merner Chapel
- 4 p.m., Social Work Pinning Ceremony in Thoresen Recital Hall
- 5 – 6:30 p.m., Senior Reception in McClelland Dining Hall
- 7 – 8:30 p.m., Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony in Annie Merner Chapel
Application for graduation: required!
But – graduation is not automatic! Even when you have finished all requirements for graduation, we do not award your degree until you tell us to.
So if you are planning to graduate, please come to the Registrar’s office, Kathryn 309, and fill out the official Application for Graduation form. You can get it here 
or from Alice Dodson, Assistant to the Registrar, who keeps the applications on file and makes the official graduation list.
Eligibility for a degree depends on your fulfilling all general education requirements and all requirements for the major, and on satisfying all outstanding accounts with the college. The Registrar checks with the major advisor to make sure all requirements are met. You will need to be cleared by Financial Aid and the Business Office too.
Nearly eligible: if you will not complete degree requirements until May Term or summer session 2013, you may still participate. You will walk with everyone else and get a diploma cover (but not the diploma) from the President. In the program, you will be listed as expecting your degree later.
Cap and gown orders must be placed in advance with the Bookstore. If you have applied for graduation, later in the year you will get specific information on ordering.
Hotel reservations may be hard to get for this busy weekend, so if you want a place in Jacksonville or Springfield for family and friends to stay, don’t wait.
More information about Commencement will be available early in 2013. Meanwhile, if you have any questions, we’ll be happy to answer them. Come to Kathryn 309, email us, or phone us at 479-7014.
