2016 COMMENCEMENT GUIDE FOR GRADUATES AND GUESTS

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1 2016 COMMENCEMENT GUIDE FOR GRADUATES AND GUESTS

2 Table of Contents Greeting... 1 Caps and Gowns... 2 Wearing Your Academic Attire... 3 Gwynedd Mercy University Commencement... 4 Severe Weather... 4 Streaming of Commencement... 5 Campus Map... 6 Travel Information... 8 General Information...10 People with Disabilities...11 Information for Honors Convocation...12 Baccalaureate Mass... inside back cover

3 Commencement Day is quickly approaching. We hope to make this day special for you so your cooperation will be most helpful in assuring that all goes well. Please take a moment to review this booklet as it contains important information about the Commencement exercises. If you have additional questions after reading the booklet please call the Office of Student Services as or visit We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, May 14! 1

4 Caps and Gowns If graduates did not pick up caps and gowns at the Graduate Finale, there is a final opportunity to pick up academic attire on Monday, April 18 from 3 to 6 p.m. Location: Rotelle Lounge in The Griffin Complex 2

5 Wearing Your Academic Attire The gowns and colors of academic dress are distinctive. They indicate the graduate s level of academic accomplishment, discipline and school/university affiliation. We ask for graduates cooperation in not modifying academic attire with personal items that may distract from the academic ritual. The cut of the gown identifies the degree. The bachelor s gown has pointed sleeves, while the master s gown has oblong-cut sleeves. The doctoral gown has bell-shaped sleeves typically crossed with bands of velvet. The hood is the most distinctive feature of academic attire in the United States. The length of the hood indicates the level of the degree. The color of the velvet border indicates the field of learning in which the degree was earned. These colors include white for arts and letters and humanities; gold for science; and brown for fine arts. At Commencement, doctoral candidates carry the hood draped over the left arm with colors facing out. The color represents the degree (on velvet border) and should be clearly visible in carrying the hood. During Commencement, faculty from prospective schools assists master s candidates in donning their hoods. The bachelor s and master s cap is worn with the long point of the shell to the rear and with the traditional black tassel forward and to the left. Academic attire is also worn for the Honors Convocation in The Griffin Complex gymnasium on Friday, April 29 and the Baccalaureate Mass in the Julia Ball Auditorium on Saturday, May 14. Student gowns are keeper gowns and do not need to be returned. 3

6 Gwynedd Mercy University Commencement Each candidate who has fulfilled the requirements for a degree is encouraged to participate in Commencement. Please note that degree recipients are required to wear academic attire. Tickets are required for admission to the Commencement ceremony in Loyola parking lot on Saturday, May 14. Graduates will have received 5 tickets at the Graduate Finale. Guests must have a ticket to be seated directly at the graduation site. Tickets are not needed to sit in one of the Commencement viewing rooms. Since no rehearsal is possible, please read the following instructions. Assembly of Candidates All graduates, need to be at the line-up site in the gymnasium in The Griffin Complex no later than 10:30 a.m. with your cap and gown. Signs will be posted that day to assist you. The academic procession will begin at 11 a.m. Ushers will be available to guide the procession. When you arrive at the line-up area check in and pick up your name card. This card (with your name and honors) is needed for you to present to the caller when it is time for you to accept your degree on stage. Do not lose this card. Ceremony Photography There will be a professional photographer who will photograph the graduates. Students may order prints directly from the company at Severe Weather Because we do not have one indoor facility that is large enough to hold all of our graduates and guests, the University Commencement is held outside. Please be aware that if there is rain or periodic showers, we will stay outside. Therefore, please plan ahead and carry an umbrella, wear sensible shoes and bring a nice sense of humor. 4

7 Streaming of Commencement Please be aware that the Commencement ceremony is video streamed to designated viewing room on Gwynedd Mercy University campus. Guests do not need a ticket for these rooms; tickets are only needed for outdoor graduation seating. The University will be streaming the ceremony in the following locations on campus: Griffinaerie and the Late Night Lounge in Waldron Center, Merck Auditorium in Maguire Hall, W105 in University Hall, and the Julia Ball Auditorium. The Commencement ceremony is streamed live and may be accessed from computers anywhere by going to gmercyu.edu and clicking on Commencement on the homepage. 5

8 Campus Map 6

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10 Travel Information Parking Parking on campus is on a first-come basis, and security personnel will be on hand to assist and direct you. Overflow parking will be at an offsite location minutes away and there will be shuttle buses to and from this location. For a special needs parking pass please graduation@gmercyu.edu with your request. Directions to Gwynedd Mercy University 1325 Sumneytown Pike Gwynedd Valley, PA From the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76): From the Schuylkill Expressway follow 476 North to signs for Pennsylvania Turnpike. Follow turnpike East to New Jersey. Exit 339 Ambler/Fort Washington. Follow signs for Route 309 North, exit at Spring House/Norristown Road. Turn LEFT at light onto Norristown Road (which becomes Sumneytown Pike). Drive 2 miles straight ahead to the University on the right. (Don t be concerned about the name change: Norristown Road becomes Sumneytown Pike after crossing over Bethlehem Pike at the Spring House intersection.) From the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-276): Take PA Turnpike to Exit 339 (Fort Washington.) Follow signs for Route 309 North. From Route 309 North: Exit at Spring House, Norristown Road. Turn LEFT at light onto Norristown Road (which becomes Sumneytown Pike). Drive 2 miles straight ahead to university on the right. (Don t be concerned about the name change: Norristown Road becomes 8

11 Sumneytown Pike after crossing over Bethlehem Pike at the Spring House intersection.) From Route 309 South: Follow 309 South into Montgomeryville (approx. 45 min./1 hr. from Bethlehem.) Take Right onto 202 South. (Montgomery Mall on your right and TGI Friday's on your right corner and Kinko's will be on your left.) Follow 202 South to the 6th traffic light and turn LEFT onto Sumneytown Pike (William Penn Inn on your right.) Gwynedd Mercy University will be on your left (less than 1 mile.) From Northeast Extension (I-476): Follow turnpike East to exit 339, Ambler/Fort Washington. Follow signs for 309 North, exit at Spring House/Norristown Road. Turn LEFT at light onto Norristown Road. Drive 2 miles straight ahead to the University on the right. (Don t be concerned about the name change: Norristown Road becomes Sumneytown Pike after crossing over Bethlehem Pike at the Spring House intersection.) 9

12 General Information Alcoholic Beverages Please do not bring beverages, alcohol or other, to the procession area. Graduates found with beverages in their possession will be asked by Public Safety to leave. To avoid awkward situations, please inform your guests that alcohol is not allowed at Commencement. Campus Store The hours of the Campus Store, located in The Griffin Complex, are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Commencement Day. Cell Phones Please turn off your cell phone during the procession and the ceremony as a courtesy to guests and your fellow graduates. Diploma Frames Diploma frames are available in the Campus Store or from Follett at Diploma Distribution Information Following the Commencement Ceremony and until 2 p.m., graduates may pick up their diplomas in the area where line up took place (gym). Tables will be marked Master s, Bachelor s and Associate. If you are not attending the ceremony, you may pick up your diplomas starting Monday, May 16 in the Office of Academic Affairs in University Hall, 2nd Floor. International Graduates If you are a citizen of another country and would like to carry the nationally recognized flag of your country in the procession, please contact Erica Hanratty at or by at hanratty.e@ gmercyu.edu no later the April 8. Restrooms Portable restrooms are located on the outdoor basketball courts near the Commencement seating area. Restrooms are also available in Rotelle Lounge of The Griffin Complex and the Waldron Center. 10

13 People with Disabilities If a graduate anticipates the need for any type of accommodation for a family member for Commencement or has questions about the physical access provided (other than parking), please contact Dan Jordan, Student Accessibility Services Coordinator, at , ext before April 11. A seating area will be available for persons with disabilities under the Disabilities Tent. For a special needs parking pass please graduation@gmercyu.edu with you request. If you or one of your family members need a sign language interpreter for the University Commencement, arrangements need to be made at least two weeks ahead of the Commencement. Please contact Student Accessibility Services, at jordan.d@gmercyu.edu so we may engage the services of an interpreter. 11

14 Information for Honors Convocation The awarding of academic honors and student leadership awards will take place on Friday, April 29 at 7 p.m. in the gymnasium located in The Griffin Complex. Graduates need to be in the Waldron Boardroom located in Waldron Center by 6:15 p.m. wearing their cap and gown. Do not wear your academic hoods. Academic Honors All honor recipients will be notified by your Dean, Department Chair or Academic Affairs. The following Academic Honors will be awarded during the program: Program Honors - all bachelor degree graduates with 3.5 GPA in their major courses and are recommended by the department faculty. Professional Honors - awards given for clinical performance and student teaching Honor Societies All members of honor societies will be recognized. Student Leadership Awards The Office of Student Services does not have access to information about academic honors, but does provide information about the Outstanding Student Leadership Award and the Catherine McAuley Award. Guests may proceed directly to the gymnasium in The Griffin Complex and sit behind the graduates and faculty. 12

15 Baccalaureate Mass The Baccalaureate Mass is held before Commencement on May 14 starting at 9 a.m. in the Julia Ball Auditorium. All graduates and their families are invited to participate in this Liturgical celebration. Graduates may sit with their families. Caps and gowns are worn for this Liturgy, however hoods are not worn. Light refreshments will be served following the Liturgical celebration in McAuley Breezeway. Please contact Christine Eberle at eberle.c@gmercyu.edu should you need additional information with regards to the Baccalaureate Mass.

16 Office of Enrollment and Student Services 1325 Sumneytown Pike P.O. Box 901 Gwynedd Valley, PA