The following information will assist you in preparing for graduation:

Transcription

1 MEMORANDUM TO: FROM: Candidates for Graduation Full-time and Adjunct Faculty Trina C. Jones Dean of Student Services DATE: April 6, 2016 RE: Commencement Plans Congratulations on this memorable time in your educational journey! The annual graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, May 13, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at the Regional Workforce Development Center. We strongly encourage you to participate in this celebration of your success. Graduate Assessment information is enclosed for your convenience. The following information will assist you in preparing for graduation: Caps and Gowns: Caps and Gowns, Graduation Announcements, and Tickets will be available for pick up at Barnes and Noble Bookstore during the following dates, times, and location: Location Dates Time Franklin Campus Thursday, April 14, :00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Suffolk Campus Thursday, April 14, :00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Tickets and Seating: Due to the limited space in the Conference Hall at the Workforce Development Center, graduates will be given five tickets; two tickets will be earmarked for the Conference Hall and three tickets will be for the overflow seating area. Arriving early will increase the opportunity for guests to be seated in the Conference Hall. Guest seating will begin at 6:00 p.m. and seat reservations are not permitted. Having a ticket does not guarantee a seat in the Conference Hall. There will be an overflow area in the Technology Theater, where guests can view the ceremony on large screens. If you are unable to use all of your tickets, please consider returning the unused ones to the Office of Admissions for other guests to use. Photographs: The College is contracting with a photographer to take pictures at the graduation ceremony. Information on acquiring pictures will be given at graduation rehearsal.

2 Pre-Graduation Celebration: On Thursday, May 12, all candidates are invited to a pre-graduation celebration from 5:00 5:45 p.m. in the Conference Hall of the Workforce Development Center on the Franklin Campus. Full-time and adjunct faculty and all staff are also invited to be there to celebrate your accomplishments with food, fun, and fellowship. Barnes and Noble Bookstore will be on site. Graduation Practice: Rehearsal for all candidates will be held on Thursday, May 12, from 6:00 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Hall of the Workforce Development Center on the Franklin Campus. Graduate Assessment: All graduates (Degree and Certificate candidates) need to complete the Graduate Survey. To access the survey go to and (1) Click on the College Quick Links ribbon located in the middle of the home page; (2) Click on the blue Assessment & Research link; (3) Click on Graduate Survey Form located toward the bottom of the page; and (4) Complete the survey and then click on DONE at the end of the survey. If you will be earning a two year (AAS or AA&S) degree, you are responsible for completing the following (in addition to the Graduate Survey): 1. Core competency assessments- (1) Written Communication and (2) Scientific Reasoning. Assessment testing will take place through April 29 on both campuses and the Smithfield Center. The enclosed flyer outlines the location, dates, and times for testing. It will take appropriately two hours to complete the required assessments. Contact Mary Ellen Gleason ( , mgleason@pdc.edu ) in the Testing Center on the Franklin Campus, Judy Hawkins ( , jhawkins@pdc.edu ) in the Placement Testing Lab on the Suffolk Hobbs Campus or Brenda Anyanwu ( , banyanwu@pdc.edu) at the Smithfield Center to register for your testing date. 2. College s STAGE Test- Go to and (1) Click on the College Quick Links ribbon located in the middle of the home page; (2) Click on the blue Assessment & Research link; (3) Click on STAGE Test located toward the bottom of the page; and (4) Complete the test and then click on DONE at the end of the survey. This requirement will take approximately one hour. Please know that you do not have to achieve a specific score on these assessments although we want every student to do his or her best. The results of these assessments will not be recorded on your student academic record and assessment scores will not affect your graduation status. Page 2 of 7

3 GRADUATION DAY General Information The Franklin Campus switchboard at will be open from 8:00 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13, should you have any questions. All graduates are requested to arrive at 6:00 p.m. and report to the Franklin Campus, Main Entrance. At 6:30 p.m., all Candidates, Faculty, College Board Members, and other participants will assemble in full academic regalia. At 7:00 p.m. the Procession will start promptly. Latecomers will be seated in the audience rather than with the graduates. Please remember that this commencement is a public event, reflecting upon you, your program of study, and the College. For this reason, we request that your behavior reflect the dignity and importance of this occasion. Please be sure to turn off all cell phones. Commencement is the capstone of the academic experience for you, other students, families, and friends. Recognition of the rights of others to enjoy the ceremony free from disruptive or inappropriate behavior is appreciated. The Commencement Ceremony will last approximately 1 ½ hours. Should you decide not to attend graduation, please contact Donna Douglas at ddouglas@pdc.edu. Inside Procession Upon check-in at the Franklin campus, candidates for graduation will be assigned to a designated classroom. Assisted by a student marshal and a program advisor, candidates will line up single file, according to their degree or certificate in alphabetical order by program of study. Transfer Program degree candidates will lead the procession followed by Occupational/Technical degree candidates, certificate candidates, and finally Career Studies Certificate candidates. If you are receiving more than one credential, line up with your group receiving the highest credential. The procession will begin as the Chief Marshal, platform guests/speakers, College Board, Faculty, candidates faculty marshals, and candidates march from the main Campus headed to the Workforce Development Center and enter the Conference Hall. The platform guests/speakers will take their designated seats in the first row on stage. The platform guests/speakers will be followed by the College Board who will sit on the back row of the stage. The College Board will be followed by the faculty who will sit in the chairs to the left of the stage. The faculty will be followed by the candidates who will move to the front of the Conference Hall in one line (degree students followed by certificates) and fill in the front row(s) as directed by student marshals. All will remain standing until all candidates for graduation are seated. Page 3 of 7

4 Conferring of Degrees and Awarding of Certificates Following the recognition of outstanding graduates, the Vice President of Academic and Student Development will ask all degree candidates to rise. The College President will then confer degrees to the whole group. The Vice President will ask the candidates to be seated. This procedure will be repeated for the certificate candidates. Following this, the first row of degree candidates will stand and move toward the Vice President of Academic and Student Development who will be on the far right as you face the podium. The second row of degree candidates will stand together and move in behind the last person in row one. Each row will continue in this manner. Each candidate will hand the Vice President of Academic and Student Development his/her name card as he/she approaches the stage. The candidates will then move across the stage in front of the podium, shaking hands with the President, and receive their diploma cover. The actual diploma and/or certificate may be picked up from the Office of Admissions in Franklin, Suffolk, or Smithfield beginning on June 30, Your home campus is determined as indicated on your graduation application. The graduates will continue across the stage, go down the steps on the other side, and return to his/her seat. The recession will commence on the first-in, first-out order with the Chief Marshal, platform guests/speakers leading, followed by the College Board, faculty, and graduates. The Faculty Marshal will assist in seeing that this procedure is followed. Page 4 of 7

5 PROCESSION LINE-UP CHIEF MARSHAL President Vice President Institutional Advancement Speaker College Board Chair Vice President of Academic and Student Development Minister Student Speaker PTK President Dean of Student Services College Board Members FACULTY MARSHAL Faculty Dean of Transfer Programs Degree Candidates Business Administration Education General Studies: (Computer Science) (General) Science Dean of Nursing and Allied Health Degree Candidates Nursing Page 5 of 7

6 Dean of Occupational and Technical Studies Degree Candidates Administration of Justice: (Corrections Science) (Police Science) Administration Support Technology (Executive Secretary) (Word Information Processing) Early Childhood Development Industrial Technology: (Electronic Controls) (Electronic-Electrical) Management: (Computer Support Specialist) (General Business) (Hardware and Software Support) (Marketing) Certificate Candidates Clerical Studies Early Childhood Development Electricity General Education Practical Nursing Page 6 of 7

7 Career Studies Certificate Bookkeeping Child Care I Child Care II Computer Support Specialist Entrepreneurship in Small Business Management Fire Science Hardware and Software Support Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Industrial Maintenance Industrial Residential Wiring Leadership Medical Office Administrative Assistant Medical Office Billing Clerk Medical Office Specialist Nurse Aide Pharmacy Technician Phlebotomy Pre-Nursing Professional Welder Religious Studies Robotics Page 7 of 7