Degree Completion Commencement Information

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1 Schedule of Events Friday, December 18 5 pm Degree Completion Commencement Rehearsal 6 7 pm Degree Completion Graduation Chapel of Dedication and Reception Highlander Café, MAC Saturday, December am 9 am Gymnasium Doors Open 9:15 am 10 am 12 1 pm Buffet Breakfast Furman Dining Commons, MAC All graduates, family, and friends are invited to enjoy breakfast. COST: $5.25 per person (pay at the door) Graduate Check- In Commencement Ceremony Lunch Buffet Furman Dining Commons, MAC All graduates, family, and friends are invited to a buffet lunch. COST: $6.25 per person (pay at the door) Departmental Obligations Unpaid fines accrued after December 1 will result in the holding of diploma(s) and official transcript(s). Business Services University policy states that in order for students to participate in commencement, as well as receive their diploma(s) and official transcript(s), all financial obligations to Cairn University must be paid. The deadline for the payment is December 1st for Fall (December) commencement and April 15th for Spring (May) commencement. If you are on an official payment plan (Tuition Management) the last payment on this plan would need to be made a month before the dates listed above. You can see if you have a balance due by logging onto your Self- Service account (Finance tab/balance/detail by Charge- credit). Payments can be made in person in the Business Services Office using cash, check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) or on line through the Cairn website or your Self- Service account using a credit card (Visa or MasterCard). Students may want to leave any remaining credit on their account in the event of additional fines assessed from other departments (Library, Security, or Student Life). Unpaid fines from other departments accrued prior to December 1 are sent to Business Services for collection. Unpaid fines accrued after December 1 will result in the holding of diploma(s) and official transcript(s). These fines must be paid directly to the department issuing the fine. A refund can be produced once you have submitted the request in writing via mail or to the Business Services Office after graduation ceremonies are complete. Please make sure you include a mailing address where you will be located after graduation and make sure you have signed the request.

2 If you have questions, please contact BJ Brown at Safety and Security Unpaid fines accrued after December 1 will result in the holding of diploma(s) and official transcript(s). All Safety and Security fines must be paid in the Business Services office. If you have any questions please contact security@cairn.edu. Library Unpaid fines accrued after December 1 will result in the holding of diploma(s) and official transcript(s). All Library fines must be paid in the Business Services office. Library accounts can be viewed at: If you have any questions or concerns please contact library@cairn.edu. Financial Aid Loan Counseling Requirements All students that have borrowed federal loans during any portion of their education at Cairn are required to complete Direct Loan Exit Counseling. This requirement is completed online at and must be completed in order for student loan borrowers to be considered eligible for graduation. As you get started, it would be helpful to have available information about your income, financial aid and living expenses. At the end of your exit counseling session, you will be asked for information that will be included as part of your federal student loan records. You must provide the following: Name, address, address and phone number for: Your next of kin Two references who live in the US Your future employer (if known) You will need your FSA ID username and password to Sign In, then look for the Complete Counseling and then Exit Counseling links. On the first Exit Counseling screen follow these steps to start the process: Select the School State: Pennsylvania and School Name: Cairn University Click the Add School button Click the Continue button Follow the instructions to continue through the counseling session. The counseling session typically takes about minutes. At the end you will click the Submit Counseling button that will send confirmation to the university financial aid office that you have completed the counseling requirement. Contact Christina Savage in Financial Aid at csavage@cairn.edu if you have questions about this process.

3 Degree Completion Graduation Chapel of Dedication and Reception Degree Completion graduation students are invited to attend a Graduation Chapel of Dedication and Reception, Friday, December 18 from 6 7 pm. The event will be held in the Highlander Café and will take place immediately following graduation rehearsal. The Chapel and Reception is an opportunity to celebrate with fellow students, family members, staff and faculty. Everyone planning to attend should register for this event. Please RSVP by Friday, December 11. The Chapel and Reception is complimentary for the student and one guest. Additional tickets may be purchased at a cost of $10 per ticket. Payments can be made online. If you have questions, please contact Ruth Shilpa Sudhakar at rsudhakar@cairn.edu or Exit Questionnaire The required Student Exit Questionnaire is completed at Degree Completion Graduation Chapel of Dedication and Reception on Friday, December 18. The data collected assists the University in evaluating its services as well as helps to create a community that provides an enriching experience for our students. It also allows for student comments regarding their Cairn experience and an opportunity to suggest improvements. Grades Please be aware that professors must submit current semester grades for all graduating students by 10 am on Wednesday, December 16. If students have a course grade of NR or I from a previous term, it is their responsibility to contact the professor and request they submit a Change of Grade Form to the Registrar s Office by the December 16 deadline. Latin Honors Undergraduate candidates who have completed at least 60 credits in residence are eligible for graduation honors. Those who attain a scholastic average of 3.50 graduate Cum Laude. Those who attain a scholastic average of 3.75 graduate Magna Cum Laude. Candidates who attain a scholastic average of 3.90 graduate Summa Cum Laude. Graduation Products Generic graduation announcements, printed with the Campus Store name, seal, and ceremony information are available for purchase at the Campus Store. Custom personalized announcements can be purchased directly online at Additional announcement products are also available online. These include thank you notes, envelope seals, tissue inserts, souvenir announcement covers, return address labels and appreciation gifts. Diploma Frames are sold through the Campus Store as well as online. Custom matting is available and manufactured specifically for Cairn University including the University seal. A limited collection of Cairn University custom rings are available for purchase. Ring styles include the Cairn University name, seal and can be further customized to include major and degree. Academic Attire Caps and gowns may be picked up at the Campus Store after Wednesday, December 9. Men and women are to wear dark shoes; men are to wear dark socks.

4 All graduates participating in the Commencement ceremony must arrive wearing full academic attire: cap with tassel, gown, and hood. Only University- issued honor cords and academic medals are to be worn with academic attire. ACADEMIC REGALIA SHOULD NOT BE ALTERED IN ANY WAY. THIS INCLUDES BOTH CAP AND GOWN Campus Store Campus Store hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 10 am 6 pm, Wednesday and Friday from 10 am 5 pm, and Saturday 10 am 1 pm. Hours will be extended for Commencement: Friday, December 18, from 10 am 6:30 pm and Saturday, December 19, from 8:30 am 1 pm. Tickets/Seating for Commencement This is a special celebration for the University, its graduates and their family and friends. By following these guidelines, we hope to provide an honoring ceremony that respects the dedicated work of all those in attendance. Please keep the following in mind: Tickets are not required for the Commencement ceremony. Seating is on a first- come, first- serve basis. Doors open at 9 am for open seating in the Mason Activity Center (MAC) Gymnasium. The gymnasium is wheelchair accessible; handicapped seating is available. Please see the seating chart for more information. A designated drop- off area for baby strollers will be available outside of the gymnasium. Attendees should be in their seats by 9:55 am. Ushers will ask individuals to remove any saved seats beginning at 9:50 am. After 9:55 am, individuals will be instructed to view the graduation ceremonies from the overflow area, on the second floor of the MAC. Please keep in mind that, due to fire code restrictions, the ushers will not allow individuals to stand or sit in undesignated areas (on the floor or steps of the bleachers) and will ask them to view the ceremonies from the overflow area. Commencement Ceremony Guidelines Graduates should check in by 9:15 am in the MAC s lower level (near the elevator) to receive a color- coded placement card. Graduates should come dressed in academic attire. Restrooms are available nearby. Graduates should not bring any personal items (purses, cameras, etc.) to the lineup. Personal items should be given to guests for safekeeping as there is no secure area to store valuables. Cairn University is not responsible for lost or stolen items. During the program, watch Dr. Todd Williams for signals to rise or to remove caps. Only men should remove caps for prayer. Listen carefully for the cue to rise with the correct degree group and enter the line for the platform. Tassels are to be worn on the right side of caps and remain there until after receiving the diploma cover. After shaking the hands of both the President and Provost, graduates should move the tassel to the left side of their cap. Graduates should receive the diploma cover with their left hand freeing the right to shake hands with faculty. THE USE OF AIR HORNS, NOISEMAKERS OF ANY KIND, AND INFLATABLE ITEMS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Commencement Ceremony Conclusion

5 At the conclusion of the Commencement ceremony, board members and faculty will depart from the gym first. Graduates will exit next, starting with the last row. When exiting the gym, please continue moving outside into the circular driveway. Do not stop to greet family and friends in the MAC s lower level. When all graduates have exited the gym, family and friends may meet students outside. Graduates may return to the platform inside the gymnasium for photographs if desired. In the event of inclement weather, board members, faculty, and graduates will be directed by the ushers to an alternate lineup area. Once the recessional has concluded, graduates may join their family and friends in the gymnasium. Diplomas Diplomas and transcripts will be printed following the Commencement ceremony and will be sent to the address indicated on your Graduation Application. Please notify the Registrar s Office of any address changes after submission of the Graduation Application. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Parking Cairn Security Officers will direct traffic on the day of Commencement. Handicapped parking is available in parking lot D. For all other parking lot locations please visit map.pdf. Photography Chappell Graduation Images will photograph graduates as they receive their diplomas. Chappell will mail each graduate a passport- size proof within a week of graduation. Graduates will have the opportunity to select from a variety of photo packages but are under no obligation to make a purchase. NOTE: We ask that during the ceremony, family and friends remain in their seats to prevent interference with the ceremony or the Chappell photographer. Special Needs Graduates with special needs who require accommodations should contact the Registrar s Office at prior to Friday, November 20. Area Hotels The Sheraton Hotel offers a discounted rate for Cairn visitors. Be sure to ask for the "Cairn Commencement" rate when booking. You may also access a list of hotels in the area by visiting Frequently Asked Questions If you have any questions regarding Commencement please contact: Registrar Office Krysta Fata kfata@cairn.edu jbryant@cairn.edu Degree Completion Admissions Jared Bryant