BURLINGTON COUNTY COLLEGE N E W J E R S E Y BURLINGTON COUNTY COLLEGE 2014 GUIDE TO COMMENCEMENT Saturday, May 17 bcc.edu/graduation REV 051214 About Commencement As we welcome you and your guests this year, please use this guide to help plan for the event. The Commencement Ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2014 in the ceremonial tent on BCC s Pemberton campus. Academic Requirements Graduation solely depends on the satisfactory completion of all academic requirements of the College. Possession of this commencement guide, tickets, regalia, etc., or participation in the Commencement Ceremony does not guarantee graduation. Diplomas As you walk across the stage, you will be presented with a diploma cover. Your actual diploma will be mailed to you at a later date, once all graduation requirements have been verified (typically within 8-10 weeks of the end of the term date). Financial Requirements All financial obligations, loans, library books, equipment owed, fines, bills, etc., must be cleared by May 13, 2014. Diplomas and transcripts will not be provided until all obligations are met. Participating in Commencement Students planning and wishing to participate in the 2014 Commencement Ceremony must apply for graduation. Graduation is not automatic. The Registrar s Office recommends that a student submit a graduation application during the semester in which you will have earned your 48th credit. The graduation application is located in your Student Web Advisor. 1
Caps and Gowns Only students wearing the proper academic regalia, the official cap and gown, will be permitted to participate in the Commencement Ceremony. Caps and gowns will be distributed beginning Monday, May 12 through Wednesday, May 14 between 8:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. in the College Book Store, Lewis M. Parker Center, Pemberton campus. Commencement Tickets Each graduate will receive two tickets for guests. Once capacity has been reached in the outdoor ceremonial tent, guests will be directed to one of two overflow areas to view a live telecast of the ceremony: the Library Teleconference Auditorium and the Lewis M. Parker Center Student Lounge. Please note: Due to the size of the graduating class, we cannot accommodate requests for additional tickets. Beginning Monday, April 12, 2014, tickets will be available for pickup Monday through Wednesday, May 14 from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the Office of the Vice President of Student Success, Lewis M. Parker Center, Room PARK202.02 on the Pemberton campus. Tickets will NOT be mailed. Diploma Frames, Class Rings, and Veteran Cords The bookstore offers a variety of commencement-related products with samples on display. Veteran sash and Honors cords are available for purchase. Bookstore Hours for Commencement The store will be open 8:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. on May 17. For questions about bookstore commencement services and products, contact Bob Hughes at (609) 894-9747 or email bhughes@bcc.edu. Commencement Rehearsal Rehearsal will be held on Friday, May 16, 2014 beginning promptly at 10:00 a.m. in the P.E. Center Gymnasium. Attendance is mandatory if you plan to participate in the graduation ceremony. Lite refreshments will be served. Special Accommodations If you or a guest will require special accommodations or assistance due to disability, injury and/or illness, please contact the College Public Safety Office at (609) 894-9311 or (856) 222-9311, ext. 1100, no later than May 10, 2014. For guests who are susceptible to the heat, the College will have a live video feed of the ceremony in air conditioned telecast locations. American Sign Language Interpreters The ceremony will be presented by American Sign Language interpreters. 2
Commencement Day Schedule All graduates are requested to report to the P.E. Center Gymnasium, Pemberton Campus, according to the following schedule on Saturday, May 17, 2014: 8:45 a.m. Group photos (NJ STARS, PTK, Veterans, EOF and BCC Foundation scholarship recipients) 9:00 a.m. Graduates don caps and gowns 9:15 a.m. Graduates line up for Processional 9:35 a.m. Processional 10:00 a.m. Commencement Ceremony Please Note: The processional begins promptly at 9:35 a.m. It is NOT delayed for late-arriving graduates or guests. BCC recommends graduates arrive no later than 8:30 a.m. on the day of the ceremony. Parking for Graduates and Guests All graduates should plan to park in Lots 12 (P.E. Center), or Lots 9 and 10 (East Campus). Any elderly or physically challenged guests can be let off in the Lewis M. Parker Center Circle. Parking Lot 7 will be closed. Photographs of Graduates BCC has agreed to allow Grad Images to take professional pictures of each graduate as she/he crosses the platform. All arrangements to order pictures are between each graduate and Grad Images. Many graduates families and friends bring still cameras and camcorders to the Commencement Ceremony in order to capture these special moments. Photography is welcome; however, please advise your guests to remain in designated photo areas and to be respectful of graduates and other guests. The blocking of aisles and/or stage area is strictly prohibited. Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) Honor Society Members During the Commencement Ceremony, members of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for community college students, will wear a gold stole over their gowns. Any PTK member in need of a PTK stole and/or tassel may purchase one at the mandatory commencement breakfast/rehearsal on May 16 or online at store.ptk.org. A group photo of all graduating PTK members wearing their special stoles and tassels will be shot in the P.E. Center Gymnasium on the morning of commencement at 8:45 a.m. Please report to the gymnasium promptly. Feel free to bring your own camera. Veteran Graduates During the Commencement Ceremony, graduates who are currently serving or Veterans of the U. S. Armed Forces are authorized to wear a sash available for purchase in the bookstore. Any Service-member/Veteran who has graduated and has achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher, and exemplified ethical and moral standards while enrolled at BCC is eligible to wear the SALUTE Veteran Honor Society Honor cord available through BCC s Military Education and Veteran Services located in Pemberton, Parker Center. Please contact the department at (609) 894-9311, ext. 1299 to pick up your honor cord should you qualify. A group photo of all graduating service-members/veterans wearing their regalia (cords and/or sashes) will be shot in the P.E. Center Gymnasium on the morning of the commencement at 8:45 a.m. Please report to the gymnasium promptly. Feel free to bring your own camera. 3
NJ STARS Scholarship Recipients During the Commencement Ceremony, recipients of the NJ STARS scholarship, a state-funded, merit-based scholarship, will be wearing gold star shaped lapel pins. Please make arrangements to receive your pin by contacting Colleen Doran at cdoran@bcc.edu. A group photo of all graduating NJ STARS students wearing their commencement regalia will be taken in the P.E. Center Gymnasium at 8:45am on the morning of Commencement. Please report to the gymnasium promptly. Feel free to bring your own camera. Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) Graduates EOF graduation sashes for eligible students will be distributed at the EOF Graduation Celebration scheduled for May 3, 2014. Graduates may contact Edith A. Corbin at (609) 894-9311, ext. 1333 or Luiza Abbamonte at (609) 894-9311, ext. 1462 to obtain additional information. Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society honor cords and pins for eligible EOF honor students will be distributed at the induction ceremony. Eligible students may contact Mona Davis at (609) 894-9311, ext. 3080 to obtain additional information. A group photo of all graduating EOF students wearing their commencement regalia will be taken in the P.E. Center Gymnasium at 8:45 on the morning of Commencement. Please report to the gymnasium promptly. Feel free to bring your camera. BCC Foundation Scholarship Recipients BCC Foundation scholarship recipients will be provided a white tassel to wear at the graduation ceremony and the scholarship recipient graduation photo. The scholarship recipient graduation photo will be taken at the P.E. Center Gymnasium at 8:45 am on the morning of Commencement. Please report to the gymnasium in your commencement regalia. The tassels will be made available in the gymnasium prior to the graduation photo or at the BCC Alumni Association table at rehearsal. If you are unable to attend the photo and/or graduation and would like to receive a tassel, please contact our office at 856-222-9311 ext. 2541 or foundation@bcc.edu. Human Services Club The Human Services Club will be making pink breast cancer ribbons to distribute at Commencement and rehearsal. The Human Services Club invites all graduating Human Services majors to wear a ribbon on their cap or gown in support of Professor Brina Sedar. If you are interested in wearing a pink breast cancer ribbon, please see a Human Services Club representative at rehearsal or on the morning of Commencement. Graduation with Honors Students who have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average and have accumulated at least 30 credits at BCC, graduate with honors. For purposes of the ceremony and the printed program, the cumulative grade point average at the end of the Fall 2013 semester will be used. The cumulative grade point average at the end of the student s final semester will be used to determine honors on the transcript and diploma. There are three categories of honors: Honors 3.50 3.74 Cumulative GPA High Honors 3.75 3.89 Cumulative GPA Highest Honors 3.90 4.00 Cumulative GPA Students who wish to wear an honor cord may purchase one at the Pemberton college bookstore beginning May 12. 4
Professor of the Year The BCC Professor of the Year, selected by this year s graduating students, will be honored during the Commencement Ceremony. Cast your ballot during the selection process between April 1 and April 5. For details, call (609) 894-9311 or (856) 222-9311, ext. 1238. Burlington County College Alumni Association The BCC Alumni Association welcomes you as alumni of Burlington County College! The BCC Alumni Association will have a table at commencement and rehearsal to sell BCC Alumni t-shirts. Proceeds from the t-shirt sales will support the BCC Alumni Association Scholarship for incoming freshman. Please visit bccalumni.net to Register as a BCC Alumnus and learn about the opportunities available to you as alumni! Alcohol Policy A safe commencement celebration for our graduates and their families is the College s first priority. Alcoholic beverages are not permitted on campus. Public Safety officers will confiscate any alcohol found. Smoking Policy BCC is a smoke-free institution. SMOKING IS PROHIBITED ON COLLEGE PROPERTY. For More Information bcc.edu/graduation You may call one of the following offices at (609) 894-9311 or (856) 222-9311: Special Parking for Disabled Guests.......... Office of Public Safety.................... Ext. 1100 Alumni Association...................... Ext. 2540 PTK.................................. Ext. 1525 Pemberton Campus Bookstore.............. Ext. 1245 For graduation eligibility, please check graduation application status by logging into your Student Web Advisor. Please check honors eligibility by logging into your Student Web Advisor and checking cumulative GPA by clicking on Unofficial Transcript Link. Project Graduation Feed a Body, Feed a Mind Celebrating our 16th year! Project Graduation is a national Phi Theta Kappa project that was created at BCC in 1998. It s simple and easy to participate. Bring canned goods and children s books to the commencement rehearsal or the actual ceremony. Project Graduation drop-off boxes will be located at all commencement entrances. The food and books will be donated to community service agencies at a time of year when food banks are often low and bookshelves are empty. As a graduate you will be able to say Thank You to the community whose tax dollars helped to educate you. Commencement/Allied Health Pinning Ceremony DVD Save a video of your Commencement Ceremony for posterity or share it with family and friends who are unable to attend the May 17 ceremony. DVDs are $10 each and must be paid when you place your order. A portion of the proceeds will benefit student scholarships. Order forms can be obtained online at bcc.edu/graduation or you can pick one up at the commencement rehearsal on Friday, May 16. 5
Partners DREXEL UNIVERSITY Earn your Drexel University Degree at BCC! Drexel University and BCC joined together to create a unique educational opportunity: Drexel at BCC. This partnership enables BCC students and transfer students who have earned associate degrees from other colleges to earn bachelor s degrees at BCC s Mt. Laurel campus. Drexel at BCC is a unique educational opportunity that allows undergraduate students to complete their first two years of outlined proficiency requirements at BCC and transfer these credits seamlessly into the Drexel at BCC program. Students can earn a Drexel bachelor s degree by completing Drexel s 300- and 400-level courses as full or part-time students at a more favorable tuition rate. Drexel courses are offered at BCC s convenient, state-of-the-art Mt. Laurel campus in New Jersey. Majors available for 2014 include: Applied Engineering Technology (co-op) Electrical Engineering Technology Concentration Mechanical Engineering Technology Concentration Biological Sciences (co-op) Computing and Security Technology Construction Management Hospitality Management (with BA minor) Computer Science (co-op) Computer Engineering (co-op) Electrical Engineering (co-op) Mechanical Engineering (co-op) To obtain more information, call 1-866-644-3795. For a Drexel at BCC application, visit drexelatbcc.org/apply. Applying online is fast, effective and secure! For details on upcoming information sessions, visit drexelatbcc.org/admissions/visit. 6
Partners, continued WILMINGTON UNIVERSITY Consider a bachelor s degree from Wilmington University located right here at BCC! Wilmington University has partnered with BCC to offer a variety of degree-completion programs. Now BCC students and other transfer students with an associate s degree have the opportunity to earn their bachelor s degree from Wilmington University, locally on BCC s Mount Laurel and Pemberton campuses. BCC students can benefit from Wilmington University s unique mix of small class sizes, convenient location, affordable tuition, and flexible schedules. Wilmington University classes at BCC are taught by the University s experienced, knowledgeable faculty. The friendly staff is available on site to answer your questions Monday through Friday. Wilmington University offers day, evening and weekend classes. Bachelor s Degree Programs include: Accounting Behavioral Science Business Management Criminal Justice General Studies Human Resource Management Psychology RN-BSN (Nursing) Master s Degree Program: M. Ed. School Leadership Program For more information on Wilmington University, call (877) 967-5464, email infocenter@wilmu.edu, or visit wilmu.edu/newjersey Wilmington University s Office on BCC s Mount Laurel campus is located in Laurel Hall, room 117. Stop in and meet Site Director Mary Gankiewicz {(856) 222-9311, ext. 2115} and our Academic Advisor Dana Hanf {(856) 222-9311, ext. 2114}. Office Hours: Monday Thursday 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m. 4:30 p.m. FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY AT BCC Earn your bachelor s or master s degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University at BCC. Baccalaureate Degree Completion Master s Degree Studies Evening, Weekend & One-Day Classes Competitively Priced, Special On-Site Tuition BCC has partnered with Fairleigh Dickinson University to make earning your bachelor s or master s degree faster and more convenient than you ever thought possible. You ll earn your degree from Fairleigh Dickinson while attending convenient on-site classes at BCC. Choose from undergraduate and graduate programs in such career-oriented fields as: Business & Technology (BAIS) Criminal Justice (BAIS) Education (BA/MAT or MAT only) English (BA) History (BA) Humanities (BA) Literacy/Reading Specialist (MA for Certified Teachers) Teacher of Students with Disabilities (Graduate Certificate Program) To obtain more information, call (856) 222-9311, ext. 2712 or email rhmiller@fdu.edu. 7
Partners, continued RUTGERS SCHOOL OF BUSINESS CAMDEN Earn your bachelor s degree in business administration from Rutgers University at BCC. Beginning in the fall 2014 semester, students can earn their bachelor s degree in business administration from Rutgers School of Business Camden which will be offering the degree completion program at Burlington County College - Briggs Road Center, Mount Laurel. The Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration program is the solution for those who have earned an associate degree and wish to earn a bachelor s degree in business administration. The degree is taught by world-class Rutgers faculty who incorporate their experiences into the classroom and is granted by an institution accredited by The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. The program offers a Rutgers degree in familiar surroundings that can be completed in three years or less. Students with an associate degree and cumulative GPA of 2.5 from Burlington County College, or another regionally accredited community college, can now apply for admission for the fall semester. To learn more, visit business.camden.rutgers.edu/baba or contact the Rutgers School of Business Camden at (856) 225-6710 or the BCC Transfer Office at (856) 222-9311, ext. 2729. 8