Undergraduate Commencement 2013

May 18 update: Interstate 95 roadwork completed ahead of schedule
Roadwork on Interstate 95 northbound, which was expected to cause traffic delays and lane closures, has been completed early and ahead of the May 19 Commencement. The closures were expected to significantly impact travel time to Quinnipiac. More information.

Please do keep in mind, several area universities are holding their commencement ceremonies this weekend. For this reason, please allow additional travel time when planning your arrival for Commencement. 

Parking
Parking for Commencement will be available at the University. Public Safety personnel will be on hand to direct guests to the appropriate parking areas.

Please make sure to arrive as early as possible (at least 60 minutes before the Commencement processional begins). Roughly 6,000 people attend each ceremony, so attendees should anticipate traffic delays.

Special Arrangements
If you or a member of your family has a disability that requires special accommodations, please call Pat Polvani after April 15, 2013, at 203-582-8479. She will be happy to assist you.

College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business
On Sunday, May 19, all College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business candidates for undergraduate degrees should report to the following locations dressed in caps and gowns by 9 a.m. (otherwise participation in the ceremony is not guaranteed.)

College of Arts and Sciences: Buckman Center
School of Business: Library Lobby, School of Law Center

School of Communications, School of Health Sciences, School of Nursing
On Sunday, May 19, all School of Communications, School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing candidates for undergraduate degrees should report to the following locations dressed in caps and gowns by 2 p.m. (otherwise participation in the ceremony is not guaranteed.)

School of Communications: Buckman Center
School of Health Sciences: Library Lobby, School of Law Center
School of Nursing: Tator Hall, second floor

Students will line up alphabetically in accordance with the numbered card they receive when they check in.

Ceremony Protocol:
Graduates will stand and remain quiet as the faculty, staff and platform participants march to their seats. During the invocation, all should stand. After the invocation, all are seated, following the example of those on the platform. Except for the time when graduates receive their degree, they are expected to remain seated during the ceremony.

Each group of graduates will be called in order; the marshal will direct the groups to the platform area at the correct time. Each graduate will have received a card with his or her name on it. As graduates approach the platform, they will present this card to the dean, who will then read the student's name. After receiving the diploma cover and shaking the President’s hand, graduates will cross the stage and return to their seat. Once the entire group has returned to their seats, the president will announce the conferral of degrees (“By the power vested in me by the Board of Trustees, I hereby confer upon you the degree of…”) After he has finished speaking, students will move the tassel to the left of side of the cap.

When the ceremonies are over, the audience will rise for the benediction. Men should remove their caps and replace them when the benediction is finished. All graduates will remain standing while the Commencement participants exit. The platform party will leave first, followed by the faculty and staff, followed by the graduates. Students may keep the academic robe, cap, hood, and tassel. They are not to be returned to the bookstore.

In the event of severe weather, ceremonies will take place at the TD Bank Sports Center. Please see the "In Case of Severe Weather" section for details.

College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business
The 2013 College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business Undergraduate Commencement will be held at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 19, on the University Quadrangle.

School of Communications, School of Health Sciences, School of Nursing
The 2013 School of Communications, School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing Undergraduate Commencement will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 19, on the University Quadrangle.

In the event of severe weather, ceremonies will be held in the TD Bank Sports Center on the York Hill Campus. Please see "In Case of Severe Weather" section for further details.

Join the conversation. Tweet your photos, thoughts and well-wishes to @QuinnipiacU - and don't forget to include #QU2013 in all of your Commencement-related tweets.

Commencement is a time filled with excitement and achievement. We extend a special invitation to you to join us on the Web for this year's celebration, which unites students, parents, faculty and administration.

View an archived recording of the 10 a.m. Commencement webcast.

View an archived recording of the 3 p.m. Commencement webcast.

Commencement Receptions
Following each of the ceremonies, light snacks and beverages will be served at a reception in a tent adjacent to Tator Hall. In the event of severe weather, the reception will be held in the Recreation Center on the Mount Carmel Campus.

Consistent with University policy, no alcohol may be brought to or consumed on campus during the ceremonies. In order to maintain the dignity of the proceedings, and in recognition of the importance of the day in the lives of our graduates and their families, we ask for your assistance with respect to our alcoholic beverage policy. Thank you for your cooperation.

Parents Reception
Parents and their graduates are invited to attend a reception on Saturday, May 18, from 4 - 5:30 p.m. on the Quadrangle of the Mount Carmel Campus. The rain site is the Recreation Center.

There are no tickets or advance reservations required for this event.

Catholic Mass
A Catholic Mass will be held at 12:45 p.m. in Burt Kahn Court on Sunday, May 19.

Programs

To help you take pictures of your graduate receiving his or her degree, a special runway near the stage has been constructed. A color-coded, numbered card, corresponding to your son's or daughter's place in line will be sent in April. The card gives one family member access to the photographic station at the time that the student receives his or her degree. Please note, in order to give everyone access, you must leave the photo ramp immediately after your son or daughter has crossed the stage.

For those taking long-range photos with telephoto lenses or video cameras, another platform at the rear of the audience section will be available to provide an unobstructed view.

Finally, a professional photographer from Grad Images will also take pictures of each student as the diploma is presented; copies will be available for purchase. Graduates can preregister their e-mail, friends and family e-mail addresses and will be contacted as soon as their photos are available for online viewing and ordering. Preregister at http://www.gradimages.com/Register.cfm

Graduates are requested to remain seated for the entire ceremony, except for when they receive their degrees.

Flowers
Flowers will be available for purchase for the convenience of family and friends.

Josh Elliott of "Good Morning America" and Jessica Jackley, co-founder of KIVA, a microlending website, will address students and receive honorary degrees at the 82nd undergraduate ceremonies on Sunday, May 19.

Jackley will address students graduating from the School of Business and College of Arts and Sciences at 10 a.m. and Elliott will address students graduating from the School of Communications and School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing at a separate ceremony at 3 p.m.

Josh Elliott of "Good Morning America" -- As the news reader on America's highest-rated morning news show, Elliott has covered many major national and international stories since joining the show in 2011, including the recent selection of Pope Francis. Elliott also had an exclusive interview with Dr. Graham Spanier, the former Penn State president, in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal.

He also covered Nik Wallenda's record-breaking tightrope walk over Niagara Falls and went behind the scenes at the 2012 Rose Bowl Parade. Additionally, he reported on the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Jessica Jackley is the founder and former chief marketing officer of KIVA, a microlending site that lets users lend as little as $25 to poor entrepreneurs around the world, providing affordable capital for them to start or expand microenterprises.

Named one of the top ideas of 2006 by "The New York Times Magazine," and praised by others, including Oprah Winfrey and Bill Clinton, KIVA is one of the fastest-growing social benefit websites in history.

College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business
At 9 a.m. on Sunday, May 19, all College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business candidates for undergraduate degrees must report dressed in caps and gowns. Please see "Time, Location and Order of Processional" section for more information

School of Communications, School of Health Sciences, School of Nursing
At 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, all School of Communications, School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing candidates for undergraduate degrees must report dressed in caps and gowns. Please see "Time, Location and Order of Processional" section for more information

Beginning Monday, April 22, students will be able to pick up their cap and gown at the Upper Level of the bookstore Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

If you are unable to pick-up your cap and gown in person, someone may do it for you.  If you would like your cap and gown shipped to you, please leave a message with your name and phone number at 203-582-8431.  Someone will return your call for full shipping information. Please note, the cap and gown are free of charge but there is a $6.95 shipping fee.

Friends and relatives may pick up gowns with the student's height. Please call 203-582-8431 with any gown questions.

Cords representing University recognized academic honors societies and the University Honors Program are permitted. Gold cords representing the academic honors of summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude will be issued during line-up on the day of Commencement.

Tickets
The outdoor ceremony will have open seating and no tickets will be required.

In the event of severe weather, tickets are required for the indoor ceremonies.

Students - if you have previously registered for your Undergraduate Commencement tickets and need to print them, please use this link: Student Portal.

Each student will receive up to four tickets - for the appropriate indoor ceremony only - which must be presented for admission to the severe weather indoor ceremonies in the basketball arena. Graduating students will not be required to have a ticket. Additional guests without tickets may view the ceremonies on closed-circuit television in the hockey arena. Please see the "In Case of Severe Weather" section for online ticketing information. Please note that there will be no additional tickets available. If there is a need for more tickets, students should ask fellow classmates who may not need all of their tickets.

Severe weather indoor ceremony tickets will be sent via e-mail after the graduate registers for the tickets. All eligible students will receive the ticket registration link via e-mail beginning March 28.

In the event of severe weather, ceremonies will be held in the TD Bank Sports Center on the York Hill Campus:

• 10 a.m. - School of Business and Engineering and College of Arts and Sciences
• 3 p.m. - School of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and School of Communications

Invitations
Each student will receive a package of four invitations to send to family and friends. Please note that these invitations are not admission or seating tickets.

Personalized announcement cards can be ordered through Jostens at www.jostens.com

The Commencement Fair will be held in on the Mount Carmel Campus on Monday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Tuesday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Piazza of the Carl Hansen Student Center.

It will also be held on the North Haven Campus on Wednesday, April 17 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Representatives from all offices involved in Commencement will distribute caps and gowns and answer questions.

Severe weather tickets will be distributed online. Please see the "In Case of Severe Weather" section for more information.

Information for Students
In case of severe weather, students should report as follows:

School of Business and College of Arts and Sciences 10 a.m. -- TD Bank Sports Center (York Hill Campus).

• School of Business students line up on the hockey arena floor
• College of Arts and Sciences students line up in the hockey arena hallway

School of Health Sciences, School of Nursing and School of Communications 3 p.m. -- TD Bank Sports Center (York Hill Campus).

• School of Communications students line up in the hockey arena hallway
• School of Health Sciences and School of Nursing students line up on the hockey floor

The decision to move Commencement exercises indoors will be made as early as possible. If you are in doubt as to the location of the ceremony, please call the weather phone at 203-582-8989. A decision will be made by 8 a.m. for the morning ceremony and by 12 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony.

In the event of severe weather, each graduate will be allowed four tickets for family and guests. Graduating students are not required to have tickets. Tickets will be sent via e-mail after the graduate registers for the tickets. All eligible students will receive the ticket registration link via e-mail beginning March 25.

Information for Parents
In the event of severe weather, the two ceremonies will be held in the TD Bank Sports Center on the York Hill Campus:

10 a.m. - College of Arts and Sciences and School of Business
3 p.m. - School of Communications, School of Health Sciences, School of Nursing

Please note that your graduating student will have four tickets for you -- for the severe weather indoor ceremony only -- which must be presented for admission to the basketball arena. Please note that the ceremony will be broadcast into the hockey arena where additional guests can view it via closed-circuit television. The decision to move indoors will be made as early as is practical. If you have any doubt as to the location of the ceremony, please call 203-582-8989 after 8 a.m. on the day of the event. You also may tune your radio to WQUN-AM 1220 or visit www.quinnipiac.edu/commencement. Please plan to arrive early to avoid traffic tie-ups.