Advanced Degree Candidates Fall Instructions

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INSTRUCTIONS TO ADVANCED DEGREE CANDIDATES

(Print the complete commencement instructions and information and diagrams for Advanced Degree Candidates (pdf))

Fall Semester Degree Candidates
Friday, December 11, 2009
Jack Breslin Student Events Center
One Birch Road
Assembly of candidates at 6:00 p.m.
Processional at 6:50 p.m.
Ceremony at 7:00 p.m.

Admission Tickets are NOT required.
The ceremony is TWO HOURS.

The ceremony includes the conferral of degrees and the individual recognition of candidates of doctoral degree, educational specialist degree and master’s degree.  Candidates participating in the ceremony should remain for the entire ceremony including the recessional.  Your family and friends are invited.  NO ADMISSION TICKETS are required.  Large bags are subject to search.  To avoid delay, please do not bring large bags to the commencement ceremony.  Please refer family members and other guests to this Web site for information.

All advanced degree candidates must wear academic apparel to participate in the ceremony. 

Please be respectful as each graduate's name is read. It is important that each graduate is recognized appropriately and that the ceremony is not disrupted.

Doctoral Degree Candidates: Doctoral candidates are hooded by MSU faculty.  Each doctoral degree candidate may ask ONE MSU faculty member of your choice to hood you. Associate deans and other faculty representing the colleges will hood doctoral candidates without an accompanying faculty member.  Please be sure your faculty member informs the dean’s office that s/he is participating in the ceremony.  The colleges will distribute instructions to faculty.

Congratulations on your achievement and we hope that you will participate in your commencement ceremony.

To ensure that commencement exercises are enjoyed and memorable for all, we ask your cooperation in observing rules of decorum. Any visible apparel worn with the academic gown should not detract from the recognition of your fellow graduate and be appropriate to the occasion. Flowers and decorative jewelry are not to be worn on your academic gown. Low-heeled, comfortable shoes are recommended. 

INSTRUCTONS: DOCTORAL, EDUCATIONAL SPECIALIST AND MASTER'S DEGREE CANDIDATES

ACADEMIC APPAREL

Visit the Commencement Connection to order ANNOUNCEMENTS and CAP AND GOWN. Deadline applies to rental of academic apparel for doctoral degree candidates; after Sunday, November 15 a $15 late fee applies. Reservations of rental apparel cannot be made after Wednesday, November 25. With questions about announcements or cap and gown, please call the Spartan Spirit Shop (MSU Union Building) at (517) 355-5116 or e-mail capgown@msu.edu.

ASSEMBLY

Please report by 6:00 p.m. Name cards and photo cards are distributed at assembly. Please see the Breslin Assembly Diagram.

Please have your guests hold coats and other belongings. The University is not responsible for coats or other belongings left unattended in the assembly areas. Children are NOT permitted on the arena floor or in any of the degree candidate assembly or seating areas.

Master’s Degree Candidates:

Master’s degree candidates assemble at your college seating area at the Arena level.  Enter the building through Gate B (southeast entrance).  Proceed down the stairs at Gate B to the service entrance area. Immediately proceed into the Arena and to your college seating area (bleacher seating).

Educational Specialist Degree Candidates:

Educational Specialist degree candidates assemble in the Auxiliary Gym, Mezzanine level.  Enter the building at Gate B (southeast entrance) and take the stairs down one level (to the Mezzanine level).  Exit at the Mezzanine level and proceed to the Auxiliary Gym.

Doctoral Degree Candidates:

Doctoral degree candidates assemble in the Auxiliary Gym, Mezzanine level. Enter the building at Gate B (southeast entrance) and take the stairs down one level (to the Mezzanine level).  Exit at the Mezzanine level and proceed to the Auxiliary Gym. Please line up at your college standard with the MSU faculty member hooding you. For candidates without an accompanying faculty member to hood you, faculty members of your college will be available to hood you.

PROCESSIONAL

The processional will begin at 6:50 p.m. and proceed in the following order:

  1. Associate Deans leading Master's Degree candidates to the platform.

  2. Alphabetically by college, Doctoral Degree candidates and Faculty members hooding them, and then Educational Specialists.

  3. Faculty not hooding.

  4. Platform Party.

ORDER OF CEREMONIES

  1. Processional

  2. Selected Music

  3. Moment of Silence

  4. Conferral of Honorary Degrees

  5. Commencement Address

  6. Special Music

  7. Conferral of Degrees

  8. Presentation of Diplomas

  9. Alma Mater

  10. Recessional

CONFERRAL OF DEGREES AND PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS

Tassels: Master’s candidates wear tassels on the RIGHT side of the cap and moved left en masse after the conferral of degrees.  All other candidates wear tassels on the LEFT.

Following conferral of degrees, candidates are led to the platform where NAMES ARE READ,
the president presents the token diploma and photos are taken.

Photos are taken of graduates 1) as the President presents you with the token diploma;
2) an additional posed photo before you return to your seats.

Doctoral Degree:

Candidates rise at the invitation of the Dean of The Graduate School. The Dean directs the hooding of candidates. Candidates are hooded at their seats by their faculty members. The President confers the degrees. Recipients are seated. After conferral of the degree, recipients are escorted to the platform. The candidate's name is read.  The President presents the token diploma. Degree recipients are escorted back to their seats. 

Educational Specialist Degree:

Candidates rise at the invitation of the Dean of The Graduate School.  The President confers degrees.  After conferral of the degrees, recipients are escorted to the platform. The candidate's name is read.  The President presents the token diploma.  Degree recipients are escorted back to their seats.

Master’s Degree:

Candidates rise at the invitation of the Dean of your College and remain standing until all Master's degree candidates are presented.  The President confers the degrees en masse.  Recipients are seated.  Recipients are escorted to the platform. The candidate's name is read. The President presents the token diploma. Degree recipients are escorted back to their seats.

RECESSIONAL

After singing of the Alma Mater, the recessional takes place in the following order:

  1. Platform Party

  2. PhD's with MSU faculty hooders, educational specialists, and faculty not hooding

  3. Master's

GRADUATES WITH DISABILITIES

Graduates with disabilities, please contact Betsy White at whitebe@msu.edu or 1-517-353-9900 by Monday, November 23 with requests for special accommodations. Requests made after that date will be met when possible.

DIPLOMAS

Diplomas are mailed approximately one month after the end of the semester with a complimentary copy of your transcript included.

CONTACT US FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Commencement Office
E-mail:acadevnt@msu.edu.
Phone: (517) 353-3993

Betsy White
E-mail: whitebe@msu.edu.
Phone: (517) 353-9900

Questions about Graduation Application
E-mail: reg@msu.edu.
Phone: (517) 353-4678

(Print the complete commencement instructions and information and diagrams for Advanced Degree Candidates (pdf))