Bachelor's Degree Candidates Fall Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS TO BACHELOR'S DEGREE CANDIDATES

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Fall Semester Degree Candidates
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Jack Breslin Student Events Center
One Birch Road, East Lansing, Michigan 48824

NO ADMISSION TICKETS required.
The ceremony is TWO HOURS.

Participation by college:

The ceremony includes the conferral of degrees and the individual recognition of baccalaureate degree candidates. All degree candidates must wear academic apparel to participate in the ceremony. Candidates participating in the ceremony should remain for the entire ceremony including the recessional. 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.

Your ceremony also includes a graduating senior selected by Senior Class Council to deliver the student address.  Please see below for information.

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 ceremony.

On behalf of the Commencement Committee, I congratulate you on your academic achievement and wish you continued success!

Sincerely,

Linda O. Stanford
Associate Provost for Academic Services
Chairperson, Commencement CommitteeCongratulations on your achievement!

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. 

ACADEMIC APPAREL

The bachelor's keepsake package is $23.00 (plus sales tax) at the Spartan Spirit Shop, MSU Union Building. Store hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.; Saturday, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 12:00 noon - 5:00 p.m. Or visit the Commencement Connection to order ANNOUNCEMENTS and CAP AND GOWN. With questions about announcements or cap and gown, please call the Spartan Spirit Shop (MSU Union Building) at (517) 355-5116 or email capgown@msu.edu.

HONOR CORDS AND NAME CARDS

Honor cords and name cards will be distributed by your college in late-November. Honor cords are distributed to degree candidates graduating with honor (3.6 gpa) or high honor (3.84 gpa). Graduation is based on the entire academic performance at Michigan State University. However, graduation with honor at commencements and in the commencement program booklet is based on the grade-point average of all work at MSU completed prior to the opening of the semester of graduation. Transfer students must earn a minimum of 50 semester credits at MSU to be eligible for graduation with honor or high honor for recognition in the commencement program. For additional details about graduating with honor or high honor, please visit the Office of the Registrar's site.

STUDENT SPEAKER

Senior Class Council will select two graduating seniors to deliver the student speech at the baccalaureate degree ceremonies (one at the morning ceremony and one at the afternoon ceremony). Speeches are to be no longer than 4-5 minutes. If you are interested in representing the class of 2009, please fill out an application and submit your speech. Speeches must be submitted by Friday, October 23. 

• Application (pdf)

• Information (pdf)

ASSEMBLY

Please arrive 45 minutes prior to the start of your ceremony (by 9:15 a.m. or 1:15 p.m.). Degree candidates enter through Gate B (southeast doors) and take the stairs down to the Arena level. Directional signs are at the Arena level. You will line up by college for the processioal. Low-heeled, comfortable shoes are recommended. Photo cards are distributed at assembly.

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

PROCESSIONAL

The processional begins at 9:50 a.m. (morning ceremony) and at 1:50 p.m. (afternoon ceremony) and proceeds in the following order:

1. Baccalaureate Degree Candidates.

2. Faculty.

3. Platform Party

ORDER OF CEREMONIES

1. Processional

2. Selected Music

3. Moment of Silence

4. Conferral of Honorary Degrees

5. Commencement Keynote Address

6. Special Music

7. Board of Trustees Greetings

8. Graduating Senior Address

9. Conferral of Baccalaureate Degrees

10. Presentation of Diplomas

11. Alma Mater

12. Recessional

CONFERRAL OF DEGREES AND PRESENTATION OF DIPLOMAS

Tassels: Wear tassels on the RIGHT side of your cap. Tassels will be moved left en masse after the conferral of degrees. 

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

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

RECESSIONAL

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

1. Platform Party

2. Faculty

3. Students

GRADUATES WITH DISABILITIES

Graduates with disabilities, please contact Betsy White at whitebe@msu.edu or 1-517-353-9900 by Thursday, November 19 with requests for special accommodations. Requests made after that date will be met when possible.

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