Commencement 2015 - Lyndon State College

Commencement 2015
Graduates & Families:
The day you have been long awaiting will soon be here! Commencement is a
special time for you and for all of us here at Lyndon. We do our best to plan a
schedule of events which will make for a joyous and memorable occasion.
As with any event of this magnitude, there are a lot of details to keep track of
and plans to make. The following information is meant to help you navigate
this important time.
Best wishes for a wonderful Commencement experience!
The Academic Ceremony Advisory Committee & Commencement Committee:
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Professor Bruce Berryman, Atmospheric Sciences
Assistant Professor Donna Smith, Electronic Journalism Arts, Chair
Professor Alexandre Strokanov, Social Sciences
Evelyn Franz, Recorder, Registrar’s Office
Darcie Miles, Executive Assistant, President’s Office
Erin Rossetti, Director of Residential Life
Tracy Sherbrook, Assistant to the Dean, Academic Affairs
Contact Information
Tracy Sherbrook, Class of ‘86
802 626-6406
tracy.sherbrook@lyndonstate.edu
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General Commencement Information
When and where is commencement?
Day and Date: Sunday, May 17, 2015
Time: 11 a.m.
Place: Lyndon State College Soccer Field, under the tent
Receptions:
Before the ceremony, Theatre Lobby, breakfast social for everyone at 9:30 a.m.
After the ceremony, Stannard Gym, coffee social for everyone. Great photo opportunity with faculty! When do graduating students have to be there?
You will be expected to line up at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, May 17, 2015, in the Rita Bole
Gymnasium. Please wear your regalia. You may also pick up your regalia on that date.
Who may participate in the ceremony?
You must be a matriculated, degree seeking student,
AND
You must have filed, by November 14, 2014, at the latest, a Request to Graduate,
either online through Web Services, or on the paper form submitted along with a
program evaluation signed by your advisor, with the Registrar’s Office (you should
apply a year prior to your anticipated graduation), and you must have been approved
for graduation by the Faculty Assembly,
AND
You must have a 2.0 G.P.A. (may be higher for some majors), and a minimum of 122
credits (BA and BS candidates), 62 credits (AA and AS candidates), and must meet all
degree requirements in your catalog. Master’s candidates require a minimum of 36
credits,
AND
You must be wearing green (Associates) or black (Bachelors) academic regalia in order
to process,
AND
You must behave in a manner appropriate to the dignity of the occasion.
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Please note: If your attendance plans have changed since you applied for a degree,
please notify Evelyn Franz in the Registrar’s Office at 802 626-6495.
How long does the commencement ceremony last?
Typically, the ceremony lasts for two hours, until 1 p.m.
Tickets & Seating
How many tickets will I receive?
Good news! No tickets are required for the Commencement ceremony. Seating is on a
first-come, first-served basis. Please be aware that the traditional plastic folding seats
are very close together to maximize available seating (some seats are attached per the
fire code). We ask that attendees please be respectful of their neighbors and practice
civility at all times!
Is there special seating available?
Yes. Some students have parents, grandparents or other guests who may need special
assistance at the ceremony; thus, we have available spaces for wheelchairs under the
tent. We also offer a live broadcast in our Alexander Twilight Theatre, which is a
climate-controlled space with easy access to restrooms. This has proven to be a
viable option for some guests when they find it too cold, too hot, or too crowded
under the tent.
Announcements
Where may I order formal announcements?
Please visit Balfour’s website to order announcements: www.balfour.com. Simply type
in Lyndon State College on the opening page and proceed from there.
Caps & Gowns
Where may I order my cap and gown?
To participate in Commencement, you must wear a cap and gown. Contact the
Bookstore immediately at 802 626-6466 if you have not yet ordered your regalia.
Please be prepared to pay for the cap & gown at the time you order. Please note that
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any regalia not purchased through the Bookstore must be approved by Evelyn Franz in
the Registrar’s Office. No three-dimensional objects will be allowed on tops of caps. It
is expected that all graduates will dress appropriately for the occasion.
Where and when may I pick up my cap and gown?
You may pick up your regalia at the Bookstore when your order is in. Other options:
regalia will be available to be picked up prior to the 3 p.m. Robing Ceremony on May 7.
You may also pick up your gown before Rehearsal on May 15, or you may pick up your
gown the day of Commencement, before 10:30 a.m. The sooner you get your regalia,
the sooner you will know whether it is the correct fit! If you have concerns regarding
regalia, please call the Bookstore at 802 626-6466.
Graduate Sashes
The Bookstore will also have special Lyndon sashes (green and gold with the Lyndon
seal) available for friends or family to purchase for a graduate to wear during
graduation. If you wish to order one of these special sashes, please contact the
Bookstore at 802 626-6466. These sashes will also be available at Commencement.
Parking & Guest Services
Where do families park on Sunday, May 17?
Since most underclassmen will no longer be on campus, there should be sufficient
parking for all visitors on the campus. Public Safety officials will be on campus all
day to direct guests to available parking areas, including the South Street parking
lot. Please enter from College Road or McGoff Hill Road. Shuttle service and/or
accommodations will be available for those unable to walk distances.
Where do graduates park on Sunday, May 17?
In order to create maximum space in parking lots for families, we request that
graduating students please park in the Rita Bole Complex or Wheelock parking lots.
Thank you!
May I bring a pet?
Please leave your pet at home. Do not leave your pet in your vehicle. The only pets
allowed at the Commencement ceremony are service animals.
Will flowers be available?
Flowers will be sold on Commencement day at the Bookstore. Flowers can also be preLYNDON STATE COLLEGE
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ordered through the Bookstore. Please contact Anita Little, Bookstore Manager, at 802
626-6466.
Where should my family make hotel reservations?
If you have out-of-town guests coming who will need to stay in the area, we suggest
you make hotel reservations as soon as possible. A list of area motels, hotels and bed
& breakfasts can be found at www.nekchamber.com and at www.lyndonvermont.
com. Two of the larger hotels in the area to consider are The Comfort Inn & Suites (802
748-1500) and the Fairbanks Inn (802 748-5666). Both hotels are only 15 minutes away
from the College. Other places to consider are The Wildflower Inn (with spectacular
views) at www.wildflowerinn.com and the Lynburke Motel at www.lynburkemotel.
com. Both of these establishments are only 5–7 minutes from the College.
Other Commencement Activities
Ticket to commencement, March 10, 2015
This event is held for all graduates on Tuesday, March 10, 2015, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
in the Moore Community Room. Similar to the Ticket to Graduate event held in the
fall, you will receive a complimentary lunch if you visit all of the required information
tables for this event! You can verify your name for your diploma, order your cap &
gown, enjoy some music, take photos with friends in the photo booth, find out about
Senior Week, etc.
Robing ceremony, May 7, 2015
The Robing Ceremony, held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2015, in the Alexander
Twilight Theatre, is the official kick-off ceremony to Commencement. Robes are
donned, awards are given, a student speaker gives an entertaining rendition of the
history of regalia, and the main speaker is a faculty member chosen by the senior
class. Family members are welcome to attend this festive occasion. There is also a class
photo taken after this ceremony.
Senior week activities, May 16–20, 2015
The Senior Week committee plans the fun events that take place the week leading up
to graduation: A seniors vs. faculty/staff athletic event, senior party, dinner cruise in
Burlington, social at the President’s home, and more. For more information, contact
Sara Lussier, Assistant Director of Annual Giving, at sara.lussier@lyndonstate.edu or 802
626-6426.
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Mandatory rehearsal, May 15, 2015
Rehearsal is on Friday, May 15, 2015, at 2 p.m., starting in the Rita Bole Gymnasium.
Rehearsal is the time to get important information about Commencement, to practice
the processional, and to understand how you will receive your diploma by taking a
practice walk across the platform.
What if I am a December graduate? Do I have to go to rehearsal?
If you are a December graduate, it may be difficult for you to make the rehearsal,
but this does not reduce its importance. If you do not attend rehearsal, you should
plan to arrive at the Rita Bole Gym a little earlier on Sunday (by 10 a.m.) to receive full
instructions from the Registrar’s staff.
Important reminder: Alcohol is not allowed at Commencement.
Photography
Will the ceremony be videotaped?
Yes, a professional video production crew will tape the entire ceremony. Kingdom
Access Television (KATV) will produce DVDs of the ceremony. Order forms for
KATV were included in graduation packets and will also be available at the
ceremony. Contact information: http://katv.org 802 751-8103, or Kingdom Access
Television, 515 Bay Street, Suite 202, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819.
What about photographs?
In addition to the videographer, a professional photographer from Graduation Images
will record the moment when you are awarded your diploma folder. Approximately
one week after the ceremony, a passport-sized, full-color proof will be mailed to you.
There is no obligation to purchase the photograph. If you do wish to get prints of the
photo, you will have the option of ordering from a variety of enlargement packages.
For more information, please contact Graduation Images at www.gradimages.com or
call them at 800-424-3686.
My parents would like to take photographs during the ceremony. What do I
need to know?
Guests are welcome to take photographs. They are simply asked to refrain from
blocking the aisles or interfering with other guests’ views of the ceremony. Please be
respectful of all graduates and guests. There will also be plenty of opportunity to take
photographs at the reception after the ceremony.
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Diplomas & Transcripts
When will I get my diploma?
Lyndon State College will be mailing ALL diplomas to graduates’ home addresses after
the ceremony. This process allows Lyndon State College to move to a more secure
system in delivering diplomas. Diplomas will arrive at your home two or three weeks
after the May 2015 Commencement Ceremony.
On the platform at the Commencement Ceremony, in recognition of this special
celebration, graduates will receive their diploma jackets with a signed congratulatory
letter from the President.
Please note: If you need to have your diploma mailed to a different address other than
the home address we have on file, please email Evelyn Franz in the Registrar’s office at
evelyn.franz@lyndonstate.edu. This will help us to get your diploma to you in the
most secure and timely manner.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Dean’s Office at 802
626-6406.
How do I get my transcript?
Transcripts (for May graduates) should be available in early June. Please go to the
website www.iwantmytranscript.com to order your transcript. You must have met all
financial obligations to the college in order to process a transcript request.
Is there any reason why I might not graduate?
The most common reasons for students being disappointed at the last minute are:
1. Final cumulative average falls below 2.0;
2. Failure to complete degree requirements;
3. Transcripts not received from other colleges attended;
4. Incomplete grades not submitted;
5. Not passing the required graduation standards.
Other Important Information
What if I owe the college money?
Occasionally a few students forget to clear all their accounts with the College. Don’t
be one of them. By Friday, May 1, 2015, please make sure that all outstanding
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accounts with the Student Services Center, Library, Public Safety, Residence Life, etc.,
are resolved. Diplomas and transcripts will be delayed if you have any outstanding
accounts.
If I have a student loan, is there something I need to do?
If you have borrowed a Federal Student Loan (Stafford and/or Perkins Loan), federal
regulations require that you complete mandatory exit counseling if you are graduating
or dropping to below half time. The federal exit counseling requirement for the Federal
Direct Loan program is completed online.
1. Visit https://studentloans.gov
2. Sign in using your FAFSA PIN
3. Select “Complete Counseling”
4. Choose “Exit Counseling”
5. Click “Start”.
The session will take about 20–30 minutes to complete.
The federal exit counseling requirement for the Federal Perkins loan program is also
completed online. Visit www.ecsi.net > Login to My Account using your account
number and ECSI pin number > Click on the “Exit Interview” link. From the list of
Pending Exit Interviews, select the appropriate exit to complete and follow the
instructions provided.
If you have questions regarding this matter, please contact Student Services at 802
626-6396.
I live on campus. Is there anything else I need to know?
Graduating seniors must make arrangements with residence hall staff to check out of
their residence hall room before Commencement on Sunday, May 17, 2015. There will
be further information provided regarding each residence halls check out procedure in
May. Regular meal service in Stevens Dining Hall will end with dinner on Thursday, May
14, 2015.
Alumni Association Once you graduate, you are an official member of the College’s Alumni
Association. Some of the benefits of being a member include the alumni online
community, group savings on home and auto insurance, continued use of the library,
free admission at athletic events, continued support from Career Services, and
invitations to regional alumni socials. Stay connected with your alma mater through
the Alumni Association! alumni.lyndonstate.edu
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Graduate Survey
As a newly minted member of the Lyndon State College alumni, please watch for a
postcard from Career Services in late October with a link to complete a quick Graduate
Survey. Essentially, we would like to know what you are doing after graduation and if
there is anything we can do to assist with your job search! Feel free to update us with
your new contact information at careers@lyndonstate.edu.
Questions
For general Commencement information, contact:
Tracy Sherbrook, Assistant to the Academic Dean
802 626-6406
tracy.sherbrook@lyndonstate.edu
If you have questions about your eligibility to graduate, contact:
Evelyn Franz, Registrar’s Office
802 626-6495
evelyn.franz@lyndonstate.edu
For questions about Senior Week activities, contact:
Sara Lussier, Assistant Director of Annual Giving
802 626-6426
sara.lussier@lyndonstate.edu
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