Monday, May 10, 2010

Time

1:00 p.m.

There is no rehearsal prior to the ceremony. All graduates should report by 12:00 noon for preparation and final instructions.

Location

Palm Beach County Convention Center
Exhibit Hall B
650 Okeechobee Boulevard
West Palm Beach, FL

Directions to the Convention Center: From I-95, exit at Okeechobee Blvd East. Go east on Okeechobee Blvd. The Convention Center is on the south side.

Please note that traffic approaching West Palm Beach on I-95 and on Okeechobee Blvd. is very heavy beginning at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Please advise your guests to allow sufficient time to arrive, find parking, walk to the exhibit hall, and be seated.

Parking Instructions: Guests/graduate drop off is available directly in front of the Convention Center before parking at an alternate location. Convention Center parking will be complementary for this event. Parking is limited; therefore, carpooling is encouraged. Additional free parking will be available across the street on the bottom level of the Kravis Center parking garage.

Graduates having gatherings after the graduation ceremony at City Place may want to park for a nominal fee in one of the City Place parking garages.

Regalia/Dress

Graduates will be in full academic regalia (cap, gown, tassel). Men should wear a white dress shirt, dark tie, dark shoes and dark trousers under their gowns. Women should wear dark shoes, dress with neckline that does not show above the collar of the gown, and hair styled to allow proper fit of cap. No corsages, signs, decorations,etc. are to be worn on your cap and/or gown. Only one tassel is to be worn on the cap. All tassels should be worn on the right side.

In order to assist us in making this occasion pleasant for everyone, please read and follow the important instructions below:

Purchase your cap and gown at your campus bookstore April 26 through May 10. Do not wait until May 10 to buy your cap and gown! Phi Theta Kappa members must check with their advisor well in advance of graduation to purchase additional attire.

Pick up ceremony guest tickets at your campus bookstore from April 26 through May 3. Up to 4 tickets have been reserved in your name. Photo ID is required. All guests, including all children, must have a ticket. Tickets will not be available at the door.

Based on availability, an additional 2 tickets per graduate will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. These tickets will be available on Wednesday, May 5, from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., in the Lake Worth campus bookstore only.

Class rings may be purchased through the college bookstore on any campus.

If you or any of your guests need to request disability-related accommodations, please contact Susan Lang at (561) 868-3375 at least one week before commencement. Please note that seating will be provided for guests using wheelchairs.

Participate in Project Graduation! We invite all graduates to bring canned goods or children's books on the day of commencement for donation to community members in need.

Arrive dressed in your cap and gown and report to the exhibit hall by 12:00 noon. Ask your guests to go directly into the exhibit hall for seating. Guests should be seated by 12:45 p.m., at which time, all doors are closed to allow passage of the procession. Late arrivals will be seated after the procession has entered.

Pick up your name card from a Student Services representative at check-in. (This card will be an essential part of the degree conferral process during the ceremony.)

Your personal belongings (purses, keys, etc.) must be secured with a friend or family member.

No balloons or noisemakers are allowed in the exhibit hall.

Please: Turn off cell phones and beepers for the ceremony.

Women should keep their caps on throughout the ceremony. Men should remove their caps for the National Anthem.

As a part of the degree conferral process, you will be escorted to the platform for individual recognition. Please hand the name card you received to the announcer when you reach the platform. When you cross the platform, the president will shake your hand and hand your diploma cover to you. You may then leave the platform by the opposite stairs, have your picture taken, and return to your row and seat.

All students and audience members are expected to remain in the exhibit hall until the entire ceremony is over. Please plan for approximately 2 1/2 hours.

A professional photographer from GradTrak will be on stage to take your picture as you greet the president and again as you exit the platform. As a courtesy to your classmates and their guests, please inform your guests to remain seated throughout the ceremony and refrain from moving about to take photographs. Guests will have ample time following the ceremony to take pictures of you.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, you will be dismissed from your seat in the exhibit hall after the platform party and the faculty have exited.

After the College has verified that all degree requirements have been met, diplomas will be mailed to the address listed on your degree application in approximately 8 weeks.

GradTrak will e-mail details on the availability of your individual photographs.

The information on this Web page does not certify readiness for graduation; it simply informs you of ceremony details. Students are responsible for completing all degree requirements.

Your cooperation in making the commencement ceremony meaningful will be greatly appreciated. We wish you a successful future!