Graduate Student Guide
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Welcome
Congratulations! After so much hard work, personal growth and accomplishment, you are about to celebrate with family, friends and our entire community by participating in Commencement 2008. In this guide, you’ll find answers to your questions about how to get ready, what to wear, how to line-up and ways you might celebrate. We look forward to seeing you in May!
- Address Information
- August and Mid-Year Graduates
- Caps and Gowns/Regalia
- Dining During Commencement Week
- Diplomas
- Disability-Related Needs
- Eligibility for Participation
- Event Schedule
- Flowers
- GradFest
- Graduation Announcements
- Graduation Etiquette
- Graduation Mass
- Graduation Press Release
- Line-up/Procession Instructions for Students
- Map of Campus
- Parking
- Participant and Guest Attire
- Photography and DVDs
- Programs
- Receptions
- Regalia
- Restrooms
- Seating
- Tickets
- What’s Next?
- Who to Contact
Address information
Please be sure that the Graduate Records Office has your correct mailing address! This is the address we will use to convey important information, such as when your diploma is available for pickup or delivery.
August and Mid-year Graduates
There will be a special Celebration Mass on Thursday, December 13, 2007 at 4 p.m. in Founders Chapel for undergraduate, graduate and law students who complete their coursework in January. The Mass will be followed by a reception in the French Parlor. All are invited to attend and celebrate with these graduates. Since the Celebration Mass is not a Commencement ceremony, caps and gowns are not worn and diplomas are not presented. Mid-year graduates are invited to participate in the Commencement Ceremonies in May 2008.
Students who will be completing their requirements by the end of August 2008 may participate in the 2008 Commencement ceremonies if they have no more than 9 units of work remaining at the time of Commencement. Remaining work must be part of the students’ regular coursework or be a practicum, fieldwork, student teaching or internship. To qualify for participation in the May ceremony, students must register and pay for their remaining units at the Summer and Intersession Office (Founders Hall 108) by May 1, 2008.
Students who still need to complete their language competency, comprehensive examination, independent final project/integration, master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation will be invited to participate in the Commencement ceremony that follows completion of these requirements.
Caps and Gowns/Regalia
Caps and gowns should be ordered through the USD Bookstore (see “Gradfest”). Or go to: www.usdbookstore.com to order your cap and gown. Once ordered, they can be picked up beginning Monday, May 5 during the Bookstore regular hours. Regalia ordered late will not be available until May 12. Regalia ordered through the USD Bookstore must be returned immediately following commencement; bins for this purpose will be provided at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Some students like to customize their regalia; for more information on appropriate academic dress, please see Regalia and Participant and Guest Attire.
Dining During Commencement Week
| Dining Location | Tues 5/20* | Wed - Fri 5/21-23 | Sat 5/24 | Sun 5/25 |
| Aromas | 7 am - 4 pm | 7:30 am - 3 pm | Closed | Closed |
| Bakery and Market | 7 am - 4 pm | 7:30 am - 4 pm | Closed | 7:30 am - 2 pm |
| Deli | 10:30 am - 2 pm | 10:30 am - 2 pm | Closed | Closed |
| La Paloma | 7 am - 10 am | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Main Dining Room Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner | 7 am - 10 am, 11 am- 2 pm, 4:30pm - 8 pm | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Torero Grille | Closed | Closed | Closed | Closed |
| Faculty and Staff Dining Room | 11:30 am -1:30 | Closed | Closed | Closed |
*Note: Tuesday 5/20 is the last day Meal Plans will be accepted.
Diplomas
At the Commencement ceremony, graduates receive a diploma cover with a letter of congratulations. May 2008 graduates may pick up their diplomas or arrange for mailing with the Graduate Records Office once their completion of requirements has been verified (generally within a week of the Commencement ceremony).
January and August graduates will be notified by mail when their diplomas become available at the beginning of the next academic semester. Please be sure that the Graduate Records Office has your current mailing address. Diploma frames can be ordered through the University Bookstore.
Disability-Related Needs
Graduates who have needs for special accommodation, such as wheelchair or assisted access, or unanticipated needs that arise during the week before commencement should contact the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (morning ceremony) or the Associate Dean of the School of Business Administration (afternoon ceremony). Graduates who are hearing impaired and require seats in view of interpreters should notify the Student Marshals before the procession begins.
Guests who are hearing impaired may request special seating from any of the Commencement ushers. Disabled guests may also request that a companion sit with them.
Vehicles displaying a Disabled Person Parking Placard or Disabled Person License will be directed by officers to designated spaces in the Mission Parking Structure. These spaces are on the third floor of the structure, directly across from Torero Stadium. Although vehicles will not be allowed to load or offload passengers in front of the Jenny Craig Pavilion, tram service is provided for all disabled and elderly guests from the third floor parking structure entrance level.
Eligibility for Participation
Participation in the May 2008 graduate Commencement ceremonies are open to all students who have completed their degree requirements during the previous year (August 2007 or January 2008 graduates), who will have completed their requirements by May 14, 2008 or who will have completed all but 9 units or less of their work by August 2008.
January 2008 degree candidates should have completed their dissertation defense/thesis presentation (the deadline was November 16, 2007) and submitted bound thesis and dissertation forms and fees (the deadline was December 15, 2007).
If you have submitted your Petition to Graduate Form, your Petition has been reviewed and you should have received a Clearance Letter in the mail. If you have not received a Clearance Letter, please contact the Graduate Records Office (Founders Hall 106). May 2008 degree candidates should also have submitted a Petition to Graduate Form and received a Graduate Clearance Letter in the mail. The deadline for thesis presentation/dissertation defense is April 12, 2008. Final, bound thesis and dissertations (or bindery receipt if applicable), fees and forms due in the Graduate Records Office by May 14, 2008.
Students who will be completing their requirements by the end of August 2008 may participate in the May 2008 Commencement ceremonies if they have no more than 9 units of work remaining at the time of Commencement. August graduates should have submitted a Petition to Graduate Form to the Graduate Records Office by December 15, 2007. The remaining work must be part of the students’ regular coursework or be a practicum, fieldwork, student teaching or internship. To qualify for participation in the May ceremony, students must register and pay for their remaining units at the Special Sessions Office (Founders Hall 108) by May 2, 2008. Once students have registered, the Special Sessions Office will provide them with the Graduation Clearance letter as evidence of completed registration. This letter must be provided to the Graduate Records Office to ensure inclusion in the May 2008 Commencement ceremonies.
Students who still need to complete their language competency, comprehensive examination, independent final project/integration, master’s thesis or doctoral dissertation will be invited to participate in the Commencement ceremony that follows completion of these requirements.
Event Schedule
Tuesday, |
GradFest |
| Wednesday, Feb. 27 |
GradFest USD Bookstore 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. |
| Friday, May 16 |
School of Law Mass |
School of Law Awards Ceremony |
|
| Saturday, May 17 |
School of Law Commencement Jenny Craig Pavilion 9 a.m. |
| Reception - School of Law Hahn University Center, Forums A/B Immediately following Commencement |
|
| Friday, May 23 |
Naval ROTC Commissioning Ceremony Reception - Naval ROTC |
| Mass for Graduate Schools Founders Chapel 3:30 p.m. |
|
| Reception - Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science Hahn School of Nursing 4:30 p.m. |
|
| Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science Honors Convocation Founders Chapel 6 p.m. |
|
| Saturday, May 24 |
Graduate Commencement: College of Arts and SciencesJenny Craig Pavilion 1 p.m. |
Reception - College of Arts and Sciences and Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies |
|
| Reception - School of Leadership and Education Sciences Mother Rosalie Hill Hall 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. |
|
| Chicana/o Latina/o Graduate Recognition Ceremony Shiley Theatre and Hahn University Center Main Dining 7 p.m. |
Flowers
Leis, corsages and other floral items will be available for purchase before each Commencement ceremony. Although graduates sometimes wear leis with their regalia, corsages should be reserved for guests.
To order leis online please go here: www.graduationleis.com
GradFest
Each year, the USD Bookstore holds a special event called “GradFest” for students about to graduate. This year’s Gradfest will be held on Tuesday, Febuary 26, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Wednesday, Febuary 27, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. At Gradfest, you will need to place your cap and gown order. There is a nominal $10 fee for cap and gown rental; caps and gowns must be returned immediately following commencement. At Gradfest, you can also order graduation announcements, class rings and diploma frames. Go to: www.usdbookstore.com to order your cap and gown.
Please plan to attend GradFest! You will have the opportunity to have your portrait taken in regalia by a professional photographer from California Candids (www.gradphotos.com); there is no sitting fee. There will also be free giveaways and raffles. For more information, visit the USD Bookstore Web site, www.usdbookstore.com, or call (619) 260-4600 ext. 2597.
Graduation Announcements
Although you certainly can choose your own vendor, we suggest ordering your personalized graduation announcements during GradFest.
Graduation Etiquette
Commencement ceremonies reflect the history, tradition and faith that each institution espouses in their teachings and philosophy, and their practices and culture. Commencement is more than a ceremony; it signifies a personal transformation and is often one of the most sought after and memorable occasions in a person’s life.
Of course, each person may desire to celebrate in an individual way, from expressions of support to adornments on academic attire. These expressions should be considered in the context of an important ritual shared by the entire institution. Therefore, we ask that participants and their guests comply with a few simple requests:
- Commencement is a cause for celebration, but remember that you have not graduated yet! Adherence to the university's alcohol policy is expected. Please save your personal celebrations until after the ceremonies.
- Cell phones should be turned off. Arrange a meeting place after Commencement with guests before the ceremony, and resist the temptation to IM or send text messages during the ceremony.
- Please do not use air horns or other noisemakers during the ceremony. They detract from both the dignity of the occasion and the enjoyment of other guests.
- Leave valuables with family members or guests prior to lining up for the procession. Do not leave purses, keys or other personal items in the hallways, restrooms or elsewhere in the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
- Several clubs and organizations have chosen sashes, cords or other adornments to mark their membership in a group. Although you may choose to wear some form of adornment, please note that gold sashes or stoles are reserved for students graduating in the Honors Program. Improper signs and insignia may be removed by a commencement marshal.
- The ceremony should last approximately two hours. If you should need to leave your seat, please notify one of the marshals for assistance.
Thank you, and may your experience be one of both joy and reverence.
Graduation Mass
The Graduation Mass takes place at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 25 in Founders Chapel. Graduate students, their families and friends of all faiths are welcome and encouraged to attend. This beautiful liturgy provides an opportunity to give thanks for the gift of your education and to pray for God's guidance as you embark on future endeavors. Caps and gowns are not worn.
Graduation Press Release
Graduation Press Releases
The Office of Public Relations will send a press release announcing your graduation to your hometown newspaper.
Click here to complete the Graduation Press Release Form.
Please submit your information by May 25. All graduation press releases will be sent to newspapers following Commencement weekend.
If you have questions please call (619) 260-4659.
Line-up/Procession Instructions for Students
Before you join your classmates at the Jenny Craig Pavilion, please arrange post-ceremony meeting place with your guests.
Graduates should arrive by noon at the parking lot located between the Jenny Craig Pavilion and Cunningham Baseball Stadium on the east end of campus. Students are seated alphabetically by College or School (Arts and Sciences, Nursing, Business, Engineering, and School of Leadership & Education Sciences). Students should find their appropriate row number and follow the instructions of the Commencement marshals.
Once the procession begins, marshals will lead you to the appropriate seating on for your college or school. Please fill all available chairs, and there is no extra seating on the floor. Remain standing until all graduates have processed to their seats and the Platform Party has reached its place on the stage. Instructions will be given throughout the ceremony on when to be seated and when to stand. When it is time for you to walk across the stage and receive your diploma cover, the marshals will direct you to the platform. You will then receive your diploma cover and congratulations.
If you have a parent who is employed by the University and who would like to participate in the ceremony, please contact Sister Juanita Meyer, Assistant Chair of Commencement meyerj@sandiego.edu or (619) 260-2275).
At the conclusion of the ceremony, you will be directed out of your seat by a marshal. We ask that all guests of the graduates remain at their seats until the conclusion of the recessional.
Map of Campus
Please go here for an updated campus map.
Parking
The university implements parking and traffic changes from Friday, May 26 through Sunday, May 27 to assist with Commencement. No University parking permits will be required on these days.
Please note the following changes:
- Parking will not be permitted on Santa Ana Drive after 5 p.m. on Friday, May 23 or on Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25.
- Vehicles will not be permitted to offload passengers on Santa Ana Drive during Commencement.
There are several available places to park during Commencement weekend:
- Mission Parking Structure
- West Parking Structure
- West Parking Lot
- Law School Lot
- Hughes East and West Lots
- University Cener West Lot
- Olin Hall Lot
- Loma/Serra Hall Lot
- Alcala Vista East Lot
Trams will be available to transport graduates and their guests from most of these locations. Disabled Person parking is available in the Mission Parking Structure; tram service will be provided for all disabled and elderly guests from the parking structure’s third floor entrance. For additional information, comments or special needs please contact Parking Services at (619) 260-4518.
Participant and Guest Attire
If you are participating in the ceremony, please do not bring purses, keys or other items of extra apparel or personal value with you to the Jenny Craig Pavilion, as you will not be permitted to carry or wear these in the procession. There will be no place to secure them in the Jenny Craig Pavilion.
Academic attire is required for participation in commencement ceremonies. We recommend “business casual” dress for commencement. Keep in mind the temperature and weather outside when choosing your clothing. Blue jeans, shorts, tennis shoes and flip flops are discouraged. Women should consider low heels or flat shoes, as they will need to walk up and down stairs to cross the platform. High collars or bows at the neck and corsages or jewelry on the robe should be avoided. Men should consider dark trousers, shoes and socks; a tie is optional. Guests should expect to sit for approximately two hours and should choose attire that will keep them comfortable. The Jenny Craig Pavilion is an air-conditioned facility.
Photography and DVDs
A professional photography and video company, California Candids (www.gradphotos.com), will capture the ceremony and each graduate as the diploma is presented. Graduates will then be mailed a proof and order form for the photography. This is the best way to get a good photo of graduates onstage as they receive diplomas, as guests will not be permitted to approach the stage area. Within a week of the ceremony, graduates will be sent order cards with proofs from the ceremony and a password to view their photographs online.
A professional Commencement Video vendor, Graduation Nation, will tape the ceremonies, and on-site DVD orders will be accepted by Graduation Nation and also at (www.graduationnation.com)
Programs
Guests are provided a program when they arrive at the doors of the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Students receive their programs during the ceremony; programs are placed on each of their seats.
Receptions
See Event Schedule
Regalia
Academic dress, or “regalia,” dates back to the 12th century. Scholars, whether teachers or students, dressed in the manner of clerics since they had often taken a vow of some kind. Gowns were probably long for warmth, and while hoods initially covered the head, other forms of headdress later served the same function. By the 14th century, English universities were prescribing a long gown without adornment, and later added colors signifying different areas of study.
Although European universities often vary in the styles and colors of academic regalia, in the late 1880s American universities adopted a standardized code of academic dress. In 1932 and 1986, the American Council on Education reviewed and updated this code.
Gowns are generally black and worn closed. Gowns for bachelor or master degree candidates are untrimmed; gowns for doctors include velvet down the front of the gown and on the sleeves. Although velvet trim is generally black, some doctor’s gowns are trimmed in colors that match the edging of the hood that is appropriate for her or his degree. (The colors associated with each discipline will be made available by the bookstore when regalia is ordered or can be found on Web sites such as www.academicapparel.com).
Caps are usually of the mortarboard style, but some graduate students may choose to wear a tam. Tassels should be black; if they choose, doctors may have gold tassels. Caps are always worn in academic processions and during the ceremony of conferring degrees. Men should remove caps during prayer, the playing of the national anthem and the alma mater, and at other times, if specified, during the ceremony. For more information regarding the origins and code for academic regalia, please consult: Academic Costume Code and An Academic Ceremony Guide.
Restrooms
Restrooms are located on both levels of the Jenny Craig Pavilion. On the main level, they are on either side of the lobby. These restrooms are ADA accessible and offer changing tables for guests with small children. First floor restrooms are located near the lobby of the McNamara Fitness Center.
During receptions, restrooms are available in the Hahn University Center. Enter the main doors; the restrooms will be down the hall to the right.
Seating
Guests do not need to present tickets for graduate Commencement; seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The doors of the Jenny Craig Pavilion open one hour before each ceremony. Please be seated before 1 for the graduate commencement, as guests will not be seated after those times. Since seating is open, please do not save seats in any way other than sitting in the seat. Special seating is available to guests who are hearing impaired or disabled; please see the section on “Disability-Related Needs.”
Although large video screens will be set up to make viewing easier for everyone, please do not bring balloons, ribbons or anything that might obstruct the view of others. We would like to make this event special for everyone; please turn off the sound on all electronic devices.
Tickets
Although the university uses a ticket system for undergraduate Commencements, guests do not need tickets for the graduate student Commencement.
What’s Next? Students Today, Alumni Forever!
As a graduate of USD, you are automatically a member of the USD Alumni Association – a
network of over 45,000 alumni worldwide. The USD Alumni Association keeps you
connected to your alma mater, offers you a variety of benefits and services,
and provides you with opportunities to support current and future USD students.
For information on the Alumni Association and its programs, including regional
chapters, the online alumni directory, benefits and events, go to:
www.sandiego.edu/alumni/alumnirelations/student/seniors.php
Who to Contact
For questions regarding the status of your graduation petition, contact:
Graduate Records Office
(619) 260-2217
www.sandiego.edu/graduaterecords
To order announcements, diploma frames, class rings, regalia etc., contact:
USD Bookstore Graduation Hotline
(619) 260-2597, ext. 2597
www.usdbookstore.com
For information regarding photography, contact:
California Candids
(866) 882-2897
www.gradphotos.com
For information regarding DVD’s, contact:
Graduation Nation
www.graduationnation.com
For information regarding a reserved disability parking permit or to request a wheelchair, contact:
Office of Parent Relations
(619) 260-4808
e-mail: Parent Relations
For questions regarding the Alumni Association, contact:
Office of Alumni Relations
(619) 260-4819
e-mail: Alumni
For questions regarding the Graduation Mass or if you would like to participate as a liturgical minister contact:
Mary Kruer
University Ministry
(619)206-5903
e-mail: Mary Kruer
For any other questions, contact:
Sister Juanita Meyer
Provost's Office
(619) 260-2275
e-mail: Sister Juanita Meyer
