As you approach Commencement Day, we want to share some information that will help you know what to expect on that day. Because there is no actual rehearsal for Commencement, we hope the following information will be helpful. If you have questions after having read these instructions, please call the Office of Academic Affairs at ext. 5051.

ATTENDANCE AT COMMENCEMENT IS REQUIRED unless you have requested in writing to graduate in absentia and have been granted permission in writing by the vice president and dean for academic affairs prior to Commencement.

Please contact the Office of Academic Affairs if you have a name that is difficult or distinctive. The dean wants to pronounce your name correctly, so please call OAA (x5051) to tell us the correct pronunciation. If you do not contact OAA, we will assume you are willing to trust us to figure it out.

Baccalaureate and Commencement

On Sunday, May 18, Dr. Al Williams and Dr. Benson Onyeji will meet with graduates at 10:15 a.m. in Wampler Auditorium to give further instructions, answer questions, and help prepare for the processional to the BACCALAUREATE service in Cordier Auditorium. To facilitate the lining-up process, seats in Wampler will be labeled with graduates' names. In case of rain, graduates will meet in the basement of Cordier Auditorium before Baccalaureate.

To prepare for the processional to the COMMENCEMENT ceremony in the PERC, graduates will meet with Dr. Williams and Dr. Onyeji at 1:45 p.m. in Wampler Auditorium. (If it is raining, meet in the PERC Auxiliary gym.) If in doubt regarding the weather, check at Wampler for instructions.

If you have questions on May 18 or at times before May 18, Terri Jones in the President's Office will be happy to help you. Please stop by her office A120, call her at ext. 5050 or e-mail tljones@manchester.edu.

The Processionals

A. In the processional, you will march from Wampler Auditorium in the Ad Building to Cordier Auditorium (and in the afternoon from Wampler to the PERC) in the order listed below:

1. Master of Accountancy degree candidates, alphabetically

2. B.A. and B.S. candidates graduating with honors (The order of march will be given prior to the processional.)

3. B.A. candidates, alphabetically.

4. B.S. candidates, alphabetically.

5. A.A. candidates, alphabetically.

• When walking double-file, the person on the right is ahead of the person on the left.
• Watch the usher in filing to your seat; you may be the first to start a new row. The usher will do the counting.
• In the Baccalaureate service, men remove their caps at the beginning of the service and replace them after the benediction. Women may remove their caps at the same time or keep them on through the service.
• During the Commencement ceremony, men remove caps only during the invocation, the singing of the College song, and the benediction. Women may keep their caps on through the service or remove them during the invocation, College song, and benediction.

Commencement

Groups will come to the platform to receive the diploma in reverse order to that in the academic procession as listed above. This will happen on instructions from the platform as follows:

A. A.A. Candidates

1. Candidates will rise when Dr. Sharfman says, "Will the candidates for the degree Associate of Arts please rise?"

2. Candidates will walk to the podium steps when Dr. Sharfman says, "We invite the candidates for this degree to come to the platform to receive diplomas."

B. B.S. Candidates

1. Candidates will rise when Dr. Sharfman says, "Will the candidates for the degree Bachelor of Science please rise?" The B.S. candidates graduating with honors will rise along with this group.

2. Because of the large number of candidates for the B.S. degree, they will come to the platform row by row. Candidates seated in the first row only will walk to the podium steps when Dr. Sharfman says, "Will the candidates for this degree please come to the platform?" All other B.S. candidates, including B.S. candidates graduating with honors, will be seated. B.S. candidates in the second row and each row thereafter should watch the student marshal at the end of the row for the cue to stand and come to the platform.

C. B.A. Candidates

1. Candidates will rise when Dr. Sharfman says, "Will the candidates for the degree Bachelor of Arts please rise?" B.A. candidates graduating with honors will rise along with this group.

2. Candidates seated in the first row only will walk to the podium steps when Dr. Sharfman says, "Will the candidates for this degree please come to the platform?" All other B.A. candidates, including B.A. candidates graduating with honors, will be seated. B.A. candidates in the second and each row thereafter should watch the student marshal at the end of the row for the cue to stand and come to the platform.

D. Bachelor's Degree Candidates Completing the Honors Diploma

1. Those graduates who have completed the honors diploma will stand and be recognized upon instructions from Dr. Sharfman.

2. These graduates will then be seated.

E. Bachelor's Degree Candidates Graduating Cum Laude

Those graduating cum laude will rise and walk to the podium steps when Dr. Sharfman says, "Will the candidates for graduation cum laude please rise and come to the platform in alphabetical order?"

F. Bachelor's Degree Candidates Graduating Magna Cum Laude

Those graduating magna cum laude will rise and walk to the podium steps when Dr. Sharfman says, "Will the candidates for graduation magna cum laude please rise and come to the platform in reverse order of rank in class?" (Because you will be seated in order of rank in class, you will go to the platform in reverse order of the line of march, i.e., the last person in this group will be first, second to the last will be second, etc.)

G. Bachelor's Degree Candidates Graduating Summa Cum Laude

Those graduating summa cum laude will rise and walk to the podium steps when Dr. Sharfman says, "Will the candidates for graduation summa cum laude please rise and come to the platform in reverse order of rank in class?" (Because you will be seated in order of rank in class, you will go to the platform in reverse order of the line of march, i.e., the last person in this group will be first, second to the last will be second, etc.)

H. Master of Accountancy Candidates

1. All Master of Accountancy candidates will rise when Dr. Sharfman says, "Will the candidates for the degree Master of Accountancy please rise?"

2. Candidates will walk to the podium when Dr. Sharfman says, "Will the candidates for this degree please come to the platform?"

All Candidates Please Note:

A. The first candidate to receive a degree should be standing on the top step (the stage) before his or her name is read and should move forward only if the name read is hers or his. That way Dr. Sharfman knows to add "in absentia" after the name if no one moves forward. If the candidate is not on the top step, Dr. Sharfman cannot be sure whether the candidate is moving forward to accept the diploma or is moving up the steps to get into position. Remember, the first candidate should be standing on the top step (the stage) when the first name is read. As soon as that candidate moves forward, the next candidate should take his or her place at the edge of the stage and others behind move up one step.