Frequently Asked Questions by guests

Frequently Asked Questions by the guests

The Commencement Committee requests your cooperation in making the Commencement a memorable event for both you and your graduate. The #1 complaint from the graduates over the last few years was the behavior of some of the guests attending the Ceremony. The Committee asks that you be considerate both for the solemnity of the Commencement and the other guests by not trying to get your graduate's attention during the Ceremony. Below is information that we hope you find helpful in planning for and attending the Commencement Events.

Q: How long is Commencement?

A: The actual Commencement Ceremony takes about 2 hours, 1 hour for speeches and conferring of degrees and 1 hour for degree presentation. It is not an event that most young children find interesting. With due respect for the Ceremony, you are expected to stay in place for the entire event.

Q: What if my candidate has some existing commencement concerns?

A: Commencement Day is not the time to address pre-existing concerns. These matters should be immediately brought to the attention of your candidate's college/school office or academic advisor.

Q: How many tickets are available?

A: In the last few years, all of the Commencement tickets have not been distributed and Calihan Hall has not been filled to capacity so we not using tickets. No tickets will be distributed and candidates are asked to be judicious in the number of invitations they extend. We ask that no more than 10 guests be invited. Remember that seating is on a first come, first served basis and once Calihan Hall is at capacity, no more guests will be admitted.

Q: Where do I park?

A: Parking is limited. Allow extra time to park and, if possible, car pool. For parking locations see the map provided to your candidate with his/her Commencement Instructions or visit our web site at www.udmercy.edu/commencement . Disabled parking, in front of Calihan Hall, is restricted to those with valid handicapped stickers or license plate. Parking is on a first come, first served basis.

Q: When and where are the Commencement Events?

A: The 2008 Commencement takes place on Saturday, May 10 on the McNichols Campus. See map included in the Commencement Instructions.

Commencement Events

• Baccalaureate Line-up -- 9:00 a.m. -- Gesu Church
• Baccalaureate Mass -- 9:30 -- Gesu Church
• Brunch begins -- 10:00 -- Student Center
• Candidate Line-up -- 12:00 noon -- Designated Assembly Areas
• Procession begins -- 12:45 p.m. - Fisher Fountain
• Commencement -- 1:30 -- Calihan Hall
• Alumni Reception -- 3:30 -- Fisher Fountain

BACCALAUREATE MASS is an integral part of the Commencement activities and candidates and guests of all faiths are invited to join this religious service thanking God for His blessings and praying for our future. Mass begins at 9:30 a.m. in Gesu Church, located one block north of the McNichols Campus on Santa Maria between Quincy and Oak Drive. See map provided with the Commencement Instructions.

BRUNCH will be served from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon on the second floor of the Student Center. Advance tickets are required. Ticket information is in the Commencement Instructions.

COMMENCEMENT - Calihan Hall is not an air-conditioned facility.

PROCESSION - At noon, candidates are to be in their designated assembly areas specified in the Commencement Instructions. Over 30 minutes is needed to line up the participating candidates. At 12:40 p.m. the college/school lines will move to the Fisher Fountain area north of the Student Center and at 12:45p.m., process to Calihan Hall. It is traditional for a Bagpiper to lead the procession. Rain or shine, the procession will process. (See Rain question below.) Each college/school will be led by its Banner Bearer who is followed by the Faculty, Graduate and Undergraduate Candidates. The procession arrives at Calihan Hall's northwest doors at 12:50 p.m.

Q: How can I get a good seat?

A: Calihan Hall doors open at 11:00 a.m. Seating is on a first come, first served basis.

Q: What if some of the guests are persons with disabilities?

A: There is limited main floor seating for persons with disabilities, accompanied by one able bodied escort. The limited seating is first come, first served. The chance of being seated in the disabled section after the beginning of Commencement is unlikely. Arena seating can be accessed only by steep steps.

Q: Does Calihan Hall have accessible restrooms?

A: Restrooms are located around the main floor hallways. There are accessible men's and women's
restrooms located in the north corridor near the main entrance of the building.

Q: Can the Ceremony be videotaped/photographed?

A: Videotaping/photographing is permitted by guests from the balcony. A professional photographer will take two shots of your graduate on the floor during the degree presentation. Guests, other than those seated in the physically challenged section, are not permitted on the main floor.

Q: What happens if it rains?

A: Candidates are to report to their assembly areas regardless of the weather. If rain is predicted, they are instructed to bring an umbrella. If the Rain Plan is put into effect, i.e., colleges/schools will come directly to the northwest doors of Calihan Hall from their assembly areas rather than establishing a formal procession at the Fisher Fountain. Implementing the rain plan will not affect the Procession within Calihan Hall.

Q: What can't I bring into Calihan Hall?

A: Commencement is a formal academic ceremony, not an athletic event. Balloons, noise makers, air/bull horns, beach balls, signs, etc. are not permitted. 

Q: What is appropriate guest behavior?

A: Since Commencement is a formal academic ceremony, guests are asked to please show proper respect for both the ceremony and the other guests by:

• Not interfering with the Procession.
• Turning off all beepers, pagers and cell phones.
• Remaining quiet and dignified during the ceremony.
• Refraining from shouting graduate names from the balcony during the Ceremony. This type of behavior is disrespectful and disruptive. Guests who cannot contain themselves will be asked to be quiet and then if the behavior continues, asked to leave.
• Conferring of Degrees - This is the most important and solemn part of the Ceremony. Although quiet should be maintained while the President confers the degrees, expressions of joy are appropriate after the conferring of degrees.
• Presentation of Degrees - A joyous expression is also appropriate when your graduate's name is read. The celebrations should be very brief so that the next graduate's name can be heard.

Q: Where will my graduate be sitting?

A: A floor-seating diagram will be available for viewing in the northeast lobby entrance. This will give the general location of where your graduate's college/school will be seated.

Q: What are the decorations that some graduates wear?

A: Graduates' gowns should not contain adornments such as jewelry, flowers, signs, etc. Gown decoration is strictly limited to university, college and school honor regalia such as cord, sashes, pins and medallions. Your graduate may obtain a listing of the approved items from their college/school office. Candidates with caps that are decorated or which contain messages are unacceptable. Faculty and University Marshals will ask graduates to remove any unauthorized paraphernalia. Fraternity and sorority apparel is not considered appropriate.

Q: What do the hood and tassel colors signify?

A: The colors represent the academic degree area. The colors are:

• Yellow Gold - Business Turnaround Management, Computer/Information Sys., Criminal Justice, Health Administration, Human Services, Information Assurance, Intelligence Analysis, Physician Assistant, Product Development, Security Administration, Science 
• Light Blue - Counseling, Education, Teaching of Mathematics
• Orange - Engineering, Engineering Management
• White - Legal Administration, Liberal Arts
• Blue-Violet - Architecture
• Drab - Business Administration
• Lilac - Dentistry
• Copper - Economics, Financial Economics
• Brown - Fine Arts
• Purple - Law
• Apricot - Health System Management, Nursing, Nursing Education
• Dark Blue - Philosophy
• Citron - Social Work

A more detailed explanation is printed in the Commencement Program.

Q: Where may I get information on the Academic Procession, Order of Exercises, Academic Procession & Mace, Academic Regalia and the Degree Recipients?

A: This information appears in the Commencement Program available at the Ceremony.

Q: How is the right name called when the graduates are presented their degree?

A: At the Candidate Assembly, each candidate receives an identification card that contains his/her name, seat number and honors, if applicable. This card is presented to the Announcer when the graduate receives his/her degree. Because, in the past, some candidates have exercised their creative writing talents, the Announcer will read only the college/school printing and handwritten phonetic name pronunciation. Joyous expression should be brief so that the next graduate's name may be heard.

Q: Why are the names read at such a rapid rate?

A: UDM prefers to personalize its Commencement by having each participating graduate's name read and, if all of the requirements are met, receive their diploma. In order not to extend the Ceremony, the graduates' names are read rapidly. One additional second per name would lengthen the event by 15 minutes.

Q: Why didn't my graduate:

• Name appear in the Commencement Program? Program copy is sent to the printer several weeks before the ceremony. A graduate's name may not appear in the program if the Graduation Application was filed after the deadline.
• Get a diploma? Common reasons for not receiving a degree are:
• • degree requirements have not been met, e.g., courses remain to be completed.
  • outstanding financial balance.
  • the Graduate Application was received after the diploma ordering deadline. Graduates
  • who have any existing concerns should contact their college/school office immediately.
• Have his/her honors read? Honors are awarded to full-time undergraduate students who have completed their degree requirement as of the end of Term II. They are: summa cum laude - 3.75 or above, magna cum laude - 3.50 and above and cum laude - 3.25 or above. Honors are determined using only the last 60 hours of coursework taken at UDM in the degree program. Transfer students must have completed 60 hours at UDM to qualify. Candidates for June and August 2008 will not have honors read at Commencement because they have not finished their studies. Honors are not awarded at the master/doctoral degree level.

ALUMNI RECEPTION - Fisher Fountain

Light refreshments will be served once the Recessional arrives.

Q: Where do I meet my graduate after Commencement?

A: After the Commencement Ceremony is complete, the Graduates will recess out of Calihan Hall and march to the Fisher Fountain. Do not wait in the hallways of Calihan Hall. Plan to meet your graduate at the Alumni Reception. Since the Fountain area will be very crowded, to locate your graduate you may wish to pre-determine a meeting location, meet at the colleges/schools banners which will be placed around the outside columns of the Student Center or use your cell phone after Commencement is over.

OTHER INFORMATION

Q: How do I exit the Campus?

A: All vehicles exiting the:
- McNichols (Six Mile Road) Gate are required to make a right (east) turn.
- Livernois Gate are required to make a right (north) turn.

Please Note:  Livernois Ave. between McNichols and the Lodge Freeway is currently under construction. Please allow additional time if traveling on Livernois.

Q: Where can I get more information about Commencement?

A: Check with your graduate, review the commencement web site or call the Office of the Registrar at 313-993-3313.

Open

• Student Center - first floor, near south exit - Bookstore
• Calihan Hall - first floor front hallway - Concession Stands and Gift Shop
• Class of 2008 T-Shirt Sale at Calihan Hall in the first floor front hallway or at the reception by the Fountain area.

Thank you for your cooperation and for your part in helping to make this unforgettable occasion possible.

2008 Commencement Committee