Undergraduate Commencement Guide 2013
Event Information
The 2013 Western Connecticut State University graduating class will hold Commencement exercises on Sunday, May 12, 2013, at the Westside Athletic Stadium on the Westside campus, 43 Lake Ave. Extension, Danbury. The ceremony will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. and will conclude at approximately 12:30 p.m. Please consider parking at the Midtown campus and taking a convenient, air conditioned, coach shuttle to the ceremony.
Academic Dress – Academic Regalia
All participants in the academic procession are required to wear academic regalia. Graduates can pick up their academic regalia at the
Grad
Salute on:
Thursday, May 2, 2013
3 to 7 p.m.
Warner Hall
Midtown campus
Graduating students are invited to this event where they will have an opportunity to finalize their Commencement needs in one stop and pick up their pre-ordered academic regalia. Representatives will be on hand to assist students in making final graduation preparations. Complimentary food and fun activities will be available. Plus, enter to win a free custom WCSU diploma frame, gift certificate towards a class ring, WCSU apparel, door prizes and swag.
Graduates must order your academic regalia by Friday, April 12, 2013.
If you are unable to pick up your regalia, please ask a friend or family member to do it for you. Due to space limitations, regalia will not be available for pickup on the day of Commencement.
Commencement Procedure
A continental breakfast will be provided for all candidates and faculty from 7:30 to 8:45 a.m.
There is no Commencement rehearsal. Students will get the information they need
at the O'Neill Center the morning of Commencement. Candidates should arrive at the Feldman Arena in the O'Neill Center no later than 9 a.m. to line up for the procession. Look for the banner with your school name and proceed to that area to pick up your name card.
You will need to keep your name card with you to assemble for the procession and to have your name announced during the ceremony. Candidates will assemble in the large blue chair area in the arena. Please find your seat with your school. This is the order in which you will process to the field. The procession will begin promptly at 10 a.m.
Staff members will direct all candidates to the appropriate areas to line up. University marshals will lead the procession onto the field and direct you to your seat. Remain standing until the University President asks you to be seated.
Each school's dean will ask their candidates to stand. Your university marshal will guide you to the stage. Hand your name card to the announcer who will read your name. Shake hands with your dean and the university president, then proceed, as directed, for your official graduate portrait. After your picture has been taken, go back to your seat.
Please stand as the university president officially confers the degree upon your group. At this time, you may officially move the tassel on your cap to the left side.
Respective deans will give the same cue to each graduating degree group.
At the conclusion of Commencement exercises, all candidates rise for the Recessional. Following is the order of the Recessional: Dais party, faculty, and then graduates, beginning with the first row. March out two-by-two, using the center aisle.
Ceremony and Facility Protocol
Please have respect for the other graduates and their guests. Do not leave the Commencement ceremony early.
To preserve the dignity of the ceremony and the safety of those in attendance, air horns, beach balls, and other inflatable items are prohibited and will be confiscated by the campus police.
Alcoholic beverages are not allowed at the ceremony. Campus police will confiscate any alcoholic beverages brought onto the field.
Please inform family members that Commencement is held outdoors and suggest they consider wearing a hat for sun protection and flat-heeled shoes for walking on the grass.
The use of cellular phones is disruptive to both participants and guests. Please silence all phones and pagers during the ceremony.
Graduation Honors for Baccalaureate Degree
Graduation honors for the baccalaureate degree recognize high academic achievement at Western Connecticut State University as demonstrated by the following cumulative grade-point averages:
Cum laude (honors) |
3.50–3.69 |
| Magna cum laude (high honors) | 3.70–3.89 |
| Summa cum laude (highest honors) | 3.90–4.00 |
January graduates and May candidates for Graduation Honors, who will be recognized at the May Commencement ceremonies, are identified at the conclusion of the January Intersession semester preceding graduation. Students who have earned a minimum of 45 credits toward their graduation requirements in residence at Western Connecticut State University with a cumulative earned GPA of at least 3.50 are considered to be Graduation Honors candidates eligible for recognition at the May Commencement. Candidacy for May Graduation Honors does not guarantee the award of Graduation Honors upon completion of degree requirements.
Graduation honors, which appear on the transcript and on an honor’s certificate, will be awarded only to students who complete their graduation requirements with a minimum of 45 credits in residence at Western Connecticut State University and have a cumulative earned grade-point average of at least 3.50. The residency requirement for honors may not be waived. Students with questions regarding academic honors should consult the Academic Dean of their major.
Honors Cords
Undergraduate honors cords are provided by the Registrar's Office and are based off of the last overall GPA recorded not including the current semester. They are distributed by the Registrar's Office prior to graduation. If you have any questions about your eligibility or when/how to obtain honors cords, contact the Registrar's Office directly at (203) 837-9200.
Access Ability Needs
Any student or a member of the student’s family that requires special accommodations for the May Commencement ceremony must contact the Office of University Events (203) 837-8800 no later than Friday, April 20th.
Attention family members of graduating students
Are you an alumnus and have a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, sibling, etc. graduating from WCSU this May? If so, join your fellow alumni in the academic procession.
Legacy alumni are invited to participate in the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony by leading the procession of gradates and welcoming the class of 2013 into the Alumni Association. Festivities include:
- 7:30 a.m. - Commencement Breakfast, Grand Ballroom, Westside Campus Center, WCSU Westside campus
- 9 a.m. - Academic Dress, Hall of Fame, O'Neill Convocation Center, WCSU Westside campus (academic regalia will be provided for you if you do not have your own)
- 10 a.m. - Academic Procession, Feldman Arena, O'Neill Convocation Center, WCSU Westside campus.
The ceremony will immediately follow. Special seating will be provided for all alumni participating in the procession.
During the past several years, alumni from those celebrating their 50th class reunion to our more recent graduates have participated in Commencement by leading the procession. This tradition is a wonderful way to honor all of our graduates, along with your student, and welcome them into the WCSU Alumni Association. I hope you will join us as we celebrate the Class of 2013.
Please RSVP by calling the Office of Alumni Relations at 203-837-8298 or email alumni@wcsu.edu.
Accommodations
The university has negotiated special rates with local hotels for guests attending WCSU's Commencement festivities. To make your reservation, call the hotel
of your choice directly. Book your reservation early to ensure room
availability. When booking your reservation, make sure to ask for the
special WCSU
rate. We looking forward to seeing you on campus this May.
Reception
A reception will be held across from the stadium after the ceremony for graduates and their guests.
Guest Tickets
There is no limit to how many guests students can invite to the Undergraduate
Commencement festivities. Everyone is welcome. There is, however, limited
parking on the Westside campus that day. Every student scheduled for graduation,
as well as the student's family, will receive a special one-day hang-tag parking
pass. Please see the Parking section below for additional information.
Anyone without a hang-tag may park on the Midtown campus and take the
complimentary shuttle over to Westside. Refer to the Shuttle Service section
below. Students can pick up their hang-tag at the
Grad
Salute on May 2. Family hang-tags will be mailed home.
Parking
Parking is limited at the Westside campus. Every student scheduled for graduation, as well as the student’s family, will
receive a special one-day hang-tag parking pass. Students should pick up their
parking pass at
Grad
Salute on May 2. A parking passes will be mailed the 3rd week of April
to each family of a graduate.
These passes are for use by graduates and guests and must be displayed from the rear view mirror of all vehicles. No vehicle will be admitted without this pass. Please note that most parking is in campus lots and not all are close to the stadium where commencement will take place.
Danbury and WestConn Police will be stationed at the entrance and various Westside campus locations to direct traffic and instruct visitors.
Parking will be available in the garage off University Boulevard and at any other surface lot. Parking will not be allowed along the sides or on the median strip of the divided end of University Boulevard. Pedestrians are encouraged to use the sidewalks and cross only at pedestrian crosswalks to avoid accidents.
There is only one entrance to the Westside campus. Traffic can be congested along Mill Plain Road and University Boulevard. It is a good idea to arrive early, as parking areas fill up quickly. Please note that businesses along Mill Plain Road and Lake Avenue Extension will be open. Non-customers parking there may be towed at their own expense.
Handicapped Parking and Services
While this parking is closer to the stadium than general parking, it is not immediately adjacent to the Commencement field. No transportation will be provided from the parking area to the Commencement field so it is important that the individual have a wheelchair or be able to walk this distance. The university does not provide wheelchairs.
Persons with a state handicap permit or requiring handicapped or easily accessible parking should complete a Handicapped Parking Request Form. For more information, or to request a form be mailed to you, contact:
Sheryl Scott
Alumni Relations & University Relations
WCSU, Old Main suite 302
181 White St.
Danbury, CT 06810
Tel: (203) 837-8486
Fax: (203) 837-8530
Requests for special parking must be received no later than Thursday, May 9.
Shuttle Service
Convenient shuttle service to and from the Midtown parking garages will be provided for guests, beginning at 9 a.m. We strongly suggest attendees consider parking at Midtown. Please inform your guests about this service.
Directions to the Campus
Click here to view directions to our campus
Driving directions following the ceremony
Cars leaving the campus after the ceremony will be directed West along Mill Plain Road. Interstate-84 can be accessed both eastbound and westbound at Exit 2, about three miles from campus.
University Fees
All fees (cashier, library, parking, etc.) must be paid prior to Commencement or your diploma will be withheld.
Graduate Portraits
Photographers from GradTrak Graduation Images will be on stage to photograph graduates. Proofs will be mailed to you after the ceremony. You are under no obligation to purchase. Visit www.gradimages.com or call (800) 424-3686 for information.
Video
WCSU Media Services will record the ceremony, and offer a downloadable digital copy for purchase sometime after the conclusion of the commencement ceremony.
Flowers
Flowers will be available for purchase at the event.
Invitations and Announcements
The WCSU Bookstore works with a company called Balfour to provide WCSU
Commencement invitations and related materials. Go to http://www.balfour.com for more information.
Campus Bookstore
The campus Bookstore will operate a sale area near the Commencement site.
Flowers
Flowers will be available for purchase at the field.
Diplomas
Diplomas will be mailed from the Registrar’s office approximately eight weeks after your graduation date.
WCSU Official Diploma Frames
Graduation from college is a huge accomplishment. What better way to display this great achievement than in an official
WCSU diploma frame. For years to come, your diploma will remain safe and look impressive.
Visit Western's Diploma Frame Store online. There are several diploma frame styles to choose from and you can even design your frame online by choosing different mouldings, mats and glass styles depending on your taste.
New this year, graduates can have the name of their academic school included on their diploma frame beneath the name of the university.
We also offer several desk accessories that feature an attractive and rich-looking two-toned engraved medallion with the Western seal. Some of the pieces can even be personalized with your name.
You can order your diploma frame and desk accessories online or by phone with a credit card at (203) 837-8298. If you would like us to send you a diploma frame brochure, please call us at the number above.
Engraved Brick
Leave your legacy at Western by engraving your name and a special
message on a 4 x 8 brick located in the
Alumni & Friends
Circle. The Alumni & Friends Circle, located in between Old Main
and Fairfield Hall, houses an ensemble of inscribed bricks, trees,
benches and light posts donated by alumni and friends of the
university. Several brick paths now lead into the circle making it
highly visible to students, faculty, staff, alumni and visitors.
Download the order form or call the Office of Alumni Relations
at (203) 837-8298 for more information.
Short-term Medical Insurance
After graduation, many students lose their health insurance coverage
under their parents' plans, making them vulnerable to high
healthcare costs.
GradMed
provides protection from the major expenses associated with an
accident or unexpected illness, providing coverage while job
searching or waiting for new employee benefits to begin. An ideal
product for new graduates, with GradMed you can choose a coverage
period and deductible that meets your needs. Coverage can begin as
early as the day after receipt of your application. For more
information, visit the
GradMed Web site.
New grads - take advantage of health and financial benefits available to you through your Alumni Association. Check out www.newgradzone.com to learn more about plans designed to help protect you as you transition into your new life. Don't wait - get into the zone!
Senior Portraits
Senior Portraits will be taken February 25 and 27 and at the Grad Salute on May 2. Details can be found in the email sent to all eligible graduating students or visit http://www.thorntonstudio.com/ (use password: WCSU).
