Commencement Exercises - Emmanuel College

Home > Information for Graduates

Important Commencement Information for Graduates

Commencement Rehearsal - Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Commencement Rehearsal for Commencement Day Exercises will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 7th in the Gymnasium. All graduates are expected to attend.

Baccalaureate & Awards Ceremony - Friday, May 9, 2008

The Baccalaureate Liturgy and Academic Awards Ceremony will be held on Friday, May 9th at 6:00 PM in the Jean Yawkey Center Gymnasium. This liturgy is a Eucharistic celebration in the Catholic tradition of the College. All graduates and families are welcome to attend regardless of faith denomination. Mass will be followed immediately with an awards ceremony. Any student receiving an award will be notified in advance.

The class of 2008 will meet in the Marian Hall Dining Room at 5:15 PM, wearing academic dress (caps, gowns, and black shoes). Please note: Academic hoods are not worn at Baccalaureate Liturgy.

A reception for the graduates and their guests will be held in the lower and upper levels of the Jean Yawkey Center on the College Campus immediately following the Baccalaureate Liturgy and Awards.

Commencement Day Exercises - Saturday, May 10, 2008

Commencement Day Exercises will be held under the tent on the College Campus on Saturday, May 10th, at 11:00 a.m. Graduates are reminded to arrive at the Jean Yawkey Center Gymnasium no later than 9:30 a.m. for line-up. Late arrivals will not receive diplomas. Graduates are advised not to bring any extra articles, such as clothing or bags, with them to the Gymnasium. Any extra items left in the Gymnasium will be relocated to the Administration Meeting Room following Commencement.

The processional line will form alphabetically by degree and Marshals will direct. Baccalaureate candidates will wear hoods. Master's degree candidates will carry hoods and will be hooded on stage.

After the degrees have been conferred, a representative from the Class of 2008 and a graduate from the Graduate and Professional Programs will lead the graduates in the turning of the tassel. Graduates will stand and with the right hand turn their tassels. Candidates for Bachelors degrees will move their tassel from front left to front right and candidates for Masters Degrees will move their tassel from front right to back right. All will then be seated.

The processional will begin with the graduates followed by the faculty. Dignitaries and college officials will process last. The recessional will begin in reverse order of the processional. The last to enter will leave first. Please ask your guests not to break the recessional lines until all graduates have left the seating area under the tent.

An outdoor reception will immediately follow Commencement exercises for graduates and their guests on the College Campus. In the event of inclement weather, the reception will be moved to the Jean Yawkey Center Gymnasium.

Tickets

Each graduate will receive three (3) tickets for seating under the tent. Each ticket admits one person, and tickets must be presented for entrance to the Commencement tent. Seating cannot be guaranteed for arrival after 11:15 a.m. and seats may not be held. Weather permitting, there will be additional seating outside the tent with a clear view of the Commencement platform.

Each graduate will also receive five (5) formal announcements. The formal announcements are not tickets.

Invitation packets will be available in the Academic Dean's office in the Administration Building, Room 209, beginning Wednesday, April 23, 2008 at 9:00 a.m. Don't forget to bring the last page of the survey e-mailed to you earlier this month and your student ID: Both are required to pick-up your packets!

Senior Survey

This year, Emmanuel will participate in the College Senior Survey (CSS), a national survey of graduating students. The URL for the survey will be emailed to all graduating seniors. Please print the final page of the survey and bring it to ADM 209 to pick up your graduation tickets.

While participation is optional, we strongly encourage you to complete the survey. We will use your feedback to improve programs at Emmanuel.

Parking & Special Assistance

There will be limited parking for the Baccalaureate Liturgy and Commencement Exercises on campus and nearby parking areas on a first-come, first-served basis.

Download a parking map»

If a member of your family needs special assistance (wheelchair, etc.) to attend these events, please contact the Emmanuel College Campus Security Office at (617) 735-9710.

If you require handicapped parking, a limited number of accessible spaces are available on campus. Please contact the Campus Security Office at the telephone number above for assistance.

Caps & Gowns

Academic dress for all graduates can be purchased through the Emmanuel College Bookstore from March 27th through May 10th, 2008. The price list for academic dress is available through the Bookstore. Hours of operation for the Bookstore during Commencement week will be:

Monday, May 5 - Friday, May 9: 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 10: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call Elisabeth Phinney at (617) 264-7697.

Diplomas

Your diploma will display your earned degree (BA, BFA, or BS) as well as Latin Honors. Your major will not appear on your diploma.

For more information regarding Latin Honors eligibility, please refer to page 27 of the 2007-2008 Academic Catalog, or click here.

Epilogue Yearbook

Epilogue is the oldest student organization on the Emmanuel College campus. The 2008 Epilogue Yearbook documents the year's events and activities, and will be the third Emmanuel yearbook in full color.

The cost of the 2008 Epilogue is $65. To pay by credit card, please click here. Checks can be made payable to "Epilogue Yearbook" and mailed to: Epilogue Yearbook, 400 The Fenway, Boston, MA 02115.

Commencement Photos

A photographer will take pictures of each graduate. Information about purchasing photographs will be sent to your home address in the coming weeks from the Dean of Students Office.

If you have further questions, please contact MaryAnne Murphy at (617) 735-9722.

Incomplete grades, grade deficiences or unpaid balances

Graduates who have INCOMPLETE GRADES, GRADE DEFICIENCIES OR UNPAID BALANCES ON THEIR ACCOUNTS will not receive invitations and are not guaranteed listing in the official graduation program. They may not participate in commencement exercises and will not receive their degrees. It is crucial that graduates make provisions to update their records by Wednesday, April 16, 2008.

If you have any doubts regarding your academic standing, please confirm your status with your academic advisor. If you have any doubts regarding your financial status, please confirm your status with the Office of Student Financial Services at (617) 735-9938.

Graduates with a Federal or State Student Loan must complete an exit interview prior to graduation. If you have borrowed with one of these loan programs, you will receive information regarding this process from the Office of Student Financial Services.

Absence from Commencement

If you are unable to attend the Commencement ceremony, please complete a Commencement Ceremony Absence form and return it to the Registrar's Office by Friday, April 4, 2008. If you wish to pick up your diploma, it will be available in the Registrar's Office during the week of May 12, 2008.

If you have any questions about this information, please contact Barbara Alves-Farrier in the Academic Dean's office in the Administration Building, Room 209 at (617) 735-9945.

Click here to print an Absence form »

Graduate Checklist

Verify academic status with academic advisor. All transfer credits must be received prior to April 16, 2008.
Confirm financial status with Office of Student Financial Services.
Students with Federal or State Student Loans must have an exit interview with the Office of Student Financial Services.
If you are not attending Commencement, please complete the Commencement Absence Form and return to the Registrar's Office.
Return all library books to the Library.
Purchase caps, gowns and hoods from the Emmanuel College Bookstore.

When all your Commencement obligations have been met, you may pick up your Commencement invitations and tickets in the Academic Affairs Office in the Administration Building, Room 209, beginning April 18, 2008.

Emmanuel College

Information for Graduates