Commencement

CONGRATULATIONS, GRADUATES!

To see the video broadcast of the 2009 Commencement, click here.

To see the photo gallery of the 2009 Commencement, click here.

Fall 2009 Graduates
File your Intent to Graduate, on eLion,
from August 17 to September 7.

Fall 2009 Commencement
Saturday, December 19, 2009
at University Park

Spring 2010 Graduates
File your Intent to Graduate, on eLion,
from January 2 to January 25.

Spring 2010 Commencement
Friday, May 14, 2010
at Great Valley

The School of Graduate Professional Studies' 20th annual Commencement Ceremony will be held Friday, May 14, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. on the grounds of the Great Valley campus. The ceremony will last approximately 2 hours. This ceremony recognizes graduates from Summer 2009, Fall 2009, and Spring 2010, and will be held rain or shine.

The processional begins at 6:50 p.m. Graduate candidates should arrive at the Main Building with their caps and gowns no later than 6:00 p.m. and proceed to the robing rooms. All guests should be seated in the tent by 6:40 p.m.

The ceremony will feature the conferral of degrees, greetings by university officials, the commencement speaker, the student speaker, and an alumni welcome.

Tickets for guests are required. There is a 4 ticket limit.

If you have any questions regarding commencement, e-mail commencement@gv.psu.edu.

Commencement RSVP

All summer 2009, fall 2009, and spring 2010 graduates are eligible to participate in the School's Commencement Ceremony in May 2010.

Graduates will be required to complete an RSVP form, in Spring 2010, indicating whether or not you will participate.

Employer Thank You

PSGV wants to help our graduates recognize any employer who has played a major role in their success by providing tuition reimbursement, time off for studies, or new career opportunities.

Please complete and return the Employer Thank You information form.

When we receive this information, we will send a letter notifying your employer of the completion of your graduate program and expressing appreciation for his/her support.

To access the “Employer Thank You” information form, click here.

Graduate Exit Survey

Soon after filing your Intent to Graduate, you will receive a letter from the SGPS Registrar with information about graduation and Commencement. This letter will include a link to the Graduate Exit Survey. Please take a few minutes to complete this online survey. You will need a user name and password to complete the survey -- these are provided in the letter.

For 2008/09 Graduates, access the survey online, click here.

Caps & Gowns

All graduates who participate in the Commencement Ceremony are required to wear the appropriate academic regalia.

Caps and gowns may be obtained through the Penn State Great Valley Bookstore.

For more information, contact Karen O'Hara, Penn State Great Valley Bookstore Manager, at 610-648-3213.

Printed Program

Printed programs listing graduates' names are distributed at the Commencement Ceremony. If you file Intent to Graduate after information has been sent to the printing company, your name will not appear in the program.

Tickets

The Commencement Ceremony is open to the public. Tickets are required for all guests including small children. Each graduate may obtain four (4) tickets for family and friends.

For more information about tickets, e-mail the Commencement Committee at commencement@gv.psu.edu.

For current updates on our Commencement Ceremony, please check our Web site at www.sgps.psu.edu/commencement

Commencement Ceremony

Prelude
Academic Procession
National Anthem
Welcome by the Chancellor
Commencement Address
Authorization to confer degrees
Conferring of Degrees
On Behalf of the Graduates
Alma Mater
Recessional

Commencement History

Academic Procession

The Mace, which symbolizes the president's authority, is carried at the head of the academic procession by a University marshal.

Academic Dress

Academic dress had its beginnings in the Middle Ages. When the English universities were taking form in the 12th century, the scholars were also clerics who adopted robes similar to those of their monastic orders. Caps were a necessity in the drafty buildings, and capes with hoods attached were needed for warmth. The hood was made distinctive for the various degrees by its color, trimming, and bindings. As the universities gradually passed from control of the Church, costumes took on brighter hues.

The use of academic costume in theUnited States has been continuous since colonial times. However, a uniform system was not widespread until about 1895 when the well-defined code of the Intercollegiate Commission was adopted by nearly all institutions of higher learning.

The Gown

Gowns worn by those in procession vary according to the degree held. Although the gown is more frequently black for academic dress, certain universities have authorized the use of colored gowns. The academic gown has pointed sleeves for the bachelors degree, short or regular sleeves for the master's degree, and round full sleeves for the doctor's degree.

The Hood

The hood, which is the most distinctive feature of the American code, varies in length according to the type of degree held and is lined with the official colors of the institution conferring the degree. The velvet border or edging of the hood indicates the character of the degree it represents: light blue - education; drab - business administration; orange -engineering; yellow - science.

The Cap

The mortarboard cap is standard, although soft-square-topped caps are permissible. At Commencement, graduates wear the tassel on the left side throughout the ceremony. Faculty participating in academic ceremonies also wear the tassel to the left throughout the proceedings.

F.A.Q.s

Q: What if I haven't filed my Intent to Graduate by the deadline?

Contact your Academic Division office at 610-648-3200.

Q: May I attend Spring Commencement at University Park?

No. The School of Graduate Professional Studies holds a Spring Commencement Ceremony. All SGPS graduates from Summer, Fall, and Spring are eligible to attend the ceremony at the Penn State Great Valley campus. Please call 610-648-3275 for details.

Q: Can I bring more than the number of guests allotted?

No, due to space limitations in the tent, each graduate will only be allowed four guest tickets.

Q: Which side of my cap do I wear my tassel?

The tassel is worn on the left side throughout the ceremony.

Diplomas - Spring 2010 Graduates

Immediately following the Commencement Ceremony, diplomas will be available, with photo identification, in the Warren V. Musser Auditorium of the Conference Center.

Additional dates for diploma distribution: May 17, 18, and 19, 2010, with photo identification, at the Registrar’s Office in the Main building. Office hours are 8:30 a.m. - 6:15 p.m.

Summer 2009 and Fall 2009 Graduates: Diplomas were mailed from University Park to your home address approximately two weeks after the Commencement Ceremony.