Congratulations LAS Graduates !

The Spring 2004 Liberal Arts and Sciences Commencement Ceremony will be held on May 9, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. in the UIC Pavilion. The invited commencement speaker is Carol Moseley Braun, former U.S. Senator, Ambassador, and LAS alumna. This year LAS will have its own ceremony, and each graduate will be individually recognized. Graduates of Summer 2003, Fall 2003, and Spring 2004 are invited to participate and join the Dean and faculty at a reception for graduates and guests following the ceremony. No tickets are required; the Pavilion opens for seating at 8:00 a.m. Specific instructions for STUDENTS and FACULTY are below.

General commencement information including, directions, parking, and cap and gown ordering information is available at

Please adhere to instructions and deadlines.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STUDENTS

Ceremony Starting time: 9:00 a.m., Sunday, May 9, 2004

UIC Pavilion doors open at 8:00 a.m.. Students must sign in no later than 8:30 a.m.          

Ordering Caps and Gowns: go to

http://www.vcsa.uic.edu/MainSite/departments/commencement/caps_and_gowns/

Academic dress will be available in the CCC Bookstore beginning April 19. Cap and gowns cannot be purchased the day of graduation. Only those with correct academic attire are permitted to participate.

Professional photographs will be taken of each graduate. You will receive order forms from the photography company. Please let your guests know that they cannot approach the stage or you for the purpose of photographs or presentation of flowers or gifts during the ceremony.

All graduates should complete the Alumni Association questionnaire at http://www.uiaa.org/chicago/.

Undergraduate Degrees:

Graduates are to assemble in the Pavilion parking Structure on Harrison Street between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.. After checking in and receiving an imprinted name card, proceed to the area designated for your major field. Please bring a pen or pencil with you so that you can enter the phonetic spelling of your name if it might be difficult for the name reader. If you have more than one major you must select with which group you prefer to sit and have your name called during the ceremony. Please note that late arrivals will not be able to be accommodated. The processional into the Pavilion will proceed under the direction of college marshals and Pavilion staff. Take note that no smoking is permitted in the assembly area and only proper academic attire may be worn. Acceptable accoutrements are those issued to students graduating with various honors.

Pavilion security will escort out any persons who cause disruption in any manner.

After the general conferral of degrees, the graduates will be escorted to the platform, present their name cards, have the name called, and proceed to center stage, receive a diploma cover and shake hands with the dean. In order to accommodate all graduates it is important that each graduate move quickly from the stage down the far stairway and return to the seats.

Graduate Degrees:

Masters: Candidates for the masters’ degrees are to assemble in the Pavilion parking Structure on Harrison Street between 8:00 am and 8:30 am. After checking in and receiving an imprinted name card proceed to the area designated for your major field. Please bring a pen or pencil with you so that you can enter the phonetic spelling of your name if it might be difficult for the name reader. You should position yourself to be at the front of your major group, ahead of the bachelor’s degree candidates.

Please note that late arrivals will not be able to be accommodated. The processional into the Pavilion will proceed under the direction of college marshals and Pavilion staff. Take note that no smoking is permitted in the assembly area and only proper academic attire may be worn.

After the general conferral of degrees, the graduates will be escorted to the platform, present their name cards and proceed to center stage, receive a diploma cover and shake hands with the Dean. In order to accommodate all graduates it is important that each graduate move quickly from the stage down the far stairway and return to the seats.

Doctoral: Candidates for doctoral degrees will assemble inside the Pavilion in the robing area concourse beneath the stands. Enter through the Harrison Street Guest Services Door at the far right of the main doors, and proceed to the robing area. The doors will open at 8:00 a.m., and you should be present by 8:30 a.m. At check-in you will receive a pre-printed name card to which you can add the phonetic spelling if it will better enable the reading of your name. Please assemble in the designated area with your dissertation advisor. Staff and marshals will assist. Your processional will proceed down the center aisle in advance of the processional of other college degree candidates.

After the general hooding and conferral of degrees, the graduates will be escorted to the platform, present their name cards, have the name called, and proceed to center stage, receive a diploma cover and shake hands with the dean. In order to accommodate all graduates it is important that each graduate move quickly along the stage and down the far stairway and return to the seats.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FACULTY

Participating faculty fall into one of three groups:

• Departmental marshals
• Doctoral Advisors
• Platform faculty (those not listed above)

All faculty must wear academic attire that can be ordered at no cost at:

http://www.vcsa.uic.edu/MainSite/departments/commencement/caps_and_gowns/faculty.htm

The deadline for ordering faculty academic attire is March 19.

Faculty wearing their own caps and gowns should notify Beth Adams (betha@uic.edu) so that an accurate count of attending faculty can be made. The robing area for the faculty is on the lower concourse of the Pavilion. Enter through the Harrison Street Guest Services Door, located to the far right of the main doors

Departmental Marshals (assigned by executive officers): By 8:30 a.m. be in position according to Department placards located in the Pavilion Parking Garage.

Doctoral Advisors: By 8:40 a.m. locate your candidates in the robing area of the lower concourse of the Pavilion. You will march with and sit with the candidates and be prepared to hood them at the appropriate time in the ceremony. Marshals and staff will guide you.

Platform Faculty: By 8:40 you should be in the robing area on the lower concourse of the Pavilion. Faculty will form a double line behind the Platform Party of campus and college officials. Marshals and staff will guide you.