Business Commencement 2008

(for Undergraduate and Graduate Students)

Commencement ceremonies for Business students will be held in Cox Arena.

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 - 8AM

Quick index to topics:

What is Commencement?
Can I Participate?
How Do I Get a Cap and Gown?
What About Tickets?
Rehearsal
Line-up and Ceremony
Commencement On Cable

WHAT IS COMMENCEMENT?

Commencement is the formal ceremony that is held each May to recognize and honor our candidates for graduation. Parents and friends of graduates are invited to share in their accomplishment. This year the College of Business Administration will hold its Commencement in Cox Arena. 

Due to stringent security measures, ALL students participating in Commencement are required to present their SDSUcard (Red ID card) in order to be admitted to Cox Arena. STUDENTS WHO DO NOT BRING THEIR RedID TO COMMENCEMENT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PARTICIPATE IN COMMENCEMENT.

Commencement is not the same as graduation. Graduation means the conferral of a degree and the issuance of a diploma. A student graduates when he or she has filed an application for graduation and has completed all the requirements for the degree. Students who have applied for graduation may participate in the Commencement ceremony, but this participation does not mean that they have graduated or that they have completed degree requirements. Similarly, a student may graduate but may choose not to participate in Commencement ceremonies.

ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE

The following students are eligible to participate in the ceremony: 

Undergraduates who graduated in December 2007 
Undergraduates who have applied for graduation in May or August 2008
Graduate students who graduated in August or December, 2007 
Graduate students who have applied for graduation in May 2008 

We regret that we will not be able to accommodate students who have not graduated or applied for graduation in one of these terms. 

You must have applied for graduation; it is not automatic. The deadline for undergraduates to file for May or August graduation (or graduate students to file for May graduation) - February 11, 2008.

Undergraduates who will graduate in December 2008 and graduate students who will graduate in August or December 2008 are not eligible to participate in the May 2008 ceremony.

CAPS AND GOWNS

You may purchase your cap and gown at GradFest, a one-stop opportunity for students to order all of their graduation needs (caps and gowns, announcements, etc.) through the SDSU Bookstore. Gradfest will be on April 8 - 10, 2008. Students will receive detailed information in the mail in March about GradFest.

TICKETS

In order to make entering Cox Arena safe and pleasant for everyone, guests will be required to have tickets. No one can be admitted to Cox Arena without a ticket. All tickets are free. You must be on the commencement list (see "Eligibility," above) to get tickets.  

The number of tickets allotted to each student is based on the number of students who apply to graduate. College of Business has been allocated 8 tickets per student. You may pick them up at Gradfest at the tents in front of the Bookstore.

REHEARSAL

There is no rehearsal for the College of Business ceremony. 

PROCESSION AND CEREMONY

Students should be in line in Lot L (lower level of Cox Arena, across the street from the first level of Parking Structure 4) no later than 7:30 on Saturday morning. Undergraduates will line up by department; all graduate students will line up together. Look for the sign designating your department.

When you enter Lot L you will be given a program and a card to fill out. Be sure that you get a card and that you fill it out completely. We will use this card to call your name when you cross the stage. Later the information will be used to send you the proofs of your Commencement photos.

During the procession, please be sure that you stay in line with your department. This will ensure that you are seated in the correct area inside Cox Arena.

Graduate Students Please Note: When you line up for the processional, you should carry your hood. Do not wear it. You will put it on as part of the "hooding ceremony" during Commencement.

During the ceremony we will honor our outstanding students and individually recognize each graduating student. The ceremony will last approximately 2 1/2 hours.

Attending Commencement can require a significant amount of walking on campus. Please take this into account when planning your arrival and allow time for older relatives to get to Cox Arena without rushing.

SET YOUR VCR

Commencement is usually broadcast live by local cable televison companies. Check back in April for the list of companies and the channels.

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR DISABLED PERSONS

If you or one of your guests will require special accommodations from Disabled Student Services, please contact Student Disability Services (619-594-6473) in April.