Fall 2009 Commencement & Convocation
Thursday December 17, 2009	ASU Commencement 9 AM - Wells Fargo Arena (see campus map, Tempe campus, building: WFA)
Thursday December 17, 2009	Fulton Institute & Graduate School of Education Convocation 1:30 PM Grady Gammage Auditorium (see campus map, Tempe campus, building: GGMA)

FULTON INSTITUTE & GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
CONVOCATION CERMONY

The Mary Lou Fulton Institute & Graduate School of Education recognizes doctoral and master's degree candidates in an intimate ceremony that announces the names of each graduate as they cross the stage and receive personal congratulations from Dean George W. Hynd. In addition, graduates will be individually hooded by their faculty mentors.

Doctoral candidates should arrive at the truck ramp by the stage door on the southeast side of Gammage Auditorium by no later than 12:45 PM. Master's degree candidates should report to the same location by no later than 1 PM. Please look for the yellow signs that indicate degree type in order to line-up in the appropriate processional order.

Free parking will be available in Lot #3 during the ceremony.

RSVP

Graduates must RSVP by no later than Friday, November 27, 2009 through their myASU account. Please follow the instructions on the site.

In order to be able to RSVP for the Mary Lou Fulton Institute and Graduate School of Education Convocation Ceremony, graduates must apply for graduation and pay the appropriate fees. For more information about applying for graduation and the deadlines to apply, please visit the Graduation link at the Office of the Registrar.

TICKETS

This is a ticketed event and all graduates and their guests must supply a ticket for entry into Grady Gammage Auditorium. Each graduate is allowed to request up to six (6) guest tickets. The deadline to request tickets is Friday, November 27, 2009. Students can pick up their ticket packages from Payne Hall, Room 108 between Monday, December 7 and Friday, December 11 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. ID will be required for pick-up. If other arrangements are necessary, the student must email Paula Miller at paula.miller@asu.edu before Monday, December 7. Ticket packages will include guest tickets and the graduate’s ticket.

GRADUATE CHECK-IN

Graduates should report to the truck ramp by the stage door on the southeast side of Grady Gammage Auditorium. By entering through the ramp, graduates will be at the backstage set-up area of the Auditorium, which is where our volunteers will assist the graduates to check-in. Doctoral degree candidates should look for the yellow sign by their check-in table and master’s degree candidates should do the same. Once graduates have their name reader cards, volunteers will further assist graduates to line-up in the appropriate processional order. It is critical that graduates arrive at their designated times as outlined above and listen to the volunteers’ instructions.

If you have a disability, impairment, and/or mobility concern, please contact Paula Miller at paula.miller@asu.edu or (480) 727-7262 before Friday, November 27.

GUEST ARRIVAL

Doors open to the public at 12:30 PM. All guests are required to have a ticket for entry into Grady Gammage Auditorium. For guests who have limited mobility concerns such as those who use a cane or walker, please use the Box Office Entrance on the south side of Auditorium. For guests who require wheelchair seating, please use the Sunset Lobby Entrance on the west side of the auditorium. If wheelchair seating is required, please make sure to indicate on the RSVP form so that the appropriate tickets are issued since there are a very limited number of wheelchair accessible seats.

Phone numbers

ASU Office of University Ceremonies—480.965.3565

Fulton Institute & Graduate School of Education convocation questions—480.727.7262

Links for additional information

ASU Graduation—information about filing for graduation, diplomas

ASU Office of University Ceremonies—information about the ASU commencement ceremony

ASU Bookstore—information about caps, gowns, tassels, hoods, announcements

Frequently asked questions—

What is the difference between commencement and convocation? Commencement is the official university ceremony for all ASU graduates. Convocation is where graduates of the Mary Lou Fulton Institute and Graduate School of Education are individually recognized.

Do I need to RSVP? Yes, the RSVP is critical because it allows us to manage your ticket package; your attendance to the ceremony; and several other internal moving components that we don’t need to bore you with, but let’s just say they are really important! The deadline to RSVP is Friday, November 27 through myASU.

I can’t seem to RSVP through myASU. Who do I contact to resolve this issue? Please contact the Office of the Registrar at registrar@asu.edu. Please make sure to include your name, student ID number, and the specific issue you are encountering in your email. If you are able to do a screen capture, this is helpful as well.

How will I know that my name will be called? How will I know that my name will be called? We use a simple method to call your name as you walk across the stage. We give all of our graduates a name reader card when you arrive to Grady Gammage Auditorium. We generate these name reader cards based upon your RSVP through myASU. Therefore, please make sure you RSVP by Friday, November 27 so that we have a name reader card prepared for you. During the ceremony you will be prompted by volunteers to exit your row and head up toward the stage. You will then hand your name reader card to the designated faculty member who will then read your name aloud. You will then walk across the stage and be hooded at center stage. Graduates then proceed slightly further to shake hands with Dean George W. Hynd. Master’s degree recipients will also receive their diploma covers at this point during the ceremony. Please note that doctoral degree recipients receive their diploma covers at the Commencement Ceremony.

How long is the convocation ceremony? Convocation will last approximately 90 minutes.

Where do I get my cap and gown and/or hood? These items as well as announcements are available at the ASU Bookstore.

What color tassel or hood do I get? Please contact a representative at the ASU bookstore.

In order to graduate, do I have to attend convocation or commencement? No, attendance at either one of these ceremonies is optional and not required.

When will I receive my invitation for the Mary Lou Fulton Institute & Graduate School of Education convocation ceremony? The Dean's Office mails out invitations approximately four weeks prior to the date of the convocation ceremony. Please make sure that you apply for graduation by October 15, 2009 at the Registrar's Office and have a current mailing address on file.

I still haven't received an invitation from the Dean's Office and the ceremony is nearing, what do I do? There are many reasons why you may have not received an invitation, but please be reassured that everything you need to know about the ceremony is on this website. However, if you have already completed the RSVP form through myASU and would like to check the status of your RSVP, then please send an email to paula.miller@asu.edu. Status updates take 3-5 days to complete.

Will I get my diploma at convocation or commencement? Diplomas are mailed to graduates approximately 10 to 12 weeks after commencement. Questions about your diploma should be directed to the Office of the Registrar at registrar@asu.edu.

Should I wear my hood for the processional? No, please drape your hood over your arm for the start of the ceremony. You will be hooded during the ceremony by your faculty mentor that you requested on the RSVP page through myASU.

Do I need to contact my hooder? Who will contact my hooder? You should let them know that you would like to request them to be your hooder and give them the date and time of the ceremony in advance for planning purposes. As the ceremony nears, the Dean’s Office will email instructions to all hooders on where and when to report to Grady Gammage Auditorium. However, it is essential that you include the name and email address of your hooder by no later than Friday, November 27 through the myASU RSVP since this is how the Dean’s Office will populate its list of hooders to contact.

Will there be a photographer at convocation? Yes, Chappell Studios will photograph each student as they shake hands with the dean of the college. You will then be contacted by Chappell Studios about purchasing pictures.

If I am unable to attend convocation, how do I receive my diploma cover? Please call 480.727.7262 or e-mail paula.miller@asu.edu to request a diploma cover be mailed to you. If you are a doctoral degree candidate and did not receive your diploma cover at the commencement ceremony, please contact the Graduate College to request a diploma cover at grad-sas@asu.edu. Diploma covers will not be mailed out until after the ceremony.

What if I am a graduate and have special needs that need to be accommodated? Please call 480.727.7262 or e-mail paula.miller@asu.edu so that we can best assist you.

My grandparents are coming for the ceremony and have difficulty walking. Is there parking and other accommodations for the disabled? For guests who have limited mobility concerns such as those who use a cane or walker, please use the Box Office Entrance on the south side of Auditorium. For guests who require wheelchair seating, please use the Sunset Lobby Entrance on the west side of the auditorium. If wheelchair seating is required, please make sure to indicate on the RSVP form so that the appropriate tickets are issued since there are a very limited number of wheelchair accessible seats. Any other accommodations should be handled through Paula Miller at paula.miller@asu.edu or (480) 727-7262.

RSVP

Please RSVP online through myASU.

DATES TO REMEMBER

December 17, 2009
ASU Commencement
Wells Fargo Arena
Tempe campus
9 AM

December 17, 2009
Fulton Institute & Graduate School of Education Convocation
Gammage Auditorium
Tempe campus
1:30 PM