Graduate Commencement

Notification of your intent to participate in commencement is essential. You must complete a Participation Confirmation Card and return it to the Office of the Registrar no later than Wednesday, April 16, 2008.  (Degree candidates who attended the Grad Fair have already submitted the confirmation card.)  If mailing the card, please place in an envelope and address it as follows:  

Degree candidates who did not attend the Grad Fair may obtain their cap and gown from the University Bookstore during normal business hours:

The cap and gown may be kept by the graduate as a memento of the occasion.  Candidates should allow sufficient time to iron or steam-press their gown prior to the ceremony.

THE GRADUATE CEREMONY
Friday, May 9, 2008

Each graduate student will be hooded and will be recognized individually during the ceremony. Instructions for the assembly and Grand March will be provided when picking up caps and gowns. There will be no rehearsal for students; marshals will guide and instruct the graduates for the processional and individual recognition portion of the ceremony. The ceremony is expected to last approximately one and one-half hours.

6:15-6:30 p.m.
Degree candidates assemble in Diddle Arena ramps. Look for signs for each college.

6:30 p.m.
Pre-commencement music begins in Diddle Arena.

7:00 p.m.
Commencement ceremony begins with the Grand March of the platform party, faculty and degree candidates.

Immediately following the ceremony
A reception for all graduates, their family and friends, and faculty will be held in the Hall of Champions in Diddle Arena.

VIDEO AND WEBCAST

The commencement ceremony will be broadcast live by WKYU-TV channel 24 (cable channel 11 in Bowling Green, channel 6-Telescripts in Glasgow, channel 24-Electric Plant Board in Glasgow, and channel 6 in Franklin; check your local listings for broadcasts in other communities).

Commencement ceremonies will also be webcast live on WKU Sports.tv Streaming Video available at http://www.wkusports.tv/. To be able to view the ceremony online, you must have a high-speed internet connection and Windows Media Player 9. To download the latest version of Windows Media Player from the Microsoft Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp

Please advise your family members and friends that only press photographers and the official commencement photographer will be allowed on the ground level during the ceremony. For your convenience, we have made arrangements with Chappell Graduation Images to record the moment you are personally recognized. You will receive passport-sized color proofs of these photos in the mail within 5-7 days of the ceremony. You may place orders or obtain answers to questions at www.chappell.com or 1-800-424-3686. There is no obligation to purchase, and Chappell Graduation Images guarantees complete satisfaction.

Your diploma will be mailed to you at the address listed on your Application for Graduation; however, if the address to which the diploma is to be mailed has changed since filing the graduation application, you should contact Cheryl Hills at (270) 745-5411.  Diplomas for spring graduates will be mailed approximately 6 weeks following commencement.

Please make certain that all obligations such as the return of books to the library, arrangements for repayment of loans, parking tickets, etc., have been fulfilled prior to leaving the campus.  Final transcripts and diplomas will not be issued to students with outstanding obligations.

Commencement weekend will be very busy with other activities in the Bowling Green community.  If overnight accommodations are necessary for your family and guests, it is recommended that reservations be made immediately.

PARKING

Commencement participants and guests are strongly advised to plan their arrival with sufficient time to locate parking. Both parking structures will be available for parking. Please inform your guests of parking in perimeter areas such as the Creason lot, Adams Street gravel lot, Kentucky Street gravel lot, and the Services/Supply lot. A limited number of parking spaces have been reserved in the Diddle Arena parking lot for individuals who possess a handicapped parking permit. These spaces can be accessed from either University Blvd. or Avenue of Champions. Visit the following website for additional information: www.wku.edu/transportation

The Fresh Food Company, DUC Food Court, Java City, and Freshens will be open prior to the ceremony on Friday, May 9. The DUC Subway will be open until 9:00 p.m., and the Red Zone will be open until 10:00 p.m.

QUESTIONS?