COMMENCEMENT 101 INFORMATION SESSION

COMMENCEMENT 101 INFORMATION SESSION

What is Graduation? When a student has successfully completed all coursework and all requirements towards a degree from a university or college.

UNDERGRADUATE APPLICATION FOR GRADUATION Name on Diploma What you put on this line is what is printed on diploma Hometown What you put on this line is what is printed on Commencement Program

AT THIS POINT YOU SHOULD NOW BE READY FOR STEP 4: CLEARING AND GRADUATION

IS YOUR DEGREE WORKS COMPLETE? ANY QUESTIONS/CONCERNS LOOK AT BOTTOM OF DEGREE WORKS TO SEE WHO COMPLETED YOUR GRAD TERM CHECK AND CALL OFFICE OF RECORDS & REGISTRATION.

DO YOUR RECORDS AGREE WITH OURS. If you find our records do not agree with yours, please visit or call the Office of Records & Registration for additional assistance.

WEEK OF GRADUATION Students will be cleared for graduation beginning Thursday, May 3 prior to the commencement ceremony.

NO PENDING ISSUES Coursework & Requirements MUST be completed: All coursework must be completed and passed. Cumulative GPA, Major GPA, Minor GPA Hours above 299 Hours completed minimum degree requirements. All Cultural Events must be completed

CULTURAL EVENTS REQUIREMENT MUST BE COMPLETED This requirement is designed to help students develop to their full potential as well-educated and well-rounded individuals. Winthrop University s Cultural Events Requirement is required to graduate. Students must complete total # of Cultural Events required.

COMPLETING YOUR CULTURAL EVENTS REQUIREMENT ON CAMPUS EVENTS: Students must be scanned coming in and out to receive credit. Must be on time. 1 minute late is too late to receive credit. Must stay until the end of the event. Any students leaving early will not receive credit.

COMPLETING YOUR CULTURAL EVENTS REQUIREMENT OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS: Use the suggested Off-Campus list on our website. Students must still petition these events to the Cultural Events Committee to receive credit. You can assume you will receive credit when attending the suggested off-campus events, providing the proper proof and petition is done. Students can also attend events not on the suggested off-campus list. Students must petition these events attended to receive credit. These events are not guaranteed approval.

CULTURAL EVENT PETITION PROCESS How do I petition to receive credit for my Cultural Events? Print out and complete the Cultural Event petition form from Winthrop Cultural Events website. The petition must be accompanied: with a 1-page paper describing the event attended ticket stubs, brochures, pictures, etc. turn in petition to Catina Vinson, Cultural Events Coordinator in 126 Tillman Hall

ONCE ALL CULTURAL EVENTS ARE COMPLETED...

MISSING REQUIREMENTS Missing requirements must be completed by Thursday, May 3, 2018 Students will not be able to participate in the commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 5, 2018.

CLEARED FOR GRADUATION You will be able to see that you have been cleared for graduation on Degree Works.

GRADUATING WITH LATIN HONORS? CUM LAUDE, MAGNA CUM LAUDE, SUMMA CUM LAUDE Any undergraduate student who completes degree requirements with a final grade-point average: Cum Laude Magna Cum Laude Summa Cum Laude 3.50 to 3.74 3.75 to 3.89 3.90 or higher

ALL COURSEWORK COMPLETED DURING UNDERGRADUATE CAREER COUNTS TOWARDS LATIN HONORS A student who has completed coursework at another institution to receive Latin honors MUST: have BOTH of the following: 1. required grade-point average for all work taken at Winthrop 2. required grade-point average on the combination of: Winthrop work PLUS all work taken at other institutions (whether those courses were transferred in or not). Note: Coursework taken at other institutions cannot raise a graduate to a higher level of Academic Honors.

TO FIND YOUR GPA FOR LATIN HONORS CHECK LIFEGPA in Wingspan

STUDENTS THAT HAVE COMPLETED WORK AT OTHER INSTITUTIONS BUT DO NOT QUALIFY FOR LATIN HONORS MAY QUALIFY FOR HONORS RECOGNITION Undergraduate transfer students that complete their degree requirements with a final grade point average of 3.75 earned a minimum of 48 quality hours (earned hours on a regular letter grade basis) at Winthrop University will receive Honors Recognition.

DISTINGUISHED AS HONORS RECIPIENT IN THE COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM On the Commencement Program an asterisks is placed if you are eligible to receive Latin Honors. This information is submitted a month prior to graduation in order to print the programs. It is based off your prior semester GPA/LIFE GPA. If you complete your final semester and do not qualify for Latin Honors- you will not receive a Latin Honors.

IMPORTANT ITEMS TO REMEMBER TO DO DURING YOUR LAST SEMESTER REVIEW COMMENCEMENT WEBPAGE https://www.winthrop.edu/commencement/ COMPLETE SENIOR SURVEY You will receive an e-mail containing a hyperlink to the Graduating Senior Survey by the Monday prior to the commencement ceremony.the survey should take approximately 10-15 minutes. Questions about the survey should be directed to the Office of Assessment at (803) 323-4576 or assessment@winthrop.edu.

What is Commencement? A beginning or start A ceremony in which degrees or diplomas are conferred on graduating students

MAY 2018 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONIES

PICK UP CAP & GOWN If you have not ordered your cap & gown yet, please order at the Bookstore. If you have any questions please contact Brittany Neely at 803-323-3050.

Academic Regalia All commencement participants must wear only appropriate academic regalia. Come to Commencement dressed in your cap & gown. Graduates may wear stoles and cords from Winthrop organizations; however, caps may not be decorated. Graduates who earn official Winthrop honors - Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Cum Laude, and Honors Recognition - and graduates with Honors Program degrees will still receive cords from the Office of Records and Registration staff at check-in for commencement. Men should remove academic caps during the singing of the national anthem and the alma mater.

PARKING Degree candidates should park in the north parking lot of the coliseum (1162 Eden Terrace). Campus Police officers will direct you to the nearest available space. Please enter the coliseum ONLY through the north tunnel.

ON COMMENCEMENT DAY: CHECK IN AREA & TIME Degree candidates should report to the check-in area located just inside the north entrance of the coliseum, in academic cap and gown: 10:00 a.m. Commencement Ceremony between 8:30 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. College of Visual and Performing Arts College of Arts and Sciences 3:00 p.m. Commencement Ceremony between 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. College of Business Administration Richard W. Riley College of Education

HOW TO CHECK IN: Check in under the banner for your College: Receive your reader card. Note your line up number. Do not lose or alter your reader card. If you graduate with Latin Honors or an Honors Program Degree, this will be noted on your card and you will receive a cord to wear.

DO NOT BRING ANYTHING EXTRA WITH YOU TO CHECK IN. NO STORAGE IS PROVIDED FOR YOUR ITEMS. DO NOT BRING ANYTHING THAT YOU CANNOT PUT IN YOUR POCKETS/OR A PURSE WITH A STRAP TO HAVE UNDER YOUR GOWN TO COMMENCEMENT.

COMMENCEMENT READERS If your name is difficult to pronounce, you will be able to meet with the readers prior to the ceremony

HOW TO LINE UP: After receiving a reader card, proceed to the east hallway where additional personnel will be present to assist you in locating your assigned position in line. Do not lose or alter your reader card. The Reader Card contains a line-up number that indicates your place in line. You must line up according to this number. There will be signs on the wall. Please find the number signs that your number falls between and find your place in line. For example, if your number is 10R, find the signs that show 1R and 11R; next, place yourself between them in line behind 9R and in front of 11R. Line-Up Signs on the Wall for UNDERGRADUATES will be WHITE. MASTER S Line-Up signs will be green. Important organized and orderly to facilitate the timely beginning of the ceremony. Joseph C. Smith SEAT: 10R

THE COMMENCEMENT PROCESSION The Procession will begin promptly on the hour. Please do not be late. The Procession will form two abreast in the following order: Platform party Faculty Degree Candidates Bachelor s degree The procession will enter the arena down the center aisle. The degree candidates will split to the left and right outside aisles, respectively, upon reaching the stage and be directed to their seats by a Student Marshal. Please do not leave empty seats. Members of the procession and all guests will remain standing until after the National Anthem has been sung.

CONFERRING OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES Academic deans will present the degree candidates from their respective college to the Provost. Once all degrees are conferred, the President will then instruct graduates to move their tassels from the right front side to the left front side of the cap. Student Marshals will then direct the movement of bachelor s degree recipients to the stage.

CONFERRING OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES As graduates approach the stage, they should hold their reader cards in their left hands. Graduates will give their reader cards to the reader when they reach the top of the ramp leading onto the stage. When their name is announced, they will cross the stage, receive their diploma cover from their academic dean and shake hands with the Chair of the Board of Trustees and the President.

CONFERRING OF UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES Commencement is a formal event of great significance to you, your friends and family, and to your graduating class Please keep in mind the following: Wear comfortable business casual clothing Please do not decorate nor throw your graduation caps Both graduates and guests should refrain from unruly, threatening or disruptive behavior during the ceremony

THE FINAL PROCESSION After the singing of the Alma Mater, the platform party will leave first, followed by the faculty. After those groups, the Student Marshals will lead the graduates to pick up their diplomas.

DIPLOMAS Pick up your diploma based on the first letter of your last name. Double-check that your name is spelled correctly! You will not be able to pick up your diploma if you owe a balance to Winthrop or if we have not received your final transcripts from other schools.

DIPLOMAS..IF YOU DO NOT ATTEND COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY. If you do not attend commencement, you can pick up your diploma in Records and Registration on NOON the Monday following the ceremony. Any diplomas not picked up by 5:00 pm on Friday, May 11 will be mailed to the graduate s permanent address. Be sure to update your permanent address on WINGSPAN if it changes.

GUESTS Each degree candidate is asked to invite no more than eight guests to the ceremony. There are no tickets. Seating is on a first-come, firstserve basis. We ask that you have your guests arrive early and be seated at least 20 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. Please ask your guests not to prolong applause or cheering. We want everyone s name to be heard.

SPECIAL ASSISTANCE If a degree candidate needs special assistance to participate in the commencement ceremony, they should contact: Tina Vires, Program Director Office of Accessibility Bancroft Annex Third Floor 803/323-3290 Seating will be designated for guests, including the elderly, who may need special assistance.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY LIFETOUCH Lifetouch professional photographers will take pictures during the Commencement Ceremony. Two photographs will be taken, one with the president and the other a more posed shot in front of the Winthrop logo. Lifetouch will contact graduates after graduation regarding the sale of the photos.

QUESTIONS? Office of Records and Registration 126 Tillman Hall recandreg@winthrop.edu (803) 323-2194