Commencement Weekend 2013
***Updated 2:30 p.m. Friday, May 10.***
Rehearsal
Friday, May 10, 2013
10 a.m. - Noon
Galyon Gallery in Cowan Humanities Building
- Rehearsal for both the Baccalaureate/Cap and Gown Ceremony and Commencement Exercises will begin promptly at 10 a.m. All graduating seniors and graduate students participating in Commencement must attend the rehearsal. Please assemble in the Galyon Gallery in Cowan Building no later than 10 a.m. Seniors line up first; graduate students will be behind them.
- We will first rehearse Baccalaureate/Cap and Gown Ceremony and then rehearse for Commencement Exercises. You will receive all information needed at that time.
- You do not need to bring the person who will be capping you or your cap, gown or hood to rehearsal.
Baccalaureate/Cap and Gown Ceremony
Friday, May 10, 2013
First Baptist Church, 1000 W. Friendly Ave. (map)
Seniors & Graduate Students assemble: 6 p.m., Fellowship Hall.
Platform party assembles: 6 p.m., Bertha Hicks Parlor, Room 209.
Ceremony: 7 p.m.
Speaker: The Rev. David Melton
The Cap and Gown Ceremony is a time-honored tradition at Greensboro College. This is an opportunity for you to pay respect to someone you feel has assisted you in attaining your goal of completing your degree. This person, who cannot be a member of the graduating class, will prepare you for Commencement Exercises. This preparation includes escorting you in the Baccalaureate/Cap & Gown Ceremony and assisting you with the official robing for Commencement. This person will place your robe, hood and cap on you during the ceremony. The procedures are as follows:
- All graduating participants and cappers need to assemble by 6 p.m.
- Graduating participants will line up double file, with cappers beside them. Cappers will stand on the right with the hood and robe over their right arm and the medallion and cap in their right hand. This is done so that cappers may hold the arm or hand of the participants during the processional.
- The ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. with a processional. During the ceremony, the official capping will take place as follows (these steps will be demonstrated for you before the ceremony begins):
- The Chief Student Marshal goes to the podium and reads a brief statement about the history of the Cap and Gown Ceremony.
- The Assistant Chief Student Marshal rings a handbell. The graduates and cappers stand up; the cappers assist the graduates into the gowns.
- The Assistant Chief Student Marshal rings the handbell a second time. The graduates turn to face their cappers. The cappers will
- zip the robe;
- place the medallion, honors cords (if applicable) and hood on the graduates; and
- place the cap on the graduate (the tassel should hang on the front right side for Bachelor’s degree candidates; the tassel should hang on the front left for graduate students).
- The Assistant Chief Student Marshal rings the handbell a third time. The graduates turn to face the stage and remain standing.
- The Chief Student Marshal concludes the ceremony and tells the graduates and cappers to be seated.
These instructions will be demonstrated for graduates and cappers in the mini-auditorium before the Baccalaureate Ceremony begins.
- Recessional: Platform party will exit first, followed by the faculty, then the seniors and cappers, and finally the graduate students and their cappers.
Commencement Exercises
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Location: Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center
Graduates assemble: 8:30 a.m.
Ceremony begins: 10 a.m. (Web livestreaming here)
Speaker: Dr. Jennifer Braaten.
- All Master of Arts & Master of Education graduate (Masters) must assemble at 8:30 a.m. at the Special Events Center for the class picture.
- Bachelors Degree Graduate and Undergraduates must assemble at the Special Events Center by 8:30 a.m. A senior class photograph will be taken at this time.
- Commencement Exercises begin at 10 a.m. Commencement is scheduled to be on front campus. There is not a limit to the number of guests a graduate may bring to Commencement.
- Because of expected bad weather, 2013 Commencement Exercises will be held at the Special Events Center in the Greensboro Coliseum Complex (map). There will be no limit to the number of guests you may bring. Graduating students should gather at the Special Events Center, West Wing B, at 8:30 a.m., where the class photograph will be taken.
General Information
- Because Greensboro College realizes how significant Commencement is to each student, there will be a professional photographer present during Commencement.
- During the Commencement ceremony, Photo Specialties will furnish photography. All students will be photographed as they step off the stage after receiving their diploma. Photo Specialties will also photograph the graduating class as a group. Package information and pre-pay discounts will be available at their booth before and after the ceremony. Proofs and packages will also be available on their website: www.photospecialties.com. For more information, they may be reached via e-mail at info@photospecialties.com. Students are not required to purchase photographs.
- Any graduates who were unable to attend the Senior Investiture and/or did not receive a senior medallion may pick up their medallion at rehearsal. Any graduates who misplaced their medallion may purchase a replacement for $10 at rehearsal. M.A. and M.Ed. candidates will receive their medallions at practice on Friday morning.
- The Greensboro College Bookstore will be open 2-7 p.m. on Friday, May 10, and 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, May 11, to assist you with any last-minute graduation needs.
Additional copies of this information will be available in Student Development, Professional and Graduate Studies and the Registrar’s offices. The Greensboro College web site also has all Commencement activities available. Please feel free to call the Student Development office at (336) 272-7102, ext. 227, if you have any questions.
Area Accommodations
Directions to Baccalaureate/Cap and Gown Ceremony site:
First Baptist Church is located at 1000 W. Friendly Ave. at West Friendly Avenue and North Mendenhall Street, two blocks north and a block west of main campus. Its parking lot may be entered from Friendly Avenue or from Guilford Avenue, parallel to Friendly and one block farther north.
Directions to Coliseum Complex and Special Events Center
In case of inclement weather for Commencement Exercises, directions to the Greensboro Coliseum Complex follow.
From Greensboro College:
- Right on Market Street
- Right on Spring Street
- Proceed on Spring Street, stay in right lanes
- Right on Coliseum Boulevard
- Follow until you reach the Greensboro Coliseum Complex
Staff will be at the main parking entrance to direct you to the Greensboro College designated parking areas and to the Special Events Center.
Please feel free to call the Student Development office at (336) 272-7102, ext. 227, if you have questions.
