A trumpet fanfare will announce the beginning of the ceremony.  At this time no one will be allowed into the auditorium until after the National Anthem, Invocation and President’s Welcome, so make sure your family and friends know to take their seats before 7:30 p.m.

The faculty and Masters candidates will march into the auditorium first; Masters candidates march down the right aisle and the faculty will march down the left.  The Masters candidates will be led by a faculty marshal and will be directed to their seating section beginning in the front row.  Remain standing.

The Bachelors candidates will march down the right aisle behind the Masters candidates.  A member of the faculty will lead you to your seating area behind the Masters candidates.

Everyone will remain standing for the National Anthem and Invocation, then take their seats.  After the President’s Welcome, the doors will be reopened, and those people who were not seated before the ceremony began will be allowed to enter the auditorium.

Following the addresses and awards, the Provost will announce the presentation of the graduates.  All of the Doctoral candidates will stand and have their degrees conferred. The Master and Bachelors candidate will each be conferred in order. After the conferral comes the announcement of graduates.  The faculty marshal will lead you to the stage.  When it is your turn to have your name called, you will give the index card (which will have your name printed on it) to the faculty member who is standing at the podium.  When your name is read you march across the stage to shake hands with the President and receive your diploma cover. 

If you an undergraduate who received honors, your honors designation (cum laude, magna cum laude or summa cum laude) will be announced after your name.  You will already be wearing an honors cord around your neck as part of your graduation regalia. 

Then you will walk to the Dean’s area to have your hood placed over your shoulders.  Finally, you leave the stage and have your picture taken by the photographer, then return to your seat.  Remain standing until all of the graduates have marched across the stage and returned to their seats.

This process will be repeated for the Bachelor’s Candidates.

After the all of the students have received their degrees, you will be inducted into the Alumni Association. 

There will then be a Blessing, followed by the Recessional.

During the Recessional, remain standing until the faculty have left the stage.  You will be led out of your seats by the faculty marshal and into the lobby.