Ithaca College

As we prepare for our 117th Commencement on Sunday, May 20, 2012, I would like to provide you with some information regarding the academic procession. The procession will form at 8:30 a.m. outside in the academic quad if it’s nice weather, or inside the enclosed walkway beginning at Job Hall and extending through the Campus Center if it is raining. Please see below for information on forming the academic procession if Commencement is indoors. The academic procession will begin at 9:00 a.m. and the Commencement ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. All guests will be encouraged to be seated by 8:45 a.m. The procession will be in the order noted below:

Order of Procession

Trustees/Platform

Faculty and Staff

Graduate School

School of Music

School of Humanities and Sciences

School of Health Sciences and Human Performance

School of Business

School of Communications

The Trustees/Platform Division will assemble on the 1st floor Peggy R. Williams Center, at 8:45 a.m. and will walk over to the Academic Quad and will link up in front of the faculty and staff for procession to the stadium.

The Faculty/Staff Division will line up next to the students outside of Job Hall and form a double line in random order under the direction of the Faculty Marshals. The faculty and staff will process in front of the students. The faculty and staff will pass the reviewing stand, proceed to the “chute” which leads into the stadium, and then line up on both sides of the “chute” so that all of the graduates will pass between the faculty and staff as they enter the stadium. Once all of the students have passed through, the faculty and staff will then process into the stadium in front of the platform party. Faculty and staff members should plan to provide their own umbrellas in the event of inclement weather.

The Class Division, consisting of members of the graduating class, will form in the academic quad area, or inside the enclosed hallway extending from Job Hall through to the Campus Center depending on the weather. Students from each school will form two abreast in random order. Each school will be headed by its Marshals. Signs will indicate the locations of the respective schools. (If you wish to sit next to friends in your school, you should march with them.)

Severe Weather Plan

With regard to graduation, severe weather is defined as conditions that make holding the outdoor ceremony dangerous or impossible. In an effort to accommodate seating for as many family and guests, the College will always attempt to hold the Commencement ceremony outdoors, even if it is raining. In the case of severe weather in the morning, the outdoor ceremony will be postponed until 1:00 p.m. based upon the weather forecast. Receptions and diploma cover distribution will take place after the ceremony at the publicized locations. In the event that severe weather is predicted for the entire day, Commencement will be moved into the Athletics and Events Center. Three tickets per graduate will be distributed to students in advance for use in the event that we are forced to use the Athletics and Events Center. Severe Weather tickets will be distributed to all graduates via the Bookstore at the same times/dates that have been scheduled for caps/gowns/medallions pick up. Graduates will need their caps and gowns (these will serve as their tickets) to enter the A&E Center. Family members and guests without tickets will be encouraged to watch the ceremony on local cable channel 16 from an off-campus location, or from any of the locations on campus listed under the “Cablecast/Webcast” section listed below. Receptions and diploma distribution will be held as scheduled, unless otherwise announced.

Any decision regarding changes to the Commencement schedule will be made as early as possible and will be announced on campus, through the Campus Center information desk at 607-274-3201, via Ithaca.edu, and on radio station WICB FM 91.7.

Cablecast/Webcast on-campus locations:

Campus Center (various locations)*

Hoerner Theatre, Dillingham Center

Ford Hall, Whalen Center*

Park Hall Auditorium*

TV lounges in all residence halls where guests are housed

Textor 101, 102 and 103

Hockett Family Recital Hall, Whalen Center

Iger Lecture Hall, Whalen Center*

*Recommended for the mobility-impaired. 

The ceremony will also be shown live on the web. It may be viewed by going to www.ithaca.edu beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Commencement day. Portions of the ceremony will also be available for later viewing on the web at www.ithaca.edu/commencement, beginning on the Wednesday following Commencement.

If Commencement is held indoors, sign language interpretation will be provided in the Athletics and Events Center. Receptions and diploma distribution will be held as scheduled.

If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact the Student Affairs and Campus Life Office at 274-3374 or reference the Special Commencement website at www.ithaca.edu/commencement/. We are looking forward to a memorable day!