Graduation Instructions

O.D. Larry Dining Hall in the Student Alumni Center
December 7, 2012, 10:30 a.m.

1. The commencement program for the December graduation will be held in O.D. Larry Dining Hall which is located on the Main Floor of the Student Alumni Center. The SAC is located at 800 Madison Avenue.

2. Parking will be available in Lots F, I, J and M for friends and families. V Lot will be reserved for the President, UTAA President, Board of Trustees, Organist, Photographer and others who have an important role in the ceremony.

3. Students needing to graduate in absentia must request this through their dean. Deans are responsible for approving student requests to graduate in absentia and for notifying the Registrar by November 1st for the Fall graduation.

4. Students requesting an official name change before graduation must do so through the Registrar (Enrollment Services) by November 1st for the Fall graduation.

5. After November 1st, for the Fall graduation, student names cannot be added to or deleted from the program.

6. Honors designations must be finalized with the Registrar (Enrollment Services) by the end of spring semester for the December graduation.

7. Students, faculty and staff who are participating in the graduation program are requested to be at the Student Alumni Center, in the appropriate assembly area, by 9:45 a.m.

8. The assembly areas are located on the Main Floor of the SAC. These areas will be marked with signs for easy identification.

9. DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR CAP AND GOWN. Orders for academic regalia can be made in the UT Bookstore. The regalia may be picked up in the Bookstore on the Wednesday and Thursday of graduation week.

The Line-Up and Procession

10. Students must line up according to the order in the printed program; no changes are allowed, because seating charts are based on the program. The class president is designated as the class marshal and is responsible for getting the class into the correct line-up. A faculty member is designated as the college marshal. The college marshal will have a name/number list indicating the beginning and ending person in each row. You should go to the class marshal for assistance in locating your line-up position. THE CORRECT LINE-UP IS CRITICAL TO THE CALLING OF THE NAMES AND TO THE "HOODING SEQUENCE." PLEASE STAY IN POSITION.

11. Tassels on the academic caps for all candidates should be worn on the right front quarter of the cap.

12. The procession is led by the Head Marshal and leaves the assembly area promptly at 10:30 a.m. Each college will be led in the procession by the college marshal who will also assist in the seating procedure. PLEASE REMAIN IN CORRECT ORDER.

The Seating

13. The correct seating order will be directed by the college marshals utilizing the name/number list. Seating is done one row at a time.

14. Remain standing, the Chancellor will preside and ask for an invocation and the singing of the National Anthem. Following the National Anthem all persons should be seated.

The Charge

15. A brief "Charge to the Candidates" will be given.

The Conferring of Degrees

16. Each dean will present their candidates for the conferring of their degrees. Follow the instructions given by the Dean and the Chancellor.

17. Tassels may be worn on the right side of the cap.

The Hooding and Diplomas

18. The dean of each of the colleges will call for graduates in their college to rise and come forward to receive their diplomas and their academic hoods.

19. Only the front row rises. The first person in the row steps into the right aisle and proceeds to the stage. As the name is called, the graduate should stand in front of the "hooding box" facing the audience. After the hood is placed over the head, and on signal from the "hooder," the graduate should step to the right and proceed to the center of the stage to receive his/her diploma from the College Dean.

20. As you approach the College Dean, you receive your diploma with your left hand and shake hands with your right hand.

21. As the first person in the class moves across the stage to receive their diploma, the second person moves up the stairs to the stage. As their name is called he/she should be standing in front of the "hooding box" facing the audience. You must wait until the person preceding you has received their diploma before you move across the stage. The succeeding persons continue in this progression. There should be no more than three persons at the foot of the stage.

22. After receiving the diploma, continue across the stage and down the steps back to your original row, eventually regaining your original seat.

23. As the last person in the row proceeds to the stage, the next row rises in unison in order that the first person in the next row may be ready to proceed to the stage. The previous row will sit, when the last person of that row has returned to their original seat.

The Benediction and Recessional

24. Rise, and men bare the head at the benediction. Replace cap and remain standing.

25. Recessional: Graduates are led by the Head Marshal.

26. The recessional recesses from the Auditorium back to the assembly/gowning area. Members of the recessional are asked to keep in place until the recessional has reached the assembly/gowning area. Please do not break the line and congest the area immediately outside the auditorium.

27. Caps, gowns, hoods and honor stoles must be turned in immediately following the ceremony in the gowning area. If these items are not returned at the ceremony site, they must be returned to the UT Bookstore, Room C20 of the 910 Madison Building within 24 hours.

28. Diplomas, in graduation jackets, will be distributed in the line-up area immediately following the recessional.

29. A photographer will be photographing each graduate as they receive their diploma. Proofs may be viewed online at stroudphotography.com.

Policy on Academic Regalia for Students

Proper academic regalia for graduation is black robe (with chevrons, if appropriate), plain black mortar board, and hood appropriate to the discipline. No additional adornments (e.g., lapel pins, fraternity/sorority stoles) should be worn with the cap and gown with the exception of UTHSC-issued honor stoles and nationally recognized professional honor society stoles. The mortarboard should be placed so that the cap is parallel to the floor (not tilted in any direction). The tassel is worn on the right side until directed to move it to the left.

Only those students dressed in proper academic regalia will be allowed to participate.

All of the academic regalia is rented and must be returned, including honor stoles. You may keep your mortarboard tassel as a gift from the university.

Tips for Graduation Ceremony

• Men: wear dark trousers and shoes and a buttoned shirt (to attach the front of your academic hood).
• Women: wear comfortable, dark, low heels (for ascending/descending steps to the stage), and a blouse with buttons (to attach the front of your academic hood). Bring extra bobby pins to secure your mortarboard.
• Academic regalia can be quite warm; dress accordingly.
• Diplomas will not be distributed until the end of the ceremony.
• Take photos with family and friends before the ceremony and return your regalia as soon as possible after the ceremony.
• Leave personal belongings with family/friends during the ceremony.

Contact Us

Office of Student Life
Student Government Association Executive Council (SGAEC)
800 Madison Ave Room 300
Memphis, Tennessee 38163

Emily Cooley: 901-448-5610, ebarnes@uthsc.edu

Liz Roemer: 901-448-4860, lroemer@uthsc.edu

Fax: 901-448-7585