Undergraduate Ceremony

Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009
Location: Special Olympics Stadium (rain or shine)

To all graduating seniors:

As we continue to monitor the weather forecasts for tomorrow, the decision has been made to move up the start of the undergraduate commencement ceremony by 15 minutes. This means that we ask students to assemble in the Tuttle South Gym by 11:45 am, and that the student procession will promptly begin at 12:30 pm. Our intention is complete the entire graduation ceremony.

Be assured that this modest time change will not keep your family and friends from witnessing the conferral of degrees, the most important part of the ceremony.

Please communicate this change in starting time to family and friends who expect to attend the ceremony, and thank you for your cooperation.

Time: 12:45 pm (Students please arrive by 11:45 am for the procession line up)
Parking: Any Lot (except Lot S)

The College at Brockport is pleased to invite all undergraduate students, their families and guests to the Commencement Ceremony, which will be held outdoors in Special Olympics Stadium rain or shine. Students need to assemble, by 11:45 am, inside Tuttle South Gym. Family and guests should be seated in Special Olympics Stadium no later than noon. The student processional begins promptly at 12:30 pm.

The name of each graduate will be read as they cross the stage and receive a diploma cover — compliments of the Brockport Alumni Association, Brockport Student Government, and the College. We request that all guests and family members remain seated for the entire ceremony. Graduates and guests are advised to make arrangements in advance regarding where to meet following the ceremony.

Arrive early and allow at least 60 minutes to enter the stadium and be seated prior to the start of the ceremony. Seating is outdoors in the bleachers, so we ask all guests to plan accordingly and dress for the weather. Brockport weather in May is unpredictable and can range from extremely cold, windy and rainy to sunny and hot. Be prepared for the two and one-half hour ceremony with umbrellas, the proper outdoor clothing for warm, cool and/or wet weather.

Large video screens on each side of the stage will be provided to enhance your ceremony viewing.

Eligibility and Requirements for Graduation

There are three requirements for participation in Commencement and to be listed in the program:

the student must submit a 2009 Undergraduate Graduation Data Card in the Office of Registration and Records no later than March 13, 2009
complete graduation requirements by August, 2009; and,
maintain good academic standing.

Remember, participation in the Commencement Ceremony and listing in the program does not constitute graduation or conferral of degree.

Diplomas will be mailed to graduates in late summer once all graduation requirements are verified and confirmed.

For a student's name to appear in the 2009Commencement program with Latin honors, the student must have earned at least a 3.25 cumulative institutional GPA by the end of January 2009 (3.4 for any student matriculating at Brockport fall 2005 semester or later) and must be expected to have completed (by Commencement) a minimum of 48 credits taken at The College at Brockport.

The Latin honors designations indicated in the program do not actually confer Latin honors, but do entitle the student to wear special tassels on the cap—gold for summa cum laude, green and gold for magna cum laude and green and black for cum laude. The official award of Latin honors is based the student's final course record and cumulative institutional GPA. When earned, Latin honors will be officially noted on the student's diploma and the College transcript.

Green Caps, Gowns and Tassels

All ceremony participants must wear The College at Brockport’s green Commencement gowns, caps and tassels. They may be purchased at the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in Seymour College Union beginning April 1, 2009. No advance order is necessary as sizes are assigned by height. Undergraduate sets of cap, gown and tassel are $38.98.

Contact Barnes & Noble Bookstore before April 10, 2009 to order personalized graduation announcements. Commemorative items and gifts are also available for sale. The bookstore will be open Friday, May 15, 9 am – 6 pm, and Commencement Day, 9 am – 4 pm. You also may call the bookstore at (585) 395-2554 for more information.

Directions, Parking, and Campus Map

Since traffic delays on this day are unavoidable, guests should plan to arrive early and allow extra time to get seated in Special Olympics Stadium.

Directions to The College at Brockport
Plan to enter the campus via Commencement Drive (off Route 31). Get our Campus Map.

Parking
Park in any campus lot, except Lot S. Very limited handicapped parking, for cars with official handicap identification, is available in Lot U behind Tuttle North and Tuttle South. No parking permit is required for the Commencement Ceremony.

Arrangements for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing

The ceremony will be signed on stage for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing. Families or students with questions or concerns related to interpreting services may contact the Office for Students with Disabilities at (585) 395-5409 V/TTY by April 19, 2009.

Stadium Access and Seating for Mobility Impaired

Guests with mobility difficulties may be dropped off behind the Tuttle Athletic Complex at the east or west stadium entrance. The driver, however, must park in the adjacent Lot V, just to the west. See the Campus Map for details.

Plan to arrive in the stadium early for the best seating availability. Wheelchair users and other guests with mobility impairments who cannot navigate the bleachers may sit in special seating sections on either side of the stadium with one family member to accompany them. On the west side there is a platform area for wheelchairs. The east side ground level along the fence is also reserved for those with special needs. This seating is first come, first served and is very limited.

Photographs of the Graduates

Northeast Photo Network, Inc. takes photographs of graduates as they prepare to walk across the stage. Proofs and purchase information will be mailed to the student's home address in the summer.

Alumni Reception

The Brockport Alumni Association will host a reception for new alumni, their families, guests, faculty and staff following the ceremony. It will be held in the Tuttle Athletics Complex gymnasiums adjacent to the ice arena.

Brockport Alumni Association Gift

The Alumni Association congratulates the members of the Class of 2009 on all of their accomplishments.

As a special gift, the Association would like to provide each graduate with their very own DVD of the 2009 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony. In early fall, this very special gift will be mailed to each graduate, welcoming the graduates of 2009 to the Brockport Alumni Association.

Brockport Alumni

There are many opportunities for you to get involved and stay connected with the College as you join more than 70,000 Brockport alumni around the world. As you leave here upon your graduation, be proud of your Brockport degree and build on the excellent foundation you received here.

We invite you to join the Brockport Alumni Association; support the College in whatever way you are able; and, strengthen the value of your degree by supporting those who follow you here. If you are staying in the Rochester area, we look forward to seeing you at alumni events on campus. If you are leaving the area, there will be opportunities for you to network with other alumni when we host gatherings in your area.

Congratulations once again on your achievement! Remember… to get involved, stay connected and make your Brockport family proud!

Career Services Follow-up Survey

As a new graduate, you will be contacted concerning the annual Career Services Follow-up Survey during fall 2009. The data collected affects College rankings and is also used in undergraduate publications. It also helps the College improve the education we offer and thus the outcomes for our graduates. Please take a few minutes to respond when you are contacted. Thank you.