WHEN IS THE CEREMONY?
The Fall 2009 Commencement is December 17th at 7 pm. Please arrive no later than 6:15 pm.
WHERE DO I GO FOR THE CEREMONY?
The Fall 2009 Commencement Ceremony is held at the Stubblefield Center. Graduates will enter Stubblefield on the west side (the side facing Waldron Rd). To get to the entrance door, walk down the sidewalk from the main entrance and look for the sign marked "Graduate Entrance". Once inside, each college will be represented by a faculty marshal holding a sign with the college name. Your reader card will indicate the college with which you will line up.
IS THERE A REHEARSAL PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY?
No, graduates will be given instructions in the staging area after line-up at 6:15.
There will be a number of staff members present, so please pay attention to their directions.
WHAT SHOULD I WEAR?
All attendees, including graduates, are encouraged to wear attire appropriate to honor the occasion. Graduates wear their caps and gowns during the ceremony. Women are cautioned that shoes with very high heels may make walking difficult during the processional.
You should also remember to bring your tassel (included with cap and gown purchase) to the ceremony.
NOTE: Please do not wear coats to the staging area. We understand that it will likely be cold and you will be entering directly from outdoors, but unfortunately, there is no place to store coats during the ceremony. If at all possible, have someone come with you to the entrance and leave your coat with them.
WHAT DO I BRING?
You will need to bring your cap and gown, tassel and your reader card. Please DO NOT bring purses, cameras, ipods, etc. to the ceremony. There is no storage for these items at the Stubblefield Center. It is recommended that you leave these with family or friends who will be attending the ceremony or lock them securely in your car. For those who don’t have a convenient pocket to put them in, keys can be pinned to the inside of the robe.
WHERE IS PARKING FOR THE CEREMONY?
Parking at Stubblefield is limited, so plan to arrive early. Guests may park in any UA Fort Smith parking lot. Parking is also available in the parking lot of Westark Church of Christ at the corner of Grand Avenue and Waldron Rd. A shuttle bus will bring those parking in remote lots to Stubblefield.
WHAT HAPPENS ONCE I ARRIVE?
Each college will be represented by a faculty marshal carrying a sign with the college name in the line-up area. Graduates will line up behind the marshal/banner of their respective college (the college of each graduate is listed on his/her reader card). Those receiving bachelor degrees with honors are first, followed by others receiving bachelor degrees, then those receiving associate degrees and finally those receiving technical certificates. There will be a number of staff members present, so please pay attention to their directions.
Graduates will march into the arena behind the banner of their respective college. The colleges will be in alphabetical order: Applied Science and Technology; Business; Education; Health Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences; Languages and Communication and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The graduates will process through an honor guard of faculty.
The marshal will hand off the banner and lead the graduates to their seats. The chairs will be in rows with a center aisle. Please move down and fill every chair, even if you have to cross the aisle. Please pay attention to the staff who will be assisting. Remain standing until the Chancellor asks all to be seated.
WHAT IS A READER CARD, AND WHAT DO I DO WITH IT?
Each graduate participating in the ceremony should pick up their reader card at the Records Office beginning December 14th. On it are the student’s name, degree, college and honors if applicable. This will be given by the student to the college dean as the student goes on stage to receive the diploma cover. The Dean will then read the student’s name and degree as he/she marches across the stage.
WILL THERE BE RESTROOMS AVAILABLE FOR USE IN THE LINEUP AREA?
Restrooms are located on the upper concourse of the Stubblefield Center. It is strongly recommended that you visit the restroom prior to the lineup at 6:15 since there will be no opportunity to do so once lineup begins.
DO MY GUESTS NEED TICKETS TO THE CEREMONY?
Tickets are not issued. The ceremony is free and you may invite as many guests as you like. However, seating and parking is on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests should plan ahead and arrive early. Doors will open at 5:30 pm.
ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW?
Women will wear their caps throughout the ceremony. Men will remove their caps during the national anthem. Men should take their cues from the Chancellor – when he removes his cap, remove yours. When he puts his cap back on, put yours back on.
Tassels are worn on the
right side of the cap until the degree is conferred. Graduates will be told during the ceremony when to move the tassel to the left side of the cap.
Graduates are expected to remain for the entire ceremony. Graduates will recess out though the same doors and in the same order as the processional entered. There will be an Alumni tent with a gift for graduates outside the Stubblefield Center.
Please turn off all cell phones during the ceremony. Ask your guests to turn their cell phones to vibrate during the ceremony. In the event of an emergency, we want to be able to contact them without disrupting the proceedings.
Please inform your guests that UA Fort Smith is a tobacco free campus.
For question, please contact the Records Office at (479) 788-7232.
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