Sun Ceremony Instructions
Assembly
The College of Arts & Sciences Commencement ceremony will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 18, 2024. The line-up and procession preceding the ceremony takes more than an hour. As a result, all graduates must report to their assigned classroom (alpha by last name) below no later than 7:45 a.m. because we will leave classrooms in order to join the procession shortly after 8:00 a.m.
Note: Graduates may not leave any belongings in the line-up classrooms.
Bachelor of Science Candidates
| Location | Candidates |
|---|---|
| ICC 108 | BS Candidates, A-G |
| ICC 115 | BS Candidates, H-Z |
Bachelor of Arts Candidates
| Location | Candidates |
|---|---|
| ICC 103 | AB Candidates, A-B |
| ICC 101 | AB Candidates, C |
| ICC 105 | AB Candidates, D-E |
| ICC 107 | AB Candidates, F-G |
| WGR 201 A & B | AB Candidates H-M |
| WGR 211 | AB Candidates N-P |
| WGR 202 | AB Candidates R-Sc |
| WGR 204 | AB Candidates Se-So |
| WGR 206 | AB Candidates St-U |
| WGR 208 | AB Candidates V-Z |
When you report to your classroom (no later than 7:45 a.m.), you will receive full instructions and the name card from which your name will be read as you cross the stage; keep this card in your possession from the moment you get it until the moment you walk across the stage. Staff from the Dean’s Offices will lead students from the classrooms indicated above to Red Square and the WGR Esplanade to line up the procession, starting at around 8:00 a.m. Students will be directed to line up according to the following map.
Bring your cap, gown, and hood with you.
- Hoods should be carried on the graduate’s left arm with the bunting toward the wrist.
- The tassel on the cap is to be worn on the side of the left eye at all times.
Procession
The procession begins precisely at 8:30 a.m. The Chief Marshal, followed by the Class Marshals (College Marshal, and Marshals for Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts candidates), will lead the procession. Graduates proceed in double-file lines, and ushers will direct students down the center aisle into the rows of seats so that alphabetical order by degree is maintained. Bachelor of Science candidates are seated at the front of the seating area, house right; Bachelor of Arts candidates fill in the remaining seats on house right and then the entire section, house left. Thus seats are not assigned in advance, but graduates are seated alphabetically by degree.
Conferral of Degrees
During the ceremony, following the presentation of the honorary degree and the commencement address, candidates for the degrees will be asked to stand according to their major, and then the whole class will stand to put on their hoods. Graduates will then be directed by the ushers to stand (one row at a time), approach the ramp on stage right, pass their name cards to the readers, and proceed across the stage as their names are read. The College Dean will present a congratulatory scroll and offer congratulations to each graduate. Graduates will continue across the stage, exit on the opposite side, and return to their seats. After all graduates have crossed the stage, President DeGioia will ask all seniors to rise, confer the degrees en masse, and then direct graduates to be seated. The final benediction and closing of the ceremony will follow.
Recessional
The Faculty and Deans will exit the stage first. Then the students will exit down the center aisle from the left and right rows as directed by the ushers, followed by families and guests.