COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION 2008

Contacts for information: for questions about the ceremony contact Maggie Larson (Special Events Coordinator) at 589-6053 or email larsonmt. For questions about requirements to graduate contact Bonnie Gulbrandson, Registrar's Office, at ext. 6031 or gulbrabr.

IF YOU HAVE FRIENDS OR RELATIVES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS, PLEASE LET THEM KNOW THAT SECURITY WILL LET THEM DRIVE AROUND THE MALL TO BE DROPPED OFF. THEY DO NOT NEED TO WORRY ABOUT WALKING FROM THE PARKING LOTS!!! IF WE ARE IN THE P E CENTER, PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS MAY BE DROPPED OFF AT THE LOWER EAST SIDE ENTRANCE TO THE BUILDING. WE HOPE TO HAVE VOLUNTEERS ON GOLF CARTS PATROLING THE GROUNDS TO ASSIST ANY GUESTS THAT MAY NEED ASSISTANCE.

If you have questions or concerns and need assistance from Disability Services, please contact Colleen Frey at ext. 6163 or email at freyc@morris.umn.edu

The commencement ceremony will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2008, on the UMM campus mall. The rain site is the PE Center. You may invite as many guests as you wish—seating is not limited.

At 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, the decision will be made as to where the ceremony will take place. University Relations will make a campus-wide announcement following that decision. The ceremony will ONLY be inside if weather is extremely threatening.

FOR THE OUTDOOR CEREMONY: You will begin to line up at 1:00 p.m. in the Humanities Fine Arts Center. Volunteers will be available to help you line up. This year you will process in RANDOM ORDER. This means that you are free to sit with your friends! BUT!! You need to remember that you MUST PROCESS IN THE SAME LINE—NOT SIDE BY SIDE. The lines split when you reach the seating area and if you process side by side you will not be sitting together!

You will be escorted to the beginning of the processional. You will then process out of HFA, down the sidewalk to the mall. The faculty will create an Honor Guard for you to pass through as you go down the sidewalk.

FOR AN INDOOR CEREMONY: you will begin to line up at 1:00 p.m. in the PE Center. Line up will be on the second floor of the PE Center. Volunteers will be on hand to assist you. You will be escorted to the beginning point of the processional. Signs will be posted. If we are in the PE Center there will be no faculty honor guard created.

IN EITHER CASE: As a safe guard to insure that the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Dean announces you, you will be given a 3x5 card that will have your name printed on it. You will pick this card up at one of two information booths located by Camden Hall and Old Humanities if we are outdoors (A-L and M-Z) but only one pick up point-- the concession stand -- if we are in the PE Center. THIS CARD IS FOR HELP IN PRONUNCIATION OF YOUR NAME! Please do not drop the card or mutilate it in any way!

The processional follows this order: Color Guard, Mace Bearer, Student Marshals, the graduates, faculty Marshal, faculty, front row platform party, and finally the Chancellor. For the recessional this arrangement is basically backwards.

The commencement ceremony will consist of the processional which is played by the UMM Band. The Chancellor will offer a welcome and will introduce the platform party and honored guests. Speakers include the recipient of the Curtis H. Larson Award, a member of the University of Minnesota Board of Regents, and Congressman Keith Ellison will offer the commencement address.

There will be a musical selection by the band, Congressman Ellison will give his speech, the Iron Bull Singers will perform an Honor Song, and then you will be presented to receive your degrees, the concert choir will perform, the Regent will confer your degrees upon you, and greetings will be extended to you from a member of the UMM Alumni Association. After that greeting the Chancellor will congratulate you and the recessional will begin.

Student Marshals will be trained and will guide you to your seat as you process in and then to the platform when it is time for you to receive your degrees, and they will also guide you in the recessional.

ALSO, PLEASE NOTE; THERE WILL BE A BUFFET LUNCHEON SERVED IN TURTLE MOUNTAIN CAFÉ FROM 11:00 A.M. TO 12:30 P.M. YOU AND YOUR GUESTS WILL PICK UP YOUR LUNCH IN TMC AND WILL THEN GO TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS FOR DINING AND DIVISON RECEPTIONS:

EDUCATION: ALUMNI ROOM, OYATE HALL

SOCIAL SCIENCE: UNIVERSITY ROOM, OYATE HALL

HUMANITIES: COUGAR ROOM, OYATE HALL

SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS: SCIENCE ATRIUM

Questions, special concerns, special needs? Give me a call and I'll be happy to help.

Maggie Larson, Special Events Coordinator, UMM

320-589-6053

larsonmt@