SUMMER COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION

Our new provider link for you to visit and order your regalia is: http://www.orderhj.com/Southern. Regalia consists of the cap, gown, tassel, and hood, ALL of which are required in order to march at commencement. Undergraduates will wear their tassels on the right, Graduate students wear tassels on the left.

Since this event is a celebration of your academic achievements, you are not allowed to march with items beyond those provided by the university. If your guests have flowers or gifts for you, please be sure they give them to you after the service. The space in your seating area is quite limited, and we do not want your special mementos to be stepped on, damaged, or left behind. Please also note that Southern’s official dress code still applies.

There are some restrictions that you need to make your family and/or friends aware of for the commencement service:

1. Balloons are not allowed in the Iles P.E. Center.  We wish to avoid the possibility of balloons making their way to the ceiling in the gymnasium, triggering the infrared sensors and fire alarm, and forcing the evacuation of the entire building. We do not want to take any chances of this happening during or after your program. 
2. In our pursuit of a commencement service that is honorable, respects all graduates equally, and protects guests with sensitive ears and/or hearing aids, we ask that there be no use of noise makers or mess-making devices including but not limited to: air horns, silly string, poppers, etc. These items will be respectfully confiscated if found and may be returned after the ceremony. Thank you for abiding by this policy and making family and friends aware of this restriction to ensure a smooth, pain-free service for everyone.

Before You Arrive

• Take the gown (regalia) out of packaging and steam it if necessary (NEVER iron your regalia, as it will melt).
• Determine where you will meet your family and guests after the program. (A designated vehicle would be best). Please do not gather directly in front of or immediately to the side of the gym, in order to allow everyone to be able to exit safely.

Lining Up

• Please plan to arrive approximately 40 minutes prior to the start of your program, so arrive by 9:20 a.m.
• BEFORE you enter the lobby, make sure to give any personal items to your family. You will NOT be able to re-enter the line-up area after your program. It will be best if you are already wearing your regalia as you come to the doors. If you have hangers or any of the plastic bags that your regalia arrived in, please throw them away or give them to your family before you enter.
• Be sure you have photo ID (driver’s license or Southern ID) in order to enter the Wellness Center. The line-up area is in the hall of the Wellness Center, starting from the stairs to the gym, continuing between the pools and exercise room, and down the hall toward the Gym-Masters gym. Only graduates and faculty are allowed to enter the Wellness Center. There will be labels on the floor to assist with line-up spacing and order. Commencement staff will be on hand to help you find your place in the line-up. Please be sure to maintain appropriate physical distancing while waiting to receive assistance with regalia and while waiting to march.
• In the HWC lobby, there will be one tables for Records with honor cords for Associate and Bachelor’s graduates.
• Lanyard pouches (to be worn underneath regalia) will also be available for those who don’t have pockets for their IDs. Note: these are NOT large enough to hold a phone.
• The person whose name appears first on each row list posted in the line-up hallway will be the row leader and is responsible for making sure his/her row is lined up correctly. Note carefully which side you are on so you remember to turn that direction at the appropriate place. Commencement staff will be present to provide you with your specific information. 
• Remember you may not add any “extras” to your regalia, including flowers, leis, decorated caps, etc. Tell your family to give these to you after the service.

Marching In

• The platform party goes first, then faculty, then graduates.
• When the first row gets to the door into the auditorium, the graduates will wait until the Grand Marshal (Mrs.Lisa Kuhlman) walks back with the mace to lead in the graduates.
• All graduates will follow Mrs. Kuhlman two by two.
• Graduate names are on programs on your chairs. Be sure you are sitting in the chair that has your name on the program. If you are not sitting at your name, MOVE to the correct spot. The name card on your program is for you to pull off and take with you to the stage at the appropriate time.

Conferring of Degrees

Students will stand up one row at a time—beginning with the front row. Students will then walk out to the left of the seating area. There will be four stopping points on the way to the stage—one at the table to pick up your diploma cover and check to be sure you have your name card, one at the bottom of the stairs, one at the middle point of the stairs, and one at the top of the stairs. At the top step, hand your card to the announcer. As soon as your name is called, walk across the stage to where you will have your picture taken with our president, Dr. Ken Shaw. There will be “feet” marked on the floor indicating where you will stop, and face the direction they indicate, while holding your diploma cover between you and the president. Pause briefly in that spot for the picture, then continue across the stage and down the stairs. 

After this brief pause for the photo, you will finish crossing the stage and go down the stairs. There will be a second photo station with a backdrop. Please pause for the photographer to take this second picture, then go back to your seat, and be seated.

Sometime within a few weeks after graduation, you will receive a complimentary copy of the photograph taken at the first location with the president. You will be able to order more copies from either station from gradimages if you wish, but it is not required.

If you receive the wrong photo, or do not receive your photo at all, you may contact their customer service department at (800) 261-2576, online at www.gradimages.com, or via email to ecc.giservice@gradimages.net. 

Recessional

• The Grand Marshal will stand and pick up the mace.
• The platform party will leave first.
• The faculty will follow immediately behind the platform party.
• The graduates will follow faculty, leaving from back row to front row. Two faculty assistants will lead you out. Walk toward the back of the gym, straight out through the lobby, and proceed as far out as you can to allow room for everyone else to exit behind you. Then go to a location that you should pre-arrange with your family beforehand.
• Do not stop or try to turn around to go back inside. It is recommended that you go directly to meet your family at one of your vehicles in order to allow everyone to exit safely.

There will be no graduation practice.