Information for graduates participating in the commencement ceremony May 6 Published May 5, 2016 by Ali Sexton

The Board of Regents, President Webb, the faculty and staff of Rose State College would like to offer our congratulations on the completion or future completion of your graduation requirements.  We are pleased that Rose State has been a part of your educational journey.  

Rose State College Hudiburg Chevrolet Center
6000 S. Prosper Rd.
Midwest City, OK 73110

Cap and Gown pickup:

• May 2nd through May 5th in the Rose State College Bookstore during normal business hours.
• May 6th in the Rose State College Bookstore between 8 am and 12 pm.

All graduates will be required to wear a cap and gown. This year PepsiCo, Inc. is paying your graduation fee; therefore, you will not be charged a graduation fee. If you did not attend the Graduation Fairs, please contact the Graduation and Career Services Center at (405) 733-7332 to make arrangements to order your cap and gown. If you are earning a certificate, you will be recognized at Commencement. Certificate graduates will not wear a cap and gown so please dress in business attire.

Tips: The gowns look best if lightly pressed with a warm iron or steamer before wearing. Shoes and other visible apparel should be dark in color. Decorative flowers should not be worn and jewelry should be kept simple. Purses should not be carried during the ceremony. The cap is to be worn with the mortarboard flat on the head rather than tilted. Tassels are placed on the right side of the mortarboard and are switched to the left side after the degree conferral portion of the ceremony.

Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) members may contact Professor Suzanne Thomas, (405) 733-7515, for information regarding the purchase of the PTK stole and/or PTK tassel. Students who purchase a PTK stole and tassel need to make arrangements for pick-up with Professor Thomas during the week of Commencement.

If you are a Leadership Scholar you may pick up your cord from Kirby Harzman in the Office of Student Engagement the week of Commencement.

If you are graduating with honors from the Honors Program (which is separate from PTK), you will wear a white cord. The cord will be supplied the week of Commencement by Professor Kevin Caliendo, advisor for the Honors Program. Professor Caliendo can be reached at (405) 733-7512.

Graduating Veterans may pick up their military honor cords the day of Commencement in the Choir Room 128. Please be sure to bring proper military service documentation when picking up your cords. The Veteran Student Services Office can be reached at (405) 733-7326.

View map and arrival location (PDF)

Arrival times are for both graduates and guests. The entrance for graduates will be on the north side of the building by the amphitheater. For easy access it would be wise to use the parking located north of the building off of Prosper Rd. The guest entrance will be located on the east side of the building facing Hudiburg Drive.

When you arrive please report immediately to your designated room for check-in. Guests should not accompany graduates. Once you check-in you will be given your name card, tassel, and medallion. You will then be directed to line up with your fellow graduates. Faculty Marshals will direct the processional to the reserved graduate seating, as well as direct graduates to the stage at the appropriate time.

Important Rules:

• Seating in the Hudiburg Chevrolet Center is first come, first serve, and there will be NO SAVING OF SEATS. There will be absolutely no saving of seats.
• Overflow seating will be in the Community Learning Center (Tom Steed) and the Student Center Main Dining Room where the reception will be streamed live.
• Please inform your guests that balloons are NOT allowed in the Hudiburg Chevrolet Center.
• Leave valuables, purses, and cell phones with a family member or at home. Please note that personal items will not be stored.
• Refrain from talking on your cell phone, taking photos, or texting during the Commencement ceremony.
• No food or drinks are allowed in the Hudiburg Chevrolet Center Auditorium.
• No smoking, vaping, e-cigs, or tobacco products are allowed anywhere on the premises, including the parking lots. Rose State College is a smoke-free campus.

Parking:

There will be plenty of free parking on campus. Graduates should use the parking area north of Prosper Road.

Name/Photo Cards:

As described above, prior to lining up, all graduates must pick up their name/photo card. This card will have your name and any honors (such as PTK or Who’s Who) listed on the card. Please make sure the card is correct before you leave the check-in table and do not add information to the card without proper approval from the Graduation Office. This card provides Candid Color Photography with the necessary information to set up your account. Hold on to this card during the ceremony and hand it to the person announcing your name as you walk onto the stage to receive your diploma cover. Candid Color Photography will have photographers at various points to take pictures of each graduate before he or she leaves the stage and while receiving the diploma cover. Picture proofs will be available for viewing a few days after Commencement at www.candidcolorphotography.com.

Line Up:

As described above, graduates will line up in the back of the Hudiburg Chevrolet Center Auditorium. At the appropriate time, Faculty Marshals will lead the students into the auditorium and to their seats. Please trust the Faculty Marshals. Their job is to get you where you need to be and at the appropriate time (just follow their lead).

The Ceremony:

Once you have arrived at your seat, REMAIN STANDING UNTIL AFTER THE PROCESSIONAL HAS ENDED. After the processional, Rose State College President Jeanie Webb will instruct the entire audience to be seated. After the address, the Faculty Marshal will lead the graduates to the stage in order of Academic Divisions to receive their diploma covers. (Your diploma will not be in the cover but will be mailed to you approximately four to six weeks after grades have been posted.) After all graduates have been introduced, they will be asked to stand. Remain standing as a group while President Jeanie Webb reads the Conferral of Degrees. Once President Webb has read the Conferral of Degrees, she will instruct you to switch your tassel from right to left. When President Webb finishes, all graduates will be seated. At the end of the ceremony, you will be led back to the Lobby by the Faculty Marshal. Please refrain from talking on your cell phone, taking photos, or texting during the Commencement Ceremony. Your guests are welcome to take pictures during the ceremony; however, guests are not to leave their seats during the procession or the ceremony. Before and after the ceremony, a special photo area will be set up for family photos in the Lobby. A special photo area will also be set up at the reception.

The Reception:

A graduation reception for graduates and guests will be held in the Rose State College Student Center Main Dining Room following each reception. Rose State College will provide light refreshments and entertainment for all attendees.

Special Accommodations/Questions:

For special accommodations or questions concerning Commencement, please contact the Graduation and Career Services Center at (405) 733-7332. We want this ceremony to be the best that it can be for you and your guests. Thank you for cooperating with the guidelines set forth in this letter and congratulations on your success!

Erica Alvarez
Director, Graduation & Career Services Center
ealvarez@rose.edu
(405) 736-0344

Julie Atkinson
Coordinator, Graduation & Career Services
jatkinson@rose.edu
(405) 736-0304