Spring 2008 Commencement Ceremonies


Macomb ceremony
Quad Cities ceremony

 

Macomb

Plans have been finalized for Western Illinois University's Spring Graduate Commencement Ceremonies. Information is as follows:

Friday, May 9, 2008
5:30 p.m. , Western Hall
Macomb, IL 61455

Commencement Ceremony
The commencement ceremony will begin promptly at 5:30 p.m. Please be in line no later than 5:00 p.m.

Allow sufficient time to pick up your name card in the East Arena of Western Hall before getting in line for the processional. You will need to keep the card with you as you cross the stage during the hooding portion of the ceremony. Marshals will lead the processional and recessional. You will be seated with other degree candidates from your department.

When the degree candidates are presented for graduation, you will be directed by the marshals to the stage in the order in which you are seated. Proceed onto the stage and hand the reader your name card. As you are hooded by your College Dean, please give him/her a moment to fold the back of the hood properly, and then proceed across the stage. As you cross the stage, you will shake hands with the President and receive your diploma cover from your department chair or designee. Your photo will be taken by the University photographer while you are receiving your diploma cover. The marshals will then direct you back to your seat.

Attending commencement does not guarantee graduation. All academic requirements must be complete and all paperwork on file by the May 23, 2008 deadline date before a student may actually graduate. If problems cannot be resolved by the deadline, the student will not be eligible to graduate until a later term.

Hoods
Hoods are the property of Western Illinois University and should be purchased or returned after the commencement ceremony. A University representative will be in the east arena of Western Hall after the ceremony to receive the payment of $60 or the returned hood. When you return the hood, you will be given a receipt. If you do not return the hood to us in the east arena of Western Hall on the evening of the ceremony, you must bring (or mail) it to the School of Graduate Studies at 527 Stipes Hall or to Mrs. Janice Lanzen, Graduate School Coordinator at WIU-Quad Cities, 3561 60th Street, Moline, IL. Do not drop the hood off at any other location. Students who do not purchase or return the hood will be billed for $60 (the cost to the University to replace the hood) and a "hold" will be placed on their records until the hood is returned or payment is received.

Caps and Gowns
The gowns for Master's and Specialist degree candidates are different from the undergraduate gowns. Beginning Monday, March 17, and continuing until May 10, the University Union Bookstore will have in stock and ready for sale the academic apparel you will need to participate in commencement. They will also have graduation announcements.

Tassels for graduate students are placed on the left side of the cap.

You have the following options for purchasing your cap and gown:

Special Accommodations
If a graduating student needs special assistance due to a disability, contact the Disability Support Services office at (309)298-2512. If family members or guests need an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the online request form available on the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access website at www.wiu.edu/eoa. Special seating is limited, so registering with this office is encouraged. Disability parking is available in the lot west of Western Hall as well as designated spaces in Q-Lot.

A sign language interpreter will be present.

Photographs
The University has arranged for professional photographs to be taken as students receive their diploma cover. Videotapes and DVDs of the entire ceremony will also be available for purchase. Order forms and proofs will be mailed to the home address following graduation. To assure all graduates, families, and friends may enjoy and view the ceremony, we ask guests to be considerate of others when taking photographs.

Diplomas
Diplomas will be mailed to the address on the graduation application approximately six to eight weeks after the ceremony providing there are no financial encumbrances with the University and all requirements have been met.

Privacy Act
Students who have invoked the Privacy Act will not have their names printed in the Commencement program or released to their local media by the University Relations Office.

Additional Information
A local florist will have flowers available for sale in Western Hall prior to the ceremony. A campus map is available at www.wiu.edu/about/maps/.

For those unable to attend the ceremony in person, it can be viewed live via the internet at www.wiu.edu. General commencement information is available at www.wiu.edu/commencement.

Quad Cities

Plans have been finalized for Western Illinois University's Spring Graduate Commencement Ceremonies. Information is as follows:

Sunday, May 11, 2008, 3:00 p.m.
i wireless Center, Quad Cities
1201 River Drive, Moline, IL 61265

Commencement Ceremony and Reception
Check-in will begin at 2:00 p.m. Doors into the Arena will open at 2:15 p.m. The commencement ceremony will begin promptly at 3:00 p.m. Please be in line by 2:30 p.m. A reception with WIU faculty, administrators, and staff will be held immediately after the ceremony in the lobby. This information will also be available on WIU’s homepage at www.wiu.edu.

Allow sufficient time to pick up your name card and commencement program in the conference rooms located just off the lobby at the i wireless Center before getting in line for the processional. You will need to keep the card with you as you cross the stage during the hooding portion of the ceremony. There will be signs and staff present to assist you. Marshals will lead the processional and recessional. You will be seated with other degree candidates from your department.

When the degree candidates are presented for graduation, you will be directed by the marshals to the stage in the order in which you are seated. Proceed onto the stage and hand the reader your name card. As you are hooded, please give the college representative a moment to fold the back of the hood properly, and then proceed across the stage. As you cross the stage, you will shake hands with several dignitaries and receive your diploma cover from your department chair or designee. Your photo will be taken by the University photographer while you are receiving your diploma cover. The marshals will then direct you back to your seat.

Attending commencement does not guarantee graduation . All academic requirements must be complete and all paperwork on file by the May 23, 2008 deadline date before a student may actually graduate. If problems cannot be resolved by the deadline, the student will not be eligible to graduate until a later term.

Hoods
Hoods are the property of Western Illinois University and should be purchased or returned after the commencement ceremony. A University representative will be available after the ceremony (in the same area where you picked up your name card) to receive the payment of $60or the returned hood. When you return the hood, you will be given a receipt. If you do not return the hood to us on the day of the ceremony, you must bring (or mail) it to the School of Graduate Studies at 527 Stipes Hall or to Mrs. Janice Lanzen, Graduate School Coordinator at WIU-Quad Cities, 3561 60 th St., Moline, IL. Do not drop the hood off at any other location. Students who do not purchase or return the hood will be billed for $60 (the cost to the University to replace the hood) and a "hold" will be placed on their records until the hood is returned or payment is received.

Caps and Gowns
The gowns for Master’s and Specialist degree candidates are different from the undergraduate gowns. Beginning Monday, March 17, and continuing until May 10, the University Union Bookstore will have in stock and ready for sale the academic apparel you will need to participate in commencement. They will also have graduation announcements.

Tassels for graduate students are placed on the left side of the cap.

You have the following options for purchasing your cap and gown:

Special Accommodations
If a graduating student needs special assistance due to a disability, contact the Disability Support Services office at (309)298-2512. If family members or guests need an accommodation due to a disability, please complete the online request form available on the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access website at www.wiu.edu/eoa. Special seating is limited, so registering with this office is encouraged.

Parking for disabled persons will be available in the small lot west and in front of the main entrance to the i wireless Center. For more information about the facilities at the i wireless Center, visit www.iwirelesscenter.com/.

A sign language interpreter will be present.

Photographs
The University has arranged for professional photographs to be taken as students receive their diploma cover. Videotapes and DVDs of the entire ceremony will also be available for purchase. Order forms and proofs will be mailed to the home address following graduation. To assure all graduates, families, and friends may enjoy and view the ceremony, we ask guests to be considerate of others when taking photographs.

Diplomas
Diplomas will be mailed to the address on the graduation application approximately six to eight weeks after the ceremony providing there are no financial encumbrances with the University and all requirements have been met.

Privacy Act
Students who have invoked the Privacy Act will not have their names printed in the Commencement program or released to their local media by the University Relations Office.