Commencement 2012

 Everything you need to know about Commencement 2012
Schedule of Events | Notes from College Marshal, Business Office and Registrar | Commencement Day Info | Baccalaureate | Contacts

Congratulations to the Class of 2012!

This is the day that you've all been working toward. The information below should serve as your guide to making this day special for you, your family and your friends.

General Schedule of Events

The following events have been scheduled for the Graduating Class of 2011, their families and guests, with the faculty and administrators:

Friday, May 18

Baccalaureate at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church, 212 – 19th Street, Virginia Beach, VA
7:30 p.m., Speaker: The Rev. Gregory B. West, Chaplain of Virginia Wesleyan College
7:10 p.m., a pre-service concert will be held in the sanctuary.

Saturday, May 19
Commencement in the Convocation Center, Jane P. Batten Student Center
Doors to to the Convocation Center will open at 10:00 a.m. General seating for graduation is first come, first served.
11 a.m., Commencement (general seating), Speaker: Maurice A. Jones, President, Pilot Media..
12:30 p.m., Reception. Graduates will meet family, friends, and faculty and staff members following the ceremony at the reception. Reception is located in Boyd Dining Center.
1:30 Commissioning Ceremony for ROTC Officer candidates in front of the John Wesley statue (In the case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Monumental Chapel.)

 

Notes for Graduating Seniors from the College Marshal, Dr. Sally Shedd

Mandatory Rehearsals

All students intending to participate in the graduation should attend a rehearsal. If you cannot do so, it is particularly important that you contact Dr. Shedd via Humanities Division Secretary, Leslie Hines by telephone at 757.455.3255, or via e-mail at ljhines@vwc.edu.

Two rehearsals for commencement exercises are scheduled for your convenience; you need attend only one. The main rehearsal will take place at 12 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 in the C-MAC of the Jane P. Batten Student Center. The make-up rehearsal will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 16. The same location will be used as at 12 p.m. It is not necessary to bring your cap and gown to the rehearsal.
Tickets

No tickets are required to attend commencement at Virginia Wesleyan College. Seating is open - first come, first available.

Graduating seniors who are walking in the commencement must attend either the 12:00 noon or the 6:00 p.m. commencement rehearsal in the C-MAC.  (You will not need your cap and gown for rehearsal.)  If you discover that you are unable to attend either of these rehearsals but are still planning to walk, please contact Leslie Hines immediately and read the commencement instructions on the attached link.
For more information, contact Leslie Hines with Humanities Division at 455-3255 or e-mail ljhines@vwc.edu.

Commencement Day Instruction for Graduating Seniors

Please note that graduates must be in the C-MAC of the Jane P. Batten Student Center no later than 10 a.m. on Commencement Day (Saturday, May 19) to prepare for the procession. Bring your cap and gown to the gym, but do not bring purses or similar items of value. There is no safe place to leave them during the ceremony.

Following the ceremony, graduates and faculty members will process to the C-MAC of the Jane P. Batten Student Center. Diploma pick up and gown return will take place in the C-MAC following Commencement.

Following the ceremony, family and friends of graduates should travel to Boyd Dining Center to meet graduates and enjoy refreshments.

Policy on Commencement Attire for Graduating Seniors

Guidelines for appropriate attire at Commencement have been established by the Commencement Committee so as to maintain the dignity suitable for the occasion and to avoid embarrassment to the College, the graduates, and their families. Black academic gowns and mortar boards are the dress of the day, complemented by dark skirts, dresses, or dress pants and black dress shoes for women and dark dress pants and black shoes and socks for men. Flip-flops, tennis shoes, bare feet and shorts are unacceptable.

In accordance with the national code on academic regalia, no personal adornments of any kind are to be worn on the cap, gown, or hood. These include badges, corsages, and lettering of any kind. Religious-based head wear should be a solid dark color.

Honor Cord Policy
(Adopted 3-21-2011; revised 3-15-2012)

Graduating seniors may wear up to five (5) graduation cords, with each cord to represent one of the following honors, memberships, and/or academic distinctions:

• Latin honors (summa cum laude, magna cum laude, cum laude);
• Membership in an academic honor society, including Honors & Scholars (see the list in #4 below);
• Presidential Scholar
• Wesleyan Scholar
• Membership in PORTfolio
• Study Abroad

The graduation cord must be either the unaltered specific approved cord of the honor society or the generic cord supplied by the Office of Academic Affairs.

1. The advisor of an honor society whose members have cords should submit for the approval of the President of Student Government Association a sample of the cord to be worn at graduation. The submission should be made on or before Friday, April 27 to the Office of the Dean of Students (Dr. Keith Moore, Batten 005).
2. If an honor society or other designated group does not have cords, the Office of Academic Affairs (210 Clarke Hall) will supply a single generic or "unity" cord, in Marlin colors, to graduating members. The honor society advisor should submit to Mrs. Judy Tinsley, by April 30, a list of members who will need the unity cord. Please note that Academic Affairs will supply no more than one cord to any graduating senior. Unity cords will be distributed by Student Government representatives at Commencement rehearsals. Please note that Study Abroad students can wear the unity cord, but not a Study Abroad sash.
3. Any student who will be wearing cords for Commencement must bring her or his cords to Commencement rehearsals for approval by representatives from the Student Government Association. Cords must be checked in at rehearsals in order to be worn at Commencement. Students will be instructed at rehearsals on the appropriate way to wear their cords. Student Government Association representatives will perform spot checks to make sure the cords are worn appropriately on the day of Commencement.
4. Virginia Wesleyan College recognizes the following Academic Honor societies:

• Alpha Kappa Delta (Sociology)
• Alpha Phi Sigma (Criminal Justice)
• Alpha Psi Omega (Theatre)
• Alpha Sigma Lambda (Adult Honors)
• Beta Beta Beta (Biology)
• Chi Alpha Sigma (Athletic Academic Honors)
• Delta Phi Alpha (German)
• Gamma Sigma Alpha (Greek)
• Gamma Sigma Epsilon (Chemistry)
• Honors and Scholars Association (Academic Achievement)
• Kappa Delta Pi (Education)
• Lambda Pi Eta (Communications)
• Omicron Delta Kappa (VWC Circle Leadership & Scholarship)
• Order of Omega (Greek)
• Phi Alpha Theta (History)
• Phi Eta Sigma (Freshman Honors)
• Pi Delta Phi (French)
• Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science)
• Psi Chi (Psychology)
• Rho Lambda (Panhellenic)
• Rho Phi Lambda (Recreation & Leisure Studies)
• Sigma Beta Delta (Business, Management & Administration)
• Sigma Delta Pi (Spanish)
• Sigma Tau Delta (English)
• Sigma Zeta (Science & Mathematics)
• The Society for Collegiate Journalists (Journalism)
• Theta Alpha Kappa (Religious Studies/Theology)

Perkins Loan Exit Counseling

Any student who has received a Perkins Loan while enrolled at Virginia Wesleyan College must complete an exit counseling session prior to graduation. More information will be sent to campus mailboxes for resident students or mailed home to commuters concerning this important matter. Please call Ms. Dely Johnson at 757.455.3286 with any questions.

Note from the Registrar
Potential August graduates (students who have at most two courses remaining to be completed by the end of the spring semester of their graduating year) may petition the Registrar for approval to "walk" in the May ceremony. The specifics of the Two-Course Rule are listed under "Graduation Requirements" on the Registrar's home page. The petition form is called "Participation in Commencement Exercises" and will be automatically sent to your VWC mailbox prior to mid-April. Complete the form and return it to the Office of the Registrar. Summer registration must be completed before approval can be granted. The Registrar's Office can be reached by calling 757.455.3358.

Commencement Day General Announcements
Doors to the Convocation Hall in the Jane P. Batten Student Center will open at 9:45 a.m. No tickets are required for commencement, and seating is general.
If you need to drop off elderly guests or persons with disabilities at the door of the Jane P. Batten Student Center, please inform security personnel of that fact. You will be directed to the front of the Center for the drop-off. Please move your vehicle to the parking lot as quickly as possible to clear the drop-off area.
The Scribner Bookstore will be open on Commencement Day from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Professional photos of each graduate receiving his or her diploma will be taken by Candid Color Photography. Proofs will be mailed to every graduate, and will be available for purchase.

Baccalaureate Service Information

A Baccalaureate Service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 18 at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church on 212 – 19th Street in Virginia Beach. A variety of hotels and restaurants are located in the Norfolk and Virginia Beach area. Information about these facilities and other recreational opportunities in the area may be obtained by calling the Virginia Beach Visitor Information Center at 800.822.3224.
Directions to Baccalaureate Service at Virginia Beach United Methodist Church
From Virginia Wesleyan College, turn left on Wesleyan Drive. Take Wesleyan Drive to Northampton Boulevard and turn left at the light. Take I-64E to I-264E (to Virginia Beach/Oceanfront). Continue on I-264 about 13 miles to the end of the Expressway (on 21st Street). Turn right on Pacific Avenue. Go two blocks to 19th Street. The Church is on the left-hand side of Pacific Avenue. The Church phone number is 757.428.7727
Parking Information for Baccalaureate Service
Church parking is available at 18th Street and 19th Street between Pacific and Atlantic. Additional parking is available in the Municipal lot across Pacific Avenue.

Additional questions?
Questions regarding academic concerns should be directed to the Office of the Registrar, 757.455.3358.
Questions regarding caps, gowns and announcements; Baccalaureate; and settling your Virginia Wesleyan account should be directed to Elaine Aird in the Business Office, 757.455.3310.
Questions regarding senior week activities should be directed to Jenn Mitchell in Student Activities, 757.233.8785.
Questions regarding commencement rehearsal and ceremony should be directed to the College Marshal, Dr. Sally Shedd, via Leslie Hines, Humanities Division Secretary, at 757.455.3255.