Instructions
When to be Where
Report to the West Building Atrium by 3:15 p.m. in your cap and gown (your tassel should be on the right side of your cap). You will be lined up by your academic discipline. Signs will be posted along the hallway so find your degree title on the sign (e.g., Business, Education, etc.) and stay there for further instructions.
You will be seated according to discipline, but you may march and sit by anyone within your degree unit. Commencement assistants will be available to direct you to the correct location.
Disability Access
Guests or graduates with physical access challenges should park in the Consolidated Information Center parking lot. Follow George Washington Way up the hill past campus, turn right on First Street, then take right on to University Dr., then turn left into first parking lot. Greeters will provide assistance to the appropriate seating areas.
Students who will need accommodations during commencement should contact Disability Coordinator Cherish Tijerina by April 7 at 372-7352 or ctijerina@tricity.wsu.edu.
Guests
Please invite your family and friends to celebrate with you — there is no seating limit per graduate and tickets are not required. Greeters will be posted at all entrances to assist you to the seating or staging area.
Parking
Parking will be available in the West Building parking lot. Overflow parking will be available between both buildings. A large portion of the CIC parking lot will be reserved for disabled and elderly guests. Parking attendants will be directing cars to the proper parking areas.
Photographs
Pictureman, Inc., will take a photo of each graduate receiving his or her diploma cover. Photographs will be available later on an optional basis at a reasonable cost. See www.gradphoto.com.
Photos by your guests: An area will be designated to allow guests to take photos during the ceremony. Please remind your guests to return to their seat once they have taken the picture.
General Information for the Ceremony
You will complete an information card when you line up in the Atrium. You will hand this card to an announcer who will read it as you cross the stage to receive your diploma jacket. Keep this card with you until you reach the announcer.
Do not take a commencement program with you during the processional as one will be waiting for you on your seat. Remember to leave purses, cameras and other valuables with your guests.
If you have any questions while at the event, please look for one of the commencement assistants.
The March
The academic procession begins promptly at 4 p.m. University administrators and dignitaries will lead the procession, followed by the graduate students, the undergraduate students, and then the faculty.
Students will be directed by ushers to the seating in front of the stage. When you reach the seating section, remember to move all the way over into the row of chairs so that the entire row of chairs is full. Everyone will remain standing until after the National Anthem has been sung (men should remove their caps during the Anthem).
The Ceremony
After Dr. Bonnie Dunbar’s commencement address, each row of students will be directed to the platform by an usher. Do not take anything with you except your information card and, if you are a graduate student, your hood. You will give their information card to the assistant at the edge of the stage and your name will be announced as you walk across the stage.
If you are a doctoral student then you will be recognized first and hooded on the platform by your faculty advisor and the Academic Director of your college. If you are a master student you will be recognized next and hooded on the platform by the Academic Director and Dean of your college. After you are hooded, you will receive stop in will stop in front of Chancellor Vicky L. Carwein, extend your left hand to receive your diploma cover, and shake hands with your right hand. Next you will shake hands with other dignitaries and then exit the platform to stand in front of your seat.
If you are an undergraduate then you will give your information card to the assistant at the edge of the stage and your name will be announced as you walk across the stage. Then you will stop in front of Chancellor Vicky L. Carwein, extend your left hand to receive your diploma cover, and shake hands with your right hand. Next you will shake hands with other dignitaries and then exit the platform to stand in front of your seat.
Once everyone in your row has reached his or her original seat, then your row will be seated all at once.
After the Ceremony
Administrators, dignitaries, faculty, and graduates will be ushered out by row.
Immediately following the ceremony, there will be a reception for all graduates and their families. It will be held on the back patio of the West Building. Punch and cookies will be served. This is an opportunity to congratulate one another on your accomplishments.
WSU Alumni
Completing your degree is a significant life milestone. We hope this ceremony is a memorable and fun way to celebrate what you have accomplished with your family and friends.
The WSU Alumni Association will have a booth at the reception, where you can declare your Cougar pride by joining this outreach organization. Learn more at alumni.wsu.edu.
Returning your Regalia
You must return your regalia to The Bookie or be charged full purchase price. The Bookie will remain open until 7:30 p.m. after Commencement to accommodate those returns. You also may return your regalia on Monday, May 12, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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