February Letter
Dear Graduate Student,
The Commencement ceremony for graduate students receiving masters degrees will be held on Friday, May 16, 2008, at 7:00PM in Angelico Concert Hall on the campus of Dominican University of California. The ceremony will be immediately followed by a reception at Caleruega, around 8:30PM. You and your guests are invited to attend that reception. Pastries, punch, and light hors d’oeuvres will be served.
All future information about your graduation will be sent to you via your Dominican email account.
Tickets are Required for Seating at Commencement
Each graduating student who will participate in the ceremony will receive six (6) tickets for the ceremony. No other tickets will be available and no student will receive more than seven tickets for any reason.
Starting on March 3, tickets will be available in the Admissions Office in Bertrand Hall. You must present your student ID card to receive your tickets.
THE ONLY RESERVED SEATING AT COMMENCEMENT WILL BE FOR FACULTY AND GUESTS THE UNIVERSITY IS HONORING.
THERE IS NO REHEARSAL FOR THE GRADUATE COMMENCEMENT.
Commencement Fair
For the first time, Dominican will host a Commencement Fair to bring together in one place at one time all of the people who offer services related to graduation. The Fair will be held in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Conlan Recreation Center on March 1, 2008 between 11AM and 3:00PM. At that one time you will be able to purchase your academic regalia, pick up your tickets for Commencement seating, order announcements, and talk to various University staff about Commencement. If you cannot attend the Fair you will still be able to accomplish everything when it is convenient for you to do so at other times prior to graduation. Please see information printed on the back page of this letter.
Commencement Mass
Remember that you and your guests are invited to attend the Commencement Mass on Friday, May 16 at 3:00 p.m. Fr. Bob Haberman will celebrate the Mass at St. Raphael’s Church in downtown San Rafael. Catholics and non-Catholics are invited and encouraged to attend. The Mass should last about 60-75 minutes.
Commncement Procession and Name Card
Students participating in the graduate student Commencement should plan on processing to Angelico Hall from the plaza in front of Caleruega, the dining hall, at 6:30p.m on Friday, May 16. If a student is unable to walk, the student may meet the procession outside Angelico Hall. Graduates will process by department within the school in which they are enrolled. Your school is one of these three:
- Arts and Sciences
- Business and Leadership
- Education
All of the students in your department will walk together and will sit together at Commencement. Students do not have to arrange themselves in alphabetical order. Every student MUST pick up a name card at the table outside Caleruega beginning at 6:00 p.m. on Friday evening. You will hand that card to the dean of your school as you walk across the stage. The dean will read your name at the Commencement ceremony. If you have a name that the dean might have trouble pronouncing, please spell it phonetically on the card as soon as you receive it.
Honors
Honors are not mentioned at a graduate commencement because it is expected that at the master’s degree level all students are worthy of honors.
The Hooding Ceremony as Part of Commencement
You will be “hooded” just before you walk across the stage to receive your diploma cover. A hood comes with your package of academic regalia, which also includes your black gown and mortarboard (head piece). The hood has the colorful trim on its edges. When you approach the Provost or the Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs on the stage, you will hand your hood to that person who will then place it over your head. After the hooding you will walk a few steps to receive your diploma cover from the President. The hood has a long history; it dates back to medieval times. At Commencement you will join ranks with other scholars who, in centuries past, wore an academic hood to class.
Buying your Hood and Academic Regalia
Academic regalia (gown, mortarboard, hood) will be available for purchase beginning on Saturday, March 1 at Dominican’s first Commencement Fair. Regalia may be purchased from that time right up until the day before Commencement.
- If you have questions about purchases related to graduation call the bookstore at 415-485-3213. The cost for the academic regalia should be approximately $70.
Graduation Announcements
By early March, Herff-Jones Company will mail information about ordering graduation announcements to you. A Herff-Jones representative will be available at the Commencement Fair on March 1. Dominican has nothing to do with announcements, so you should plan on working directly with that Herff-Jones. You do not have to order announcements.
Must you Attend Commencement?
No, nobody is required to attend any event associated with Commencement.
Graduation Fees and Your Account
All degree candidates must settle financial matters with the Business Services Office, room 103 Bertrand Hall, by Friday, May 9. All students who are graduating must pay a Commencement fee of $75 whether or not they are participating in the graduation ceremony. Please check your billing statement to see if your fee has already been charged and paid. If you applied on time for graduation the fee may have been applied and paid before the start of this semester. That fee has not been increased in over a decade. Any student with an outstanding balance is not eligible to participate in Commencement activities.
Parking for Commencement
Parking around the campus will be difficult on the evening of Commencement. All parking spaces will fill up quickly. Graduating students should advise their guests to park in the Conlan lot. Parking on the central core of campus will be restricted to trustees and University guests. Parking will be available at the residence hall parking lots and behind Caleruega.
DO NOT PARK ON PALM OR OLIVE STREETS. CARS PARKED ON THOSE STREETS ARE SUBJECT TO TOWING.
The fee for having a towed car released is $320, towing charges included. There are some handicapped spots at the Conlan Recreation Center, and there are a few spots outside Angelico Hall. Cars parked in those spaces MUST have an official handicapped placard, or they, too, will be towed. There will be staff to direct vehicle drivers before Commencement.
Reserve Hotel Accommodations Now
If you have guests coming to Commencement, reserve accommodations for them now at local hotels, motels, inns, and bed and breakfasts. There are other special events taking place in the area on the weekend of graduation. BOOK NOW.
Possible Hotels
- The Acqua Hotel (1-888-662-9555), just off Seminary Drive and 101 in Mill Valley, offers a special discount to guests of Dominican graduates if they mention Dominican when they book their room.
- The Best Western properties in Corte Madera (1-415-924-1502) and in Novato (1-415-883-4400) also offer special rates to your Commencement guests.
- The Four Points by Sheraton also may be offering a special Dominican discount. Call the hotels directly and mention the special Dominican rate when making reservations.
- For more Hotels, click here
To what Address Should we Mail your Diploma?
Diplomas are mailed to graduates by late September. Please be sure that the Office of the Registrar has the address to which you want your diploma mailed.
Not Graduating?
If you are receiving this letter and you are not graduating, please notify the Registrar’s Office. A staff member in that office will remove your name from the list of May 2008 graduates. Call (415) 257-1392 to speak with the appropriate staff person.
Have Fun!
Sometimes it is easy to get so caught up with the planning for graduation and the events related to the “big event” that students forget to enjoy it. Remember that this should be a joyful time, and that you and your guests should have fun. Commencement is a serious moment, but it has a light side, too. Breathe deeply, and remember that all of the people who care about you and will be showing their love and support at Commencement time.
More Information
More information will follow later in the semester. It will be directed to your Dominican email account. Information also will be posted on the Commencement board on the first floor of Guzman Hall.
Sincerely,
John Kennedy
Vice President for Student Life
