NEWS COMMENCEMENT Graduation Fair Save the Date

COMMENCEMENT
NEWS
Graduation Fair
Save the Date
March 15 & 16, 2016
Details coming soon!
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James Madison
University
December Commencement News
This issue of the Commencement News will be focused on the December 19, 2015
Commencement Ceremony. If your student graduates in May of 2016, stay tuned for
great information coming in the January issue of Commencement News!
Ceremony Details
The December Commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, December 19 at 10
a.m. in the JMU Convocation Center. Seating is first come, first served and doors will open
at 8 a.m. Please visit the Commencement website (http://www.jmu.edu/commencement/
december-commencement-information/december-commencement-ceremony.shtml) to
view a sample layout of the seating plan. The ceremony will include graduates from The
Graduate School (doctoral and masters) as well as all undergrads from each of the seven
colleges at James Madison. The ceremony will last approximately one and a half hours.
Parking and Shuttle Services
Parking for the December Commencement Ceremony is available in Convo Lots A, B,
F & G (https://www.jmu.edu/parking/_files/parkingmap.pdf ). These fill quickly, usually
by 9 a.m., so if you arrive in that general area after 9 a.m., proceed directly to the parking
lots near the Festival Student and Conference Center where shuttle service will be available
from the Festival Bus stop to the Convo Center and returning after the ceremony. Shuttle
service from Lots D3, C11 and C12 will begin at 8 a.m. and run continuously. Heavy
traffic will occur in the area near Costco, leading to the Convocation Center. To avoid
congestion, drive through campus from either MLK Drive (old Cantrell) or off of Main
Street at Bluestone Dr., turn onto Carrier Drive and cross over Rt. 81. Here you will park
in the Festival lots and take a shuttle to Convo. You will not experience heavy traffic via this
route.
Accessible Parking is available directly in front of the Convocation Center at Lot E.
Please make certain that your DMV-issued accessible parking permit is visible to the staff to
ensure you are able to park. Remember that these spaces also fill up early so plan to arrive
by 8:30 a.m. if you require a parking space close to the Convo.
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Contact the University
Events Office
(540) 568-7787
[email protected]
Ticketing Helpful Tips
ONLY students who have applied
to graduate are able to order tickets
n
Tickets must be printed (full
page) ensuring the barcode is visible;
tickets cannot be scanned on a
mobile device
n
Tickets are only good for one
entry; copying or duplicating tickets
in any way will void entry into the
Convocation Center
n
Please plan for all ticket holders
to arrive together - seat saving is not
permitted
n
Ticketing Information
Due to a high number of graduates and the limitations of the Convocation Center’s
capacity we have made the decision to require all family and friends to have tickets for
admission to the commencement ceremony on December 19. This was not a decision
that was taken lightly. After discussing our concerns with the state fire marshal and given
the heavy attendance at previous December commencements, the logical next step to
ensure everyone’s safety was to require tickets for attendance so that we do not exceed the
Convocation Center’s safe capacity. Each graduate will be allotted up to six tickets to the
commencement ceremony in the Convocation Center. Students may order their tickets
through the JMU Ticket Office beginning Thursday, December 3 at 9 a.m. and remain
active until Thursday, December 15 at 5 p.m.
The university is working hard to accomodate those guests who do not have tickets so
a satellite viewing location at Wilson Hall has been planned. Any guests who do not have
a ticket may watch the ceremony live at this location. In addition, there will be a live feed
video on the commencement website (http://www.jmu.edu/commencement/decembercommencement-information/photography-videography.shtml).
Shuttles will run continuosly from Warsaw Parking Deck, Festival Lots C11, C12
and D3 to the Convocation Center and Wilson Hall beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday,
December 19. All parking lots near the Quad will also be available for individuals viewing
the ceremony at Wilson Hall.
Thank you for your understanding.
Sample Ticket Image
S
E
L
P
AM
n
Seating is General Admission
n
No re-entry allowed
Upon entering the Convocation
Center, please go directly to your
seats; do not linger in the concourse
as that slows other guests from
getting seated
n
Commencement begins promptly
at 10 a.m. and doors to the
Convocation Center open at 8 a.m.
n
Students are not required a ticket;
their regalia allows their admission
n
All individuals (no matter of age)
require a ticket for the Ceremony
n
If additional tickets become
available, students will be notfied via
email from the JMU Ticket Office
n
Accessible seating is available on
the terrace in front of sections 201203 with limited companion seating
available
n
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Questions regarding ticket
ordering/printing should be
directed to the JMU Ticket
Office at 540-568-3853.
Accessibility
James Madison University strives to be an all-inclusive institution to students, staff, and
visitors. To assist those who may need accommodations we will be providing an ASL
certified interpreter (reserved seating in Section 115 inside Entrance B), and closed
captioning TV monitor as well as a QR code (located in the Commencement program)
that will enable you to read captioning of the ceremony on your personal electronic device.
In addition we will be live streaming the ceremony on our website (http://www.jmu.edu/
commencement/december-commencement-information/photography-videography.shtml).
Inclement Weather
Should inclement weather occur, the Commencement ceremony will be moved later in
the day, if possible, to allow for sufficient time for snow/ice removal and sidewalk clearing.
If the conditions are so extreme that the snow and ice are still falling or cannot be cleared
because of extreme temperatures, we will announce the plans for the ceremony on all JMU
approved forms of media communication.
December Commencement Graduate Instructions!
We are just a few short weeks away from the December Commencement ceremony. All
graduates should have already applied to graduate through the Registrar’s office. If you
have questions concerning any application, please contact the Registrar’s office immediately
(540-568-6281).
Regalia are on sale now at the JMU Bookstore; proper academic attire is required to
participate in the ceremony. Candidates wear tassels on the right side of the mortarboard
and then shift them to the left in unison when the degree is conferred.
Please ensure you arrive at the Convocation Center no later than 9:15 a.m. If you arrive
after 9:45 a.m., you will wait to be seated until the Stage Party and Faculty have processed.
Graduates should enter the Convocation Center using entrance E and proceed to the
convocation floor where staff will be available to help you find your seat.
All graduates will receive an email the week prior to commencement with seat
assignment information. The chairs will be labeled with row and chair numbers
corresponding to the row and chair number you receive in the email. A printed
commencement program and name card will be on your seat. Please complete the back
section of your name card for the commencement photographer. You will take the name
card to the reader as you approach the stage. If you are concerned about the pronunciation
of your name please see Dr. Jeanne Martino-McAllister (located on the Convocation floor)
prior to the ceremony starting.
Commencement Extras
Concessions will be available during the ceremony. View the Commencement
website (http://www.jmu.edu/commencement) for a full menu listing.
n Our vendor, Commencement Flowers, will be located at Entrances A and B,
providing flowers for purchase.
n Photography will be provided by GradImages during the ceremony. The graduates
will receive an email shortly after the ceremony with a link to images and photo
package options.
n Diplomas will be mailed to the home address a few weeks after the Commencement
Ceremony.
n
The Commencement News will be a monthly email publication from
the University Events office. View all current and past issues of
Commencement News online (http://www.jmu.edu/commencement).
Senior Resources
Student Accounts
(540) 568-6505
[email protected]
Registrar’s Office
(540) 568-6281
[email protected]
The Graduate School
(540) 568-6131
[email protected]
Libraries
Carrier Library
(540) 568-6150
East Campus Library
(540) 568-2731
Memorial Hall
(540) 568-6302
Music Library
(540) 568-6041
Bookstore
Textbooks
(540) 568-3995
General Merchandise
(540) 568-6960
Computers, Software, Peripherals
(540) 568-3989
Customer Service
(540) 568-6121
Alumni Relations
(540) 568-6234
Toll-Free – (888) Jmu-Alum
[email protected]
Career Services
(540) 568-6555
[email protected]
Parking Services
(540) 568-3300
[email protected]
Parent Relations
(540) 568-3190
[email protected]
Watch the 2015 Commencement
video to get a feel for what to
expect in May 2016. Click on the
JMUGrad button.