McKay School of Education > Education Student Services > Graduation

Graduation Convocation Information

Request to Walk Form

• Graduates from another college who will be walking with a spouse or family member must submit a Request to Walk form.  Also, graduates who will be walking at a convocation ceremony other than their official one must submit said form.
• Click here for Request to Walk Form.
• After filling out the form, please bring it in to Student Services in room 120 of the David O. McKay Building (MCKB).

Date and Time

• Convocation will be held on Friday, April  24, 2009.

• It will begin promptly at 8:00 a.m. n the Smith Fieldhouse.

• Candidates must arrive no later than 7:00 a.m.

Lining Up

• Baccalaureate and Master's candidates:  Line up on the turf-covered area at the west end of the track.  You will be given a name card at this time.

• Doctoral candidates:  Line up behind the curtain located directly behind the main podium.  Bring your hood, but DO  NOT WEAR IT; you will be hooded later in the convocation exercises.  An usher behind the curtain will show you where to line up.

Walking Across the Stage

• Baccalaureate and Master's candidates:  At the appropriate time, the usher will tell you to move out of your seat and onto the stage.  Your name will be read as you walk across the stage to receive your diploma cover from the university officials.  You will then walk off stage and return to a seat.  An usher will direct you as you leave the stage.

• Doctoral candidates:  You will be seated on the stand, and at the appropriate time the reader will announce your name.  At that time you will come down and be hooded, then walk across the stage to receive your diploma cover from the university officials.  You will then return to your seat on the stand.  Please do not wear your cap when being hooded.

Dress Requirements

• Graduates should wear appropriate dress shoes.

• Women should wear knee length to mid-calf length dresses or skirts (no long dresses or pants that show under the gown, please).

• Graduates should not wear flowers during the ceremony.

• Graduates should not take personal belongings (purses, cameras etc.), as they will not have permanent seats at which to leave these things and it is inappropriate to carry them across the stage.  (Ask guests to keep these things for you.)

Tassels

• Graduates should wear the tassel on the left side of the cap throughout the exercises except when crossing the stage.

• While crossing the stage, you may move the tassel to the right side to give a clear view of your face to the audience and photographer.

• Tassel colors are as follows:

Caps

• The cap should be worn on the top of your head with the mortar board parallel to the floor.  Please do not wear the cap on the back of your head or at an angle.

• Only men will remove their caps during prayers.  Women should keep their caps on at all times.

Name Cards

• If you would like your name card to be printed and read differently from the way your name appears on your diploma, please call the Student Services secretaries at 801-422-3426 and let them know how you want your name announced.  For example, if the name on your diploma is your full name--"Jane Ilene Walker Doe"--and you want your name given as "Jane Walker Doe," you need to call and request the change.  Calls must be received no later than ___________________.

• If your name is often mispronounced, please call the Student Services secretaries and let them know the proper pronunciation of your name.  Calls must be received no later than ________________.

Family and Friends

• If a spouse or family member is planning on "walking" with you, please double check to make sure his/her Petition to Walk form has been turned in to Student Services by ____________________. 

• You may call the secretaries at 801-422-3426 to make sure that Student Services has received your form and that arrangements have been made for him/her to participate with you in the convocation exercises.  Calls must be received no later than ___________________.

Photography

• A professional photographer will take your picture as you shake hands with the university administrators.  There is no obligation to buy the picture.

• If one of your friends or family members would like to take your picture as you cross the stage, please advise  him/her that the best place to sit is on the south balcony.  Let your guests know that they MAY NOT come on the the floor to take pictures.

Guests

• No tickets are required for your guests to attend the convocation ceremony. 

• Doors will open at 6:45 a.m., and guests must be seated by 7:45 a.m., at which time seats may no longer be saved.  It is important that you and you family arrange your plans so that you are on time and seats are available for everyone.  Family members may not sit in empty graduate seating; only graduates and faculty are allowed in this area.

• Ushers will be at at he doors to assist with seating and distribution of programs.

• If you or one of your gusts will need special seating arrangements due to disablity, please call MSE Student Services at 801-422-3426 and let the secretaries know what your needs are.  Arrangements must be made no later than _______________________.

Ceremony Atmosphere

• Please ask your guests to withhold applause until each group is finished and permission to applaud is given.

• Please ask your guests to refrain from whistling or making disruptive noises that destroy the professional atmosphere of the convocation ceremony.

Parking

• For those attending the convocation, 750 parking stalls are available in the Y lot directly east of Zion's Bank.  This lot can be accessed from University Avenue.

• Please carpool with family members, as parking may be limited.

Afterward

• After the convocation ceremony (which lasts for approximately one hour), faculty and graduates will participate in a formal recessional to the lawn south of the Tennis Court Building.

• Guests may follow the recessional to the same location and meet the graduates for a reception and refreshments.