• Student Life
• Commencement Overview
  • Steps to Graduation
  • Commencement Day
  • Graduate Students
  • Important Dates

Ceremony instructions for students

The celebrations begin Friday morning, May 4, 2012 with a commencement breakfast and awards ceremony on campus at 10:00 am, sponsored by ASWSU Spokane for graduates and their families.

When

• Commencement is Friday, May 4, at 2:00 pm at the INB Performing Arts Center (Spokane Falls Blvd). Graduates will line up in the Convention Center no later than 1:30 pm.
• Volunteers from WSU will direct you to the second floor. WSU Spokane volunteers will help you check in.

Check in

• When you arrive in the lineup area, you will pick up a card that has your name, degree and basic instructions on the ceremony itself. During the commencement ceremony, you will give this card to the faculty presenter as you come on stage to receive your diploma. You will need to hold on to this card.
• Next you will be directed to the lineup room and instructed to gather with other graduates in your degree program (signs will be posted). Staff will give you further instructions on how the ceremony will proceed at that time.

Ceremony

• Faculty and students will march into the Performng Arts Center. Faculty will be seated on stage. Students will be seated in the front rows of the auditorium in degree order, so it’s important to stay with others in your program and sit in the row you’ve been assigned. The ceremony will be outlined in the program you’ll receive.
• The Chancellor presents each category of degree candidate to the University President (doctoral students first, then masters, then baccalaureate). When degrees are conferred, you will be invited to approach the stage by degree—Doctoral students first, etc. The photographer card will be collected from you at that time.
• Students in each degree program will go to the stage and a faculty member will be at a podium at the top of the stairs. Hand your name card to that faculty member and proceed across the stage. The president will hand you your diploma cover and graduate students will be hooded by faculty on the stage. Proceed down the stairs and back to your seats. Remain standing until all in your degree program have finished.

Enjoy the day and your accomplishments!

Guest seating

• Admission tickets are not required for the ceremonies and seating for guests will be available on an unreserved basis. Doors will open at 1:30 pm.
• Students or their guests who need special physical accommodations should contact Liz West (liz.west@wsu.edu or 509.358.7534).

Photographs

• A professional photographer will take pictures of graduates as they receive their diploma cover. A second shot will be taken as graduate students are hooded or as undergraduate students leave the stage.
• Only the official photographers will be allowed near the stage area. Personal pictures of graduates in caps and gowns may be taken before and after the ceremony.
• Order forms are available on this website as well as at the commencement ceremony. The photographer will have a display table in the Performing Arts Center lobby with various order options.

Academic regalia

• Caps and gowns are available at the Spokane Bookie at 509.358.7860.

Parking and travel

• Parking is available in lots directly south of the Convention Center.
• However, you may find it easier to park on campus and walk down the Centennial Trail to the Convention Center.
• There will be no parking permits needed on campus that day.
• Local hotel information.

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