It is almost time for one of the most important events in the life of Tusculum College – commencement, a celebration of the accomplishment of hard work and dreams of all the students who have completed their degree programs.
Spring Commencement is on Saturday, May 7, and will involve two ceremonies. The morning ceremony at 10:30 a.m. will include all the students receiving bachelor of arts degrees, those in the Residential College program and the bachelor’s program in the Graduate and Professional Studies program. The afternoon ceremony at 2 p.m. will include students receiving master’s degrees and the students in the Bachelor of Science in Organizational Management program in the Graduate and Professional Studies program.
Graduates participating in the ceremony should be in the Pioneer Arena an hour prior to the ceremony for graduation practice, 9:30 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 1 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony.
Pioneer Arena, the location of the ceremonies, will not be open for audience seating until after the graduation practice is completed. The arena will be open to family and friends at approximately 10 a.m. for the morning ceremony and 1:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony.
Tickets are not needed for admittance to the ceremonies and graduates are not limited to the number of guests that they can invite.
Guests are allowed to save seats for other family or friends, but are asked not to save seats during the 15 minutes immediately prior to the beginning of the ceremony to assist in ensuring there is enough seating available.
Family members and friends that may require special accommodations for handicapped seating are asked to make reservations by contacting Bobbie Greenway no later than May 6, 2010 at 423-636-7300 Ext. 5154. If prior reservations are not made, special accommodation seating may not be available. Tusculum does not supply wheelchairs.
Guests are asked to not leave the arena until after the ceremony is finished. At the end of the ceremony, the College faculty form a “gauntlet” at the exit of arena and applaud the new graduates, and the exit needs to be kept clear.
Prospective graduates that ordered their graduation regalia (gown, hood, cap, and tassel) at the Greeneville or Knoxville GRAD FINALE event should receive it from Jostens by mid-April. Those who did not attend or did not order a gown, hood, cap, and tassel must order the regalia by contacting Jostens at its customer service toll free number 1-800-854-7464. The cost of ordering the regalia including standard shipping and handling is covered by the graduation fee and is paid by Tusculum College. Express mail shipping is at a graduate’s own expense.
By tradition, the Commencement ceremony is a formal, dignified event to honor the academic achievement of scholars. To help preserve the decorum of the event, it is requested that graduates and their families exercise etiquette appropriate to the occasion. We ask that those in attendance please observe the following:
- As a courtesy to and out of respect for the graduates, guests are requested to stay until the conclusion of the ceremony.
- Commencement is both a joyous and solemn event. Please express your excitement in ways that will not prevent others from hearing the speaker and enjoying the ceremony. Use of air horns, yelling, or stomping are disruptive and rude.
- Cell phones are to be turned off or switched to the silent operating mode. Do not speak on a cell phone during the ceremony as this prevents others from hearing and enjoying the ceremony.
- Please do not bring small children to the commencement ceremony. Due to fire marshal regulations, no baby carriers or strollers will be allowed in the auditorium.
- We understand family and friends wanting to take pictures of their special graduate. Please refrain from doing so until after the graduate receives his or her diploma. This will allow the ceremony to flow smoothly and reduce the distractions and disturbances to other audience members as they try to see and hear ongoing presentations. An official photographer from LifeTouch will be taking a photo of each graduate receiving a diploma from Tusculum President Nancy B. Moody. Photos of the ceremony are also taken by staff from the College’s Office of Communications. LifeTouch will contact the graduates with information on how to view proofs and order prints.
- Due to the acoustics in the auditorium, voices carry. Please do not carry on conversations during the ceremony, as this may be very distracting and prevent others from hearing and enjoying the event.