Commencement Hotline: (540) 231-3208
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. | Friday, December 19, 2008 | Cassell Coliseum
Associate and bachelor's degrees will be conferred at the university ceremony. Individual college or departmental ceremonies will not be held.
Associate and bachelor's degree candidates participating in the procession should report to the practice gyms (Rooms 213 and 220) located on the ground floor at the back of Cassell Coliseum. Enter on the Spring Road side of the building. Check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m. and end at 10:15 a.m. Signs will be posted to direct candidates to their college's staging area.
Candidates will be lined up according to college and will be given a card on which they will print their names as they want them announced when they walk across the stage. Candidates are to keep the card, and just prior to walking across the stage, hand it to the person reading names for their college. This card will also be used by the photographer to identify and mail proofs to each graduate. Candidates are reminded to complete the mailing address to which the proofs should be sent.
Faculty who wish to process in this ceremony should come to practice gym 220 no later than 10:15 a.m. Your participation is encouraged.
Graduate degree candidates who wish to process should come to practice gym 220 no later than 10:15 a.m.
Families and guests are urged to arrive in time to be seated by 10:15 a.m. The procession will begin at 10:40 a.m. At the end of the ceremony, guests should depart Cassell Coliseum promptly so that setup can take place for the upcoming Graduate School ceremony.
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. | Friday, December 19, 2008 | Cassell Coliseum
All graduate degree candidates must confirm to the Graduate School by November 21, 2008, their plans to attend Commencement. Questions regarding eligibility to participate should be directed to the Graduate School at 540/231-8636.
Master's candidates who are eligible to participate in Commencement should report to the practice gym (Room 213) located on the ground floor at the back of Cassell Coliseum. Enter on the Spring Road side of the building. Check-in will begin at 1:30 p.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.
Doctoral candidates who have met all requirements for graduation by December 12, 2008, are eligible to participate in Commencement. Doctoral candidates should report to practice gym 220 on the ground level of Cassell Coliseum. Enter on the Spring Road side of the building. Check-in will begin at 1:30 p.m. and end at 2:30 p.m.
All graduate candidates will march by college and major. Late arrivals will march at the end of the line. After the start of the processional at 2:45 p.m., no one will be allowed to join the processional and participate in the ceremony. Personal belongings may be left in the gym.
Professors who will be participating in the hooding ceremony should arrive at practice gym 220 at Cassell Coliseum between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Check in upon arrival so that your name may be read during the ceremony.
Faculty who wish to process in this ceremony should come to practice gym 220 at Cassell Coliseum no later than 2:30 p.m. Your participation is encouraged.
Families and guests are urged to arrive in time to be seated by 2:15 p.m. The procession will begin at 2:45 p.m.
Doctoral diplomas are presented at the fall ceremony. Masters degree diplomas are mailed in February to the address that candidates are asked to provide the Graduate School. Diplomas for undergraduates will be mailed to the address that students provide to the Registrar's Office through Hokie Spa. Please be sure to log on to Hokie Spa to update your Diploma Address by January 1. From Hokie Spa, click on Degree Menu, click on Undergraduate Student Degree Menu, then onto Add/Update Diploma Address. Diplomas are mailed approximately 12 weeks after the ceremony. Undergraduates may contact the Registrar's Office at 540/231-5187 regarding eligibility or diplomas.
Academic apparel is required for all graduation ceremonies. During the university ceremony, only one accoutrement of your choice, in addition to the honors sash, may be worn with the academic gown. Caps and gowns are now on sale at the University Bookstore, and honors sashes for undergraduates with a grade point average of 3.40 or better are also available. Students wearing the white honors sash will be recognized and asked to stand during the university ceremony. All graduates may order personalized announcements in advance through the University Bookstore. For more information and deadlines, contact the University Bookstore at 540/231-5991 ext. 138. For graduation announcements specifically designed for the Class of 2008, you may visit the Balfour web site at http://www.balfour.com/college.
GradTrak(TM) by Chappell Studio Graduation Images will be the official photographer for Fall 2008 Commencement ceremonies on the Virginia Tech campus. Photographers will be present for the University and Graduate School ceremonies. The photographers are the only persons with clear access to the stage.
On Thursday, December 18, 2008, from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m., Chappell will offer free portrait sittings on the second floor of Smith Career Center, Career Services. Graduating students (undergraduate or graduate) should wear their own cap and gown. You may wear as many accoutrements as you wish for the portrait sitting, including stoles, honors cords, sashes, etc. Although a professional photographer has been commissioned, you will not be required to purchase photos. Chappell will mail your proofs to you approximately one week after the ceremony.
If you have any questions about your order, please contact Chappell at 800/424-3686, by e-mail at service@chappell.com, or online at http://www.gradimages.com.
If you are a person with a disability and need special accommodations or information regarding handicapped parking, impaired-mobility seating, or services for deaf and hard of hearing, please contact the Services for Students with Disabilities office at 540/231-0858 (V) or 540/231-0853 (TTY), 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday - Friday, or by e-mail at ssd@vt.edu. Detailed information is available at http://www.ssd.vt.edu.
No tickets are required for either ceremony, and there is no limit on the number of guests per candidate.
With the exception of authorized personnel and degree candidates, no one will be allowed on the floor of the coliseum during either ceremony.
Due to security procedures, wrapped packages will not be allowed in the coliseum. Please avoid bringing unnecessary items to either ceremony as safety precautions will necessitate the search of suspicious items.
Should the university be closed due to inclement weather, these ceremonies would also be cancelled. Please refer to http://www.vt.edu for closing information.