Graduate Students
College of Human Sciences Reception for Masters and Doctoral Candidates
All College Human Sciences masters and doctoral graduates, families, friends, and faculty are invited to attend a reception in the Scheman Building, first floor lobby, at 6:00 p.m., preceding the
graduation ceremony for master's / PhD candidates on May 9, 2008 at 8:00 p.m in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. Invitations will be emailed to graduate students the beginning of April at their University email addresses on file with the Registrar's Office. Students who plan to attend the reception are asked to return the reply card by April 25, 2008. For information about the graduate student graduation ceremony see the
Registrars Office Graduation web site.
Undergraduate Students
College of Human Sciences Graduation Celebration for Bachelor's Candidates
The College of Human Sciences Graduation Celebration for students receiving bachelor's degrees will be held in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium on May 9, 2008, at 4:30 p.m. During the ceremony students will be individually recognized by Cheryl Achterberg, Dean, and the appropriate department chair as they walk across the stage in cap and gown. In addition, students completing the Honors Program will receive a certificate and white honor cords, and will be recognized during the ceremony. Students graduating with Distinction will wear red and gold cords and will be recognized. A professional photograph will be taken as each student receives a handshake from Dean Achterberg. A reception for graduates, families, friends and faculty will begin immediately following the ceremony around 6:00 p.m., in the 1st floor lobby of the Scheman building. The reception is a good time to visit with friends, family and faculty and to take small group photographs.
Invitations
Invitations will be emailed by the beginning of April to students at their University email addresses on file with the Registrar's Office. Their families will receive a personal invitation at the permanent addresses on file with the Registrar's Office. Tickets are not required, but to ensure inclusion in the ceremony, each student must return the reply card, enclosed in the invitation, by April 25, 2008.
Directions and Parking
Directions to get to Iowa State Center, James H. Hilton Coliseum, or C.Y. Stephens Auditorium. Parking is available in the Iowa State Center parking lot, directly south of Stephens.
Check-in
- Graduating students should check in at Stephens at 3:45 p.m. Enter the Stage Door on the south side of Stephens, at the loading dock.
- At check-in, pick up a card with the pronunciation for your name.
Caps and Gowns
- Wear black cap and gown with maroon tassel. These may be purchased or rented from: University Book Store, Memorial Union, phone (515) 294-5684.
- Students who have successfully completed the Honors Program will be given white honor cords at the time of check-in to wear during for the ceremony, compliments of the Honors Program.
- Students graduating with Distinction (3.5+ GPA) should wear red and gold honor cords, which should be picked up in advance from the Graduation Office. If you are graduating with Distinction, and are currently living outside of Ames in order to complete an internship or student teaching assignment, you can request that your red and gold cords be mailed to you in April (for spring graduates) or November (for fall graduates). For more information about red and gold cords, contact Jennifer Froyd, jlfroyd@iastate.edu, Graduation Office, (515) 294-3632.
- Wear caps level with the tassel on the left side.
Seating
- Tickets are not required for admission.
- There is no limit to the number of guests each student may bring.
- The facility is handicapped accessible. Guests are encouraged to bring their own wheelchairs. Wheelchair seating is at the back of the main floor. For additional information, contact Tim Shea, (515) 294-9974.
The Celebration
- Students will line up at 4:00 p.m. for the processional.
- Signs will be posted for each major.
- The procession begins at 4:30 p.m. Faculty marshals will escort the graduates.
- When your major is called, a marshal will lead your group to the stage. Each student presents a name card to the marshal and proceeds across stage to be recognized.
- After crossing the stage, each student returns to his/her seat and remains standing until all are recognized.
- Students, led by a faculty marshal, leave the ceremony in an informal recession, which leads directly to the reception area in Scheman.
- Please leave coats and other personal belongings with family or friends, as the backstage area will be in use by another group as soon as our ceremony ends. (Students will be arriving backstage for the Graduate College ceremony, just as our ceremony ends.)
Photographs
Guests are welcome to take photos during the ceremony and reception. A professional photo will be taken of each student on stage while they shake hands with the Dean. Students will receive a free proof from Jolesch Photography (phone 800-833-6769) about two weeks after the ceremony. You are under no obligation to order any photographs and the proof is yours to keep. Photos may also be ordered over the web at
www.jolesch.com (click the "Graduation" link).
For more information about the College of Human Sciences Graduation Celebration, call (515) 294-7002 or email hsgraduation@iastate.edu.
University Ceremony for Bachelor's Candidates
The University Commencement Ceremony for those receiving Bachelor's Degrees will be held in James H. Hilton Coliseum, Saturday May 10, 2008, at 1:30 p.m. Graduates should plan to arrive by 12:45 p.m. Tickets will not be required for admission to the University ceremony. For more information, contact the
Graduation Office, 210 Alumni Hall, (515) 294-9372.
Specific information regarding commencement and attendance at the university ceremony will be mailed to all students approximately one month before graduation. Included with this information will be a card that must be completed and returned to the Graduation Office. This will include a diploma mailing address and attendance at the university ceremony. If you do not receive this information, please contact the
Graduation Office, 210 Alumni Hall, or phone (515) 294-9372.
General information
Lodging
For information about lodging, contact the Ames Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-288-7470, or go to
www.visitames.com. We recommend that you make hotel reservations well in advance, as hotels are usually booked on graduation weekend.
Lunch/Dinner Plans
Most restaurants in Ames operate on a "first come, first serve" basis during graduation weekend and are usually very busy.
Diploma Distribution
Students who do not plan to attend the University Ceremony should stop by the Graduation Office to pick up a diploma cover.
Diplomas will be mailed about three weeks following the ceremony to the address on file with the Registrar's Office. For more information about diploma distribution, contact the
Graduation Office, 210 Alumni Hall, (515) 294-9372.
For more information about graduation, check out the
Registrar's Office Graduation web site.
Summer
The College of Human Sciences does not host a summer graduation ceremony. For information about the University-wide summer graduation ceremony, check out the
Registrar's Graduation web site.
