College of Education Convocation 2006

Congratulations on earning your degree!  To mark this important accomplishment, you are cordially invited to participate in the College of Education’s twenty-fourth annual Convocation Ceremony to be held at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 14, 2006 at George Huff Hall.  Follow the links below to learn the full details about the 2006 College of Education Convocation Ceremony.

Itinerary for Sunday, May 14, 2006

Convocation Preparation (graduates):            
9:00 a.m. -- Graduates assemble at the Armory
(505 E. Armory Avenue, Champaign)

Convocation Preparation (guests):
9:00 a.m.        Doors open and guest seating begins
100 George Huff Hall,
(1206 S. Fourth Street, Champaign)

Convocation Ceremony:              
10:00 a.m. -- 100 George Huff Hall

Convocation Luncheon:               
12:00 p.m. -- Education Building
1310 S. Sixth Street, Champaign

Campuswide Commencement:           
2:00 p.m. -- Assembly Hall
1800 S. First Street, Champaign

Eligibility to participate

You are eligible to participate in the College of Education’s Convocation Ceremony if you graduated since May 2005 or will complete requirements this May.  Bachelors, Masters, and Advanced Certificate candidates who plan to graduate in August 2005 must submit a written petition to the Student Academic Affairs Office, 110 Education Building, to participate in the College of Education’s Convocation Ceremony.  Information concerning dissertation and other academic deadlines can be found on the Student Academic Affairs Office (formerly the Instructional Programs Office) website located at http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/saao/grad/thesis/thesisdeadlines.html.

The names of August 2006 candidates will not appear in the May 2006 program.  They will be printed in the program for the May 2007 ceremony.  If you will graduate in August 2006 and would like a copy of the College of Education’s Convocation Ceremony program for 2007, please indicate so on the enclosed Reservation Form.

Convocation tickets

Tickets are required for admission to George Huff Hall for the College of Education’s Convocation Ceremony.  Tickets are free and should be ordered using the enclosed Reservation Form. The return deadline for the Reservation Sheet is Monday, April 24 (Download reservation form here).  Tickets will be mailed (if you provide a self-addressed, stamped envelope with two 39-cent stamps affixed) or may be picked up in the Dean’s Office, 38 Education Building, beginning Wednesday, April 26.  Each graduate will be eligible for up to 15 admission tickets for guests.  All guests, including pre-school children, need tickets.  Additional tickets will be available in the Dean’s Office beginning Tuesday, May 9.

Regalia Information

Approved regalia must be worn by all participants in the College and Campus ceremonies. Herff-Jones is the supplier of regalia for our ceremonies. Ordering and pricing information can be found on their web site (www1.herffjones.com/college/graduation/index.cfm).

Hooders for doctoral candidates

Graduates receiving doctoral degrees (Ed.D. and Ph.D.) need to select and notify the person(s) who will hood them at the College of Education’s Convocation Ceremony at George Huff Hall.  This person(s) may be your adviser, another faculty member, parent, spouse, relative, or friend.  Please select no more than two hooders.  Dean Susan Fowler will hood those who do not designate a hooder.

Hooders who are not UIUC faculty members do not march in the academic procession.  They are sent special tickets which will allow them to sit in the hooders’ section in George Huff Hall.  Hooders, unless faculty, do not need a cap and gown for the College of Education’s Convocation Ceremony.

Convocation Ceremony

Arrival: Graduates assemble at the Armory, 505 E. Armory Avenue, by 9:00 a.m. to register and line up for the academic procession to George Huff Hall.  If you have a problem with regalia on Sunday, May 14, please report to Memorial Stadium, West Hall between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m.

Check In: Graduates report to degree tables at the west end of the track area in the Armory.  Pick up, check, and/or complete the information cards given to you at the check in table.  Be sure all information is accurate.  Keep these cards with you until you reach the stage at George Huff Hall.  You will hand the cards to the reader on stage.

Line Up for Procession: Once you have checked in, please move to correct areas for procession lines.  The procession will be double file.  Both lines march from the Armory together.  At the entrance to George Huff Hall, one line moves up the right aisle; the other line moves up the left aisle.  To sit next to friends at the ceremony, line up in front of or behind them; do not march side by side.

Procession Directions: Faculty marshals will lead each group of graduates and direct seating.  The procession is led by the Dean and the platform party, followed by the College of Education faculty, then candidates for degrees in this order:  Doctoral, Advanced Certificate, Masters, and Bachelors. 

Procedures for the Stage: Recognition of graduates will occur in the following order:  Bachelor's, Master's, Advanced Certificate, and Doctoral.

Bachelor,s, Master,s and Advanced Certificate Candidates:  An entire row stands up when directed by a marshal and moves up the ramp at stage right.  Move forward when directed and give the reader and photographer cards to the reader at the microphone.  As your name is read, proceed to Dean Fowler.  Shake her hand with your right hand and receive your diploma cover in your left hand above the handshake.  Pause momentarily for photographer.  Next walk across the stage to shake hands with the Education Alumni Association President.  Then move down the ramp at stage left.  Walk down the aisle back to your row and be seated.  Remaining rows of Bachelor's, Master's, and Advanced Certificate candidates will follow in same manner, as the marshals direct.

Doctoral Candidates:  The first row stands together when directed by marshals and moves to the ramp, stage right. If your hooder is sitting in the reserved section, signal him/her to step in line behind you (faculty hooders will also join you).  Carry your hood draped over your left arm. Move forward when directed and give the reader and photographer cards to the reader at the microphone.  Walk to the middle of the stage; face the audience; give hood to hooder; and be hooded (please remove cap before being hooded so it doesn’t fall to the floor).  Hooders should then follow you across the stage.  Proceed to Dean Fowler.  Shake her hand with your right hand and receive the diploma cover in your left hand above your handshake.  Pause momentarily for photographer.  Hooders also shake hands with Dean Fowler.  Both walk across the stage to shake hands with the Education Alumni Association President.  Return down the other ramp, stage left and be seated.  Hooders who are not faculty members will follow you down the ramp and return to their seats by walking back around the section of students and faculty.

Recession: Dean Fowler will lead the recession down the center aisle followed by the platform party and the faculty; the marshals will direct the graduates by row.  The recession will then proceed to the Education Building for lunch.  All graduates are asked to stay in the recession and arrange to meet their families at the Education Building.

Photography during the ceremony

A professional photographer will take pictures of each graduate as they receive their diploma on stage.  A color proof will be sent to each student at no charge, with no obligation to buy, and with full information on purchasing options.

In order to keep our ceremony dignified and visible to all, we ask that family photographers move forward to a seat at the bottom of the southwest bleachers when your graduate’s row is signaled to move.  Please stand up to take personal pictures only when your graduate begins walking up to or exits from the ramp.  When finished, family photographers are asked to return to their seats by walking back around the full graduate and faculty section, then moving up a side aisle behind the procession so our line of students remains visible for others and is interrupted as little as possible.

Luncheon

Lunch will be held on the front lawn and west courtyard of the Education Building (1310 S. Sixth Street) immediately following the Convocation Ceremony at approximately 12:00 p.m.  Box lunches are distributed from the tent located on the front lawn.  Lunch tickets may be purchased for $7.75 each on the Reservation Form (download here).  Some additional tickets will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-serve basis at the help desk located in front of the Education Building.  For your convenience, informal seating will be provided on both sides of the building.  Additional seating is available in classrooms on the first floor and in the third-floor lounge area.  Signs will be posted to indicate classrooms which are open.  To add to our celebration, the Tim Greene Ensemble will provide music during the luncheon.

Parking

A parking lot northwest of the Education Building is most conveniently located for our Convocation Ceremony.  It is at the southwest corner of Gregory and Sixth Street, directly east of George Huff Hall.  Additional parking is available at other locations on the south end of campus, including east of the Education Building, west of the Main Library, and at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Fourth Street.  Parking is also allowed at any street meter except for those which are “bagged,” marked with a gold “reserved 24-hours/day” sign, or a “handicapped” reserved sign.

Shuttle Bus Service-Free

On Sunday, May 14, a shuttle bus will stop at the Assembly Hall, Levis Faculty Center, Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Foellinger Auditorium, and George Huff Hall.  Pick up for George Huff Hall will be on the West side of the building near the corner of Gregory and Fourth Street.  Shuttles will run every 5 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.  The shuttle will also operate every 10 minutes from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. from the Florida/Lincoln Avenue Parking lot to the Assembly Hall.

Campuswide Commencement Ceremony (click to visit campus site)

For information on the campuswide Commencement ceremony, visit http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/commencement/ or refer to your Commencement Guide to Activities mailed to you by the UIUC Committee on Commencement.  If you have questions after reading this material, please contact the UIUC Committee on Commencement at
(217) 333-0963 or commencement@uiuc.edu.

The College of Education looks forward to celebrating with you.  We hope that this letter has provided you with pertinent information regarding this year’s College convocation ceremony.  If you have any questions, please contact the Dean’s Office at 217-333-0963.

 Questions Concerning Convocation for the College of Education

Dean's Office
College of Education
38 Education Building, MC 708
1310 South Sixth Street
Champaign, IL  61820
217-333-0963
Fax 217-333-5847