Students will participate in the commencement ceremony held at the end of the fall or spring semester during which they complete all degree requirements. Undergraduate students who are completing course work for degree requirements during a summer term will participate in the preceding spring commencement ceremony. Graduate students who are completing course work for degree requirements during a summer term will participate in the following fall commencement ceremony.

Participation in commencement is required of all candidates for degrees except in cases involving hardship. The student may officially petition the Vice President for Academic Affairs in writing for the degree to be awarded in absentia. Your petition should include the reason you will be unable to attend the ceremony, your present mailing address and the address where you wish your diploma mailed. 

Petitions for absentia should be mailed to:

          Dr. Jack Hamm

          Vice President for Academic Affairs

          Arkansas Tech University

          1509 North Boulder Avenue

          Russellville AR 72801

Information for Fall 2008 Graduates

• Diplomas for Fall 2008 graduates will be mailed on or before February 28, 2009.

• Final transcripts will also be available on or before January 30, 2009.

• To prevent delays, please make sure your mailing address is current. 

Graduation and Commencement Day Information

• Commencement Day Instructions

• Name Announcement Cards

• Event Procedures

• Proper Attire and Etiquette

• Commemorative Photographs

• About The Ceremony

COMMENCEMENT DAY INSTRUCTIONS

Degree candidates will enter the Coliseum through the front entrance and proceed right to section P.  Directional signs will be posted to assist you in moving to your school assembly point and place in line.  Registrar personnel  will be located in the hallways and on the arena floor to assist you throughout the ceremony.  Family members and guests will also enter the Coliseum through the front entrance but will not be allowed in the corridor beginning with section P.  

Candidate Report Times:

All degree candidates should report to section P of Tucker Coliseum at least 30 minutes prior to your ceremony time as listed above by college.

NAME ANNOUNCEMENT CARD

This card provides your name to the announcer for individual recognition as you walk across the stage and provides your name and address to the photographer for mailing of your photo and the mailing of your diploma. Candidates will be given a name announcement card before the ceremony.   

When your row is called, you will proceed in line with your "name announcement card" and present it to the Dean of your school at the podium. Your Dean will call your name as it appears on your name announcement card as you proceed to shake Dr. Brown's hand. 

EVENT PROCEDURES

We are pleased to provide a reserved area for family members and guests in need of special accommodations. Please see an usher for seating in this area.  Seating in this area is on a first come basis. One family member may accompany the guest requiring special accommodations. Admission to special seating area does not require a ticket.

• Disabled Parking: Your state-issued disability placard must be prominently displayed inside your vehicle. The disability parking area is located at Tucker Coliseum. University Parking Services personnel are located at the entrance to this area.

• Auditory assistance: Accommodations for those who are hearing impaired will be provided in the form of an American Sign Language interpreter.  The interpreter will stand next to the platform party facing the graduating class.

• Emergencies: Emergency Medical assistance will be located in the north entrance of the Coliseum.  Assistance is also available through the University Police, telephone number (479) 968-0222. University Police officers are also stationed in Tucker Coliseum before and during the ceremony.

• Late Arrival Degree Candidates: Degree candidates arriving after the start of the ceremony should report to section P. The Registrar personnel will be available to assist the candidate with seating. The candidate will be seated in the next available seat which may not be with their college or school.
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PROPER ATTIRE AND ETIQUETTE

• Suggested Attire for Women
• dark dress or pants, cool fabric
• dark low heel or flat shoes
• no corsages or jewelry on the robe

• Suggested Attire for Men
• dark trousers, white shirts, tie is optional
• dark shoes and socks
• no sandals

Please see the sections on Academic Regalia and Honors listed at the top left of this page.

• Ceremony Etiquette
• Once you have entered the coliseum arena and have been seated you are expected to remain seated until all candidates recess from the arena.
• Improper attire, signs, and insignia will be removed.
• Cell phones should be turned off.
• Valuables should be left with family members or guests prior to arriving at your college or school assembly location. Do not leave purses, keys or other personal items in the hallway or under your chair.
• The ceremony should last approximately one hour.

Candidate photograph proofs are sent to each candidate, free of charge, by photographer William Kiehl.  Mr. Kiehl will mail your proof along with an order form to the address provided on the back of the name announcement cards.  You are under no obligation to purchase photos.

Each ceremony will be approximately one hour in length.

Procession: The academic procession will begin promptly at the designated hour and mark the start of the commencement ceremony. Members of the graduating class will proceed to reserved seating area on the Coliseum arena floor. Your faculty usher will direct you to the appropriate seating.  As you reach your row of chairs inside the coliseum, be sure to walk to the end of the row and to fill all seats to the beginning of the row.  Do not skip any chairs. When you reach your chair you should be seated immediately.  Once everyone has entered the coliseum you will be asked to stand for The National Anthem and the invocation. Men will remove their caps for the singing of The National Anthem and invocation.

Presentation of Candidates: The Dean of each college of school will present the candidates for the various degrees to the President. The President will deliver the conferral remarks. The candidates for the various degrees will then be asked to rise and approach the stage for presentation. Candidates will: 1)walk in line to right hand side of the stage; 2) hand their "name announcement card" to the dean to announce name; 3) wait for their name to be spoken; 4) walk across the stage to be greeted by Dr. Robert C. Brown, President of Arkansas Tech University; 5) have their picture taken; 6) exit the stage on the left side; 7) return directly to their seat.

Arkansas Tech University is one of very few schools that still honors the proud tradition of announcing each individual graduate name.  So that every family may hear the name of their graduate called, please ask your friends and family members to restrain from yells, claps, or any other noise until all the graduate names have been read.  At that time we will pause the ceremony and allow time for applause and cheers. 

Please note:  Use of horns and noise makers are prohibited during the graduation ceremony.  Any audience member who uses such a device will be immediately escorted from the coliseum and prohibited from the ceremony.  

Recessional: The ceremony will conclude with a formal recessional led by the faculty ushers, degree candidates, followed by the faculty and ending with the platform party. Your faculty usher  will direct your exit of the arena floor and coliseum.