University Commencement Ceremony in December
The December ceremonies will take place on Sunday, December 20, 2009. The ceremony for graduate students will take place at 10:30 a.m. in Fisher Auditorium. Students receiving a master’s degree should report to the IUP Performing Arts Center no later than 9:30 a.m. Students receiving the doctoral or MFA degree will be sent a specific communication from the School of Graduate Studies and Research that includes information about where they are to report.
The ceremony for undergraduate students will take place at 1:30 p.m. in Memorial Field House. Undergraduate students are asked to report to the Memorial Field House Auxiliary Gymnasium no later than 12:30 p.m. A professional photographer will be on hand at both ceremonies to distribute information on purchasing your photograph.
Each graduate will be recognized by name as he or she proceeds across the stage and will be given a diploma cover unique to the University Commencement Ceremony. We hope that you will be able to participate. To help us with our planning, we ask that you let us know if you plan on attending the ceremony.
RSVP (Doctoral and M.F.A. students do not need to RSVP via URSA.)
Please RSVP for Commencement using URSA as follows:
- Go to URSA (University Records and Systems Assistant) and select Login to Secure Area.
- Choose Student Services and Financial Aid, then Academic Records, then RSVP for the University Commencement Ceremony.
Alternate Viewing
Alternate viewing sites with a live video feed will be available in Eberly Auditorium and in Beard Auditorium in Stoffer Hall for the undergraduate ceremony. Directional signs will be posted, and tickets will be required for these alternate viewing sites.
Undergraduate Honors
In order to receive an honors medallion to wear at the December graduation ceremony, undergraduate students who have earned a minimum 3.25 cumulative grade-point average and who have met all the requirements for the awarding of the IUP academic honors by the last graded semester may pick up their medallion either at the Fall semester Salute to Grads event or anytime after that day from the Registrar’s office in Clark Hall. For any undergraduate students who did not have the required minimum 3.25 cumulative grade-point average before the ceremony but who will have achieved this once the final semester grades are posted, their honors medallion will be mailed to them along with their diploma. Students who have achieved academic honors when the final degree checkout is made will have the honors posted on their diploma.
Diplomas
Diploma covers are presented at Commencement ceremonies. The diploma is sent usually within four to six weeks after grades are posted and mailed to the address that was indicated by the student on his/her graduation application. Diplomas are sent via certified mail and must be signed for. If they are returned to the Registrar’s Office, a $5 re-send fee will need to be pre-paid. If a student’s address changes, a written, signed notification needs to be sent to the Registrar’s Office.
Questions about graduation regalia and commencement announcements should be directed to the Co-op Store. The phone number is 800-537-7916. Local callers may dial 724-357-3145. Dial “O” for operator once you are connected.
Academic Regalia
Faculty members planning to participate in the academic processions at Commencement are reminded that the deadline for ordering rental regalia at the Co-op Store is November 6. Graduates should be in touch with the Co-op Store and should try to attend Salute to Grads.
