Commencement Script

Key Information For Candidates

1. All candidates for graduation will gather in the storage area located on the ground level of the east side of Pete P. Gallego Center. When you enter the building from the ground level north entrance, you will go to your left and down the hallway. 2. Time to arrive: 9 a.m. 3. Seating assignments are done by School and Degree. There will be a card (with your name printed on it) in your assigned seat. Do not move your location as this determines your diploma location on stage. Seating is arranged in the following order: o Front: Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences o Middle: Arts and Sciences o Back: Professional Studies and Rio Grande College Once all graduates are seats you will be given a typed card that will be used to read your name and degree as you walk across the stage. Time to be robed and seated in your assigned seat: 9:30 a.m. 4. Bookstore representatives will be available to assist your with any cap and gown needs. 5. Your tassel should hang from the right side of your cap. Graduate candidates will carry their hood draped over their right arm. The Academic Dean will hood each graduate student when they first step up on the stage, before receiving their diploma. 6. Honors cords from other organizations may be worn with your gown. A representative from Alpha Chi will be present with appropriate cords. Special Note: Academic Honors are calculated based on your cumulative grade point average for all college work from all colleges attended. The Academic Honors GPA is based on SRSU and all transfer work. 7. Do not bring any items that need to be left in the robing area. While security is provided, there can be no guarantees of safety of personal items.

After You Are on the Floor

The following is an outline of how the activities will take place once you march onto the main floor and stage area. Stage: The stage will consist of the university administration, guest speaker, members of the TSUS Board of Regents, academic deans, registrar, minister, song leader and faculty who have spouses or dependents graduating. Processional: Candidates remain standing throughout the processional. Invocation: Dr. Coers will begin: "Good morning and welcome to the _____ Commencement at Sul Ross State University. Please rise and remain standing for the invocation led by __________,

__________ Church in Alpine. Following the invocation, please remain standing and join in singing "God Bless America" directed by __________. The words are printed on the back of the program." After Invocation: Dr. Coers will return to platform and say, "Welcome. Please be seated. I would like to introduce some special guests in attendance this morning. I addition to the individuals on the platform who will be introduced later, I would like to introduce: (He will name individuals and they will stand.)" "Seated in the audience to your right are: (He will announce the names of any special guests in the audience)" Introduction: Dr. Coers will say, "To deliver the welcome is Dr. Ricardo Maestas, the 11th President of Sul Ross State University." Dr. Maestas will make several comments and then introduce the person who will in turn introduce the speaker, or he will introduce the speaker himself. Speaker: The speaker will speak for approximately 15-20 minutes. Explanation of Honors: Dr. Coers will say, "Please turn to page 11 of your program to the section on Baccalaureate Graduation with Special Recognition. Sul Ross State University is very proud to recognize ___ undergraduates who are graduating with distinction. These graduates will receive a gold cord which symbolizes academic excellence. The grade point averages for the various levels of distinction are shown in your program. Certification of Graduating Class: Dr. Coers will say, "We are now ready to proceed with the conferring of the degrees. Will the candidates for Masters degrees please rise and remain standing as your degree is called: (When your degree is called you will stand along with all others receiving the same degree.) Master of Agriculture (Pause while they stand),Master of Arts (Pause while they stand), Master of Business Administration (Pause while they stand), Master of Education (Pause while they stand), Master of Fine Arts (Pause while they stand), Master of Science (Pause while they stand)" Dr. Coers will then say, "President Maestas, I certify to you that each candidate presented on the official graduation list has completed all the requirements for the appropriate degrees and the degrees may be conferred." Dr. Maestas will rise and make a short statement. Dr. Coers will say, "At this time, master's graduates may move their tassels to the left. You may be seated." "Will the candidates for bachelor's degrees please rise and remain standing as your degree is called: (When your degree is called you will stand along with all others receiving the same degree.), Bachelor of Arts (Pause while they stand), Bachelor of Business Administration (Pause

while they stand), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Pause while they stand), Bachelor of Science (Pause while they stand), Associate of Applied Science (Pause while they stand), Certificate (Pause while they stand)," "President Maestas, I certify that each of these candidates has completed all the graduation requirements." Dr. Maestas will rise and make a short statement. Dr. Coers will say, "At this time, the graduates may move their tassels to the left. You may be seated." "Presentation of Class Graduates receiving a master's degree will receive a hood representing the attainment of that degree. Assisting with the hoods will be the Dean of the appropriate school. For the School of Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, the Dean is Dr. Rob Kinucan. For the School of Arts and Sciences, the Dean is Dr. Jim Case. For the School of Professional Studies, the Dean is Dr. Melanie Croy. For the Rio Grande College, the Associate Provost?Dean is Dr. J. Paul Sorrells." "We will now have the presentation of the graduating class of _____. Could the marshals please assist the graduates at this time." At this time the first row of graduates will rise and move to the right side of the stage. Each graduate will present their card to the Marshall who will hand the card to the announcer for reading. You will walk across the stage and be handed your diploma by Dr. Maestas. After you exit the stage you should return to your seat and be seated. Graduate students will be "hooded" by their dean as they step up on the stage. You should carry your hood draped over your right arm and hand it to your dean as you step up on the stage. Undergraduates, graduating with "academic honors" will receive a gold cord as they step up on the stage. The cord will be presented by the Vice President for Academic Affairs. Singing of the Alma Mater: Dr. Coers will rise and say, "_____________ will now lead us in the singing of our Alma mater. The words are printed on the back cover." Recessional: Dr. Coers will say, "The audience may be seated. We invite you to a reception honoring the graduates immediately following the recessional. Punch and cookies are available on the upper concourse in this building. Please remain seated until the recessional has ended. Will the marshals prepare for the recessional."