Spring 2008 Commencement
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Winona State University Spring 2008 Commencement takes place Friday, May 2, in McCown Gymnasium on the Winona campus. Commencement is an opportunity for you and your family and friends to celebrate your academic achievements.
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The morning ceremony begins at 9:30 a.m. and includes the College of Business and the College of Liberal Arts.
The afternoon ceremony begins at 2 p.m. and includes the College of Education, the College of Nursing & Health Sciences, and the College of Science & Engineering.
Doors open one hour prior to each ceremony.
This Web site will help you find answers as you plan for the Spring 2008 Commencement ceremonies at Winona State University. If you have further questions call the WSU Communication Office at (507) 457-5024.
General Information
Commencement Speakers
Commencement Reception
Photography
Seating for Candidates
Information for Visiting Guests
Visiting Winona
Special Seating
Senior Citizen Seating
Coats/Jackets
Parking
Televised Commencement
Information for Students
Commencement Rehearsals
Commencement Line-Up
Caps, Gowns and Tassels
Diplomas
GENERAL INFORMATION
Commencement Speakers
The guest speaker for Spring 2008 Commencement is Thomas Ehrlich, a senior scholar at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
The comments of a graduating student are also featured as part of Winona State’s Commencement. This is an opportunity to hear a student's perspective on this significant occasion.
For Spring 2008 Commencement, the student speakers are Chris Obray and Pallavi Sharma. Obray speaks during the morning ceremony. Sharma speaks during the afternoon ceremony.
Commencement Reception
A reception is held on the south lawn of Memorial Hall immediately following each ceremony. Students and their guests are invited to attend. Flowers and balloons will be available for purchase at this time.
Photography
A photograph of each graduate being congratulated by President Judith Ramaley after receiving her/his diploma cover will be taken by Herff Jones Photography. Each student will be mailed one free full-colored photograph courtesy of the WSU Alumni Society, and a proof in the mail with information regarding the options to purchase portraits. Portraits may also be viewed and ordered on-line at: www.HJgrads.com.
Because of the disruption it creates, please ask your friends and relatives not to move down to the gym floor to take pictures during the ceremony. There will be plenty of opportunities for picture taking during the reception immediately following the ceremony. Families and friends are welcome to return to the gym to use the stage of standards (flags) for backdrops once the gym has cleared.
Seating for Candidates
Seating for associate and bachelor degrees will be alphabetical by name, within college and degree group. Candidates for graduate degrees will be seated as a group in front of all other candidates.
INFORMATION FOR VISITING GUESTS
Visiting Winona
For directions to campus visit: http://www.winona.edu/directions.asp/.
For information on lodging, dining, shopping and things to do while you’re in the Winona area, visit: http://www.visitwinona.com/.
Special Seating
Arrangements can be made for guests with a physical disability or in need of a sign language interpreter. Call Jackie Lettner in the Registrar’s Office at (507) 457-5030 no later than Friday, April 25.
Senior Citizen Seating
Seating for senior citizens will be available in a specified section located on the main floor. Reservations are not needed for this area.
Coats/Jackets
Guests may leave coats and jackets in Somsen Auditorium during the Commencement ceremony only. Please do not leave valuables.
Parking
Parking lots on campus are available at no charge for guests on the day of the ceremony. Handicapped spots will be available.
WSU parking officers will be available to direct traffic and answer questions pertaining to parking.
For a map of campus parking lots, visit: http://www.winona.edu/Parking/2843.htm.
Televised Commencement
The ceremonies are also broadcast live over Hiawatha Broadband Communications (HBC) channel 25 in Winona and in markets served by HBC, and in the Rochester area via Charter Communications channel 20. (The Charter broadcasts are available live to Rochester area cable customers only.)
HBC channel 25 rebroadcasts the Commencement ceremonies Saturday-Sunday, May 3-4. Each day, the morning Commencement ceremony airs at 1:30 p.m. and the afternoon ceremony airs at 7:30 p.m.
INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS
Commencement Rehearsals
The student rehearsal for the morning ceremony is held Thursday, May 1, at 10:15 a.m.
The student rehearsal for the afternoon ceremony is held Thursday, May 1, at 11:15 a.m.
Row numbers will be posted on the walls inside all the doors on first floor of Somsen Hall. Students will line up on the sidewalk, north of Somsen Hall and Memorial Hall.
Commencement Line-Up
Line-up for the processional is held along the sidewalk north of Somsen Hall and Memorial Hall, continuing on the sidewalk on Main Street outside of McCown Gymnasium. (In the event of inclement or threatening weather students will line up on the second and third floors of Somsen.)
Students participating in the morning ceremony MUST be in line by 8:45 a.m. Friday, May 2.
Students participating in the afternoon ceremony MUST be in line by 1:15 p.m. Friday, May 2.
Row numbers will be posted on the walls inside all the doors on first floor of Somsen Hall. The student’s “last walk through campus” will take approximately 10 minutes. Students are advised to wear comfortable shoes. A printed Commencement program will be placed on student chairs in McCown Gymnasium.
Caps, Gowns and Tassels
Caps, gowns and tassels are now available for purchase from the WSU Bookstore online. These items can be purchased on campus from the Bookstore April 10 through May 2. The Bookstore is open Monday through Friday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Please Note: AA degrees will now be wearing black robes; they will no longer be wearing blue robes.
In order to purchase the correct tassel, you will need to know the degree you will be receiving - Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Masters degree. If you are unsure of your degree, please check the Commencement list posted outside the Registrar’s Office.
The tassel should be worn on the right side of the cap; you will be instructed to move it to the left side during the ceremony.
Men should remove their caps during the National Anthem; otherwise caps should be worn at all other times.
Diplomas
Diplomas for students completing all coursework at the end of Spring Semester will be mailed to the permanent address listed on your graduation application.
Please keep the Registrar’s Office informed of changes in your address for your diploma, or you may change the “diploma” address on your student record online.
Last Modified: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 14:54
