After finishing their finals, this years graduation hopefuls will face one more test here at Tech-the graduation ceremony. A prospective graduate might want to keep these things in mind.
The voluntary rehearsal ceremony will be at 4 p.m., May 6 in the Hooper Eblen Center.
The Spring commencement ceremony will be at 10 a.m., May 8 in the Hooper Eblen Center. Candidates are required to arrive no later than 8:45 a.m., equipped with cap and gown. Candidate enter through the Ticket Office. Signs will be posted to direct students to the lineup where they will be alphabetically arranged within their college or school. Graduate candidates will be arranged alphabetically by degree level.
The dress code for male candidates is slacks, no jeans or shorts, a shirt, and comfortable shoes, no sandals, flip-flops, or tennis shoes. Female candidates are required to wear a dress or skirt, slacks or Capri pants, no jeans or shorts, and comfortable shoes, no tennis shoes or flip flops. Students are advised to leave all personal belongings with family members and to choose shoes based on comfort because they will be standing for most of the ceremony.
Tech Alumnus and Astronaut Barry Wilmore will be the speaker. The ceremony is expected to last 2 1/2 to three hours. Those who plan to participate will be required to stay for the entirety of the ceremony. Graduates will receive a diploma cover when they cross the stage, and diplomas will be mailed out at a later date.
Requirements for graduation are having all undergraduate coursework completed and grades submitted by Monday, May 10. Students with coursework at another school must have their official transcript sent to the Office of Records, P.O. Box 5026, Cookeville, TN 28505 no later than May 21. Failing to meet this deadline will delay graduation for another semester.
Students looking forward to walking across the stage on May 8 might also want to check the business office before they get their hopes up. Diplomas, transcripts, and grade reports will be denied to students owing debts to the school. The deadline for payment is 3:30 May 7 at the Business Office.
This year is also the first where there will not be a summer commencement ceremony. According to the Graduation Office students graduating over the summer will be contacted by the school to ask if they want to participate in the December ceremony. Degrees finished over the summer will still indicate accurately when they were completed even if students decide to participate in the December ceremony.
Student requiring accommodations to participate in the ceremony, contact the Graduation Office at 931-372-3543 by May 1.
You can find this information and more at http://www.tntech.edu/records/commencement/.
