Information for Graduates
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Congratulations Prospective Graduates!
The University’s
145th graduation ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 11,
2013, for all candidates having completed their degree requirements
as of Summer 2012, December 2012, and May 2013.
Information on this page
is directed to all prospective graduating seniors. Neither receipt
of the Dear Degree Candidate letter, participation in the Commencement Exercises, receipt
of official announcements, nor the appearance of a name in the printed
program will be considered as conclusive evidence of graduation on May
11, 2013. Candidates are personally responsible for satisfactorily
completing all general University, major department, academic, and financial
requirements (See “Clearance for Graduation”).
As you near
the completion of your degree program, you will need pertinent information
regarding the events of the week of May, with particular emphasis on
the May 11th Commencement Exercises. THE FOLLOWING
CHECKLIST SHOULD BE CAREFULLY READ AND RETAINED FOR GUIDANCE AND CONTINUED
REFERENCE THROUGHOUT THE GRADUATION PROCESS.
Should you
have questions concerning the Commencement exercise or this correspondence,
you may e-mail the Office of Protocol and Events at: commencement@howard.edu, or call the Commencement 2013 information
line at (202) 806-2166 or toll-free: (877) 482-6699.
With best wishes,
Sincerely,
Dr. Steven G. Johnson
Assistant Vice President
Time and
Place
Commencement
Exercises will be held on Saturday, May 11, beginning at 10:00 a.m.,
on the Upper Quadrangle, Main Campus.
Prospective graduates are required to assemble by School/College at
7:00 a.m. on the field of Greene Stadium. Prospective
graduates who arrive late may not be allowed to sit with their respective
School or College and may be added to the end of the Processional.
Please encourage your guests to be seated
by 8:30 a.m. to witness the procession of the graduates.
Admission of Guests
Four reserved
seat tickets will be issued to each graduate by the Howard University
Bookstore. Additional guests may be seated in the general seating section
on a first-come, first-served basis.
Broadcast Arrangements
The Commencement
exercise will be broadcast live over WHUR-FM Radio 96.3 MHz and WHUT-TV,
Channel 32.
There will
also be a delayed broadcast of the exercises on WHUT-TV, air dates to
be announced.
DVDs of the
Commencement Convocation will be available. Purchase Order Forms for
the DVDs can be obtained from the graduate clearer of each School/College
beginning April 8, and at the Howard University Bookstore beginning
May 6-10. You may also download the  Purchase Order Form (PDF).
The cost is $35.00 per DVD.
The broadcast may also be viewed on the World Wide Web; please refer to the Webcast Information page for specific details.
Academic Costume
The academic
costume consists of cap, gown, hood, tassel, and black shoes.
The cap is
an essential part of the academic costume and is to be retained on the
head throughout the academic exercises, except during prayer and the
singing of the Alma Mater. In particular, the cap is not
to be removed at any point during the Conferring of Degrees. The hood
is not to be worn until the actual Conferring of Degrees by the President
of the University.
Order & Purchase of Academic Costumes
All graduate academic costumes
are acquired at the Howard University Bookstore (the "HUB").
Each candidate must complete
all academic and financial requirements and obtain clearance slips before
academic costumes. Candidates may receive further instruction via the
HUB Graduation Center (hyperlink). In addition, please be advised that
on February 12-15, graduation candidates may order their academic
costumes and buy their commencement accessories from the Howard University
Bookstore.
IMPORTANT: TO ASSURE RECEIPT
OF A PROPERLY FITTING ACADEMIC COSTUME, YOU SHOULD KNOW YOUR HEAD OR
HAT SIZE, AND YOUR HEIGHT AND WEIGHT. A SIZE CHART WILL BE PROVIDED
AT THE HUB TO ASSIST YOU IN SELECTING THE APPROPRIATE COSTUME SIZE.
Graduation Center Pick-Up Procedures for Academic Costumes
The HUB will host the Graduation
Center Pick-up Fair. Graduates must present a valid ID and Graduate
Clearance Slip before payment and receipt of caps and gowns. Details
about the fair will be posted on the HUB website.
Official Announcements
Official announcements are
available for purchase through the HUB.
Ordering Fair: Tues, February
12 - Friday, February 15, 2013
Pick-up Fair: Monday,
May 6 - Friday, May 10, 2013
Clearance for Graduation
Clearance for
graduation is the process of official compliance with the academic and
financial requirements established by the University. Each candidate
is personally responsible for obtaining academic and financial clearance
for graduation. Please consult the respective Dean of the School
or College to determine if you have met all academic requirements.
For financial clearance, you must report to the Office of Student Financial
Services to settle your account. Only candidates with
official University clearance by both the respective Dean and the Office
of Student Financial Services will be approved
to receive the academic costume and to participate in the Commencement
ceremony.
All graduation clearance
questions should be directed to the respective graduate clearer for
the individual School and College. This information can be found
on the Howard University website: www.howard.edu/academics.
Rehearsal
A graduation
rehearsal will be held in Cramton Auditorium on Tuesday, May 7, at
10:30 a.m. All degree candidates and all marshals
for the divisions of the University must attend. Important information
is provided at this session regarding arrival instructions, guests’
information, parking, transportation, and processional route, as well
as any last minute updates of information pertaining to the Commencement
ceremony.
Assembly of Degree Candidates
Degree candidates
will report to Greene Stadium no earlier than 7:00 a.m., but not later
than 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, May 11th for the assembly and
procession to the staging area. The procession begins at 8:30 a.m. (In the event of inclement weather, degree
candidates will assemble in Burr Gymnasium, with no academic procession.)
The University
Marshal, with the assistance of the faculty, student, and staff marshals,
will assemble the procession. Under the direction of class presidents
who will serve as assistant marshals, candidates will form in columns
of two behind the markers designating their respective Schools or Colleges.
On the signal from the University Marshal, the candidates will march
to their assigned seats. Upon reaching the reserved seats, the candidates
will remain standing, facing the rostrum, until the President of the
University acknowledges the salute of the University Marshal, then all
will sit simultaneously.
Conferring of Degrees
At the direction
of the Dean of the School or College, the candidates will rise and face
the rostrum, and remain standing at attention. The Dean then presents
the Class to the President of the University. The President confers
the degree, and the person at the graduate’s immediate left invests
him/her with the hood. All graduates face forward, remain standing
at attention, and await the signal of the Dean before sitting.
SPECIAL
NOTE: Graduation is a joyous and special occasion. It is
a time for celebration and merriment. You are reminded, however, that
Commencement is a formal University function. You are requested to maintain
the order and solemnity of the proceedings. It is a courtesy we
owe each other and our guests.
Events for All Degree Candidates
President’s
Reception
Graduating
Seniors and Their Families
Thursday,
May 9
4:00 p.m.
– 6:00 p.m.
Armour
J. Blackburn University Center Ballroom
Main
Campus
Prayer Breakfast
All
Degree Candidates and Their Families
Friday,
May 10
8:00
a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
(Breakfast
served from 8:00 a.m. to 8:45 a.m.)
Armour
J. Blackburn University Center Ballroom
Main
Campus
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