Ramapo College of New Jersey || Academics

COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
MAY 15, 2009 AT 9:45 A.M.
COLLEGE FRONT LAWN
RAIN OR SHINE

COMMENCEMENT DAY INSTRUCTIONS FOR ALL GRADUATING STUDENTS
(January, May and August 2009)
Please read the following instructions carefully.

ROBING TIME:	8:30 a.m.
	STUDENTS MUST BE PROMPT. Students should arrive in their assigned room (to be determined) with their academic regalia. You should bring bobby pins for your cap. Staff will be on hand to give instructions, to hand out a 3x5 card used for announcing your name on stage, and to line up students for the processional. A continental breakfast will be available in each robing room. Handbags/valuables should be left with your guests as robing rooms will be unattended once the processional begins. American/International Studies - 1st floor "H" Social Science/Human Services - 2nd floor "A" Anisfield/Business - SC-219 Theoretical and Applied Science - Fishbowl Contemporary Arts - 2nd floor "B" Masters - J-Lee's
LINE-UP TIME:	9:30 a.m.
PROCESSIONAL:	9:45 a.m.
RECESSIONAL:	Students will recess in order via the processional route – starting with the first row.
RECEPTION:	Immediately following the ceremony, your guests may follow the recessional to the grove for light refreshments. The area for each school will be designated by its flag. This is a wonderful time to visit with faculty and friends and to take pictures. Yearbooks, college memorabilia from the campus store and a complimentary Ramapo College graduation edition of The Record will be on hand.

CAP & GOWN: Academic robes are available from the campus store.

INVITATIONS & PARKING PASSES: Complimentary "keepsake" invitations (not required for admission) and parking passes will be available in Roadrunner Central (ticket counter on second floor of Scott Student Center) beginning on Monday, April 7. Each student is entitled to two parking passes. Each vehicle, including the graduate's, must display a parking pass on the dashboard in order to gain entry to campus for the ceremony.

PHOTOGRAPHER: The Alumni Association has engaged a professional photographer from Chappell Graduation Images to photograph each student as s/he greets President Mercer on stage. Proofs will be sent to your home, and you will have an opportunity to purchase prints. If you have any questions, please contact Chappell directly at www.chappell.com or 1-800-424-3686. Any other questions may be directed to the Alumni Office at 201-684-7115.

VIDEOTAPE/DVD PURCHASE: Please see enclosed flyer (WORD)

GRADUATION CEREMONY INSTRUCTIONS
** PLEASE SHARE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WITH YOUR GUESTS **

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

DATE:	Friday, May 15, 2009
TIME:	9:45 a.m. – The ceremony should last approximately 3 hours
LOCATION:	College front lawn – rain or shine
TICKETS:	Admission tickets are not required. There is no limit to the number of guests for the ceremony; however, parking is limited to 2 cars per graduate, including the graduate's own vehicle.
PARKING:	Parking for commencement is limited to two vehicles per graduation candidate. Your student will be issued two parking passes which include driving directions to the college. These passes are for use by the graduate and guests and must be displayed in the windshield of all vehicles. No vehicle will be admitted without this pass. Please note that, while most of the parking lots used for this event are on our campus and fairly near to the commencement field, some are across the highway, adjacent to our athletic fields and others are at nearby Immaculate Conception Church and Continental Soldiers Park (both a short walk to the campus). There will be police and public safety officers at all entrances and parking locations to direct traffic and instruct visitors. Parking for people with disabilities - Persons requiring handicapped or easily accessible parking will be directed to park in the lots adjacent to the Trustees Pavilion, closer to the graduation site. A written request is required to obtain a parking pass for this designated area. All requests should be submitted to Debra Lukacsko, Nurse Practitioner, Student Health Services, Ramapo College, 505 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430. Visitors with state designated handicapped license plates should send a copy of their Disabled Person ID issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles. All other disabled visitors should provide a detailed request for parking with explanation of the need for a parking pass. Please note that the numbers of these passes are limited and will be issued on a case-by-case basis, based on documentation of disability. All written requests for parking must be received in the Office of Student Health Services no later than May 1, 2009. While this parking is closer to the field than general parking, it is not immediately adjacent to the graduation field. Cars with these passes should head to the right when entering the campus.
SEATING:	ALL GUESTS SHOULD BE SEATED BY 9:30 A.M. Lawn Seating: Please inform your guests that no one will be allowed beyond the guest seating area for video/picture taking. (See "Photographer" section on other side.) Inside Seating: For guests who do not want to sit outside, there will be additional seating in the Bradley Arena, where the ceremony will be broadcast live on a large video screen. Fire laws, which will be strictly enforced, limit occupancy in the Arena.
PROCESSIONAL:	The processional will begin promptly at 9:45 a.m. No vehicular or foot traffic will be permitted in the processional areas/walkways once it has begun.
ROUTE:	College marshals will lead the processional. The processional will proceed through the arch, past the faculty and administration, down Mansion Road to Cherry Lane. You will cross Magnolia Road to the field and proceed to your seat as indicated by the marshals.
CEREMONY	The processional will begin promptly at 9:45 a.m. Please make every effort to be seated by this time. Those still en route (either walking on campus or driving onto campus) will be prevented from entering the processional route or the graduation area once the processional has begun, and will be unable to do so until the processional has ended. The ceremony is expected to last approximately three hours. The graduation candidates will be seated at the front of the field and guests will be seated in separate sections behind them. One of the unique features of Ramapo College’s commencement ceremony is that every graduate’s name is read as s/he crosses the stage and shakes the hand of the college president. In keeping with the formality of this event, as well as out of respect for others who wish to enjoy the ceremony, candidates and their guests are expected to remain seated unless instructed to do otherwise. All graduates and guests are expected to remain for the entire ceremony. Because commencement is a special occasion, we have very specific expectations in terms of decorum and behavior. Candidates are asked to refrain from activities or behavior which compromises this special event or prevents others from hearing or viewing the ceremony. Use of cell phones, consumption of alcoholic beverages and other disruptive displays will not be tolerated. Your support of these expectations is very much appreciated.
REST ROOMS	There are no rest room facilities on the field. There are several rest rooms within a short walking distance. The closest are in the Bradley Center. There are additional facilities in the Anisfield School of Business, and the E and G wings of the Academic Building. Rest room directional signs will be posted.
REFRESHMENTS	Please note that there will be a water station near the entrance to the commencement field. In addition, members of the Athletics Department will be selling hot and cold beverages, bagels and donuts beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the Bradley Center. Proceeds will be used to further Ramapo College athletic programming.
PHOTOGRAPHY	We know how important it is for you to share in this special day with your student. Since it is not possible to allow family members to approach the stage during the ceremony, the college has engaged a photographer who will photograph each graduate as s/he shakes the hand of President Mercer on stage. The proofs will be sent to your home and you will have an opportunity to purchase prints. If you have any questions, please contact Chappell, the photography studio, directly at www.chappell.com or 1-800-424-3686. A DVD of the ceremony will also be available for purchase. Please consult the enclosed flyer for more information.
RECEPTION	All guests are invited to the President's Reception at the Grove, immediately following the graduation ceremony. Light refreshments will be served. This is an ideal opportunity for graduates to visit with their friends, as well as faculty, staff, and other well-wishers, take photographs and pick up their complimentary yearbook and special graduation issue of The Record. For your convenience, the Alumni Association will be sponsoring a flower sale and the Campus Store will sell popular graduation keepsakes and Ramapo memorabilia.
LUNCH PLANS	Many families make plans for lunch nearby following the graduation ceremony. We recommend making reservations if planning to eat locally. A 2:00 p.m. reservation or later is recommended, allowing for the ceremony, reception, and traffic leaving the campus.

INCLEMENT WEATHER: Guests should bring rainwear and umbrellas and wear appropriate footwear. For weather conditions at the college, you may call the following college numbers beginning at 7:15 a.m. on May 16 for a recorded response: 201-236-2902 or 201-684-7500.

GRADES AND DIPLOMA INFORMATION FOR GRADUATES

REMINDER FOR MAY APPLICANTS:

For students who have outstanding transfer credits/grade changes – all grades must be received by noon on Monday, June 1, 2009. If grades are received after that time, the student's graduation date will be changed to August 2009.
For students who have outstanding debts to the college – all debts must be paid in order to receive your diploma. Payment by check requires a 10-business day period for processing.
NO CHANGES OF ANY KIND MAY BE MADE TO YOUR ACADEMIC RECORD ONCE YOU HAVE GRADUATED. If, for any reason, you decide to postpone your graduation or you are requesting a grade change, please call (201) 684-7695.

DIPLOMAS FOR JANUARY 2009 GRADUATES: Diplomas will be available for pick-up beginning Monday, March 23, 2009 from the Registrar's office (D-224) Monday - Friday 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. daily. Diplomas will be mailed beginning April 20th. The official degree conferral date is January 30, 2009.

DIPLOMAS FOR MAY GRADUATES: Diplomas will be available for pick-up beginning Monday, August 25 from the Registrar's Office (D-224) Monday – Friday 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. daily. Diplomas will be mailed beginning September 22. The official degree conferral date is June 20, 2008.

DIPLOMAS FOR AUGUST GRADUATES: Diplomas will be available for pick-up beginning Monday, October 20 from the Registrar's Office (D-224) Monday – Friday 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. daily. Diplomas will be mailed beginning November 10. Official degree conferral date is August 30, 2008.

CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OUR GRADUATES!

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