Commencement 2008

Instructions to Candidates and Graduates - 2008

1. You must check in at the table outside of Portable 16 between 4:30 and 5:30 p.m.   Upon check-in, you will receive your announcer card.  You will be asked at this time to make sure your name is correct on the card. Hold on to your announcer card – this is your means of identification. This card will be handed to the announcer as you step on stage.  The announcer MUST have this card to call your name as you cross the stage to receive your diploma tube.

2. Graduates will then assemble in Portable 16 at 5:30 p.m. 

3. Graduates should be in their cap, gown and tassel.  Please bring bobby pins to secure your cap. Extra caps, gowns and tassels will NOT be available at the ceremony.

4. There will be staff on hand in Portable 16 to assist you as you line up in two single-file lines. Other instructions will be given to graduates at this time. Graduates will begin walking in two rows, side-by-side at 6:30 p.m. SHARP, following the Vice President.

5. You will be led to the graduate seating area in front of the stage. Graduates will enter the seating area along the right side of the seating area. As soon as you are at your seat, sit down. This will help those behind you to see when the rows have filled, so that they can start the next row.

6. Your Commencement program will be on your seat, so you can follow the program.  Enjoy the speeches from the college president, student speaker, and other honored guests.

7. At the appropriate time in the ceremony, President Scott-Skillman will present the graduating class to the Los Rios Board members. At this time all graduates will be asked to stand. The monitors will indicate to the front rows when to proceed onto the stage.  The first row should remain standing but other rows should sit down. As the last graduates leave the row in front, the next row should stand in unison. Graduates will approach the stage from the side ramp on the right side.

8. You will hand your announcer card to the announcer and as your name is read, proceed to the board member who will hand you a diploma tube and congratulate you. You will receive the diploma tube in your left hand, and shake hands with your right. Do not bring any items, other than your card, to the stage. Be sure your tassel is on the right side of the mortarboard. You will then exit the stage via the other side ramp where President Scott-Skillman will greet you. Proceed down the aisle back to your seat.

9. You are to sit down once you return from the stage. This allows spectators to see others receive their diploma covers.

10. After all graduates have received their diploma tube, the FLC graduating class will be presented and tassels moved from right to left.

11. Upon completion of the ceremony, graduates and faculty will be asked to stand for the Recessional which will take place as follows:

a. Stage participants leave first
b. Faculty leave second
c. Graduates leave third, last row first, following the faculty

12. All graduates must remain in their seats until the ceremony is over and the stage party and faculty leave the area. Graduates will proceed past the faculty who will be lined up to congratulate you as you leave the ceremony area.  Please do not stop until all graduates have left the seating area.

13. Only the graduate may participate in the procession and occupy a seat.  Please make the necessary family/child care arrangements prior to the ceremony.

14. There is a reception after the ceremony honoring the graduates – guests are welcome.

DIPLOMAS (for spring 2008 degree candidates):
You will not receive your diploma at the commencement ceremony.  You will, however, receive a diploma tube along with a message from the President. After grades for the spring term have been posted in early June, the evaluations department will conduct final evaluations, followed by the posting of the degree on the transcript and ordering of diplomas. Degree posting will occur approximately one-two months after the end of the term and your diploma will be mailed approximately one month after that. Please be sure to notify the Evaluations department at FLC of any change of address.

Summer and Fall graduates have already received their diplomas in the mail.