Dear Pending May 2012 Graduate:

I am writing to provide you with detailed information concerning the 209th University Commencement.

University Commencement Exercises

The 209th University Commencement Exercises will be held on Sunday, May 20th, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. on the University Green. Graduates should plan to arrive at the Chittenden-Buckham-Wills Green by 8:00 a.m. to line up for the academic procession at 8:20 a.m..

In the event of severe weather, a ticketed, indoor ceremony will be held at the Multipurpose Facility in the Athletic Complex at 9:00 a.m. Guests seeking tickets must connect with their degree candidate. Students graduating and participating in the commencement ceremony do not need tickets. Overflow seating will be available at the Dudley H. Davis Center for guests without tickets. Graduates may reserve up to two tickets each on-line starting at 12:00 noon on Monday, May 7th through 12:00 noon on Thursday, May 17th for the University Commencement Main Ceremony. Tickets will be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Graduating students will receive an email to their UVM email account with instructions on how to reserve their tickets on Monday, May 7th.

A decision about whether or not to move the University Commencement Main Ceremony indoors will be posted on the Commencement web site no later than 1:00 p.m., Saturday, May 19th.

Please visit the UVM homepage at www.uvm.edu/commencement.

College of Arts and Sciences Ceremony

The College of Arts and Sciences Diploma Ceremony will be held at approximately 12:30 p.m. on the University Green. Line up for the academic procession will be at the CBW Green directly following the main ceremony. Graduates will commence alphabetically within their major department. We anticipate that the College ceremony will be about one and one-half hours in duration. No tickets are required if the ceremony is held outdoors. We expect over 1,000 graduates to participate in this year's College ceremony, however, only those students who have completed all degree requirements by the end of the spring 2012 term will be permitted to participate in the ceremony.

In the event of severe weather, an indoor ceremony will be held at the Multipurpose Facility in the Athletic Complex at 12:30 p.m. Graduates will line up for the academic procession at 11:45 a.m. in the Gardner-Collins Indoor Track. Tickets are required for the indoor ceremony. College of Arts and Sciences graduates are guaranteed up to four tickets each for the ceremony. Students will receive an email to their UVM email account with instructions on how to reserve their four tickets on Monday, May 7th.

Direct Link - http://www.uvm.edu/~cmncmnt/?Page=cas.html&SM=submenu1.html

Tickets: No tickets are required for the outdoor ceremonies, but tickets are required if we go indoors.

Cap/Gown/Announcements/Rings: These are available at the University Bookstore. http://www.uvm.edu/~cmncmnt/?Page=caps_gowns.html

Photos: Professional photographers will make photographs available of each graduate. Please visit the web site www.gradimages.com to pre-register or to order prints. Pre-event registration is encouraged, and prints can be ordered online or by phone at (800)-261-2576.

Deaf and Disability Accommodation Requests: Participants or guests with disabilities and those who are Visually Impaired, Deaf, Hard of Hearing or Deaf-Blind may make arrangements for accommodations for parking, seating, amplification, captioning, interpreters, large print or Braille, by completing the Online Deaf and Disability Accommodation Request Form. If you need assistance completing this form or have any questions, please contact the office of Conference and Event Services at (802) 656-5665 (voice) or by email at conferences@uvm.edu.

Rehearsal: There isn't a rehearsal for the main or Arts & Sciences ceremony.

Graduating with University Honors: Seniors may contact the Dean's office during the week prior to Commencement to learn if they will graduate with University Honors: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude. If you qualify for Honors, you may wear the honors medallion with academic regalia on Commencement Day. Medallions may be picked up in the Dean's Office (438 College Street).

If there are missing credits/courses (Study Abroad, Domestic Transfer, CLEP) from outside UVM then please follow up with the other institution in order to have those transferred before certification. The final list is due to the Faculty Senate on May 17th.

I look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of the class of 2012 with you. Until then, I send you my warmest wishes for an enjoyable and memorable day. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for beautiful weather!