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General
For Graduates
When are future Commencement dates?
Dates for future commencement dates
are available on the Parents' web site, as well as in the
Academic Calendar.
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Do I need tickets for Commencement and how many guests can attend?
If the Commencement ceremony is held outdoors in the Stadium, as expected, tickets are not
necessary and graduates may have as many guests attend as they wish. In the
event of severe weather (thunder, lightening, very heavy rain) the Commencement
ceremony will be moved indoors to the Pavilion. Graduates will be issued a total
of 4 Severe Weather Tickets when they pick up their cap and gown (2 for the live
ceremony in the Pavilion and 2 for the simulcast in the Jake Nevin Field House).
Due to seating limitations, additional Severe Weather Tickets are not available,
and requests for additional tickets cannot be honored.
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What programs are held on Saturday? Are these
graduation ceremonies?
On the Saturday of Commencement weekend, all four Colleges hold recognition
ceremonies for their graduates. These ceremonies are not graduation ceremonies
and diplomas are not awarded at this time. The School of Business' recognition
program starts at 9:30 am (continental breakfast available for students & guests
at 8:30 am) in the Pavilion, and recognizes each undergraduate and graduate
candidate by name. Their ceremony lasts 2-3 hours, depending on the number of
participants. The College of Nursing has a Convocation is held in the morning in
the St. Thomas of Villanova Church. A brunch for nursing graduates and their
guests is held afterward. The number of guests for the Convocation is limited,
and additional requests for tickets cannot be honored due to space limitations.
The College of Engineering's Recognition Ceremony is held in the afternoon in Mendel
Field for
all undergraduate and graduate candidates. The College of Liberal Arts &
Sciences has a Medallion Ceremony on Saturday afternoon in the St. Thomas of Villanova
Church, and is by invitation only. Only the top student in each department
within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences will be recognized.
Please note: All potential graduates (and graduates from the previous
September & December) will receive more information about each of these
ceremonies in the Spring semester. The Commencement Information Booklet with
detailed information about the entire Commencement weekend will be mailed during
the Spring Semester. Students should be sure that their current address
information on file with the University is correct, since information pertaining
to graduation events will be sent to the permanent home address listed with the
University.
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How long will the Commencement ceremony last?
The University-wide Commencement ceremony will last approximately 90 minutes.
Department Receptions following Commencement generally conclude by 1:00 pm.
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Where is Commencement parking?
Parking for all ceremonies will be available in the Main Parking Lots, directly
across from the University on Lancaster Avenue, with overflow parking available
in the South Campus lots on Ithan Avenue, and the Law School Garage on the west
side of the campus. Parking conditions are extremely crowded for Commencement. We urge
you and your guests to arrive early and to car pool, or consider taking the
SEPTA R-5 Regional Rail.
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Are there seating and parking accommodations for those with special needs?
If you have guests who may be unable to manage the bleachers, please alert an
usher at any entrance. The usher will direct you to the Special Needs Seating
Area on the field. Please allow only 1 or 2 guests to accompany those who
require
Special Needs Seating so as to secure enough seats for all of our guests
with special needs. There is no need to register in advance for these seats.
Guests may also view a simulcast of the Commencement Ceremony in the Jake Nevin
Field House regardless of weather.
Dropping off disabled and elderly guests for the Baccalaureate Mass or
Commencement may be facilitated in the Galberry Hall driveway at the East end of
the Stadium on Lancaster Avenue. Drivers will be directed to park at the nearest
location after dropping off their passengers. A very limited number of parking
spaces for those with special needs are available in Galberry Hall and behind
the Stadium. Only cars displaying handicapped plates or hang tags are eligible
to park behind the Stadium. These spaces are on a first-come, first-served
basis. There is no need to register in advance for handicapped parking.
Guests who require a Sign Language Interpreter should contact The Office of
The President at (610) 519-8882 to secure special reserved seating.
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Is wheelchair rental available through the
University?
Villanova does not rent/loan wheelchairs for guests with special needs.
Medical supply companies in the area can assist you:
Medical Home Care, Wayne - (610) 687-6585
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How do I order a Commencement Ceremony video?
The Villanova University Media Technologies and Creative Design Department will
produce a video of the University’s Main Commencement Ceremony which will be
available the following August. A special post card with ordering information
will be mailed to all graduate’s permanent home addresses approximately 2 weeks
after graduation in May. For more information, or if you do not receive an order
card, please call (610) 519-4289.
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Who can attend the department receptions after Commencement?
Graduates may have as many guests as they wish attend these receptions. Many of
the departments within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences have special
diploma ceremonies following the University Commencement. Graduates should check
with their department chair to learn about their department's plans.
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Where can I buy flowers for my graduate on
Commencement morning?
Commencement
Flowers will offer bouquets for sale in front of the Jake Nevin Field House
on graduation morning. Flowers can also be ordered in advance (online orders
must be placed at least 5 business days in advance - Visa & MasterCard only
please)
online for
Sunday morning pick up.
Where do graduates report on Commencement morning?
All graduates must
report no later than 9:15 am (arrival prior to 9:00 am is preferred) to their assigned reporting
stations:
Liberal Arts and Sciences – The Pavilion
Villanova School of Business – Butler Annex
Engineering – Jake Nevin Field House
Nursing – Jake Nevin Field House
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How do I order graduation announcements?
Graduation announcements, thank you notes, and other commemorative items are
available to Villanova graduates by the
Balfour Company. Information and order forms will be mailed in February to the
permanent home address of all prospective graduates. Graduates should check
their permanent home address in
NOVASIS to make sure
the University has the correct address on file. If you have any questions about
graduation products,
please call Balfour directly at 1-877-BALFOUR.
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Is there a separate graduation ceremony for students who graduate in September or
December?
Villanova holds one Commencement Ceremony each year in May for all graduates.
All September & December graduates (prior to the upcoming graduation year) will
receive the Commencement Information Booklet and will be automatically included
on the list that permits cap & gown pick up in May. September & December
graduates do not need to notify the University about their plans to attend
Commencement in advance.
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If I graduate in September or December, can I
participate in the May Commencement Ceremony?
September and December graduates may participate in the Commencement
Ceremony in May following their completion of their degree . If September or
December grads wish to participate in the May Commencement Ceremony preceding
their actual graduation, they must receive permission from their Academic Dean
in order to do so. Graduates who wish to participate in graduation before their
degree is completed must visit the Dean's Office and complete a "Request to
Participate" form (also known as "walker" form) which must be signed
by the Department Chair as well as a representative from the Dean's Office.
Please note: candidates who choose this option will not have their name
listed in the Commencement Ceremony Program and will not be issued a diploma
until their degree requirements are completed.
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Where do I pick up my diploma?
Graduates will receive their diplomas at the Department Receptions, which are
held immediately following the Commencement Ceremony. Any diplomas that are not
picked up after the Commencement Ceremony will be mailed to the graduate's
permanent home address on file with the University. September and December
graduates will receive their diplomas in the mail.
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What size are the diplomas? Can I buy a frame
from the University?
Diplomas measure 16" wide and 12" high. A variety of frames can be purchased
from the University Shop -
either in person and online.
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If I don’t participate in Commencement, how do I get my diploma?
The Registrar’s Office will mail any diploma not picked up after Commencement to
the permanent home address on file with the University. Please allow 4 – 6 weeks
for delivery.
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What happens if I am graduating with a double
major?
If a student has a double major within the same degree, she/he will receive
only one diploma. For example, a graduate with majors in both English and
History would receive a diploma for the BACHELOR OF ARTS degree; a student with
majors in Finance and Management would receive a BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION (majors are not listed on the diploma). If a student is in two
different degree programs, she/he would receive a diploma for each. An example
would be a student in Accounting and Finance, who would receive the degrees
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTANCY and BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION. For additional questions about diplomas, please contact the
Office of the Registrar - (610) 519-4030.
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What is the Senior Survey?
Each year, Villanova collects important data from its graduating full-time and
part-time undergraduate Seniors through the Senior Survey (graduate students
need not complete the survey). Prospective graduates will be contacted by OPTIR
and Career Services via email
in the Spring semester to complete a two-part survey. Grads will also be able to
access the Survey through the Commencement website. Graduating Seniors will be
asked to complete both parts of the Senior Survey prior to receiving their
academic attire.
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How do undergraduate Seniors apply to be come
the student Commencement speaker?
During the Spring semester prior to graduation, all qualifying Seniors will
receive a letter from their Academic Dean's Office with instructions for the
application process. Letters will be mailed to the local address (if one is
registered with the University) or to the permanent home address (Seniors -
please verify your current address in
NOVASIS) of each
graduating Senior. One student from each Academic College will be selected to
participate in a final competition where the student speaker will be chosen.
Students who have questions about the student Commencement speaker should
contact the Dean's office of their College.
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