Information for Undergraduate Students
This page contains important information concerning Commencement 2008. Please read the information carefully. A final Commencement schedule indicating any changes will be distributed to graduating seniors following final exams. Updates will also be posted on this Web site. If you have any questions about the Commencement program or this information, please contact Conference and Events Services at 64300 or ces@brandeis.edu.
To apply for graduation, confirm diploma name and confirm mini-commencement ceremony attendance, you must go to sage.brandeis.edu between February 11 and February 27 and select the Graduation and Commencement link. If you have any questions, please contact Sheila Reeder in the Office of the University Registrar at 62021.
Schedule for Commencement Day
|
Sunday, May 18, 2008 |
|
| 7 to 9 a.m. |
Continental breakfast available (cash basis) in Sherman Cafeteria |
| 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
Einstein Bros. open in Shapiro Campus Center |
| 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. |
Concession area open in Gosman Sports Center |
| 8 to 9:30 a.m. |
School and Department Ceremonies Individual graduates will be recognized by name and the presentation of prizes and awards will also be made during this ceremony. If you are a double major, your name will be read at both ceremonies. Although you might be able to attend both mini ceremonies, the actual diploma will be handed out at the ceremony location you have confirmed at sage.brandeis.edu |
| 10 a.m. |
Formation of Academic Procession All graduating seniors attending the main ceremony must line up for the academic procession at the exterior tunnel entrance (near the baseball field) of the Gosman Sports & Convocation Center. After lining up, the procession will enter Gosman for the main ceremony. The university has made arrangements with Commencement Photos, specialists in graduation photography, to photograph all graduating seniors during the formation of the academic procession. This service will enable all students to have a photograph of their graduation. Commencement Photos will send you a proof approximately one (1) week after commencement. If you are satisfied with the proof, you may order final prints directly from the company. Commencement Photos guarantees complete satisfaction with your photograph or you will receive a full refund, no questions asked. For additional information, please contact the company at (978) 851-5924 or customerservice@commencementphotos.com, or visit the Commencement Photos Web site. |
| 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
Main Commencement Ceremony Gosman Sports & Convocation Center Undergraduate degrees will be conferred en masse, honorary degrees will be conferred individually, and the Commencement address will be given. The program will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. Please advise your guests that admission into the arena (through the stadium doors on the arena level) will be permitted ONLY with the presentation of entrance tickets. We recommend that guests arrive well in advance to allow time to enter and find seating. Doors open at 8:45 a.m. |
| 1:30 to 3 p.m. |
School and Department Ceremonies Individual graduates will be recognized by name and the presentation of prizes and awards will also be made during this ceremony. If you are a double major, your name will be read at both ceremonies. Although you might be able to attend both mini ceremonies, the actual diploma will be handed out at the ceremony location you have confirmed at sage.brandeis.edu. |
Invitations
Conference and Event Services will mail one invitation to the Commencement ceremony to your parent(s)/guardian(s) at your permanent address as listed in sage.brandeis.edu. In order to ensure that the invitation is sent to the proper address, please update that address in sage no later than Wednesday March 5, 2008. Parents living apart may each receive an invitation. To submit a second address, please complete this form (PDF) and return it to Registrar’s office (121 Kutz Hall) no later than Wednesday, March 5, 2008.
Remember that Commencement invitations do not constitute tickets of admission to the main ceremony.
Please note: You may purchase additional Graduation Announcements at the bookstore.
Commencement Tickets/Senior Exit Survey
Admission to the main Commencement ceremony will be by ticket only. Each graduating senior will receive six (6) tickets to the main ceremony. Seniors who need more than six tickets should obtain them from other class members who may not need all of their tickets.
Information regarding arrangements for guests with disabilities will be available when you pick up your tickets.
In February, seniors will be invited by e-mail to complete the Brandeis Senior Exit Survey online. The survey is open until Sunday, May 18, and is only accessible via a personalized link from the e-mail invitation. The e-mail message will come from research@brandeis.edu.
Seniors who complete the senior survey can pick up Commencement tickets and a thank you gift at Senior Sign Out on April 28, 29 and 30 in the International Lounge of Usdan from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. You will also be able to visit with representatives from the Alumni Association and Hiatt Career Center at that time. Please bring your student identification with you to Senior Sign Out.
If you will not be on campus during the above dates to pick up your tickets, please notify Conference and Events Services at ces@brandeis.edu. Conference and Events Services will arrange an alternative day for you to pick up your tickets.
Students who have questions about the senior survey may contact the Registrar's office at research@brandeis.edu.
Caps and Gowns
Caps and gowns for graduating seniors will be available for purchase at the bookstore beginning on April 28. As approved by the Student Senate Executive Board in 1990, the gowns will be black with a hood included as part of the regalia. The cost of the apparel will be $52. Seniors who will not be on campus prior to Commencement weekend should contact the bookstore at bksbrandeis@bncollege.com or (781) 736-4272 as soon as possible to reserve commencement attire. In addition to being open regular hours during May, the bookstore will also be open for extended hours on the following days:
Saturday, May 10: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Friday, May 16: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, May 17: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, May 18: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
School and Departmental Ceremonies
School and departmental ceremonies will begin promptly at the times indicated. Tickets are not required for admission but seating for guests is on a first-come, first-serve basis. The faculty from the department conducts these ceremonies. Students should wear their cap and gown to both the department and the main ceremonies.
Hearing Enhancement Equipment
Hearing Enhancement Equipment will be available to reserve for the main Commencement ceremony. Please complete this order form (PDF) and return it to Conference and Events Services, MS 087, Kutz 9, by Friday, May 2, 2008.
Exit Interviews
ALL graduating seniors who have received student loans while at Brandeis are required by federal regulations to complete an Exit Interview. If you are not sure if this applies to you, please call the Office of Student Financial Services at 63700. You will also receive information in your on-campus mailbox by March 31, 2008.
Most graduating seniors can complete ALL of their exit requirements online.
- If you received Stafford Loans, you can do the mandatory Exit Counseling on the U.S. Department of Education’s Web site.
- If you received Perkins Loans, you can do the mandatory Exit Counseling on the Campus Partners Web site.
If you received Institutional Loans (Brandeis Loan, Saval Loan or Wien Loan), you will need to complete the mandatory Exit Counseling in-person. Follow the instructions mailed to you to complete this process.
You will receive notification in your on-campus mailbox by March 31, 2008 summarizing your student loan debt, and if you qualify to complete your Exit Counseling session online, or if you must attend an Exit Counseling session in-person.
To complete any online Exit Interview, you will need a personal identification number (PIN) from the U.S. Department of Education. If you have forgotten the PIN that was assigned to you, you can request your PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.
YOU SHOULD REQUEST YOUR PIN NOW. A HOLD WILL BE PLACED ON YOUR DIPLOMA AND OUR COMMENCEMENT TICKETS IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE YOUR EXIT INTERVIEW.
MORE INFORMATION TO COME.
CHECK YOUR CAMPUS MAILBOX.
