Commencement Line-up Instructions: Law Class of 2008

Rehearsal for Commencement will begin at 11:00 a.m., on Friday afternoon, May 9, on Stemmons Plaza between Leyburn Library and Washington Hall, behind the Colonnade.

"Parent Alumni and Grads" photos and the Class of 2008 law photo will be taken on Saturday morning at 10:00 and 10:15 a.m., respectively, on the Front Lawn near the Lee House and Lee-Jackson House.

Commencement Exercises will be held on the Front Lawn in front of Lee Chapel on Saturday, May 10, 2008, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

By University regulations the diploma will NOT be awarded with the class to a candidate for a degree who fails to attend the Commencement Exercises, unless the candidate has been excused in advance by formal action of the Faculty Executive Committee. Because Commencement is such an important event in the life of the University and of the graduating class, requests to be excused are not routinely granted. Any such requests must be submitted in writing to the Dean's Office by April 1, 2008. A candidate who without approved excuse does not participate in the Commencement Exercises is recorded as having been graduated and having received the degree as of the date of Commencement but does not receive the diploma until the next time diplomas are customarily awarded — October 2008.

Academic costume will be worn during the Commencement Exercises. The tassel of the tam or cap is worn to the left by a candidate who already has a degree.

Candidates will assemble at 10:30 a.m. facing Huntley Hall (the commerce school) in two files in alphabetical order: Two marshals, Dean Sidney Evans and Dean Bob Danforth, will check attendance in their files. Master of Laws candidates will form on the sidewalk nearest to Washington Hall with Dean Danforth, extending north toward duPont Hall, followed by Juris Doctor candidates with last names beginning with A through I ; Juris Doctor candidates with last names beginning with J through Z begin with Dean Evans, facing Huntley Hall on the sidewalk nearest to Leyburn Library, extending north toward duPont Hall.

At the ringing of the Lee Chapel bell at 11:00 a.m., the files will move together down the sidewalk between Morris House and Lee-Jackson House, left in front of Morris House, and across the front campus to Newcomb Hall on the Colonnade. Each file will be led by a marshal. When halted by marshal, the candidates will face in and open ranks, allowing the Platform Party and Faculty to march through the open ranks of candidates. Led by marshals and bagpipers, the candidates will then follow the Faculty, banners, and flags to the appropriate seating area.

Each candidate will stand in front of the seat with his/her name on it. Candidates will wear their caps throughout the Exercises except during the Invocation. When the person preparing to give the Invocation removes his or her cap at the beginning of the Exercises, all men do likewise; women may leave their caps on. Similarly, all candidates will replace their caps when the person delivering the invocation does.

In case of rain, the Exercises will be held in Warner Center. Candidates will gather for the processional on the 300 level of the gymnasium at 10:30 a.m. A through I will form in the right hallway, facing the Warner Center gym and headed toward the training room; J through Z will form in the left hallway headed toward the faculty men's locker room and around the corner. At 11:00 a.m., candidates will follow the Marshals up the double stairs to the 400 level, through the gymnasium to their seats. Candidates will remain standing until the end of the invocation.

Conferring of Degrees:  The Dean will request the candidates to rise and after they are standing, will present them to the President. The President will state that the degree is conferred. All candidates will remain standing and come forward in alphabetical order as directed by the marshals. After receiving the diploma the graduate will return to his/her chair and will remain standing. When the last graduate has returned to his/her chair, the dean will instruct the graduates to be seated.

After the Commencement Exercises, beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Commencement day, a picnic lunch co-sponsored by the School of Law and the Law Class of 2008 will be available for graduating law students, their families, friends, and faculty on the Law School Lawn. 

Students who have not already done so should report immediately to the Law Records Office the addresses at which they will be receiving mail in June 2008.

Congratulations -- and enjoy the ceremonies.

Commencement Line-up Instructions: Undergraduate Class of 2008

The following instructions will help the graduation ceremonies move smoothly. Please read them carefully, in advance. Here's a map, too.

Important: By University regulations, a diploma is not awarded with the class to a candidate for a degree who fails to attend the Commencement Exercises, unless excused in advance by formal action of the Faculty Executive Committee. A student who without an approved excuse does not participate in the Commencement Exercises is recorded as having received the degree as of the date of Commencement but does not receive the diploma until the next time diplomas are customarily awarded — October 2008.

The Class of 2008 photo will be taken at Senior Night on Wednesday, May 28. If the weather that evening doesn't cooperate, then the picture is re-scheduled for Wednesday morning, June 4 at 9:15 a.m., on the Front Lawn near the Colonnade.  Parent Alumni and Grads photos will be taken Thursday morning at 8:45 a.m. between Lee House and Lee-Jackson House.

The Baccalaureate Service will be held on the Front Lawn in front of Lee Chapel on Wednesday, June 4, 2008, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Students should assemble on Stemmons Plaza between Newcomb Hall and Reid Hall, in front of Huntley Hall, at 9:30 a.m. This event is an important historical tradition and serves as the practice for the graduation processional.  In case of rain, the service will be in Warner Center Gymnasium and candidates will line up on the lower level of the Warner Center.

The Commencement Exercises will be held on the Front Lawn near Lee Chapel on Thursday, June 5, 2008, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Students should assemble on Stemmons Plaza between Newcomb Hall and Reid Hall, in front of Huntley Hall, at 9:30 a.m. In case of rain, the service will be in VMI's Cameron Hall Gymnasium and candidates will line up on the lower level of Cameron.

Academic costume is worn on both occasions. The tassel to the cap is worn to the right, except by a candidate who already has a collegiate degree. All graduates should shift the tassel from the right to the left as they as they come off the stage, after having received the diploma.

If the weather is clear, candidates will assemble for both Baccalaureate and Commencement Exercises at 9:30 a.m. as follows:

The single file of Williams School degree candidates begins with those receiving the B.S. with Special Attainments in Commerce degree lined up alphabetically at the sign saying "BS-Williams" in front of Huntley Hall, behind Reid Hall, extending north toward Leyburn Library. They are followed by the B.A. candidates with first majors in the Williams School forming alphabetically at the "BA-Williams" sign near Leyburn Library, immediately behind the B.S. in Commerce file and extending north toward duPont Hall. Faculty Marshals Michael Smitka (economics) and Yolanda Merrill (Leyburn Library) will be assisted by several student marshals to help you find your place in line.

The single file of The College degree recipients begins with the B.S. Special Attainments in Chemistry candidate, and followed by those receiving the B.S. lined up alphabetically at the sign saying "BS-College" in front of Huntley Hall. They are followed by the B.A. candidates with first majors from the College at the "BA-College" sign, behind Washington Hall, extending north toward duPont Hall. Faculty marshals Bryan Snyder (physical education) and Wendy Orrison (physical education) will be assisted by several student marshals to help you find your place in line.

If you have any question about which line you belong in, please check with the University Registrar's Office, especially the list posted outside the office and here. The order of march is determined by your most recent declaration of major and degree.

Click on this link for the outdoor line-up diagram.

On both days, the Lee Chapel bell rings at 10:00 a.m. Each file is led by a faculty marshal. Graduates will follow faculty marshals down the sidewalk between Morris House and Lee-Jackson House, left in front of Morris House, and across the front campus to Newcomb Hall on the Colonnade. When halted by the faculty marshal, the candidates will face in and open ranks, allowing the Platform Party and Faculty to march through the open ranks of candidates. Led by faculty marshals, the candidates will then follow the Faculty, banners, and flags to the appropriate seating area.

In case the ground in front of Lee Chapel is saturated or if rain (not drizzle) is falling (and only as a last resort), graduates will assemble for Baccalaureate on the 200 level of the Warner Center or for Commencement on the lower level of VMI's Cameron Hall. Enter through the front doors from Main Street, go left inside the door, and down the first set of stairs. Faculty marshals and others will provide directions and assistance.  Please arrive at the assigned spot no later than 9:30 am.

At the Baccalaureate Service, the candidates stand in front of the chairs which are unlabeled. When the University Chaplain removes his cap at the beginning of the service, all men do likewise; women may leave their caps on. Do not replace your cap until the end of the service. You will have bottled water under your chair.

At the Commencement Exercises, the candidates stand in front of the chair labeled with their names. Candidates wear their caps throughout the exercises except during the Invocation when all men remove their caps. Women may leave their caps on.  You will have bottled water under your chair.

Conferring of Degrees: Degrees are conferred in the following order: B.S. with Special Attainments in Commerce; B.A. with majors in the Williams School; B.S. with majors in The College; B.A. with majors in The College. Each Dean requests the candidates in the appropriate degree group to rise. When the candidates are standing, the Dean presents them to the President. The President states that the degree is conferred. The candidates then come forward in alphabetical order. Each candidate faces the President while receiving the diploma, taking the document with the left hand while accepting the President's congratulations with the right hand. After receiving the diploma, graduates return to their chairs and remain standing. When all graduates in the group have returned to their chairs, the entire group is seated. 

The 11 students receiving two degrees should march in the first group with which they will receive a degree. After receiving the first diploma, the candidates should walk to the section where the second group is seated and sit in the chair labeled with their names. The candidates then come forward when their second group is called to receive a second diploma.

The ceremony ends after the president's concluding remarks, without a formal recessional march.

Please help maintain the dignity of our celebration together by delaying any toasts until after the end of the ceremony.

Congratulations -- and enjoy the ceremonies.