1. What is a certified ceremony and why is it important?
Baylor commencement ceremonies are certified - that means that students who walk in the ceremony have completed all degree requirements and receive their diploma as they cross the stage. No student is allowed to walk unless they have met all degree requirements. The University makes no exceptions to this rule. Students who do not meet all degree requirements must complete the appropriate work in a future semester, after which they may participate in commencement.
2. Is there a rehearsal?
No rehearsal. Faculty marshals will be on hand to line up graduates by school/college, degree, major and last name and make sure they are in the correct order prior to each ceremony. Graduates must arrive no later than one hour before their ceremony start time.
3. Are tickets issued for seating?
o, tickets are not issued for attendance. Graduates are strongly urged to have no more than 10 guests at the ceremony to make sure all families will be accommodated , ensure safety, and a good experience for graduates and their guests. Please help us in this way.
4. If I am a graduate, what do I do?
Arrive, cap and gown in hand, no later than one hour before your ceremony is scheduled to begin. Ushers will direct graduates to the correct area of the concourse for line-up. Faculty marshals will be on hand to prepare graduates for the procession, answer questions and give instructions. Late-arriving students will not march in the procession but will be worked into the graduate line to receive diplomas.
5. If I am a parent or guest, what do I do?
Arrive early to allow sufficient time to get into Ferrell and find seats. Seats may be saved until 15 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony, at which time all seating is made available to guests. Be supportive and encouraging to your graduate as he/she walks the stage, but refrain from excessive noise and do not use noise-making devices.
6. Where do I get a cap and gown?
Academic regalia for bachelor and master's graduates will be available at Bear Faire. After that time, regalia may be purchased from the Baylor Bookstore. Bachelor's regalia is priced at $60 plus tax. Master's regalia is priced at $102 plus tax. The bookstore will sell gowns, mortarboards and tassels for bachelor graduates. The master's regalia will include the gown, hood, mortarboard and tassel. Doctoral students must contact the Graduate School office at 254-710-3588 to purchase or rent the unique Baylor regalia for the ceremony.
7. May I wear an honor cord or sash with my cap and gown? May I decorate my mortarboard?
Traditionally, only undergraduate students wear cords or sashes. Baylor will allow a student to wear a maximum of 3 adornments for the ceremony and they should represent academic achievement or involvement in an academic-specific organization. Students should not decorate their mortarboard. The green stole of appreciation, sold by the Baylor Bookstore, is optional.
8. Which ceremony do I attend?
More Information of School and College-specific ceremonies can be found here!
9. What time do graduates and guests need to arrive?
The building opens 90 minutes prior to each ceremony. Graduates need to arrive no later than one hour before the start of the ceremony. We encourage friends and family to come at the same time as the graduate in order to find adequate parking and seating at Ferrell Center. Guests with disabilities or health concerns should plan to arrive at least an hour before the ceremony to allow sufficient time to park and be seated. For handicapped parking, guests should ask the parking attendant for curbside drop-off to assist those with special needs.
10. What about parking?
Parking is available at Ferrell Center Shuttle buses will bring parking garage guests to the venue. There is no charge for this service. Parking attendants will be available to direct you to parking. If there is a need for curb-side drop-off or handicap parking, please inform the parking attendant. As needed for May ceremonies, additional parking is available in the East Garage, located just a few blocks from the venue and serviced by shuttle rides to and from Ferrell Center.
11. How long will the commencement ceremony last? The May 2018 ceremonies should each be around two and one half hours in length.
12. What other events are planned?
Some of the colleges and schools have pinning ceremonies, hooding ceremonies, or other activities. Please contact the Dean's office of your school to determine if there are other activities. The Alumni Network will have a tent in front of Ferrell Center following the ceremony to allow students to take photos and greet fellow graduates and faculty.
13. What do the different honor designations mean? With a minimum of 94 hours of credit earned at Baylor:
Cum Laude - 3.75 GPA Magna Cum Laude - 3.85 GPA Summa Cum Laude - 3.95 GPA
With 61-93 hours of credit earned at Baylor: Cum Laude - 3.80 GPA Magna Cum Laude - 3.90 GPA
With 60 hours of credit earned at Baylor: Cum Laude - 3.85 GPA Magna Cum Laude - 3.95 GPA
These honors will be noted in the commencement program and diplomas will be ordered for the graduates with this designation. No cords or stoles are provided for this recognition.
14. Will photographs be taken at the ceremony?
Baylor is pleased to have Flash Photography as the official photographer for commencement. Flash will photograph each graduate as he/she receives the diploma from the President and will take one additional shot after the graduate leaves the stage. Pictures are in color and different packages are available. Information about proofs and costs will be mailed to the graduate's Baylor e-mail and permanent mailing address by Flash Photography, or you may contact Flash at 1-800-410-8070.
15. Is a DVD of the ceremony available? We do not sell recorded copies of the ceremonies. Recordings of each ceremony will be posted on the commencement website following the weekend of the ceremonies. More Information: https://www.baylor.edu/commencement/index.php?id=959976
16. Where do I order announcements? Announcements may be ordered at Bear Faire or www.jostens.com. Allow 2-3 weeks for delivery of completed announcements. Be sure to know your major and degree, as well as the date and time of your ceremony, before ordering. More Information: http://www.jostens.com
17. What arrangements are available for guests who are in wheelchairs? There are seating areas designated for guests in wheelchairs throughout the arena. Ask the parking attendant on duty to direct you to curb-side drop-off for the building. Ushers will be able to assist once you are inside Ferrell Center. Guests who have difficulty climbing steps should arrive in sufficient time to find seating near the concourse-access level. No wheelchairs are available in the facility for use by guests.
18. Is there a guest speaker?
We do not have a guest speaker, but the President of the University will deliver a message to the graduates.
19. What is Ring Out?
Ring Out and the Passing of the Key is held each spring prior to May Commencement ceremonies. For spring graduates of 2018, Ring Out will be held on Thursday, April 26 at 4 pm. Additional information will be posted as it is available. The Ring Out Ceremony is an annual tradition at Baylor University and was first a part of Commencement activities in 1927 when the senior class was invited to participate. The symbolic ceremony signifies the passing of the guardianship of the Baylor spirit. Historically, the ceremony has included primarily women. Graduating senior women, dressed in traditional graduation gowns, pass a chain of ivy to junior women wearing white. Forming a circle near the Baylor bells in Burleson Quadrangle (the smaller bell from Baylor's first campus at Independence, Texas and the larger bell from Waco University where Baylor now exists), the seniors pass the charge of leadership to the next graduating class. Since 1946, the men of the senior and junior classes have participated in the Passing of the Key ceremony during Ring Out. Senior men are in graduation gowns and junior men are dressed in dark suits. A representative of the senior class, who has been designated the "Custodian" of the key to the box of relics buried under the Centennial monument in the center of Founders Pleasance, passes the key to a junior representative. As with Ring Out, the ceremony symbolizes the binding of classes in loyalty to the traditions of Baylor. More Information:
https://www.baylor.edu/commenc...
20. What about the Ring Ceremony?
The Ring Ceremony is for students who order their rings during Ring Week earlier in the semester, at which they will receive their ring. Students who are eligible to participate will receive an invitation. More Information: http://www.baylor.edu/alumni/programs/ring
