Undergraduate Commencement:
Spring 2008:  Saturday, May 10, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.

Graduating Seniors, click here for Senior Survey!

	View the webcast of the May 2008 ceremony. View the archived webcast of the December 2007 ceremony. May 2008 Commencement Bulletin (Click here for PDF version.)
Graduate » Commencement » Details »	The commencement ceremony for Graduate students is Thursday, May 8, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in Byrnes Auditorium. For further details, please contact the Graduate School.

Degree candidates should park in the north parking lot of the coliseum. Public Safety officers will direct you to the nearest available space. Please enter the coliseum ONLY through the north tunnel.

In the south side parking lot, there will be a designated area coned off for special guests. All remaining parking is available for family and guests.

NOTE: Parking off of Winthrop property
could lead to your vehicle being towed.

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1. Degree candidates should report to the check-in area, located just inside the north entrance of the coliseum, in academic cap and gown by no later than 9:30 a.m. The area will open at 9:00 a.m.

2. Each degree candidate will be given a card with his or her name, seat, and any honors he or she will receive. Do not lose or alter this card. If you believe the information printed is incorrect, please bring this to the attention of the staff at the check-in area. The name readers will be available in the check in and line up areas if you have concerns regarding the pronunciation of your name.

3. After receiving a card, candidates should proceed to the east hallway where additional personnel will be present to assist candidates in locating their assigned position in line.

NOTE: Only participating graduates are allowed in this area!

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1. The procession will begin promptly at 10:50 a.m. Please be prompt. We cannot place students in line after the procession begins.

2. The Procession will form two abreast in the following order:
   • Platform party
   • Faculty
   • Degree Candidates
   Faculty and degree candidates will be led by marshals. The appropriate marshals will direct each group to their seat.

3. At the signal from the Chief Faculty Marshal, the procession will enter the arena down the center aisle.

The degree candidates will split to the left and right outside aisles, respectively, upon reaching the stage and be directed to their seats by a marshal. Seats will be filled as rapidly as possible under the direction of the marshals. Please do not leave empty seats. Members of the procession and all guests will remain standing until after the National Anthem has been sung.

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1. CBA College of Business Administration
2. COE College of Education
3. CVPA College of Visual and Performing Arts
4. CAS College of Arts and Sciences

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Academic deans will present the candidates for undergraduate degrees from their respective college to the vice president for academic affairs. Once all degrees are conferred, the president will then instruct graduates to move their tassels from the right front side to the left front side of the cap.

Marshals will then direct the movement of bachelor’s degree recipients to the stage. Graduates will give their name cards to the reader when they reach the top of the ramp leading onto the stage. When their name is announced, they will cross the stage, receive their diploma cover from their academic dean and shake hands with the chair of the board of trustees and the president.

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Upon conclusion of the singing of the Alma Mater , the platform party will leave first, followed by the faculty. The graduates will exit under the direction of the Student Marshals. The final procession will disperse in the cave area on the right. Please meet family and friends in the upper concourse after the ceremony. The ceremony should last until approximately 12:30 p.m.

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A reception will be held for all graduates and their guests on the upper concourse of the Coliseum from 9-10 a.m. Also located on the concourse are information tables at sections 123 and 130 and representatives from several Rock Hill businesses, including a florist, frame shop, and The Bookworm.

Each degree candidate is asked to invite no more than six (6) guests to the ceremony due to seating limitations in the Coliseum. Seating is on a first come first serve basis.

Family and guests of the degree candidates should enter the Coliseum through the upper concourse level and be seated by 10:40 a.m. The commencement procession begins promptly at 10:50 a.m. In fairness to all guests, we ask that you not reserve seating.

For information on the Rock Hill area, check out the Winthrop Visitors' Center.
For a list of local accommodations, click here.

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In order to attend commencement, if you or your guest(s) require an auxiliary aid or service identified in the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact Gena Smith at (803) 323-3290 (V/TTD) or visit the Services for Students with Disabilities web site for more information.

Seating will be designated for guests, including the elderly, who may need special assistance. In an effort to ensure accessible seating for those who need it, we ask that only one family member accompany the person in the designated seating area. This will be enforced.

These individuals should plan to arrive prior to 10:30 a.m., use the entrance for the disabled, and proceed to the section for the disabled as indicated on the seating chart. A sign language interpreter will be at the ceremony.

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Individual graduate photographs are handled by Chappell Studio, Inc, 800-424-3686. Two photographs will be taken, one with the president and the other a more posed shot in front of the Winthrop logo. Chappell will contact graduates after graduation regarding the sale of the photos.

Guests may take their own photos and videos of the ceremony but shall not block the aisles or the view of other guests. The Commencement stage will be left intact for a short time following the ceremony for those guests who wish to take photographs.

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The official ring of Winthrop University is reserved exclusively for alumni, graduate students who have completed at least 18 credit hours, and undergraduate students of junior or senior standing who have completed at least 54 credit hours.

For more information, call 866-225-3687.

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In the instance of extreme weather, unsafe road conditions, or natural disasters, the University will notify local media outlets regarding the feasibility of proceeding with the graduation ceremony as scheduled.

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