Commencement Information
46th Annual Commencement Ceremony
7 p.m. Friday, May 10, 2013
Rice Center at Benedictine University
Due to the large number of graduates participating in the ceremony there are no additional tickets available for guests.
Live Streaming
Click here to watch the live stream of the commencement ceremony.
Location of Commencement 2013
Due to construction of the PE Building, this year's Commencement ceremony will be held at:
Benedictine University
Rice Center
5700 College Road
Lisle, IL
Please be aware there is no air conditioning in the Rice Center.
All students who plan to participate in the ceremony should have registered for the ceremony by Saturday, April 13. This can be done online or in person at the Office of Student Life, SSC 1217. In addition, graduates must visit the Office of Student Life by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 19, to pick up important ceremony information and tickets.
Commencement Contact Information
Office of Student Life
SSC 1217
(630) 942-2243
studentlife@cod.edu
Regular Office Hours:
Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Extended Office Hours for the week of April 8 to 13, 2013:
Monday to Thursday, April 8 to 11, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, April 12, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, April 13, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
**Please note that on the day of Commencement, Friday, May 10, the Office of Student Life will be closed.
Degree and Certificate Requirements
If you have any questions regarding your degree of certificate credits, please check with the Records office in the Student Resource Center (SRC), Room 2015, or call (630) 942-2260. It is not necessary to complete your degree requirements by May 2013, but they should be met by the end of the Summer 2013 term. Everyone will receive a diploma cover on the night of the Commencement Ceremony. The actual diploma will be mailed upon completion of your degree requirements.
Name in Commencement Program
If you petitioned to graduate through the Records office by March 15, your name will appear in the Commencement Program. This was the deadline for the program to go to print.
Caps, Gowns and Tassels
Commencement materials are available in the College of DuPage Bookstore beginning Monday, April 8. Graduates are encouraged to purchase their materials as soon as possible. If you plan to participate in the Commencement ceremony, you must wear the appropriate hunter green cap and gown. In 2010, we changed to a new shade of green so you will not be able to use previous years' regalia.
The prices are as follows:
Full Set of Hunter Green Regalia (cap/gown/tassel)........$37.99
Individual Silver Tassel......................................................$5.99
Individual Key Chain..........................................................$5.99
College of DuPage Bookstore Hours and Contact Information
Monday to Thursday, 7:45 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Saturday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(630) 942-2360
Regalia Guidelines
All graduates who choose to participate in the Commencement ceremony must wear the appropriate hunter green cap and gown, which can be purchased in the campus Bookstore up until the day of Commencement. In 2010 we changed to a new shade of green, you will not be able to use previous years' regalia. Purchasing early will ensure a correct fit.
Bookstore hours are listed here.
Honor Society membership recognition is through the individual purchase of a stole or cord. Please contact your honor society advisor for information. Only one stole may be worn and it must be from the approved list below:
Phi Theta Kappa – Gold Stole (and gold tassel)
Psi Beta – Gold Cords
Alpha Beta Gamma – Sapphire Blue Stole
Alpha Mu Gamma – Red and Blue Cords
Tau Upsilon Alpha – Blue, White and Gold Cords
Alpha Delta Nu – Apricot Cords
LEX Paralegal Honorary – Purple Stole
Day of Commencement Schedule
Friday, May 10
6 p.m. Graduates Report to
Tent Outside Krasa Center, Benedictine University
6 p.m. Doors Open for Guests at
the Rice Center, Benedictine University
7 p.m. Commencement Begins
9 p.m. Reception at the Tent outside
the Krasa Center, Benedictine University
Guest Tickets
Each graduate will receive three (3) guest tickets. Each guest, including infants, is required to have a ticket to attend the ceremony.
Due to space constraints there will be no additional tickets available.
Please keep the tickets in a safe place as they cannot be replaced if they are lost.
Guests Needing Assistance
Any guests who have difficulty walking long distances or navigating hills should be dropped off at the designated entrance. Seating accommodations are available for persons with wheelchairs (COD does not provide wheelchairs). If you indicated that you or any guests need assistance, e.g., sign language interpreters, you will receive further information from the Office of Student Life regarding assistance.
Rehearsal
There will not be a rehearsal before the ceremony. All graduates must report to the tent outside the Krasa Center by 6 p.m. to receive a seating assignment card and important instructions about the ceremony.
In case of inclement weather, please check your email or the Commencement website on the day of the ceremony.
Ceremony
The ceremony will begin precisely at 7 p.m. in the Rice Center at Benedictine University in Lisle.
Doors will open at 6 p.m. for guests. The Rice Center Arena is not air conditioned so please plan accordingly.
During the ceremony, there will be no place for graduates to store personal belongings. Any personal items must be carried with the graduate so we recommend leaving purses and other items with family members.
Wear comfortable clothes. The Rice Center may be warm and you will be on your feet.
The ceremony will last approximately two (2) hours.
Reception
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the graduates will process back to the tent outside the Krasa Center, where the reception will be held.
Graduates who are not staying at the reception should arrange ahead of time a location to meet their guests.
Graduates will not be able to get back into the Rice Center after the procession.
Photography
Graduates will receive a photographer's card along with their seating assignment prior to the ceremony.
During the ceremony, a professional photographer from GradTrak will take a photograph of each graduate receiving their diploma cover. There is no obligation to purchase the photo.
In order to ensure an orderly ceremony, we do not allow personal photographs and videos to be taken from the aisles. Personal photographs can be taken after the ceremony at the reception.
Approximately one week after the ceremony you will receive an email with ordering information. You may also visit www.GradImages.com.
DVDs
As a special gift this year, each graduate will receive a complimentary copy of the ceremony on DVD. This will be mailed to the graduate's home at the beginning of July.
If you have questions please contact the Office of Student Life at studentlife@cod.edu or (630) 942-2243.
College of DuPage
425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn IL
60137 (630) 942-2800
2012 College of DuPage
