Information for Graduates
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For the latest information on Commencement Exercises at Keystone College, please read below.
Commencement Decorum
While recognizing that Commencement is a celebration for our graduates, it is important for students to remember that it is also a formal academic ceremony to be conducted with dignity and decorum. Graduates are asked to celebrate their accomplishments in a way that does not disrupt the ceremony. Courtesy also requires that graduates remain in their seats during the ceremony until instructed to move to the stage area. Cell phones/smart phones should be turned off during the ceremony.
Dress
Students often inquire about acceptable attire for Commencement Exercises. Following please find a list of suggested attire:
Men should arrive in dress shirts, dark ties, dark dress pants, dark socks, and dark shoes.
Women should arrive in dresses, slacks or pantsuits and dark shoes with low heels (to prevent heels from sinking into the ground on Bailey Field). No flowers or decorations may be worn or carried. Also, bring bobby pins to secure your mortarboard (cap).
Women may wear their academic caps throughout the ceremony. Men should remove their caps for the invocation, National Anthem, and benediction.
Invitations & Tickets
Formal invitations will be issued by Keystone College for families and friends of graduates at Grad Finale. If the graduating student does not attend Grad Finale, he/she is responsible to pick up the invitations at the College's Bookstore.
Tickets are required for admission to the tent on Bailey Field where Commencement will be held. There is a limit of five guest tickets per student for seating under the tent. Additional bleacher seating outside of the tent will be available. Graduates may request a maximum of two extra tickets for tent seating. Requests should be submitted to the Financial Assistance and Planning Office and will be honored on a first come, first-served basis depending on ticket availability. The availability of extra tickets will be determined on May 16, at which time graduates will be notified. Additional announcements (not tickets) may be purchased at Grad Finale or at the Bookstore.
Graduate Reporting Information
All graduates should report to the lawn in front of Capwell Hall no later than 12:30 p.m. on Commencement day. In the event of inclement weather, graduates should report to Brooks Hall.
Following is a timeline for graduates:
| 12:30 p.m. |
Graduates, faculty, administrators, and staff will put on caps and gowns on the lawn in front of Capwell Hall. In case of inclement weather, caps and gowns will be put on in Brooks Hall. Graduates will line up alphabetically as outlined below. Please be on hand and answer promptly when called to your place in the procession. |
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| 12:45 p.m. |
Line up for academic procession on cross-campus walk as directed by marshals. At this time, honor graduates will receive a gold cord from the Registrar to be worn during Commencement.
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| 1:45 p.m. |
Academic procession to Bailey Field |
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| 2 p.m. |
Commencement exercises begin |
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At the conclusion of the Commencement exercises, the stage party, followed by trustees, faculty, administrators, and staff, will recess at the direction of the marshals, forming a double line. On direction, graduates will march by twos to the end of Bailey Field between the double line of trustees, faculty, administrators, and staff, breaking formation at the end of the double line. |
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| 4:30 p.m. |
President and Mrs. Edward G. Boehm, Jr., will host a reception for students, guests, trustees, faculty, administrators, and staff in the Student Restaurant, Hibbard Campus Center. |