St. George’s University
Class of 2022 Grenada Commencement Ceremony
2022 Commencement Information
Commencement is the ceremony that celebrates the completion of your degree. Participation in the ceremony does not imply you have officially graduated. Commencement ceremonies are held each year in May and are a time to gather and celebrate the incredible achievements of our graduates.
Registration
Students must complete the graduation ceremony registration form in order to be eligible to participate in the ceremony. The registration form will be provided to you via your SGU email account. If you did not receive access to the registration form, please email grenadagraduation@sgu.edu.
Tickets
Tickets are required for guests to be admitted to the graduation ceremony and are all general admission. Each candidate will receive two (2) guest tickets. All persons needing a seat (including children 3 years and older) must have a ticket, otherwise they cannot be allowed entry. Children under the age of two may sit on an adult’s lap and do not need tickets.
Due to space limitations at our venue, extra tickets are limited, and extra ticket requests will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Graduates do not need tickets to participate in their assigned ceremony, however graduates will be required to have a ticket for entry to the reception. A reception ticket will be provided on graduation day to graduates during the gowning session.
Commencement ceremonies are free, ticketed events. There is no charge for tickets to commencement; University policy prohibits the selling of commencement tickets for money or commercial value, and violations will result in serious consequences.
Accessibility Accommodation and Special Needs
We aim to accommodate the accessibility and support requirements of any of our graduands and their guests wishing to attend the ceremony. Special seating arrangements may be made for persons with accessibility requirements (e.g., physical, visual) or require a caretaker to attend the celebration.
Please email events@sgu.edu at least two weeks prior to the ceremony with the following information:
- Name of graduate
- Name and number of guests requiring accessible seating/accommodation (total party)
- Phone number where party can be reached on graduation day
- Notes on accommodations needed (for example, walks with difficulty, uses wheelchair, uses motorized scooter, etc.)
We will do our best to accommodate your request and persons requiring special seating arrangements will be allowed to enter the venue prior to general seating.
Parking
Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Uniformed officers will be available to direct parking.
Academic Dress
Students
Graduands must wear appropriate apparel in order to participate in the commencement ceremony.
Regalia for undergraduate and graduate students must be ordered during the registration process through the registration process. Payment (payable at the Accounts Department) must be made prior to regalia collection.
MD and DVM students who intend to take part in the Grenada ceremony are responsible for ordering their own gowns from herffjones.com/college/sgu.
All students are responsible for bringing their regalia on the day of the ceremony. Caps and gowns will not be provided on the day of graduation.
Faculty
Faculty participating in the Grenada Commencement exercise must dress in their full academic regalia, including robe, tam and hood.
Portraits
Guests will not be allowed to approach the stage during the ceremony in order to take photos and/or videos. We appreciate your cooperation as we strive to ensure the safety of all graduates and guests.
On the day of the ceremony photos will be taken of each student when receiving their diploma.
You may also arrange to have seated portraits in your cap and gown. An official photographer will be available for individual sessions on campus prior to the ceremony. Caps and gowns will be available at these sessions.
Ceremony
The ceremony lasts approximately two hours and will include short addresses by distinguished speakers, the conferring of degrees, and the recessional. The ceremony will begin promptly with the academic procession and the entry of candidates.
Guests should be seated at least 30 minutes before the ceremony starts. Regrettably, due to the formal nature of the ceremony, late comers cannot be admitted.
At the end of the ceremony, the stage party and faculty will lead the recessional, followed by the graduates and then guests.
Awards
Honors Cords
If you receive an honors designation for GPA (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, or Summa Cum Laude), you will receive your honors cord on the day of the ceremony at the graduand assembly venue.
The names of the students receiving honors are identified in the commencement program and on the official academic transcript.
Please note that only students who have completed ALL of their degree program requirements will be issued the Honors cord. If you are walking (i.e., you are within six (6) credits of completing the requirements), you will NOT be issued an Honors cord.
Undergraduate Student Organization (USO) Cords
USO cords will be distributed on the day of the ceremony at the graduand assembly venue. Please contact your USO President/s to ensure that your name is on the list.
School of Medicine Honors
There are four honor designations for which graduates will receive honor cords: SGA representative, Gold Humanism Honor Society member, Iota Epsilon Alpha Honor Society member, and Research Designation.
School of Veterinary Medicine Honors
SGA Representative, Phi Zeta.
Commencement Program
All students who have met all graduation eligibility requirements will have their names printed in the program. Commencement programs will be available on graduation day and will be distributed by ushers as guests arrive.
If for any reason a student cannot attend graduation, they may request a program which can be collected on campus. This request must be made by email to grenadagraduation@sgu.edu using the subject line COMMENCEMENT PROGRAM REQUEST.
Diplomas
Diplomas will either be mailed or can be collected on campus once the Office of the Registrar has cleared you. The diploma that you receive on stage is a replica, designed to look attractive for the purpose of the ceremony.
Diploma frames and other SGU apparel are available for purchase online. Items will not be sold on graduation day. You may purchase SGU merchandise at sgu.promoshop.com.
Hooders
School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine graduates may choose to have a parent or spouse hood him/her on the day of the ceremony. This person MUST have a medical degree. A copy of license or diploma should be provided with your request. Your request should be communicated on your Graduation Ceremony Form. We will NOT accept hooders the day of the ceremony. Hooders will also require a ticket.
General FAQs
Will there be a live feed for friends and loved ones to view the Grenada ceremony online?
Yes! We will provide a live stream via SGU’s Facebook Page. A recording of the Grenada Commencement will be uploaded to YouTube after the event.
Will I receive my diploma the day of the ceremony?
You will NOT receive your diploma the day of the ceremony. Once you have been cleared by the Office of the Registrar, you will receive your official diploma in the mail. Please understand that your completion and diploma dates and the date of Commencement are independent of one another. Any questions concerning your completion date or diploma date should be directed to the Office of Registrar.
Is there assigned seating?
All tickets are general admission. Guests are invited to enter the venue sixty minutes prior to the start of the ceremony to obtain their seats.
Dress Requirements
Graduates and guests should dress appropriately. Keep in mind you will be in a gown, and it tends to get warm. Business casual is suitable for all.
Personal Belongings
Please refrain from bringing any personal belongings on the day of the ceremony. There will be no place to store these items.
How many guest tickets do I get?
Two tickets per student. The ticket gives your guests access to both the ceremony and the following reception. Additional tickets can be requested but are not guaranteed.
Do my guests need to present their tickets at the door?
Yes. Without a ticket for the ceremony/reception, they will be denied entry.
Are children allowed?
Yes, however it is not recommended to bring children under the age of 5: this is a formal ceremony, which young children may find too long. Children require their own ticket, but children under the age of two do not need a ticket and will be allowed on an adult’s lap.
How long is the ceremony?
Approximately two hours.
Where do my guests park?
Security officers will be present on the day to guide you to the appropriate parking locations. If you have guests that will require a little extra time, make sure to arrive early.
Will late guests be admitted?
No, so please make sure your guests know to arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony. The ceremony will start promptly as scheduled.
Can I make special accessibility requirements ahead of time?
If you have a guest that will need special assistance due to reduced mobility or other accessibility requirements, please contact the Office of Events (events@sgu.edu) ahead of time to make arrangements.
Is there a dress code for guests?
As this is a formal event and a special day for you and your guests, they should dress accordingly. Professional dress is recommended, such as would be worn to church. No jeans, shorts, flip-flops, torn or worn clothing, etc.
Ceremony FAQs
Where do the graduands sit?
In designated rows towards the front of the hall (near the stage). Ushers will be present on the day to guide you to the right location.
Can I sit next to my friend from a different program?
Unfortunately, not, since you will be seated and called to the stage according to the program that you are in.
How will I know when to go up to collect my certificate?
You will be called according to your program. Ushers will guide you on the day.
What is the process for being called up onto the stage?
Please refer to the Sakai site for information and for a useful video on what to do.
Where do I get my name card?
These will be distributed in the graduand assembly venue on the day.
I have a difficult to pronounce name!
Please write a phonetic version (i.e., spell it out as it sounds) onto the card in block capital letters.
Is there a rehearsal for the ceremony?
Registered graduands will be provided an instructional video in lieu of a formal rehearsal.
Regalia FAQs
Do I have to wear anything special on the day?
Yes, there is a dress code. It is professional dress (wear the clothes that you would go to a formal job interview in!)
Can I alter my gown (e.g., shorten it, add decorations, etc.)?
No. Your gown must be worn in the same state you were given it. Your hood will be sufficient decoration.
Should I clean or iron/press my gown?
No. The gowns have already been cleaned. Do not iron them, as you may damage the fabric. Once you have collected it, hang it up so that it does not become creased.
Can I bring a handbag?
You may find it difficult to manage one in addition to your hat, hood, program, etc., so it is recommended that you keep the items that you will need to carry to a minimum.
When will I get my Honors cord?
On the day in the graduand assembly venue. Please note that only students who have completed ALL of their degree program requirements will be issued with the Honors cord. If you are walking, i.e., you are within six credits of completing the requirements, you will NOT be issued with an Honors cord.
I am walking in May – will I still get an Honors cord?
No, since you have not yet completed the requirements of your degree. If wearing the Honors cord when you graduate is especially important to you, you should delay your graduation until next year when you have completed the requirements.
Where and when do I collect my gown, hood and hat?
Information on ordering gowns will be posted in the graduation Sakai site. Please ensure that you check this site regularly as it will serve as the main mode of communicating information to graduands. Gowns will be available for collection the week prior to graduation.
Which side does my hat tassel go on?
- Undergraduate students: Before graduating, the tassel should be on your right. During the ceremony, when you graduate, it will be moved to the left (you will be told when to do this!).
- School of Graduate Studies students: it is placed on the left before the ceremony and will not be moved (it is assumed that you have already participated in this ceremony upon receiving your first degree.)
Photos FAQs
Can I carry a camera along with me?
Yes.
Can guests take photographs during the ceremony?
Yes, but we would ask that they remain seated or try to minimize the extent to which they may block other guests’ views.
Are there any arrangements for Student Portraits?
Yes, during the week when students collect their regalia (usually the week leading up to graduation) a professional photographer will be stationed on campus to take personal portraits.
General Questions
Who do I ask for permission to walk?
If you are within six credits of fulfilling your requirement and wish to walk in May, you should write and formally request permission from the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences.
Graduate vs. Graduand – what is the difference?
Until you have formally graduated (i.e., you have become a graduate) you are a graduand.
Are there any arrangements for Student Portraits?
Yes, during the week when students collect their regalia (usually the week leading up to graduation) a professional photographer will be stationed on campus to take personal portraits.
Contact Information
Do you have questions not covered in the FAQs? Please address your queries to grenadagraduation@sgu.edu.
