2008 English Department Spring Commencement Information

DATE: Sunday, May 18, 2008
TIME: 3:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Greek Theatre
GATES OPEN: 2:00 PM
NAME READER: Professor Alan Nelson
RECEPTION: 5:00 PM, Campanille Esplanade


The English Department does not have a rehearsal for Commencement. Please familiarize yourself with the following ceremony details in advance so your commencement can run smoothly. Thank you for your assistance.



PARTICIPATION IN COMMENCEMENT

Eligibility for Participation: All graduating students in the academic year 2007-2008 may attend this Spring's Commencement ceremony. This includes all Fall 2007, Spring 2008, and Summer 2008 graduates.

Students who plan to graduate in Fall 2008 and would like to participate in this ceremony must meet with the Undergraduate Advisor before April 30th.

Degree List: If you plan to complete your degree, you must put yourself on the degree list. If you did not do so via Telebears, contact the College of Letters & Science.

Honors: Honors in English cannot be granted without the successful completion of the Honors Course, English H195A/B.

All students graduating with honors in the English major may purchase Honors Cords to wear at the commencement ceremony. The Gift & Apparel section of the ASUC will have a list of all students in English H195B, Spring '08 as eligible for purchasing an Honors Cord.

No distinction is made during the commencement ceremony between honors students and non-honors students. Honors are marked in the commencement program.



REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE:

Undergraduates: To participate in the English Department's Commencement, and to have your name printed in the program, please RSVP by completing the Registration Form, between April 1, 2008 and April 30, 2008. A link to the Registration Form can be found in the upper left corner of this page.

Confirmation of undergraduates' online registration is a two- or three-step process as of 2009: 1) Following your online registration you should receive a confirmation email; 2) One week following the registration deadline, please check to see that your name appears on the registration listing. This listing will be posted on the wall to the right of the entrance to 322 Wheeler; if your name is on the list, you need not take any further steps. 3) If your name is NOT posted on the list, please bring a copy of your confirmation to the front desk.

Graduating Ph.D. students, or those who have already graduated, and intend to participate in the English Department’s commencement, please complete and return the Commencement Participation form to the English Graduate Office, 319 Wheeler, no later than Thursday, April 26th.  (The form is available in the Graduate Office or by contacting Lee Parsons at ltp@berkeley.edu.)



ADMISSION TO THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY
Admission to the ceremony will be by ticket only; Graduates dressed in cap and gown and children under two will not need tickets.

Graduating students who have registered to participate in Commencement will be given two (2) free tickets which may be obtained from the English Department (322 Wheeler Hall) as of May 6th. The office is open from 9-12 and 1-4, Monday through Friday.

Please note that the tickets must be picked up during regular business hours: 9 AM-12noon and 1-4 PM Monday through Friday.


Additional Tickets: You, your family, and friends may purchase an unlimited number of additional tickets at $6 each through the following means:
1) CAL PERFORMANCES, either in person at 101 Zellerbach Hall, by phone at 510-642-9988, or on the web at http://tickets.berkeley.edu. 2) Tickets may also be purchased at the Greek Theatre the day of COMMENCEMENT.



CAP AND GOWN RENTAL
Your cap and gown may be rented from the ASUC Store (see flyer outside the English Department Office, 322 Wheeler).

Information about the return of your cap and gown will be available from the ASUC Store when you pick them up.

If you have any questions concerning rentals, call (510) 642-9000 X 678.

Graduation announcements and individual name cards may also be purchased at the ASUC Store.



VALEDICTORY ADDRESES
If you are interested in delivering a student speech at the English Department's Commencement ceremony this year, please submit a proposed speech between April 1st and 30th to 322 Wheeler Hall. Submissions must be typed, double-spaced, and no longer than four pages.



PHOTOGRAPHY
Bob Knight Photography will take three pictures as you receive your scroll. You are under no obligation to buy them, but information will be sent to you via e-mail for consideration.



DIPLOMA
The English Department does not handle diplomas. The scroll you will receive at the commencement ceremony will commemorate all Commencement exercises of the Departments, Schools, and Colleges of the Berkeley Campus of the University of California.

Diplomas are generally available about four months after your graduation date at the Office of the Registrar (120 Sproul Hall, 643-7490), or you can have it mailed to you. For more information, please visit the Office of the Registrar.

If you need proof of completing your degree before the Registrar has processed your diploma, you may obtain a Certificate of Completion from them. More information regarding the Certificate of Completion is available on the Registrar's web site.



ACCOMMODATIONS AND VENUE INFORMATION

Accommodations: For local hotel suggestions, visit the Cal Parents Resource Guide at http://calparents.berkeley.edu/guide/visiting/stay.html

Venue: To locate the Greek Theatre (B-C/6) and the Campanile Esplanade (C/4.5), on the Berkeley Campus, please visit http://berkeley.edu/map/maps/large_map.html.

For directions to, and a photo of the Greek Theatre, please visit http://facilities.calperfs.berkeley.edu/greek/. Please study the photo in this link for visual guidance throughout the Commencement process.

Seating in the Greek Theatre is plentiful and is available on a first-come first-serve basis.

A large outdoor facility, the Greek Theatre offers no protection from the elements, so you may want to recommend that your guests be prepared to protect themselves from the sun as well as the cold and rain. For current information, be sure to check the weather forecast on the day of Commencement. Some items to consider bringing are as follows: a cushion to sit on, an umbrella, sunblock, visor/hat, water, jacket/coat.

Since seating at the Greek Theatre and walking to the Campanille Esplanade will be on a relatively steep, and at times uneven incline, walking shoes are suggested for safety as well as comfort.

For wheelchair accessibility to the Greek Theatre, please use the ramps at the main entrance to the theatre or at the South Gate. There will be designated wheelchair seating inside the Greek Theatre. Restrooms are available to accommodate wheelchairs.

Parking is difficult to find in the area. A long walk will be required from the car to the theatre. We urge you to drop off those who may have difficulty walking the distance.

For more information, please go to the Parking and Transportation website at http://pt.berkeley.edu

Disabled parking is available next to the Greek Theatre in the Bowles Parking Lot; please notify the English Department if you need disabled parking. There will be a charge for a parking space.



UNIVERSITY-WIDE SPRING AND FALL CONVOCATIONS: Students who complete their degree in the fall may choose to attend the December Convocation in place of, or in addition to the Spring English Department Commencement. There is also a spring convocation for those who complete their degree requirements in the spring.

For more information regarding a Convocation, you may
1) Email the Department of Graduation Ceremonies at cal_seniors@berkeley.edu, or
2) Visit their website at http://seniors.berkeley.edu/senior_class_gift/contact_us.cfm

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Last modified: May 29, 2008