Commencement

Links

Instructions to the Graduating Class

Things you should do before Commencement

1. Verify the accuracy of your name and degree as it is listed with your college office. Your name and degree being received will appear on your diploma and in the commencement program exactly as it is on the student database. If there is an error, notify your college office by Friday, November 20. Please make sure your name appears correctly, as changes will not be made after this date.

2. Make arrangements for your cap and gown. All graduates are required to wear authorized caps and gowns. The Graduate School and some professional colleges also require that graduates wear hoods.

Souvenir-type caps and gowns may be purchased from the Ohio State Bookstore, Student Book Exchange, and Buckeye Books. Ph.D. caps and gowns may be rented at Ohio State Bookstores only. Rental orders must be placed at the Ohio State Bookstore by 4:30 p.m., Friday, November 13. The fee is due at the time the order is placed.

Candidates for degrees wear the black mortarboard with a tassel that is a color distinctive of the degree being received. (See Tassel Colors.)

3. Resolve any outstanding financial obligations to Ohio State, such as library fines, parking tickets, or late registration penalties. You will not receive your diploma and may not order transcripts or have other documents released if you have unresolved financial obligations to the university. Questions regarding administrative or financial holds should be directed to the Office of the Registrar at (614) 292-8500.

4. Complete requirements for Student Financial Aid exit interview.
a.) Federal regulations require that all students who received a Federal Direct Loan (formerly Guaranteed Student Loan) while attending Ohio State complete an online exit interview prior to graduation. E-mail notification will be sent during the loan recipient's final quarter directing graduates to the exit interview web site. Please read the instructions carefully before completing the interview session.

b.) Students who have received money from the Perkins Loan, Health Professionals Student Loan or Nursing Student Loan Program while attending Ohio State are required to complete an on-line exit interview prior to graduation. Instructions will be sent during the quarter to the OSU or other e-mail address on record in the University Registrar's office. Complete the on-line exit interview as soon as possible after receiving this notificiation as a "hold" will be placed on your records until the interview is complete.

5. Check your grades on the University Registrar's website (www.ureg.ohio-state.edu) after you have taken final exams, and watch for e-mail messages from your college office regarding your grades. Grades for exams taken Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be posted by 12 Midnight on Thursday, and grades for exams taken Thursday will be posted by 12 Noon on Friday. If your college office cannot certify your eligibility to graduate by noon on Saturday, December 12, you may participate in commencement, but you will not receive your diploma at commencement.

6. If you are unable to attend commencement, please click here for procedures to obtain your diploma.

7. If you are a graduate with a permanent or temporary disability and may need assistance during the ceremony, please contact the Office of Commencement and Special Events at (614) 292-9051.

Instructions for Rehearsal

Sunday, December 13, 2009

1. Assemble promptly by 10:00 AM in the Auxiliary Gym in the southwest lobby of the Schottenstein Center. Bring the instruction booklet that was mailed to you. If you did not receive a booklet, please contact your college.

PLEASE NOTE:

Candidates from the following colleges will NOT be mailed an instruction booklet: The Graduate School; Arts and Sciences; Education and Human Ecology; Engineering; Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences; and Nursing. These colleges will instead send an informational email to each graduate with your line number for commencement day. If you do not receive an email by Tuesday, December 8, please contact your college.

2. Find the sign for your college then take your place in line behind your sign. Your place is indicated by your college and line number printed on the front cover of your instruction booklet or in the email sent by your college. College personnel will be present to assist you.

3. Do not wear caps and gowns at rehearal.

4. Rehearsal will last about one hour.

Instructions for Commencement Day

Sunday, December 13, 2009

1. Arrive on campus by 1:00 PM. Bring your instruction booklet with you.

2. Parking at the Schottenstein Center is available at no charge in lots north of Borror Drive, in the South Riverbank lot along Olentangy River Road. and in the St. John Arena lots on Lane Avenue. Shuttle buses will run between the "Buckeye" lots just south of Ackerman Road, and the northeast rotunda of the Schottenstein Center.

Disability parking is available in lots directly adjacent to the Schottenstein Center on a first-come, first-served basis. A permanent or temporary Ohio or other state-issued Disability placard is required. Additional disability parking is available in the "Buckeye" lots where lift-equipped shuttles run to the Schottenstein Center.

Click here to view parking map.

3. Assemble promptly by 1:20 PM in the Auxiliary Gym in academic costume and line up as you did at rehearsal. Only graduates are permitted in this area. As you enter you will be given a copy of the commencement program that lists your name in proper sequence. One copy of the program will be provided for each graduate.

4. Allow extra time if you have guests that need to be escorted to a seat. The Jerome Schottenstein Center provides easy access for guests with permanent or temporary disabilities. Seating for those guests is located throughout the arena. Guests in wheelchairs, as well as those who are unable to climb stairs, and one companion are permitted in these areas.

An American Sign Language interpreter will be present for the ceremony. Seating for hearing impaired guests will be located in Section 121. Due to space limitations, we ask that only one other person be seated with the guest in this area. Further information is available in the on-line Accessibility Guide for the Jerome Schottenstein Center or by calling the Office of Commencement and Special Events at (614) 292-9051. Some services described in the on-line Accessibility Guide are limited for commencement.

Click here to view seating chart.

5. Advise your guests that photographs must be taken from the stands- only press photographers are permitted on the arena floor. Designated areas will be reserved for picture taking. No permanent seating or placement of video cameras is permitted in these areas. Guests should be courteous and respectful of all those wishing to take photgraphs.

A professional photographer will take a photgraph of each graduate as diplomas are received. A complimentary photo will be mailed to the graduate within one month after graduation. You are not obligated to order photographs; this is merely a service.

6. Wear the tassel on the left side of your cap.

The Ceremony

The ceremony begins at 2:00 PM. No tickets are required. During the ceremony, which will last approximately 2 1/2 hours, the President, the Provost, and your cadet marshals will provide directions. Please listen carefully to their signals.

Graduates who have elected to participate in the commencement ceremony should remain for the entire ceremony. Participation in the ceremony is reserved for graduates only.

The Prelude
In Value City Arena from 1:30 to 2:00 PM.

The Processional
Will leave the Auxiliary Gym at 1:55 PM and move into the arena at 2:00 PM. Please be seated as soon as you reach your proper seat.

Invocation
Please stand at the President's signal.

Commencement Address

Conferring of Honors

Conferring of the Ph.D.
The Provost will ask all Ph.D. candidates to rise and the president will confer the degree. Led by the cadet marshal, candidates will file to the platform, one row at a time, receive the hood, cross the platform, receive their diplomas from the President as their names are called, return to their seats, and be seated. As a courtesy to all others receiving diplomas, we ask that all Ph.D. graduates remain for the duration of the ceremony.

Conferring of other Degrees
The Provost will ask the graduates from each college to rise and will present them to the President. When all colleges have been presented and are standing, the President will confer the degrees.

Awarding of Diplomas
Graduates will rise by rows and move to the diploma boxes as directed by the cadet marshals. Except for the Ph.D.s., graduates names are not called as the diploma is received.

While every effort will be made to ensure that each graduate will receive his or her correct diploma during the ceremony, if you do not, go to the Auxiliary Gym in the Schottenstein Center immediately following the ceremony. Limited assistance will be provided there for one hour after ceremonies for diploma problems (misspelled name, wrong diploma). Questions about your academic eligibility to receive a diploma should be referred to your college office. Academic units may be contacted on Monday following commencement. If you do not receive a diploma becuase there is a "hold" on your record, please follow the instructions you received for resolving the hold.

If you detect a spelling error in your name on your diploma, please contact the Office of Commencement and Special Events, 1060 Blankenship Hall, 901 Woody Hayes Drive, Columbus, OH 43210-4016; (614) 292-9051, after commencement day.

Singing of Carmen Ohio
Graduates and guests will be led in the singing of the alma mater.

Recessional
Please remain seated until your cadet marshal signals your row to rise and join the recessional line. The lines will move out after the faculty. To avoid congestion in the corridors, graduates are asked to arrange to meet family and friends outside the Schottenstein Center.

As a courtesy to all those attending commencement, graduates and guests are asked to refrain from using horns and other noisemakers during the ceremony.


If you are unable to attend Commencement

1. Verify the accuracy of your name and degree with your college office. Your name and degree will appear on your diploma and in the commencement program exactly as it is on the student database. If there is an error, notify your college office by Friday, November 20. Please make sure your name appears correctly, as changes will not be made after this date.

2. Complete a commencement absence form at your college office. This form must be completed if you do not plan to attend commencement. The information you provide is essential for you to receive your diploma.

3. If you would like to receive your diploma by mail, provide a complete mailing address that you are certain will be valid after commencement. Your diploma will be sent by U.S. Mail. Ohio State does not assume responsibility for nondelivery if the address you provide is incorrect. You should receive your diploma within one month. To have your diploma mailed outside the U.S., you must provide the confirmed address in writing to your college office by December 4.

4. If you would like to pick up your diploma, go to room 320 Lincoln Tower, Office of the University Registrar, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM on commencement day or during working hours until December 31. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. If you are unable to pick up your diploma personally during the allotted time period, you may send someone else with a letter granting that person permission to obtain this document on your behalf. If your diploma remains unclaimed, an attempt will be made to mail it to your home address as listed on the student database after one month. Diplomas returned in the mail or unclaimed in the Office of the University Registrar will be held for one quarter following commencement. Diplomas requested after this time period must be reprinted at the graduate's expense.

If you do not file a commencement absence form and last-minute circumstances prevent you from attending the ceremony, your diploma will be mailed to your home address as listed on the student database within one month or your diploma can be picked up in room 320 Lincoln Tower until December 31.

Your Academic Record and Transcripts

As a graduate of Ohio State, your academic record, or transcript, remains in the permanent safe keeping of the university and documents your academic progress for various purposes.

Transcript requests should be sent to: The Ohio State University, Office of University Registrar, 320 Lincoln Tower, 1800 Cannon Drive, Columbus, OH 43210-1230. Your request should include: the full name(s) under which you were registered; your social security number; your date of birth; the college(s)/school(s) in which you were registered; and your most recent date of attendance. Send $7 for each copy requested in check or money order payable to The Ohio State University. Please do not send cash. All university fees are subject to change. You may also order your transcript online for $9.25.

If you have further questions regarding your transcript, please call (614) 292-0776 for prerecorded transcript information or (614) 292-8500 for additional information regarding your academic record, or visit the University Registrar website.

Tassel Colors

  • Graduate School (Ph.D.) gray; (others) black
  • Colleges of the Arts and Sciences white
    • College of the Arts (B.A., B.S. Design) white; (others) brown
    • School of Music (B.A.) white; (others) pink
    • College of Biological Sciences white
    • College of Humanities white
    • College of Mathematical and Physical Sciences white
    • College of Social and Behavioral Sciences white
      • School of Communication (B.A.) white;
        (B.A. Journalism) crimson
  • Fisher College of Business drab
  • College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences maize
    • School of Environment and Natural Resources blue-green
  • College of Dentistry lilac
  • College of Education and Human Ecology
    • Education light blue
    • Human Ecology maroon
  • College of Engineering orange
    • Knowlton School of Architecture blue-violet
  • Moritz College of Law purple
  • College of Medicine green
  • College of Nursing apricot
  • College of Optometry sea-foam green
  • College of Pharmacy olive green
    College of Public Health salmon
  • College of Social Work citron
  • College of Veterinary Medicine gray

Accommodations

Hotel reservations can be made on a space-available basis at the university's The Blackwell Inn and Conference Center , 2110 Tuttle Park Place, 1-866-247-4003 or the University Plaza Hotel, 3110 Olentangy River Road, 1-877-677-5292. For a list of other hotels located in the campus area, go to the Local Hotel Listing page. Hotel reservations should be made well in advance of commencement.

Announcements and Yearbook

Graduation announcements are available for purchase from the Tuttle Copy Center, located in the Tuttle Parking Garage, (614) 292-2000. Announcements can also be ordered through the Barnes & Noble-The Ohio State University Bookstore online partner, www.CBGrad.com. Call (614) 247-2000 with questions.

The Makio yearbook is a wonderful keepsake of your Ohio State experience. To order, call (614) 292-8763 or visit the Makio web site.

For More Information and Updates

For further information about Autumn Commencement, call the Office of Commencement and Special Events at (614) 292-9051. Also check this website periodically for updates, as all information is subject to change. For further information about the Jerome Schottenstein Center, visit www.schottensteincenter.com