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Family & Friends

The annual graduation ceremony was an important milestone in the lives of our students and their families. To help make sure that it was an enjoyable and memorable event for everyone, we provided more answers to some commonly asked questions about Commencement at WPI.

Viewing an Indoor Ceremony - In Case of Rain

Should an outdoor ceremony be impossible, the ceremony would take place in Harrington Auditorium. In that event, only guests with tickets would be admitted to the auditorium. Each candidate was provided with  2 tickets for family members. (No tickets are necessary for an outdoor ceremony.) Guests without tickets viewed a live broadcast of the indoor ceremony in the following locations (which were open regardless of the weather):

• Higgins Laboratories 116, 154, 202, 218
• Olin Hall 107, 223
• Salisbury Laboratories 104, 105, 115 (Kinnicutt Hall)
• Fuller Laboratories Auditorium (Perreault Hall)
• Atwater-Kent Laboratories 116 (Newell Hall), 219, 233
• Campus Center Hagglund Room, Mid-Century Room, Chairman's Room, Morgan Room, Taylor Room

Parking

Parking was at a premium during that weekend. Commencement parking [PDF] was available at nearby lots, including Gateway Park; shuttle buses  transported guests to and from the ceremonies on Friday and Saturday. If you or your guests are physically challenged, you were able to park on the Quad, where a limited number of parking spaces were reserved. Campus Police and student ushers were available to provide guests with assistance to a handicap parking and seating area.

Commencement Breakfast

Preceding commencement exercises on Saturday, May 16th, guests were invited to enjoy a delicious breakfast, which was served from 7:00 to 9:30 a.m. in Morgan Dining Commons. Cost for parents, students and guests was $13.95 per person, $7.95 for children under 12 (additional $2 per person for walk-ins). Tickets were ordered in advance at the Office of Student Activities, 3^rd floor, Campus Center. The menu was available online.

Processional and Recessional

The commencement ceremony began just before 11 a.m. with the processional. The graduates lined up in front of Boynton Hall in the following order: honorary marshal, the colors, ceremonial marshal, candidates for degrees (Ph.D.'s, Masters, Bachelors), and faculty members. The procession moved across Earle Bridge and followed the sidewalk in front of Alden Memorial, before moving into the driveway circling the Quadrangle. It passed Sanford Riley, took a 90 degree right turn onto the Quadrangle by the Bartlett Center, and moved down the center aisle toward the stage. Guests were asked not to block the progress of the processional or recessional. It was especially important to keep the center aisle clear so marchers may make their way to their seats. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the marchers, in reverse order, moved down the center aisle exit in the exact same manner and direction as the processional, past Riley Hall and Alden Memorial. Students followed the procession past Alden Memorial and proceeded into Reunion Plaza until the procession ended after passing the fountain area in Reunion Plaza.

Photographs and Videos

The photographs and videos taken will be treasured mementos. The following information should have helped all of our guests get the photos they wanted.

Photos before the ceremony: Degree candidates lined up for the procession around 10 a.m., with Ph.D candidates lining up first, followed by Masters candidates, and Bachelors candidates.The procession began in front of Boynton Hall and curved around the building toward Gordon Library. The line up of undergraduate students began near the library and continued into Freeman Plaza. Guests were asked to finish taking photos and proceed to the Quadrangle by 10:45.

Photos of the ceremony: Photos of the ceremony: Commencement Photographers Inc. took a photograph of every graduate receiving his or her diploma. The company mailed proofs and an order form to graduates or their families. In addition, WPI videotaped the entire ceremony from several vantage points. For more information about the photo service, you may call Commencement Photographers at +1-978-851-5924. To order copies of the video, call the Academic Technology Center at 508-831-5220. Please note that the open area in front of the stage was reserved for official WPI photographers, and that guest were not permitted to stand in the aisles during the ceremony. This helps assure that everyone has their special moment on the stage.

Photos after the ceremony: Some wonderful locations to capture a photo of your happy graduate after the ceremony include:

• The Stage Area: After the procession has left the Quadrangle, guests were invited to take photos on or near the stage (WPI banner and plantings in the background).

• Earle Bridge: Spanning West Street, the footbridge was decorated with flowering plants.

• Boynton Hall: WPI's first building, with its granite exterior and clock tower, is located just across the footbridge.

• Higgins House: This WPI mansion behind Harrington Auditorium is surrounded by plantings and formal gardens that were in full bloom at this time of year. To reach Higgins House, walk to the end of West Street, turn left onto Salisbury Street, then left onto John Wing Road.

Reception

A reception for graduates and their families and guests took place outdoors in and around Reunion Plaza (near the fountain) and at the Campus Center immediately following the Commencement ceremony. To make it easier for family members to meet each other after the ceremony, it was suggested that family members try to meet at the specific reception areas [PDF] designated by academic majors where food and beverage stations were be located. In the event of rain, the reception would have taken place in the Campus Center.

Amenities

Restrooms, drinking fountains and pay telephones are located on the entrance level of Harrington Auditorium, on the first floor and lower level of Sanford Riley Hall, and in the Wedge area of Morgan Hall. Drinking water stands were located on the sides of the Quadrangle near Daniels Hall and Harrington Auditorium.

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Last modified: July 22, 2009 11:43:04