Frequently Asked Questions
When is Commencement?
Commencement was held Saturday, May 16, 2009, at 11:00 a.m. on the Quadrangle.
How long does the Commencement Ceremony last?
The length of the ceremony was approximately 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
What is Baccalaureate, and is it a religious ceremony?
The Baccalaureate Ceremony, was held on Friday, May 15, 2009 at 5:30 p.m. The Baccalaureate Ceremony was a 60 minute ceremony featuring music and speeches by graduating students who would like to share their feelings and reflect upon their 4 years at WPI. Although not religiously focused, clergy do provide a brief opening and closing prayer.
Who should attend Baccalaureate?
The ceremony was open to all graduates, parents, and the campus population and was followed by a reception for all.
Is it necessary to attend Baccalaureate?
Attending Baccalaureate was not mandatory, but we encouraged attendance since the ceremony is planned by and for graduating students.
What happens in the event of inclement weather?
In the event of inclement weather, the Commencement Ceremony is moved inside the Harrington Auditorium. Each graduate received two tickets that admit guests to the auditorium. The other guests watched the ceremony from several video sites located on campus. Tickets were only needed in the event of rain and an indoor commencement.
How do I pick up the rain date tickets if I can't get to the Student Activities Office to pick them up?
Rain date tickets were available both the night before and the morning of Commencement at the Information Desk in the Campus Center.
How do I order my graduation cap & gown?
Academic regalia was available for purchase from the Barnes & Noble Book Store in the Campus Center. They can be contacted at +1-508-831-5247 or online at bkswpi@bncollege.com.
How do I order my graduation announcements?
You order your graduation announcements at the Barnes & Noble Book Store in the Campus Center. They can be contacted at +1-508-831-5247 or online at bkswpi@bncollege.com
Where do I park?
Parking was at a premium during that weekend. Commencement parking [PDF] is 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 were physically challenged, you were able to park on the Quad, where a limited number of parking spaces are reserved. Campus Police and student ushers were available to provide guests with assistance to a handicap parking and seating area.
What are the arrangements for handicap parking?
If you or your guests were physically challenged, you were able to park on the Quadrangle where a limited number of parking spaces were reserved for that purpose. If parking spaces on the Quadrangle were filled, handicapped persons were driven to the handicapped seating area. Vehicles were then be moved to the nearest parking area available. Campus Police and student ushers were available to assist guests to a reserved seating area.
Who do I contact in case of an emergency?
Contact any Campus Police Officer or volunteer on campus for help! Volunteers were identifiable by large name tags.
When will my son/daughter get their diploma?
Graduates received their diplomas as they cross the stage.
What do I do if I can't attend rehearsal?
It is important that all students attended the rehearsal to ensure that graduating students understood how the graduation line up and commencement ceremony were conducted. We recognize that there were a few students unable to attend the rehearsal. If you were unable attend, and reported to Boynton Hall at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday morning and you were given directions regarding the line up of graduates. The line up information was also available on the Commencement website.
Will I be able to take pictures during the ceremony?
Yes, although we discouraged guests from disrupting the ceremony, there was a photo area to the left of the stage, as indicated here. Ushers admitted guests to the area as the time neared for their graduates to receive his/her diploma. Standing in the aisles to take photographs was not permitted as it blocks the view of seated guests.
If I have made arrangement to stay in a Residence Hall, where do I pick up the key?
Keys for rooms in the Residence Halls were picked up at Residential Services in East Hall on Boynton Street if you arrived before 5:00 p.m. After 5:00 p.m., keys were picked up at Campus Police, located in the basement of Founders Hall on Boynton Street .
Information regarding eligibility of candidates is included below:
On May 8, 2009 by 5:00 PM all grades were due by faculty. Once they were received, the Office of the Registrar began the process of clearing candidates to participate in the Commencement ceremony. Between May 5, 2009 and May 9, 2009, the Office of the Registrar evaluated approximately 800 graduation applications. Students checked the student self-service module.
Once confirmed for graduation, students saw their status change from "Pending" to "Confirmed". Students who were confirmed were considered to be on the list of May 2009 graduates. Students were also be able to see if they made honors "High Distinction" or "Distinction" starting the week of May 13, 2009.
Should students have had concerns about their graduation status, they should have contact the Registrar's Office at +1-508-831-5211.
Maintained by webmaster@wpi.eduLast modified: July 22, 2009 11:45:05