Commencement

All graduates attending Commencement with guests should complete the Guest Registration Information form as soon as possible. This form must be completed prior to the arrival of any guest on campus.

Saint Joseph’s College is a tobacco-free campus. Pets are not allowed at commencement- only leashed service animals. Please do not leave dogs in your car.

• Speeches will be pre-recorded and posted here for viewing on Friday, May 7.
• On Saturday morning, May 8, each graduate will participate in a “Grad Walk” across the stage with your two guests present in the viewing area. All graduates and guests must be masked at all times.
• You and your guests will be assigned to a Grad Walk group, along with a designated area to line up.
• Graduates should plan to line up by 9:00am on Saturday morning. You will be assigned to either Group A, B or C based on degree earned. And you will line up within your group based on your assigned number (i.e., A1, A2, A3 etc.). 

Where are the groups lining up? (Signs will direct you)

• If you are in Group A, you will be lining up along the walkway that runs next to the Alfond Center. The line will extend around the perimeter of the Alfond Center parking lot.
• If you are in Group B, you will be lining up on the walkway near the entrance of the Alfond Center parking lot (by the crosswalk). The line will extend up pass the Campus Safety and along the walkway by the fishbowl.
• If you are in Group C, you will line up along the walkway that travels from Alfond Hall to Alfond Center.

Guest Arrival Times:

• Guests with a graduate in Group A should arrive by 9:15am and plan on lining up with their graduate.
• Guests with a graduate in Group B should arrive by 9:30am and plan on lining up with their graduate.
• Guests with a graduate in Group C should arrive by 9:45am and plan on lining up with their graduate.
• Guests with a Special Needs Parking Pass should arrive by 9:30am and make their way to the Student Lounge by the tent entrance before the procession begins.

Mask Wearing:

• Even though the Maine CDC has adjusted their guidelines regarding mask wearing outdoors, everyone must wear a mask while on campus– inside and outside.

• You will walk together in a procession to the tent. Note: During lineup, you will receive a reader card that lists your name to ensure your name is read correctly when you walk across the stage. Hang on to it!
• You and your guests will enter the tent in small groups. Your guests will enter the viewing area (standing room only). When it is your turn, you will walk down the right aisle towards the stage. At the stage, you will pick up a blank diploma cover and place your reader card on the small podium. When your name is read, climb the stairs and greet President Dlugos and Dr. Pardales. Turn to face the guests in the viewing area, if you are an undergraduate, you will turn your tassel and the photographer will take your picture on stage. This portion of the Commencement ceremony will be livestreamed.
• Upon leaving the stage, you and your guests will exit the tent to the lawn next to Mercy Hall. We are asking that you and your guests take pictures away from the tent, maintain social distance from other graduates and their guests while on campus grounds, and continue wearing masks while on campus.

How Graduates and Guests Will Flow in the Tent

Click on the image to view a larger diagram of the tent’s flow.

I’m Living on Campus, What Do I Do With My Car?
We ask that beginning Friday, all students move their vehicles to the ballfield lot in order to create spaces for your guests on Saturday, May 8th.

When Will I Be Getting My Diploma?
We plan on mailing diplomas to students next week, after all grades are submitted and all academic/financial clearances have been met. We also plan to update student transcripts next week to reflect the conferral of your degree(s).

What If I’m Completing Degree Requirements Over Summer 2021?
Some students will be completing their degree requirements over the May Semester/Summer 2021. These students will still be allowed to march with their classmates in the May ceremonies, but will not receive their diploma until the next conferral date (September 1, 2021). These students are still considered part of the Class of 2021. If a student does not have all degree requirements met by August 31, 2021, he/she will automatically be considered for December 2021 graduation (which is part of the Class of 2022).

What If I Am Graduating With Distinction?
Since the Commencement Programs and diplomas are printed prior to the end of the Spring semester, any distinctions (e.g. cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude) on those two documents are based on the student’s cumulative grade point average at the conclusion of the Fall 2020 semester. The student’s academic transcript, will however, always denote that distinction based on all final grades (including Spring/Summer 2021). We will make every attempt to update the diploma to reflect the Spring/Summer 2021 semester grades prior to mailing.

What If I Have A Financial Hold?
Students with a financial hold on their record will not have their diploma(s) mailed until after all financial obligations have been met. The Office of Student Accounts will make every effort to alert students who are in this situation. If you are unsure whether this applies to you, try accessing your unofficial transcript in Campus Café. If you are unable to access the record, please contact Student Accounts at 207-893-7732.

How Will We Be Lining Up?
The students/guests will be lining up alphabetically by degree. The order is as follows:
Master of Accountancy
Master of Arts
Master of Business Administration
Master of Divinity
Master of Health Administration
Master of Science in Education
Master of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Social Work
Associate of Science

Where Will I Be Lining Up on Saturday, May 8th?
We have an alphabetical listing of those students who indicated on their Application for Graduation that they planned to attend on Saturday. In this list there is both a GROUP (A B or C) and NUMBER (1, 2, 3….). Students will want to know both their Group and Number (ex. Albert Einstein – Group B, Number 24). A map is also included which shows which parking lots guests should park in based on the group the graduating student is in. Upon driving onto campus, you will simply let the attendant know which GROUP the student is in, and they will direct you to the appropriate parking lot.

Where Are The Groups Lining Up? (Signs will direct you)

• If you are in Group A, you will be lining up along the walkway that runs next to the Alfond Center. The line will extend around the perimeter of the Alfond Center parking lot.
• If you are in Group B, you will be lining up on the walkway near the entrance of the Alfond Center parking lot (by the crosswalk). The line will extend up pass the Campus Safety and along the walkway by the fishbowl.
• If you are in Group C, you will line up along the walkway that travels from Alfond Hall to Alfond Center.

Guest Arrival Times:

• Guests with a graduate in Group A should arrive by 9:15am and plan on lining up with their graduate.
• Guests with a graduate in Group B should arrive by 9:30am and plan on lining up with their graduate.
• Guests with a graduate in Group C should arrive by 9:45am and plan on lining up with their graduate.
• Guests with a Special Needs Parking Pass should arrive by 9:30am and make their way to the Student Lounge by the tent entrance before the procession
  begins.

Each Graduate is allowed only two guests on campus for this event.

Practice social distancing- 6 ft apart

Wear comfortable shoes – you may be standing in a line for a while.

Consider bringing a water bottle. Graduates make a plan to hand off your water bottle to one of your guests when you enter the tent.

Watch the weather forecast – this ceremony will occur rain or shine. Lineup is outside. Dress for the weather

If weather is inclement and requires umbrellas- Graduates make a plan to hand off your umbrella to one of your guests when you enter the tent.

• Wear masks at all times- inside and outside
• Practice social distancing- 6 ft apart