University of Michigan - Flint

University of Michigan-Flint

December 2009 Commencement Ceremony

The December 2009 Commencement Exercises will be held on Sunday, December 13, 2009 at the Perani Arena and Events Center, located at 3501 Lapeer Road, Flint, MI 48503. The ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m. and is expected to last approximately 2½ hours. (Click here for driving directions to Perani Arena) 

Eligibility

All August 2009 graduates as well as December 2009 anticipated graduates may participate. Students planning to participate in this ceremony must register to participate by November 20th.

Tickets

Tickets are not required for admission to the December 2009 Commencement Ceremony.

Special Accommodations

If you require special accommodations due to physical limitations, please indicate this on the registration form. You will be contacted to further discuss the details of your required accommodation, or you may contact the Accessibility Coordinator, Zach Tomlinson, directly at (810) 424-5533 or by email at ztomlins@umflint.edu.


Grad Fair 2009

The Graduation Fair will be held in the University of Michigan-Flint Bookstore, Wednesday, October 28 from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm and Thursday, October 29 from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. The Bookstore is located on the first floor of the University Pavilion (106 UPAV).  You may contact the Bookstore at (810) 762-3030. 

Highlights of Graduation Fair

  • Purchase your cap and gown
  • Order your Balfour class ring
  • Order graduation announcements
  • Purchase your diploma frame
  • Join the UM-F Alumni Association



Cap and Gown

All degree candidates who participate in Commencement must wear appropriate academic attire. Caps and gowns are available for purchase at University Pavilion Bookstore any business day prior to the Ceremony.

Pricing:

Bachelors   $39.98 per package (cap, gown, tassel)
Masters  $75.96 per package (cap, gown, tassel, hood)
Doctoral  $143.96 per package (tam, velvet gown, hood)
   
  Some items may be sold separately, contact the Bookstore for more information.

 

To avoid any difficulty obtaining your correct size in cap and gown, attire should be picked up from the Bookstore as soon as possible.  For more information, go to http://umflint.bkstore.com/bkstore/content.

 

COMMENCEMENT DAY INSTRUCTIONS

Parking

The Perani Arena and Event Center is located at 3501 Lapeer Road, Flint, MI, 48503.  Parking is available for a fee per vehicle in the surface lots surrounding Perani Arena.  One free parking pass will be mailed to all pre-registered participants two weeks prior to the ceremony.  Any additional vehicles in a graduate's guest party will be required to pay the Perani parking fee at the gate. (Lost, misplaced or stolen passes will not be replaced. )

Please note that traffic backups are common in the hour before the ceremony.  We recommend that graduates and guests arrive early.  Carpooling is strongly recommended due to limited spaces.

Assembly for Graduates

CHECK-IN: Check-in will be held from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 13, 2009. Graduates participating in the ceremony should report to the lower level of Perani Arena no later than 1:30 p.m.  When you arrive, please report to the check-in tables provided by the Registrar's Office. The ceremony begins promptly at 2:30 p.m.

Only graduates and authorized personnel are allowed in the lower level of the Arena.  Please make arrangements with family and friends to meet in a designated area after the ceremony.

Personal belongings (purses, backpacks, etc) are not appropriate with ceremonial dress. Please make arrangements for storing personal items with family or friends before reporting to the registration area because there is no secure storage in the Perani Arena.

Upon check-in each graduate will receive a name card. If necessary, please indicate the phonetic pronunciation of your name to assist the Marshal. Your card contains a number that indicates your place in the line of march. You must line up according to this number. The line of march must be organized and orderly to facilitate the timely beginning of the ceremony.

Photography

Call Photography will take pictures of graduates walking on stage during the ceremony. They will also be available to take portraits in the registration area before the ceremony. Proofs of the photographs will be sent to graduates via their University email account after the ceremony. Call Photography may be contacted at 734.449.2467 or www.callphotography.com.

Seating Chart for Graduates

Click here to see where graduates will be seated during the ceremony.  Family and friends may use this chart to help plan for seating arrangements near their graduate.

Families and Guests

Guests must be seated 15 minutes before the start of ceremony. Guests arriving after 1:45 pm may experience traffic delays and limited parking options. 

Personnel will be available to direct and assist people with disabilities. Sign language interpreters will be present for those with hearing impairments.

Graduates should make arrangements for family and friends to meet in a designated area after the ceremony.

Miscellaneous

  • You will receive one diploma tube at the ceremony. Your actual diploma will be mailed at a later date.
  • Graduates and guests are expected to remain for the entire ceremony.
  • Alcoholic beverages, beach balls, balloons, etc. are not allowed and will be immediately confiscated.
  • Please turn off all cell phones and pagers prior to the ceremony.
  • A photo area will be available during the ceremony.

 

Inclement Weather

If the Ceremony must be postponed due to inclement weather, the cancellation will be posted on the University of Michigan-Flint homepage (www.umflint.edu), on the M-Formation line at (810) 767-1863, and on local television stations.

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