Guide for Parents - Commencement 2008
General Information
Commencement Weekend is scheduled for May 30 and 31, 2008. Baccalaureate will be held at 4:00 p.m. Friday, May 30 in the Brock Center on the campus of Randolph-Macon College. Baccalaureate is an hour-long worship service for graduates and their families. The service is led by The Rev. Darrell Headrick, College Chaplain. Commencement will be held Saturday, May 31 at 10:00 a.m. at the Frank E. Brown Fountain Plaza.
In the event of rain, Commencement will be held in the Brock Center. Should this happen, we must limit each graduate to six guests. Graduates may pick up tickets for their guests from the Campus Center Friday, May 30, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Tickets not collected by 4:00 p.m. Friday, May 30, may be picked up Saturday, May 31, between 8:30 - 9:30 a.m. in the Campus Center. Lost tickets will not be replaced. We will do everything within our power to hold Commencement outdoors. Once the ceremony has begun and, should a light drizzle occur, Commencement will continue outdoors. However, in the event of heavy rain or the threat of an electrical storm after the start of the ceremony, the Provost of the College will instruct the graduates and their sponsors to go directly to the Brock Center to be lined up properly. Other guests will immediately seek shelter and report to the Brock Center one hour later, at which time the ceremony will resume. Once admitted into the Brock Center, a guest who leaves the facility, will not be re-admitted. Guests who do not have Commencement admittance tickets to the Brock Center can go to Blackwell Auditorium to view the Commencement Exercises on television.
Randolph-Macon's Commencement ceremony includes the placing of an academic hood on the graduating senior by a sponsor of the student's choosing. Therefore, all Graduates and sponsors need to assemble at 9:00 a.m. on Commencement Day at the flagpole (near Old Chapel). Each sponsor will carry the graduate's hood during the processional. In the event of rain, students and sponsors will assemble in Alumni Gymnasium at 9:00 a.m.
As each graduate receives his or her diploma from President Lindgren, an official graduation photograph will be taken. Please remind your graduate to dress appropriately.
We will offer prearranged parking for the disabled. Please note, however, that special parking for persons with disabilities will be provided for one car per family only and to those who have a ticket from R-MC entitled "Prearranged Parking for Persons with Disabilities." We also have a special seating section, which can accommodate persons with disabilities and one accompanying person. If you need to speak with someone, please contact Charlotte Parrish, cparrish@rmc.edu or by telephone at 804-752-7238. For any other concerns, please contact the appropriate office listed on the "College Contacts for Baccalaureate/ Commencement Information" sheet.
A picnic-style luncheon will be served on the college grounds immediately following Commencement. In the event of rain, the luncheon will be served in the Crensahw Gymnasium.