Caps, Gowns, Honor Cords, Announcements Oak Hall representatives will be in the Campus Center on the following dates to take orders.
Monday, March 5, 10 am - 4 pm
Tuesday, March 6, 10 am - 5 pm
Wednesday, March 7, 10 am - 4 pm
Regalia consists of:
- Black Bachelors Gown
- Black Mortar Board
- Black Tassel
- Bachelors Hood
Bachelor of Arts – White
Bachelor of Science – Gold
Caps, gowns and hoods must be ordered through the R-MC Bookstore.
Honor Cords/Medals
Cords or Medals representing Academic Honor Groups and Societies that are recognized by the College and earned by the graduate may also be worn during the Commencement Exercises.
No other regalia or adornment will be permitted. The institution reserves the right to prohibit a graduate from participating in the Commencement exercises if he or she does not abide by the College’s Regalia Protocol.
Honors Convocation (Fri., May 11)
The senior class will process in regalia. The procession will begin at 2:15 p.m. on the sidewalk in front of the R-MC Center for the Performing Arts (Blackwell Auditorium).
Senior Speaker
All graduation candidates are encouraged to compete for the privilege of representing the class of 2012 as the Senior Speaker
Application:
For consideration, please submit ELECTRONICALLY a complete application, as outlined below to the acting chair of the Committee on College Life, Professor Bissler by Monday April 2nd, at dbissler@rmc.edu
- A letter to the Committee on College Life stating briefly why you wish to be considered for Senior Speaker.
- Two letters of recommendation. One must be from a faculty member who is familiar with your academic performance. The second letter may come from another faculty member, or an administrator who has acted as your supervisor and is familiar with your professional work ethic. Please ask your recommenders to submit their letters of support electronically to the acting chair of the Committee on College Life by Monday April 4th, at dbissler@rmc.edu.
- A draft of your speech (NOT TO EXCEED 10 minutes) in which you may choose to address anything but you may want to consider addressing:
- issues pertinent to your peers in the graduating class/family members/faculty/administration/staff
- significant educational and personal moments of growth, the accomplishment of academic and personal goals
- meaningful and supportive relations developed at RMC
- preparation for real life accrued as a student at this institution
The Acting Chair of College Life will acknowledge through e-mail communication the receipt of all application materials.
Process of Selection:
The Committee on College Life will consider all complete applications on the following criteria:
- The depth, breadth, complexity and the stylistic appeal of the proposed speech.
- The endorsement of the supporting letters.
Up to four applicants from the overall pool will be invited to present their speeches in person to the Committee prior to the final selection. Please note that not all applicants will be invited to present their speech to the committee.
The selection of the Senior Speaker will be made by May 4th. The committee will provide the finalist with editorial suggestions that should be incorporated into the final speech.
Commencement Tickets
In the event of rain, Commencement will be held in the Brock Center. In preparation for this possibility, each graduate will receive tickets for six guests. Graduates may pick up tickets for their guests in the Campus Center on Friday, May 25, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets not collected by 4:00 p.m. Friday, May 25, may be picked up Saturday, May 26, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. in the Campus Center. Lost tickets will not be replaced. Any graduate not needing all six tickets is asked to return the unneeded tickets to the Campus Center so that they can be made available to graduates who have more than six guests. These additional tickets will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis Saturday, May 26 between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. in the Campus Center. Graduates' guests who do not have tickets can go to Blackwell Auditorium to view Commencement on television.
Inclement Weather Policy
Every effort will be made to hold Commencement outdoors. The ceremony will continue even if light rain occurs after the program begins. 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 give instructions from the podium for the graduates and their sponsors to go directly to the Brock Center. Guests should 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.
Vacating Campus Housing
All residence halls, including townhouses, special interest housing and Mullen Drive houses, must be vacated by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 26. College-owned fraternity and sorority houses (Alpha Gamma Delta, Delta Zeta, Kappa Sigma, and Sigma Phi Epsilon) must also be vacated by 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 26. The dates for vacating non-college owned houses (Kappa Alpha Theta, Theta Chi, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Phi Delta Theta) are determined by their housing corporations. Seniors may stay on campus during the week prior to Commencement.
Commencement Protocol
Wearing caps and gowns, graduates should assemble on the Jordan Wheat Lambert Historic Campus promptly at 9:00 a.m. Tassels should be worn on the right side of the caps. Faculty marshals will direct the graduates to the seating area where chairs will be marked with graduates' names. Graduates are to remain standing for the Invocation and the National Anthem.
Graduates will be called by degree groups to rise and stand in front of their seats. President Lindgren will say, "Upon the recommendation of the Faculty and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Board of Trustees and the Commonwealth of Virginia, I am pleased to confer upon you the degree Bachelor of Arts or Science with all the rights, privileges, and honors appertaining thereto." Once the degree has been conferred, tassels should be moved to the left side of the caps.
The marshals will direct graduates to the stage area. As each graduate's name is read, the graduate will walk across the stage, accept his/her diploma from President Lindgren, shake the President's hand and return to his/her seat. Following the Benediction, the graduates should remain standing until the marshals give directions for the recessional.
Updated 1/4/12