PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
Senior Packet:
This packet contains information that will be helpful to you during Commencement weekend. Please take the time to read it. If held outside, the ceremony will be at the central campus stage. Folding chairs and bleachers will be set up. You are also provided with a Weekend Schedule of Events which should be shared with guests and family members.
Weather:
If weather forces us inside the ceremony will be held in the Fieldhouse at the Bear Center. Tickets will not be needed for the indoor ceremony this year. With the addition of the fieldhouse we now have unlimited seating indoors or out.
Rehearsal Saturday May 18 at 11:00 a.m. in Darby Gym (Attendance is mandatory):
Information about the order of procession and seating will be provided.
See you Saturday at 11 a.m. at Darby Gym!
E-mail [commencement] with any questions.
A more detailed schedule of Commencement weekend activities can be found here.
Commencement line-of-march and seating:
The line-of-march and seating for seniors is organized by division (Humanities, Science, Social Studies, and Independent Majors). If you are a double major and your majors cross division lines, you will be seated with the division of the major alphabetically first (unless you indicated otherwise on the Registrar's diploma order form). A list will be available at the rehearsal so that we can tell you in which division you are seated. If you have questions, please see a staff member after rehearsal. You will receive a diagram of the line-of-march and the seating areas at rehearsal.
Plan to join the processional line by 9:30 a.m. Monday, May 20 (east of ARH if we're outside; Darby Gym in the Bear Center if we're inside).
Caps & Gowns:
Caps and Gowns are available for purchase at the Bookstore or through Grinnell Textbook Lending Library. Grinnell Textbook Lending Library collects gently used gowns after commencement for future graduates to use at no cost. Students may reserve a "recycled" gown by e-mailing [textbooks]. Borrowed gowns and new donations should be returned to the Rosenfield Center, in the email lounge across from the Spencer Grill, Monday following commencement.
Live Streaming of Commencement:
Commencement will be live-streamed. Go to www.grinnell.edu for the link and more information.
Residence Life
End-of-Year Checklist for Graduating Seniors:
• Check out of College-owned housing by noon on Tuesday, following Commencement.
• Sign up with your RLC to check out of your room. Students who do not check out with their RLC forfeit their opportunity to appeal any damage/excessive cleaning charges.
• Return your room key to your RLC or the Security Office. Your key must be labeled with your name and housing assignment.
• Claim all belongings from your residence hall trunk room by the date indicated on closing flyers posted in your residence hall/house.
• Be sure all college-owned furniture is present and set up in your room.
• Do not leave items in the hallways or common areas.
• Take your bicycle with you when you leave.
To provide a more sustainable move-out, please:
• Donate and recycle when possible. Check residence hall bulletin boards for more details.
• Sweep your floor and remove all garbage from your room. Do NOT sweep debris into or leave trash bags in the hallway.
• Take all garbage to a residence hall dumpster (outside).
• Donate textbooks and graduation caps and gowns to the Grinnell Textbook Lending Library located in Read Pit.
• Take all your belongings with you when you leave.
Registrar
Final Transcripts: The registrar will not be able to finalize (the degree, major, and honors) transcripts for graduating seniors until the end of June. If you request transcripts in June, please tell us to hold the request until the degree has been noted on the transcripts; transcripts sent in early June will not show your final degree. Students who have not completed their graduation requirements will receive diploma covers but no diploma at Commencement. Return the cover to us after Commencement and provide an address where we can mail the diploma and cover when requirements are completed and we have finalized your transcript.
IT
Network Account Information Graduating seniors and ninth semester students will receive a six-month extension of their current directory account. See www.grinnell.edu/its/policy/gradsenior for complete information about account extensions for graduating and ninth semester students. You can modify passwords or check account status at www.passwordreset.grinnell.edu. Make sure you can access the server prior to leaving campus. All borrowed network hubs and equipment signed out from the AV Center must be returned. Your account will be charged for replacement costs if not returned, which could put a hold on your records. If you would like copies of academic digital works, theatre performances, or music recitals (providing that you or the department recorded the event), please bring the original media and one DVD-R to the AV Center for a copy. The original media will be held by the department or may already be at the AV Center. This must be requested at least two weeks before the end of the semester due to the high volume of requests. Check your Senior Packet and e-mail for more important IT information and announcements.
Graduation Announcements
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation! The official Grinnell College graduation announcements are made by CB Announcements. Their quality paper, artistic design and beautiful, golden, hand-engraved Grinnell College seal reflect your hard-earned achievement. You may order by phone or online. You will need to know your degree and major. Minors, emphases, concentrations, or honors can be printed on the announcement as well. CB Announcements will work with you if you need to create an announcement in another language.
Call CB Announcements at 800-433-0296 or order online at www.cbgrad.balfour.com
Caps and Gowns for Commencement
The Grinnell College Bookstore sells the caps, gowns and tassels for the commencement ceremony. This year, we are selling “Green Gowns”. These gowns are made from recycled beverage bottles. You may keep your gown or recycle it again. The bookstore will be collecting the gowns after the ceremony to be sent back for further recycling. You can also visit http://www.bellaonline.com/subjects/653.asp for all sorts of free patterns to make something out of your greengown®. Links include great ideas to make and donate items for those in need, bag and tote patterns and many other simple sewing ideas.
The bookstore stocks enough sizes that pre-ordering is not needed. Visit the bookstore anytime after May 7 to pick one up. The price for a set that includes a cap, gown and tassel is $30.00. Separate caps and tassels are also available for sale.
Senior Challenge
Grinnell College has a long tradition of support from alumni, parents, and friends. In 1988 Alumni Council member and Class Fund Director, Steve Kent ’67, recognized the importance and value of seniors starting a tradition of giving to Grinnell and so began the Senior Challenge.He initiated the challenge by giving an additional $5 to the annual fund (now the Pioneer Fund) for every graduating senior who participated in the 1988 Senior Challenge. The Senior Challenge was renamed the Stephen K. Kent '67 Memorial Senior Challenge after Kent's death in 1989. Currently, the Alumni Association Council offers a match of $5 for every donation if participation exceeds 50 percent and $10 if participation exceeds 70 percent. In addition, if participation exceeds 70 percent, the council provides a gift of $750 in honor of the senior class. If participation exceeds 90 percent, the council raises the capstone to $1,500. The challenge allows students to honor their four-year journey, to express the joy and pride they feel toward Grinnell in a tangible way, and begin to build mature philanthropic relationships that will last throughout our lives. Outstanding programs and academics ensure excellent students continue to come to study at Grinnell. Alumni, parents, and friends provide resources ensuring Grinnell excellence is a reality. Since 2006 the 50th Reunion class has paired with each entering class to create a lasting legacy relationship. Each class participated in the Medallion Ceremony during New Student Orientation, supported their legacy class through scholarship opportunities, participated in Commencement with a representative as honorary marshal, and has invited legacy classmates to their reunion activities. Senior Challenge gifts acknowledge the generosity of preceding classes and the responsibility each member of the class of 2012 has to future classes. Seniors who wish to give may support Grinnell’s greatest areas of need through a gift to the Pioneer Fund, or another program or opportunity that had an impact on their Grinnell Experience. To make a gift go to: https://loggia.grinnell.edu/senior
Green Ribbon Pledge
The commencement committee for the class of 2013 has elected to give the graduates of this class the opportunity to take part in the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility (www.graduationpledge.org). The pledge is not required, and the individual members of the class decide whether or not to participate. Graduates who elect to take the pledge agree to the following:
“I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of any job I consider and will try to improve these aspects of any organizations for which I work.”
Given Grinnell’s philosophy of self-governance, students do not need to register their participation in this program, and students define for themselves what it means to be socially and environmentally responsible.
Graduates who elect to take the pledge may also choose to wear a green ribbon on their gown during commencement. Ribbons will be handed out during the graduation rehearsal on Saturday morning, May 18, as well as while you line-up on the morning of commencement. Over the last nine years, approximately 75% of Grinnell graduates have elected to wear the green ribbons during commencement.
This opportunity is co-sponsored by the Office of Social Commitment and the Peace Studies Program. More information and resources to help you enact the pledge are available at www.graduationpledge.org, or you may contact Doug Cutchins with any questions you have.
Congratulations on your upcoming graduation!
