Frequently Asked Questions about Spring Commencement 2008

1. When is Spring Commencement 2008? 

2. What/Where is the Specht Forum/Sundial?

3. Do I have to RSVP?

4. Where can I buy announcements?

5. How many tickets does each graduate get?

6. When/Where do I get tickets? 

7. Where/When do they distribute caps, gowns and honor cords? 

8. Where do I park?

9. How long will the program be?

10. Who gets to wear honor cords? 

11. Can I order a professional picture of my graduate?

12. Hey…where is my diploma?! 

13. Who do I contact to get a copy of the Winter 2007 commencement videotape?

14. When is Winter Commencement 2008?

15. Any other questions?

When is Spring Commencement 2008?  Spring Commencement 2008 will be on Sunday, May 18.  There will be two ceremonies.  Letters and Science will be held at 10 a.m.  CPS, COFAC and CNR will be held at 2 p.m.  Both ceremonies will take place outdoors in the Specht Forum/Sundial, unless inclement weather forces the ceremony indoors.

What/Where is the Specht Forum/Sundial?  The Specht Forum/Sundial is located outdoors between the Albertson University Library and the Noel Fine Arts Center on Portage Street. In the case of inclement weather, the ceremonies will be held in the Quandt Fieldhouse inside the Health Enhancement Center on Fourth Avenue.

Do I have to RSVP? Yes, please RSVP even if you do not plan on participating. It's easy to do, click here and fill in the online form.

Where can I buy announcements? Generic announcements are available six weeks prior to graduation in the University Store, (715) 346-3431.

How many tickets does each graduate get?  Tickets are not necessary for the ceremonies if they are held outdoors. However, if the decision is made to move the ceremonies indoors, guest seating in Quandt Fieldhouse is limited and graduates will be allotted four guest tickets for the indoor ceremony.

When/Where do I get tickets?  The tickets must be picked up at the Information and Ticket Office in the Dreyfus University Center between Monday, May 5, and Friday, May 16. Hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 am to 4:30 pm; and Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. 7 p.m. A student ID is required. Additional tickets will be available Tuesday, May 13. If you cannot come in person, you must call the office at (715) 346-4100 or (800) 838-3378 to reserve them in your name.

If you have a guest with special seating needs (i.e. wheelchair, walker, etc.), please specify when picking up your tickets. Two of your tickets can be used to seat guests with special needs.

Where/When do they distribute caps, gowns and honor cords?  Caps, gowns, tassels and honor cords will be available for purchase at the University Store in the Dreyfus University Center, 1015 Reserve Street, from May 5-16, 2008. They will be distributed at the back of the University Store. Hours of distribution are Monday, Wednesday, Friday  8am-4pm and
Tuesday, Thursday  8am-7pm. When you come to purchase your cap and gown,  you will need to provide your height and weight to ensure you receive the correct size gown.   

If you cannot make any of the above hours for distribution, please consider using the mail order process between May 5-9. To order your cap and gown by mail, call the University Store at (715) 346-3431 and provide the following information:

1.                  Name
2.                  Address
3.                  Telephone Number
4.                  Major credit card number
5.                  Whether you are receiving Bachelor’s or a Master’s degree
6.                  Height and weight

For security purposes, please do not leave a credit card number on voice mail. We will call you back to get that information if we're not immediately available.

Your order will be shipped to you UPS; there is a charge of $9.50 (includes tax) for shipping and handling.  Orders will not be taken before Monday, May 5, or after Friday, May 9, at 11 a.m., as we cannot guarantee delivery after that time.

Where do I park?  All the parking lots will be open. (please see the campus map)

How long will the program be?  Each ceremony will last approximately 1 to 2 hours.

Who gets to wear honor cords?  Cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude are undergraduate honor designations. Master's degree candidates do not graduate with honors regardless of their grade point average, and do not wear an honor cord. In addition, those who traveled abroad with UWSP International Programs wear sashes that represent the country where they studied.

Can I order a professional picture of my graduate? A professional photographer will take your picture as you cross the stage and receive your diploma cover. Proofs will be mailed to your home address, and you will have an opportunity to purchase prints. Guests are asked to refrain from leaving their seats to take photographs.  

Hey…where is my diploma?!  At your commencement ceremony, you will receive a diploma cover with a message from the UWSP Alumni Association. Diplomas will be mailed to your home address approximately eight to ten weeks after the end of the semester.  If you need verification of your degree before then, you may order a transcript or request a verification statement to be sent as soon as all your grades have been received in this office.  Our diplomas are 8" x 10".  It will state your name, your degree (not your majors), and the date you graduated.

Who do I contact to get a copy of the Winter 2007 commencement videotape? Contact Casey Hooker of UWSP Student Television, chook191@uwsp.edu or (715) 346-3068 to receive a copy of the tape. 

When is Winter Commencement 2008?  For all you early planners, Winter Commencement 2008 will take place on Saturday, December 13.    

Any other questions? Contact University Relations and Communications at (715) 346-3548 or commence@uwsp.edu.