Weinberg College Senior Convocation 2011

Information about ordering photos

Schedule:

Convocation takes place on Saturday, June 18th, at 12:00 p.m. in Ryan Field, 1501 Central Street, Evanston.

Friday, June 17th
5:30 p.m.
     -
6:30 p.m.		 Graduates and their families are invited to the Weinberg College Dean's Lakefront Reception (RSVP Required).
Saturday, June 18th
11:00 a.m. Ryan Field gates open to guests of graduating seniors.
11:00 a.m. Graduates begin to line-up at Trienens Hall adjacent to Ryan Field in full graduation attire (caps and gowns.)

Please see “Students” section for processional details.
11:50 a.m. Graduates procession from Trienens Hall into Ryan Field begins.
12:00 p.m. Ceremony begins. After several introductory speeches, students will be individually congratulated by the Dean and faculty from their major departments on stage. Students will be seated by their majors. The ceremony will be broadcast via a live video stream.
2:00 p.m. Ceremony concludes.
2:00 p.m.
     -
3:00 p.m.		 Students return to Trienens Hall to pick up diplomas and to return rental gowns.

Rain Plan

In the event of rain the ceremony will be moved to Welsh-Ryan Arena/McGaw Memorial Hall adjacent to Ryan Field. Please check this page at 8AM on Saturday morning for updates to handicap parking and other changes due to weather.

If the ceremony takes place outdoors but there is a chance for light showers students will be issued clear rain ponchos but may not bring umbrellas to the ceremony. Guests in attendance may bring umbrellas in to the stadium.

Students

Caps and Gowns

Ordering: Online rentals are required. All information on how to order gowns online can be found at the Herff Jones website.

Pick-up: Caps and Gowns will be distributed in the Louis Room at Norris Center on June 14 from 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Reader Cards

Immediately after picking up your cap and gown, proceed to the Northwestern Room in Norris to complete your Reader Card. You will be asked to indicate your major** and the phonetic spelling of your name. The cards are collected and redistributed to you on June 18 in Trienens Hall.

** Please note: Students with multiple majors should only fill in ONE major on the card; students are seated by majors and are affiliated with only one during the ceremony. Be sure to fill in the major you wish to walk across the stage with.

IMPORTANT: Day of Convocation – Sequence of Events:

Prior to Ceremony

  • Graduates must arrive at Trienens Hall at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, in their caps and gowns. Parents and guests should go directly to Ryan Field, as they will not be allowed in Trienens Hall.
  • Graduates must check in at the registration table, where they will pick up their reader cards. Graduates receiving academic honors or departmental honors will have special stickers affixed to their reader cards.
  • Graduates will be grouped and seated by the major indicated on the cards. Please note that late arrivals will not be guaranteed a seat with their indicated major, so please be on time.
  • The procession from Trienens Hall into Ryan Field will begin promptly at 11:50 a.m. Ushers will be on hand to help form the processional lines and to direct graduates to their seats.

Ceremony

  • After the Convocation Speaker's address, graduates will rise and proceed to the stage. Graduates will hand their reader cards to the faculty reader and will proceed across the stage as their names are announced. The Dean and a faculty representative for each major will congratulate graduates as they cross the stage.
  • A photograph will be taken as each graduate shakes hands with the Dean. A second photograph will be taken after the graduate has exited the stage with the diploma box. Proofs of these photographs will be available online within 48 hours of Convocation. (See our Frequently Asked Questions for purchasing information.)
  • Graduates return to their seats until the end of the ceremony. Please remain seated until everyone has crossed the stage.
  • After all graduates have been congratulated, the faculty will rise to lead the recession from Ryan Field. Graduates will recess under the direction of the ushers.

Diploma Distribution

Diplomas will be distributed immediately following Convocation in Trienens Hall, the same location where graduates must return their rented gowns.

Guests

Tickets

No tickets are required for Convocation. There is no limit on the number of guests you can invite.

Alternative Viewing Options

A live stream of Convocation will be available online Saturday, June 18. Those who cannot attend the event will therefore be able to view the entire ceremony from their computers.  There will be a link on the Weinberg College homepage (weinberg.northwestern.edu) directing you to the live stream on Convocation day.

A live stream of Convocation will also be available in the Technological Institute, Lecture Room 2. Guests who are heat-sensitive are encouraged to watch the simulcast of the ceremony in this air-conditioned room.

Guests with Disabilities

Guests in wheelchairs may be accompanied by one companion in designated seating sections. Closed captioning will appear on a video screen.

Parking

Shuttle Bus Service and General Parking

The University provides a continual, complimentary shuttle service between the campus and the Ryan Field/McGaw Memorial Hall area on Saturday, June 18.

Guests are urged to park in campus lots and to use the shuttle service. Parking in the area will be very limited (click here to see the map indicating campus parking lots and the shuttle bus route). The worst congestion is between 10:15 a.m. and 10:50 a.m., as this is when the McCormick vehicles are departing the area while the Weinberg vehicles are arriving.

Handicapped Parking

Handicapped parking is available in all campus parking lots, and a fully accessible bus is available at all shuttle stops. Limited parking for vehicles displaying a valid handicapped tag as well as a drop-off site for persons with disabilities is available at the stadium. Wheelchairs will be available.

Dean's Lakefront Reception

Dean Sarah Mangelsdorf invites graduates and their families to a lakefront reception:

Friday, June 17, 2011
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Lakefront Tent
Located south of Lacrosse Fields

Please RSVP to events@wcas.northwestern.edu.

General Information

Contact

If you have any questions, please call 847-491-2209 or write events@wcas.northwestern.edu to contact a Convocation Coordinator.

Refreshments

Refreshment stands serving complimentary water and lemonade will be located in the Ryan Field area.

Photo Spots

Picture-taking is encouraged at the two specially created backdrops displaying the University seal. These spots, available before and after the Convocation ceremony, are located under the west stands of Ryan Field near Gates S and N.

Professional Photography

For your benefit, we have made arrangements with GradImages to have a professional photographer present. This person will take a picture for each graduate when he/she shakes hands with the Dean, as well as after the graduate has exited the stage with his/her diploma box.  

Information on graduation images can be found at www.gradimages.com.

FAQ

  • Will I need tickets for Convocation?
    No tickets are needed.
  • How many people can we invite?
    There is no limit on the number of people you may invite.
  • What time is the ceremony over?
    The ceremony lasts 2 hours. You should also allow for 30 minutes to pick up your diploma and to return your rented gown. Diplomas will be available for one hour following the conclusion of the ceremony.
  • Is there air-conditioning at the ceremony?
    No, the ceremony will be held outdoors. If you have a guest who is heat-sensitive, we recommend that he/she watch the live broadcast of the Convocation ceremony in the Technological Institute, Lecture Room 2, which is air-conditioned.

Preparing for Convocation

  • I won't finish my coursework until August. Is it possible for me to attend Convocation?
    Yes, if you are an undergraduate student finishing your degree requirements in August, you may still participate in the Convocation ceremony. However, you will not receive your diploma on the day of Convocation. After you have completed your summer coursework, your degree will be audited and the diploma will be mailed to you.
  • If I completed my coursework in December 2010 or March 2011, is it possible for me to attend the June Convocation?
    Yes, if you completed your degree requirements in December 2010 or March 2011, you are welcome to participate in the Convocation ceremony.
  • Is it absolutely necessary to wear a cap and gown at the ceremony?
    Yes, all participants must wear a University-approved cap and gown. Rental arrangements for caps and gowns must be made online by May 14, 2011, by visiting the Herff Jones website. A valid NetID and password are required. Undergraduate rental fee is $50.
  • When and where do I pick up my cap and gown and reader card?
    Caps and gowns should be picked up in the Louis Room at Norris University Center, 2nd Floor, on Tuesday, June 14, between 10 a.m.- 7 p.m. Immediately after picking up your cap and gown, head to the Northwestern Room in Norris to complete your reader card.
  • What is a reader card?
    A reader card is presented to the faculty reader as you prepare to walk across the stage. The card indicates your name and its phonetic spelling, the major you have chosen to be affiliated with during Convocation, and any academic or departmental honors you may have. Your completed reader card will be collected after you have filled it out, and will be redistributed when you arrive at Trienens for the Convocation ceremony.
  • In addition to a cap and gown, what is appropriate attire for the ceremony?
    The weather in June is often quite hot. Please be sure that the shoes and clothes worn under your gown allow you to be comfortable while still preserving the dignity of the ceremony.

Honors

  • Can I find out if I am receiving Academic Honors?
    Information regarding Academic Honors is NOT made prior to Commencement.
  • Can I find out if I am receiving Departmental Honors?
    Information regarding Departmental Honors is made available directly from your major department no earlier than 3 days prior to Commencement. Please do not contact your department to seek this information before June 14, 2011.

Day of Convocation

  • When should graduates arrive for Convocation?
    Graduates must arrive at Trienen Hall, which is adjacent to Ryan Field, by 11 a.m., where they will be directed to the registration tables to pick up their reader cards and then begin to lineup.
  • When should guests arrive for Convocation?
    Ryan Field opens to guests at 11 a.m. However, because this area is the site of several Convocation ceremonies on June 18, guests are encouraged to use the shuttle bus to avoid heavy traffic and parking difficulties. For example, the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science Convocation takes place prior to the Weinberg Convocation. Congestion around the Ryan Field parking areas is therefore extremely heavy from 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. as the McCormick families depart the area.
  • When will I receive my diploma?
    Assuming your coursework has been completed and all fees have been paid, you will receive your diploma after the Weinberg Convocation ceremony when you return your rented gown to Trienens Hall.
  • What does my diploma read?
    All Weinberg College students receive a Bachelor of Arts diploma. The diploma does not indicate major or minor.
  • If I am being granted a degree from another school at Northwestern University, but have received a major or minor in Weinberg College, will I receive a diploma from Weinberg College?
    No, you will only receive a diploma from the school granting the degree.
  • I am being granted a degree from another school at Northwestern University, but since I have a major in Weinberg, I would like to participate in Weinberg's Convocation too. Is this possible?
    Yes, as a courtesy, we allow all Northwestern University students with majors in Weinberg to participate in our Convocation.
  • Do I get to keep my regalia?
    You can keep your cap, tassel, and stole, but you must return your rented gown.
  • How do I get my diploma if I do not attend Convocation?
    Contact the Office of the Registrar at 847-491-5234 to make arrangements to have your diploma mailed to your home address.
  • What happens in case of rain?
    Weinberg’s Convocation will be held outdoors in Ryan Field. However, in the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be moved indoors to Welsh-Ryan Arena. Weather updates will be posted to the Weinberg Convocation website on the morning of June 18. Please visit weinberg.northwestern.edu/Convocation/ for updated information.
July 12, 2010