MEMORANDUM
TO:
Candidates for Graduation
Full-time and Adjunct Faculty
FROM:
Trina C. Jones
Dean of Student Services
DATE:
April 6, 2016
RE:
Commencement Plans
Congratulations on this memorable time in your educational journey! The annual
graduation ceremony will be held on Friday, May 13, 2016, at 7:00 p.m. at the
Regional Workforce Development Center. We strongly encourage you to participate in
this celebration of your success. Graduate Assessment information is enclosed for
your convenience.
The following information will assist you in preparing for graduation:
Caps and Gowns: Caps and Gowns, Graduation Announcements, and Tickets will be
available for pick up at Barnes and Noble Bookstore during the following dates, times,
and location:
Location
Franklin Campus
Suffolk Campus
Dates
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Time
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Tickets and Seating: Due to the limited space in the Conference Hall at the
Workforce Development Center, graduates will be given five tickets; two tickets will
be earmarked for the Conference Hall and three tickets will be for the overflow
seating area. Arriving early will increase the opportunity for guests to be seated in
the Conference Hall. Guest seating will begin at 6:00 p.m. and seat reservations are
not permitted. Having a ticket does not guarantee a seat in the Conference Hall.
There will be an overflow area in the Technology Theater, where guests can view the
ceremony on large screens. If you are unable to use all of your tickets, please
consider returning the unused ones to the Office of Admissions for other guests to
use.
Photographs: The College is contracting with a photographer to take pictures at the
graduation ceremony. Information on acquiring pictures will be given at graduation
rehearsal.
Pre-Graduation Celebration: On Thursday, May 12, all candidates are invited to a
pre-graduation celebration from 5:00 – 5:45 p.m. in the Conference Hall of the
Workforce Development Center on the Franklin Campus. Full-time and adjunct faculty
and all staff are also invited to be there to celebrate your accomplishments with
food, fun, and fellowship. Barnes and Noble Bookstore will be on site.
Graduation Practice: Rehearsal for all candidates will be held on Thursday, May 12,
from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Conference Hall of the Workforce Development Center
on the Franklin Campus.
Graduate Assessment: All graduates (Degree and Certificate candidates) need to
complete the Graduate Survey. To access the survey go to www.pdc.edu and (1) Click on
the College Quick Links ribbon located in the middle of the home page; (2) Click on the blue
Assessment & Research link; (3) Click on Graduate Survey Form located toward the bottom
of the page; and (4) Complete the survey and then click on “DONE” at the end of the
survey.
If you will be earning a two year (AAS or AA&S) degree, you are responsible for
completing the following (in addition to the Graduate Survey):
1. Core competency assessments- (1) Written Communication and (2) Scientific Reasoning.
Assessment testing will take place through April 29 on both campuses and the
Smithfield Center. The enclosed flyer outlines the location, dates, and times for
testing. It will take appropriately two hours to complete the required assessments.
Contact Mary Ellen Gleason (569-6740, mgleason@pdc.edu ) in the Testing Center on
the Franklin Campus, Judy Hawkins (925-6328, jhawkins@pdc.edu ) in the Placement
Testing Lab on the Suffolk Hobbs Campus or Brenda Anyanwu (925-6340,
banyanwu@pdc.edu) at the Smithfield Center to register for your testing date.
2. College’s STAGE Test- Go to www.pdc.edu and (1) Click on the College Quick Links
ribbon located in the middle of the home page; (2) Click on the blue Assessment &
Research link; (3) Click on STAGE Test located toward the bottom of the page; and (4)
Complete the test and then click on “DONE” at the end of the survey. This requirement
will take approximately one hour.
Please know that you do not have to achieve a specific score on these assessments
although we want every student to do his or her best. The results of these assessments will
not be recorded on your student academic record and assessment scores will not affect
your graduation status.
Page 2 of 7
GRADUATION DAY
General Information
•
The Franklin Campus switchboard at 757-569-6700 will be open from 8:00 a.m.
until 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13, should you have any questions.
•
All graduates are requested to arrive at 6:00 p.m. and report to the Franklin
Campus, Main Entrance. At 6:30 p.m., all Candidates, Faculty, College Board
Members, and other participants will assemble in full academic regalia.
•
At 7:00 p.m. the Procession will start promptly. Latecomers will be seated in the
audience rather than with the graduates.
•
Please remember that this commencement is a public event, reflecting upon you,
your program of study, and the College. For this reason, we request that your
behavior reflect the dignity and importance of this occasion. Please be sure to
turn off all cell phones. Commencement is the capstone of the academic
experience for you, other students, families, and friends. Recognition of the
rights of others to enjoy the ceremony free from disruptive or inappropriate
behavior is appreciated.
•
The Commencement Ceremony will last approximately 1 ½ hours.
•
Should you decide not to attend graduation, please contact Donna Douglas at
ddouglas@pdc.edu.
Inside Procession
Upon check-in at the Franklin campus, candidates for graduation will be assigned
to a designated classroom. Assisted by a student marshal and a program advisor,
candidates will line up single file, according to their degree or certificate in alphabetical
order by program of study. Transfer Program degree candidates will lead the procession
followed by Occupational/Technical degree candidates, certificate candidates, and
finally Career Studies Certificate candidates. If you are receiving more than one
credential, line up with your group receiving the highest credential.
The procession will begin as the Chief Marshal, platform guests/speakers, College
Board, Faculty, candidates’ faculty marshals, and candidates march from the main
Campus headed to the Workforce Development Center and enter the Conference Hall.
The platform guests/speakers will take their designated seats in the first row on stage.
The platform guests/speakers will be followed by the College Board who will sit on the
back row of the stage. The College Board will be followed by the faculty who will sit in
the chairs to the left of the stage. The faculty will be followed by the candidates who
will move to the front of the Conference Hall in one line (degree students followed by
certificates) and fill in the front row(s) as directed by student marshals. All will remain
standing until all candidates for graduation are seated.
Page 3 of 7
Conferring of Degrees and Awarding of Certificates
Following the recognition of outstanding graduates, the Vice President of
Academic and Student Development will ask all degree candidates to rise. The College
President will then confer degrees to the whole group. The Vice President will ask the
candidates to be seated.
This procedure will be repeated for the certificate candidates.
Following this, the first row of degree candidates will stand and move toward the
Vice President of Academic and Student Development who will be on the far right as you
face the podium. The second row of degree candidates will stand together and move in
behind the last person in row one. Each row will continue in this manner. Each
candidate will hand the Vice President of Academic and Student Development his/her
name card as he/she approaches the stage. The candidates will then move across the
stage in front of the podium, shaking hands with the President, and receive their
diploma cover. The actual diploma and/or certificate may be picked up from the
Office of Admissions in Franklin, Suffolk, or Smithfield beginning on June 30, 2016.
Your home campus is determined as indicated on your graduation application.
The graduates will continue across the stage, go down the steps on the other side,
and return to his/her seat.
The recession will commence on the first-in, first-out order with the Chief
Marshal, platform guests/speakers leading, followed by the College Board, faculty, and
graduates. The Faculty Marshal will assist in seeing that this procedure is followed.
Page 4 of 7
PROCESSION LINE-UP
CHIEF MARSHAL
_______________
President
Vice President Institutional Advancement
Speaker
College Board Chair
_______________
Vice President of Academic and Student Development
Minister
Student Speaker
PTK President
Dean of Student Services
_______________
College Board Members
_________________
FACULTY MARSHAL
Faculty
_____________________
Dean of Transfer Programs
Degree Candidates
Business Administration
Education
General Studies:
(Computer Science)
(General)
Science
_____________________
Dean of Nursing and Allied Health
Degree Candidates
Nursing
_____________________
Page 5 of 7
Dean of Occupational and Technical Studies
Degree Candidates
Administration of Justice:
(Corrections Science)
(Police Science)
Administration Support Technology
(Executive Secretary)
(Word Information Processing)
Early Childhood Development
Industrial Technology:
(Electronic Controls)
(Electronic-Electrical)
Management:
(Computer Support Specialist)
(General Business)
(Hardware and Software Support)
(Marketing)
Certificate Candidates
Clerical Studies
Early Childhood Development
Electricity
General Education
Practical Nursing
Page 6 of 7
Career Studies Certificate
Bookkeeping
Child Care I
Child Care II
Computer Support Specialist
Entrepreneurship in Small Business Management
Fire Science
Hardware and Software Support
Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
Industrial Maintenance
Industrial Residential Wiring
Leadership
Medical Office Administrative Assistant
Medical Office Billing Clerk
Medical Office Specialist
Nurse Aide
Pharmacy Technician
Phlebotomy
Pre-Nursing
Professional Welder
Religious Studies
Robotics
Page 7 of 7