Special Note: Graduation and recognition ceremonies are recorded for the c ollege’s TV Show “Nash in
Action” and are broadcasted on local cable stations.
Prior to beginning of program – A college representative should announce to the audience to silence all electronic devices, should emphasize the importance of being respectful of the graduates and their families, and to rise for the processional of the platform guests and those being recognized.
Program and Remarks - A general invocation should be delivered without excluding members of any faith. The Program Director should review and approve student speakers’ remarks prior to the ceremony.
Guest speakers’ remarks should be held to 3-5 minutes. When representing the college, it is important to use appropriate language and to carefully consider all communication, verbal and non-verbal, in order to convey a level of professionalism and commitment to quality. If there are changes to the printed program, these should be announced at the beginning of the ceremony.
Audience Participation - Special seating will be reserved for guests attending with children. Before the ceremony begins, guests with children should be invited to this seating area which accommodates extra space for strollers. This reminder should be shared with graduates prior to the day of graduation. The audience should be asked to hold applause until all graduates are recognized.
Graduate Recognition - The person presenting certificates and/or badges should only announce each recipient’s name and hometown. Personal and unprofessional comments including nicknames, individual anecdotes, inside jokes, and special recognition should not be made at this time. During ceremonies when graduates are pinned by family members, the pinner(s) names and relationship to the graduate should be announced when the graduate ’s name is called.
Directors should follow a standard checklist and process in order to ensure consistency across all printed graduation programs. The purpose of this process is to streamline the review process, to improve accuracy, prevent errors and to ensure graduates receive the appropriate recognition they deserve.
1. Date confirmation and auditorium reservation The Department Head (or designee) emails the Conference Center Manager to confirm the date and time the ceremony location is needed.
2. Notification of upcoming ceremony - The Department Head (or designee) confirms the speakers and participants and notifies the Senior Director of Marketing and Communication with the confirmed event date. The Senior Director of Marketing and Communication notifies the
President’s Executive Council (PEC) and Director of Media Production.
3. Printed Program Layout – The Department Head (or designee) confirms the information for the program and emails the following content to the Print Shop Manager for program layout:
A print shop requisition form is to be submitted to the print shop at this time. a. Ceremony name b. Date & Time c. Location d. Graduate names e. Program details f. Speakers (titles and credentials) g. Order of ceremony
Once the Print Shop Manager receives the information, they layout the artwork using the college graduation program template. When the first draft is completed, the Print Shop Manager emails the file to the Department Head (or designee) for review.

4. First Draft of Printed Program - The Department Head (or designee) then submits the first draft to the Senior Director of Marketing and Communication by email for review. The Senior Director of Marketing and Communication shares the draft with the Vice President of Instruction and Chief
Academic Officer and Associate Vice President for Institutional Advancement for their review.
Revisions are communicated to the Print Shop Manager. Once revisions are made and approved, hard copies of the final program should be given to the Senior Director of Marketing and
Communication for distribution to PEC at least 48 hours before the ceremony.