Dear Candidates for J.D. and LL.M. Degrees:

I write to remind you of important information about Commencement.

Friday, May 9 Reception for Graduates, Family, and Guests

Commencement activities will begin on Friday, May 9, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., with receptions at the Advantica Building in Carlisle and the Nittany Lion Inn in UP for graduates, their families and guests. Dress is casual and fare is light hors d'oeuvres. This will be a great opportunity to introduce your family to members of the faculty and staff, as well as your classmates.

Saturday, May 10 Commencement

J.D. and LL.M. candidates must assemble at 9:30 a.m. in the atrium of the Bosler Hall (corner of West High and College Streets) for robing and forming the processional. After robing, you will exit onto College Street and line up in the Order of March. There will be many copies of the Order of March available in the Bosler Hall atrium. Dean Pratt and the student marshals will assist you in lining up. DO NOT BRING GUESTS TO THE ASSEMBLY AREA. Remember to bring your cap and gown. Several members of the Law School staff will be on hand to assist with robing.

PARKING
There is limited reserved parking for persons with special needs. Reserved parking tickets for the handicapped spots are available by e-mailing scb12@psu.edu. The permit will be dropped in your mail folder. This reserved handicap parking is available to graduates or their guests on a first-come, first-served basis, with a limit of one reserved handicap parking pass per graduate. The reserved parking lot is located behind Old West on the Dickinson College campus and can be accessed from Louther Street. In order to use the handicap parking, the parking pass must be given to the guard at the entrance to the lot. The guard at the lot will also be instructed to permit drop-off of elderly relatives for those who park elsewhere. Seating needs can be easily accommodated if you arrive before 10:00 a.m. and speak with an usher. There is parking behind the HUB off Louther Street. High Street between West and College Streets will be closed to traffic.

SEATING FOR GUESTS
The first several rows on the right are reserved for the Faculty. Graduates will be seated in the first 14 or so rows in the center section. All other seating is unreserved. You are advised to have your guests (as many as you like; no tickets are required) arrive by 10:10 a.m. to allow for parking and to be seated prior to the processional.

PHOTOGRAPHY
A professional photographer will take a photo of each graduate as the diploma is presented. Please pass this information along to the snapshot takers in your party and discourage them from crowding around the front of the stage or blocking the aisle. There will be an area designated for family and friends to take photos of students being hooded. The ceremony will be videotaped and copies of the tape may be purchased. Please contact Dian Franko for details (dbf5@psu.edu).

ACADEMIC PROCESSION
Copies of the Order of March will be in the robing room. At 10:10 a.m. Dean Pratt and the student marshals will form the graduating class into the Order of March. Just follow the person in front of you. Proceed into the row to which you are assigned; there will be enough seats in the row to accommodate everyone assigned to that row. Graduates who are to begin a new row will be told into which row to proceed – the first seat in the row will be marked with a row number. Your names will be on the back of the programs on each seat. You should remain standing until the stage party sits.

RECOGNITION, HONORS, AND AWARDS
During announcement of honors, awards, and activities, when your name is called, stand, turn to face the audience, and remain standing until the particular group has been called. After applause, please sit down.

HOODING AND DISTRIBUTION OF DIPLOMAS
The Dean will ask the candidates for the LL.M. Degree to stand. ONLY MASTER'S DEGREE CANDIDATES STAND UP. Candidates will be led to the stairs at the left side of the stage and proceed to the hooding station. When Professor Del Duca calls your name, you will proceed across the stage, receiving your diploma from Dean McConnaughay and shaking hands with the stage party. Proceed down the center stairs promptly, and go back to your seat. You may sit immediately.

Then the Dean will ask the candidates for the J.D. Degree to stand and then sit. Candidates will be directed when each row should proceed to the hooding station at the left side of the stage. After Dean Pratt calls your name, proceed across the stage, receiving your diploma from Dean McConnaughay and shaking hands with the stage party. Proceed down the center stairs promptly, and go back to your seat. You may sit immediately. Note: you will receive a facsimile diploma; the actual diplomas (and medals for academic honors) will be mailed to you after all grades are certified.

It has been a tradition at Commencement to permit Law School alumni to be on stage to present the diploma to graduates in their immediate families. If you have a parent, grandparent or spouse who is an alumnus or alumna of the Law School and who you would like to have present you with your diploma on stage, you are invited to contact me no later than Monday, May 5. I will then provide the alumni with appropriate instructions on participating.

RECESSIONAL
The faculty will lead the recessional. You will be directed on how to proceed.

PICNIC
Following the ceremony there will be a picnic for graduates and their guests across the street on the lawn on the corner of College and High Streets.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Wishing you all the best,

Keith Elkin
Assistant Dean for Student Services
Penn State Dickinson School of Law
343 Beam (University Park)
201 Advantica (Carlisle)
Phone: (814) 865-9035             
Fax: (814) 865-9042 
E-mail: kelkin@psu.edu