Commencement Information for Students

Commencement Invitations

Printed invitations will be available starting Monday, March 18, 2013 for mailing to family and friends or to use as mementos. Note: Invitations are not required for admission to the Commencement tent.

Students may pick up their first set of four (4) invitations beginning Monday, March 18 through Friday, March 29 at the circulation desk in the library during regular library hours. When you pick up your invitations, place a check mark next to your name on the accompanying list. If you need fewer than four invitations, please leave any you do not need for use by other students.

Beginning April 1 through April 12, students may pick up a second set of four (4) invitations. Between April 15 and April 26, students may pick up a third set of four (4) invitations. Between April 29 and May 10, a fourth set of invitations may be picked up for a total of 16 invitations. January graduates will receive four invitations via U.S. mail and may e-mail beginning April 1 to request additional invitations.

Seating Availability

Commencement will be held under a tent on the large soccer field, rain or shine. There will be seating for approximately 2,000 people. You may invite, within reason, as many guests as you like. However, please understand that seating will be on a first-come basis. Weather permitting, any overflow of guests may sit on the lawn outside the tent, provided they bring their own lawn chairs. However, in case of inclement weather, please use your best judgment as to the number of guests you invite, as we are not able to guarantee seating for everyone under the tent.

Regalia

A regalia order form will be emailed to students no later than January 22, 2013. The cost to rent regalia is $37.00. (Students are allowed to keep only their tassel.)  Should you need another copy of the regalia form, please contact commencement@law.uconn.edu.  The regalia order form and payment must be handed in by Friday, March 8, 2013 to the Co-op Bookstore. Orders received after Friday, March 8, 2013 will be charged an additional fee of $50.00.

Caps and gowns will be available at the Co-op Bookstore later in the semester. Notices will be emailed to students and posted at the bookstore once regalia becomes available.

Caps, gowns and hoods must be returned before leaving campus following the Commencement Ceremony. (Students are allowed to keep only their tassel.) Please be sure that your name is checked off the list before leaving campus to avoid replacement fees.

Weather

The weather on Commencement Day will determine the location and schedule of student robing, whether a class photo will be taken and the location of line-up for the processional. Signs will be posted on campus the morning of May 19 indicating whether the rain plan is in effect.

Schedule for Sunday, May 19, 2013

Rainy Day Schedule 

Parking

Parking will be available in the east parking lot of the Connecticut Historical Society (access from Elizabeth Street), in the Hartford College for Women parking lots (access from Elizabeth Street), and behind the Attorney General's Office (access from Sherman Street). Street parking is also available. Parking for people who require accessible parking will be available by Law School permit only. Please complete the Request for Accessible Parking or Seating form.

Campus Map

Other Important Details

• Line Up and Processional

  Note: There will be no rehearsal. After students have robed and picked up their name cards they should proceed to the front of the library for a class photo. Once the photo is complete, candidates will line up alphabetically in the posted areas between William F. Starr Hall and the Library.

  Rain Schedule: Students will robe in Janet M. Blumberg Hall, pick up their name cards in Hosmer Conference Room 2 and line up alphabetically inside Hosmer Hall as directed by Commencement staff. In the event of rain, no class photo will be taken.

  The processional will form at the posted markers in the following order:

  1. Flag Bearers
  2. Mace Bearer
  3. Faculty Floor Marshals
  4. LL.M. Insurance Law Banner Bearer
  5. LL.M. Insurance Law Candidates (alphabetically)
  6. LL.M. U.S. Legal Studies Banner Bearer
  7. LL.M. U.S. Legal Studies Candidates (alphabetically)
  8. J.D. Banner Bearer - SBA President
  9. J.D. Candidates (alphabetically)

  At the appointed time, candidates will follow the flag bearers toward the north side of the tent. Once inside the tent, candidates will proceed as directed to designated rows in the center section.

• Commencement Ceremony

  Upon instruction from the platform, candidates will come forward to the platform as directed by faculty marshals. Candidates will carry their name cards and hood, folded over the left forearm. Name cards will be presented to the Law marshal. The Law marshal will read the name of each candidate. The candidate will proceed across the platform to receive a diploma cover and be congratulated by the dean and other dignitaries. Candidates will then be hooded by one of the hooding marshals. Once hooded, candidates will proceed as directed to have their portrait taken. After their portrait is taken, candidates will then return to their seats and be seated.

• Recession

  Upon completion of Commencement Exercises, the platform party will exit the tent followed by faculty, distinguished guests and graduates. Guests will be requested to remain in their seats until all of the above groups have filed out of the tent.

• Student Reception

  An informal reception will be held immediately following the ceremony under the tent behind Cheryl A. Chase Hall.

• Photography

  A professional photographer will be retained by the Law School and provide a number of choices for each graduate.  More details on the photographer will be forthcoming.

Due to safety regulations, family members and friends must remain in their seats once the procession begins  and throughout the ceremony. Personal picture taking can ONLY be done prior to or after the ceremony. No tripods will be allowed under the tent and no guest will be permitted to stand in the aisles during the procession or ceremony. Members of the audience using hand-held cameras may take pictures or videos from their seat.

• Accessible Accommodations

Request for accessible parking/seating must be made by April 26 by submitting the Request for Accessible Parking or Seating form. An area under the tent will be designated for individuals needing accessible seating or space for a wheelchair plus one guest. If your family member or guest requires other accommodations, please contact Jane Thierfeld Brown by April 26.

• Alumni Hooding

  If a member of your family is a graduate of the Law School and you would like the graduate to participate in your hooding, please complete the Alumni Hooding Request Form by April 15.

Questions? Please send them to commencement@law.uconn.edu