Information on the 2009 Counseling Students Association and Department of Counseling Commencement Ceremony
Date: Saturday, May 23rd, 2009 Ceremony: 4:00 to 6:00 pm, Reception to follow Location: McKenna Theater, Creative Arts Building
Safety:
We have a police officer assigned to our ceremony. If there are any emergencies, this police officer will be able to provide basic CPR as well as access medical care.
Recording the Ceremony:
We will not be recording the ceremony this year. We apologize for any inconvenience.
Graduation gift: Slide Show:
The slide show you will all receive will work on any PC computer. In addition, it should work on a DVD player. Press play, loop, or click on the San Francisco State logo and the slide show will start. Press the Esc key on your keyboard if you want to stop the slide show.
Jessica Jimenez Lopez did a wonderful job of compiling the pictures and adding an artistic touch to make the slide show beautiful. I hope you all enjoy it. We will play the slide show from 4:00-4:30pm as your guests take their seats. Grads will be able to enjoy the slide show at home.
About the Ceremony:
Graduates need to check in with CSA volunteers in the Creative Arts building at 3:30pm. Between 3:30 pm and 4:00 pm you will receive instructions for movement onto and around the stage. At 4:00 pm you will line up for the procession into McKenna Theater.
During the Ceremony, you will be asked to come forward, row by row, proceeding front to back, assisted by ushers. Please remain at your seat until it is time for your row to go up. You will then come forward and be hooded by Dr. Robert Williams. You will not be required to speak.
Grads, you will need to hold your hood on your left arm (we’ll go over this during rehearsal). The hood needs to be un-buttoned with the velvet side touching your arm (not the shiny side). When you walk across stage, you hand your hood to Dr. Willimas and then he puts it over your head. Your family can take pictures during this process and then you have to move along because the next graduate will be right behind you.
Graduates: On Graduation day bring with you an index card. On that card include:
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NAME_____________ PRONUNCIATION: ___________ Your name will be read aloud at the Ceremony by Dr. (TBD). Please spell out the correct pronunciation and capitalize the stressed syllables (Example: Eloise Pfaelzer—EL-o-eez FELL-ser) |
Details:
Graduates will line up outside McKenna. When the processional music starts, grads will file into McKenna and walk on stage. Please remain standing until Dr. Blando tells you to sit.
Faculty will walk on after the grads. We need to practice this so please come by 3:30pm.
We are starting at 4:00 pm. If you are late, you may not get on stage.
At the close of the ceremony, you will file off stage and out of the auditorium as directed by the CSA volunteers. A light reception will be held for you and your guests in the Creative Arts building, Room 153.
Entrance to McKenna Theater:
Guest seating in McKenna Theater is on a first-come, first-served basis (entrance requires a ticket), so your guests should plan to arrive early. Doors open at 4:00pm. (Grads you are required to be there by 3:30pm).
Please do your best to leave the aisle seats open for the elderly and those needing assistance walking. We do have several guests who use wheelchairs and walkers, and we would like to leave those aisle seats available to those guests.
In addition, McKenna Theater’s 700 seats have all been bought. Please do not leave empty seats between you and other guests. We will need every seat in the theater.
What is the proper decorum?
The Commencement ceremony symbolizes the culmination of many years of hard work. It is a time for you, your family and friends to recognize and celebrate your success. We ask your help in making the ceremony a pleasant experience for all by considering the rights and feelings of other participants and guests.
Reception:
After the ceremony, graduates and their guests are invited to a reception in the Creative Arts building room 153 (a few steps away from McKenna). There will be light
Hors d’œuvres, fruit and veges, drinks, and a cake. The reception will end at 7:30pm.
Dress and Cap and Gown:
We recommend that you wear lightweight clothing beneath your regalia, since it can get quite warm under the lights on stage.
All graduates keep the cap and tassel. Gown and hoods must be returned following the main ceremony. CSA will have a box to collect gown and hoods and we will return them to the bookstore for you.
Personal Belongings:
Valuables should be left with friends or family in the audience since no checking facilities are available at McKenna Theater.
Driving and Parking:
Free parking will be available in Lot 20, the parking garage located off Lake Merced Boulevard on State Drive; Lot 25 on Winston Dr.; and Sunset Circle, on Lake Merced and Sunset, approximately 10 minutes by foot to campus. Street parking is also available.
Keep in mind the main graduation ceremony will be going on (or ending) so parking will be difficult.
To beat the traffic it is wise to arrive early or, better yet, take public transit. The MUNI light rail line M and the #28 bus from the Daly City BART station both stop at 19th and Holloway avenues at the south-east corner of campus (be sure to get the free transfer inside the Daly City BART station for the roundtrip bus ride).
Diplomas:
Diplomas are sent 12 to 15 weeks after Commencement.
For all diploma questions, call the Registrar’s Office at 415-338-2350, or visit the Registrar’s window in the OneStop Center in the Student Services building.
Walking with a loved one:
Guests will not be allowed to sit on stage. For those of you walking with a loved your guest will have to meet you backstage when your row is called. Your guest is responsible for watching when its your turn to come up to the stage. They will have to walk around the side of McKenna Theater in order to meet you backstage. They will then walk across stage with you (yeeay!) and then exit the stage to go back to their seat. Please check out McKenna Theater so you have an idea of what your guests will have to do.
If you have any additional questions send us an email by completing the form in the ‘Contact’ section of this website, or you can also send an email to sfcsa@sfsu.edu
Thank You
CSA Team