Spring 2022 Commencement:

Date: May 14, 2022
Time: 4:00 PM
Location: Karl Van Norman Field - rain or shine

Commencement Coordinator

Judi Brayer
323 Alumni Hall
jbrayer@mansfield.edu
570.662.4818

Commencement Information for Graduating Students

Check your MU email for Registration Information!

The registration process has begun. Be sure to check your Mounties email account to learn about the online registration process. Registration is required of all students who wish to participate in the ceremony. Those students who are not planning on participating are asked to complete only the first question on the registration form.

Special message for December 2021 Graduates:

When alumni leave the university, their email address is changed from username01@mansfield.edu to username01@mounties.mansfield.edu. To access your email or My Mansfield, you will need to login using this new address. If you have forgotten your password, go to https://password.mansfield.edu to reset your password. If you need assistance with your account, contact the CT Helpdesk at 570-662-4357.

Other key dates:

Friday, May 13, 2022
Rehearsal at 1:00 PM - Karl Van Norman Field

Saturday, May 14
2:45 - Gates/doors open for guests
3:45 - All participants must be seated
4:00 - Commencement begins!

Important Telephone Numbers

For the most up to date information regarding Commencement
Commencement Coordinator, Judi Brayer- 570-662-4818 or jbrayer@mansfield.edu

Graduation eligibility and honors status
Registrar's office: Ryan Stanley - 570-662-4201

Student financial accounts
Financial Aid office: 570-662-4129
Student Accounts (billing): 570-662-4888

For emergencies and lost and found
Campus Police: 570-662-4900

Will there be assistance for robing?

Volunteers will be present to help candidates with robes, hoods & caps.

How long will the ceremony last?

The ceremony normally lasts about 2 hours. Students need to arrive at least 1 hour before the ceremony start to sign in, pick up their stage card.

If the ceremony is held inside, do my guests need a ticket?

A decision has been made to hold Commencement outside. No tickets will be necessary.

Are guests given assigned seats or can I reserve seats?

No, only students and faculty have reserved seats. Seating is first-come, first-served only. Allow plenty of time to get to campus, park, and get through ticket scanning (if necessary), as seats fill up quickly.

Will I receive my diploma at the ceremony?

No. Diplomas are mailed to the graduates’ home address about two weeks after Commencement. Make sure you have a current address on file with the Registrar’s Office. Note: If your mailing address changes, notify Mr. Ryan Stanley in the Registrar’s Office at 570-662-4201, or e-mail at rstanley@mansfield.edu.

What do I do for line up?

OUTSIDE:

No line up is necessary, as students will be seated as they arrive.

What is a Stage Card, and where do I get mine? (VERY IMPORTANT!)

Stage cards contain your name, line position number, honors program, Commencement honors, degree, legacy graduate info, diploma presented by, and military recognition.

Check in with volunteers to receive your official stage participation card. You must have this card to proceed across the stage. Do not lose your card. Do not bend your card or write on the front of your card.

Is there a dress code for graduation?

Yes, Commencement is a formal academic occasion and should be viewed as such in dress and demeanor. The following guidelines are provided to help you prepare for your Commencement ceremony. The academic robe is black, with a V neckline, which maywill show part of your clothing underneath. The recommended dress is similar to what you would wear to an interview.

Graduates who are not dressed appropriately will be asked to leave the assembly area and will not be allowed to participate in the Commencement ceremony.

Please review the following guidelines:

If event is inside, shoes with pointy heels are not permitted.No exceptions as these cause major damage to the gym floor.If you choose to wear them anyway, you will be asked to remove them. Flats, wedges, sandals are ok as long as they do not have pointy heels.
The gown should be mid-calf.
No flowers on the academic robe.

Mortarboard, Tassels, Hoods

The mortarboard (i.e., the academic hat) should be worn with the front point over the forehead below the front hairline, so the flat board is parallel to the floor. It is not worn on the back of the head with the board pointing upward.
Note: If you wear your hair up, it is important to not put your hair up too high because the hat cannot sit on your head properly
Candidates for an undergraduate degree enter the event with the tassel on the right, hanging near the right eye. After the conferral of degrees, the tassel shifts to the left side.
Candidates for the master’s degree wear the academic robe and mortarboard with the tassel on the left, hanging near the left eye and carry their hood draped over their left arm.

Can I decorate my mortarboard (cap)?

Yes! Go crazy! Make it spectacular but appropriate!

Honor Cords: When / Where do I get my honor cord?

Eligible candidates will pick up their honor cord at rehearsal on Friday. If you cannot attend rehearsal, you can pick it up in the robing room commencement morning. Honors designation is based on the semester PRIOR to the semester in which you graduate.

Can I wear my Fraternity/Sorority Cord?

Yes. You are permitted to wear a cord for your fraternity or sorority.

I am a veteran/military student. Do I get a special cord?

Yes . We honor our veterans and military graduates with red, white and blue cords. If you are a military graduate, please pick up your cord from Denise Davey in the Veteran’s Office prior to commencement, if possible.

I am a graduate student. Will I receive a cord?

No. Graduate students do not receive cords.

Graduation Decorum.

Graduation ceremonies are joyful events. The festivity includes the dress of the students and faculty adorned in academic regalia and the warmth, joy and satisfaction of accomplishment.

The ceremonies are also a solemn occasion. The actual conferring of degrees signifies long, hard work on the part of everyone involved: students, faculty, administrators, parents and spouses. Due tothe serious nature of the ceremony, students are expected to maintain a measure of decorum consistent with the occasion.

Applause and other recognition of the conferring of degrees should be limited to a joint effort at the conclusion of each graduation group.

Please note these additional rules:

No alcohol or illegal drugs arepermitted on campus. Graduates who appear to beunder the influence of either will be removed from the lineup and will not participate in the ceremony.
Candidates should not chew gum or tobacco.
Air horns or other noisemaking devices are not permittedby graduates or guests and will be confiscated.
Balloons and other decorations brought by guests should not be brought into the ceremony.
Large objects can restrict the view of other guests.

Will there be a live webcast?

Yes. There will be a link to the live webcast will be on the Mansfield University website the morning of Commencement.

All graduates, with the exception of Military graduates who may wear their dress uniform, are required to wear a traditional cap and gown to the Commencement ceremony.

Graduation attire is available for purchase at the Mountie Spirit Campus Store beginning April 1. Unfortunately, online ordering is not available at this time.

Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, and Certificate attire includes:

Associate/Bachelor Unit (rope, cap & tassel) - $31.05 w/tax
Associate/Bachelor Hood ONLY $28.95 w/tax
Associate/Bachelor Unit & Hood together - $60.00 w/tax

Master's Degree attire includes:

Master Unit (robe, cap & tassel combined - $33.64 w/tax
Master Hood ONLY - $30.36 w/tax
Master Unit & Hood together - $64.00 w/tax

If you're unable to visit the Mountie Spirit Campus Store to purchase your attire, the bookstore can ship your items to you for a postage and handling fee of $15.00.

Please have the below information available before contacting the Mountie Spirit Campus Store via phone (570-662-4922 or 1-800-577-6798) to place your order.

Height measurements
Phone and address
Degree or certificate earned
Credit card information

Superior academic achievement at the baccalaureate level is acknowledged according to the following criteria:

To receive honors recognition at Commencement, a Bachelor's Degree candidate must have completed a minimum of 45 credit hours at Mansfield University prior to the final semester and earned the necessary quality point average for all credits earned at Mansfield University as follows:

To receive graduation honors and to have them recorded on the student's permanent record, a Bachelor's Degree student must have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours at Mansfield University and earned the necessary quality point average for all credits earned at Mansfield University, as noted above.

CUM LAUDE	3.35 - 3.64
MAGNA CUM LAUDE	3.65 - 3.94
SUMMA CUM LAUDE	3.95 - 4.00

To receive honors recognition at Commencement, an Associate's Degree student must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours at Mansfield University prior to the final semester and have earned 3.5-4.0 quality point average for all credits earned at Mansfield University.
To graduate with honors and have that designation recorded on the student's permanent record, an Associate's Degree student must have completed a minimum of 30 credit hours at Mansfield University and earned the 3.5-4.0 quality point average for all credits earned at Mansfield University.
Honors eligibility is determined by credits completed and cumulative QPA earned at the end of the Fall 2021 semester. If your Honors status changes following the ceremony due to the submission of Spring 2022 grades, it will be reflected on your academic transcript.
Potential graduates are encouraged to contact Ryan Stanley in the Registrar's office at rstanley@mansfield.edu with any questions or concerns about honors status.
The Commencement Program will include the level of Honors achievement and the Herald will acknowledge Honors recipients as they cross the stage.

Graduation announcements are a great way to let your family and friends know you've reached a very important milestone in your life.

Jostens provides numerous packages to fit your budget. You may also purchase your class ring and diploma frames at Jostens .

Grads and their families can pre-purchase and reserve their flowers from the Commencement Flowers Company ahead of time, and have them available for pickup the morning of Commencement.

T-shirts will have the names of all grads printed on them and sold out last year, so don't wait to order! There will be a limited amount available for purchase the day of Commencement.

Proceeds from this sale go to the Mansfield Foundation for student support and scholarships. This service is coordinated by the MU Psychology Club.

Please go to the Commencement Flowers Company to order.

GradImages will be on hand to take two photographs: one while each student is on stage, and one when the graduate immediately exits the stage.

GradImages will contact students about purchasing Commencement photos. You are under no obligation to buy these services.

Parking is free.
Six shuttle buses operate among the parking areas to transport guests to the entrance.
Campus Police will direct visitors to the closest available parking.
Please plan to arrive approximately 1 hour prior to Commencement to allow plenty of travel time to reach campus, park and get seated.

For the Spring Commencement Ceremony, the shuttle will operate from 2:30 - 7:00 PM.

Fall Commencement (December)

The Fall ceremony is always held in Decker Gymnasium. All guests are required to have a ticket. Seating is based on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Doors open an hour and a half prior to Commencement beginning.

Spring Commencement (May)

After consultation with Mansfield's Health and Safety Director, the seating on the field will consist of pods of three chairs, one for the graduate and two for guests. Additional guest seating will be available in the bleachers on a first-come, first serve basis. This will ensure that our participants and guests can spread out with more space available in the stands. There will not be a limit to the number of guests a graduate may invite since the event will be held outdoors.

Special Accommodations

Special seating arrangments are available for those who cannot be seated in bleacher or stadium stands.

NOTE: Due to the many requests that MU receives for special seating, only one family member may be accomodated within the designated special seating area. Special seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved. University representatives will be on hand to assist our guests with special needs.