Commencement Ceremony Procedures

Rehearsal for the 2010 Summer Commencement Exercises will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 17 at Chisholm Hall at the Waco Convention Center. The convention center is located at 100 Washington in Waco (76701). Candidates for graduation are strongly encouraged to attend the rehearsal to receive instructions for the ceremony.

Please read the instructions below carefully. The 2010 Summer Commencement Exercises will be at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 17 at Chisholm Hall at the Waco Convention Center. A reception for graduates and their families will be conducted after the commencement exercises at McLennan Hall at the convention center.

Any changes concerning these instructions will be made at the rehearsal or prior to the ceremony.

Preparation for the Ceremony

We wish the best for each of our graduates and want to preserve the honor and dignity of this special occasion. We request that everyone display courteous and respectful behavior toward the graduates, their families and friends. We request that guests arrive on time. Please refrain from loud talking, the use of air horns, noisemakers and cell phones so that everyone can enjoy the ceremony as we honor each graduate.

  1. Graduates should arrive by 6:45 p.m. on Aug. 17 at McLennan Hall at the Waco Convention Center. Please arrive on time. During this time, graduates will receive their name cards and assistance with caps and gowns. Graduates should obtain caps, gowns, and tassels from the MCC Bookstore prior to the ceremony and bring these items with them. Honor graduates will receive honor cords at the rehearsal and should bring them to the ceremony. Honor cords will be pinned to the left shoulder of the gown. If you are member of an honor society, please contact your advisor before Aug. 17 to obtain your cord, medallion or stole. Please bring your cord, medallion or stole to the ceremony. Honor advisors will not be available the night of commencement to distribute these items.
  2. Graduates should secure valuables before the processional begins. Graduates should not carry purses or other objects. Graduates can wear jewelry. A commencement program will be placed in each graduate's chair.
  3. Graduates are strongly encouraged to stay in McLennan Hall until the procession begins. Name cards will be distributed. Each graduate must keep the name card so that it can be given to the person who will announce the names.
  4. Graduates should wear nice attire under their gowns. Men are encouraged to wear trousers, dress shirts, and nice shoes. Ladies are encouraged to wear nice dresses, or slacks and blouses.
  5. Caps will be worn so that the top is flat rather than slanted.
  6. The tassels are worn on the right side of the cap during the ceremony.
  7. Caps and gowns should be free from any markings or other modifications.

Procession to the Ceremony

  1. Once graduates are lined up in order, they will be led to Chisholm Hall for the ceremony. The procession will be lead by the by the deans and the bagpipers, followed by the graduates. The procession will begin about 10 minutes before the start of the ceremony.
  2. Graduates will be seated in the graduate section.
  3. Once graduates are at their seats, they should remain standing until after the National Anthem. Men should remove their caps during the National Anthem.

Commencement Exercises

  1. After the National Anthem, the Vice President, Student Services, will direct everyone to be seated. Caps should be put back on.
  2. The ceremony will proceed in the order listed in the commencement program.
  3. At the appropriate time, the Vice President, Instruction, and the President of the Board of Trustees will direct the graduates receiving certificates to stand for the certification. Only graduates who are receiving certificates should stand.
  4. The graduates receiving certificates will be certified and then directed to be seated.
  5. Next, the graduates receiving associate degrees will be directed to stand. The graduates receiving associate degrees will be certified and then directed to be seated.
  6. The Vice President, Instruction, will direct the graduates who are receiving certificates to come to the stage to receive their certificates. Only students who are receiving certificates should come forward. The graduates receiving certificates will be seated on the last row. Graduates receiving certificates will walk to the stage.
  7. At the stage, the graduates will give their name cards to the presenter.
  8. The presenter will announce the names of the graduates as they step up to the stage to receive their diploma covers. The graduates will receive their diploma covers from the President of McLennan Community College and shake hands with the President. A picture will be taken of each graduate shaking hands with the President. Graduates will proceed and shake hands with a member of the Board of Trustees as the graduates leave the stage. After exiting the stage, graduates will take a second picture and return to their seats.
  9. After all of the graduates who are receiving certificates have received their diploma covers and returned to their seats, the Vice President, Instruction, will direct the graduates who are receiving associate degrees to come to the stage. The graduates receiving the associate degree will come to the stage one row at a time. The graduates receiving the associate degree will follow the same steps as described in numbers 7 and 8 listed above.

Special Presentations

  1. Before the highest honor graduates receive their diplomas covers, the Vice President, Instruction will say a few words about the significance of being a highest honor graduate.
  2. The highest honor graduates will walk to the stage with their row.
  3. The highest honor graduates will give his/her name card to the presenter.
  4. The presenter will announce the names of the highest honor graduates individually. The presenter will read the highest honor graduate’s personal biographical information as the highest honor graduate receives his/her plaque from the Vice President, Instruction. The highest honor graduate will remain standing with the Vice President, Instruction until his/her personal biographical information has been read.
  5. The highest honor graduates will receive their diploma covers from the President of McLennan Community College, and a picture will be taken while they shake hands with her. The highest honor graduates will proceed and shake hands with a member of the Board of Trustees as the highest honor graduates leave the stage.
  6. After exiting the stage, the highest honor graduates will take a second picture and then return to their seats.

Recessional

  1. After all of the graduates are back in their seats, the Vice President, Student Services will direct the graduates to move their tassels from the right to the left side of the cap. The Vice President, Student Services, will invite everyone to the reception. Guests will be asked to remain seated during the recessional.
  2. The deans will lead the recessional, followed by the bagpipers and the stage party participants.
  3. After the stage party participants have filed off the stage, the deans will approach the front row of graduates and direct the graduates to stand and follow the stage party participants. Each row of graduates will follow the preceding row. The faculty and staff will follow the graduates.
  4. The recessional will keep moving to McLennan Hall.

Print copies:
Commencement Ceremony Procedures (Word)
Commencement Ceremony Procedures (PDF)