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About TTU Academics Campus Life Admissions Athletics Giving to TTUSen. Lamar Alexander to speak at Spring Commencement
Sen. Lamar AlexanderCOOKEVILLE, Tenn. (April 17, 2008) — Sen. Lamar Alexander will give this spring’s commencement address to nearly 1,200 graduates and their friends and family.
Ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, in the Hooper Eblen Center, with overflow seating in the campus Fitness Center and shuttle service to and from distant parking areas.
Alexander is the only Tennessean ever popularly elected both governor and United States senator and the first Tennessee Republican to serve on the Senate Appropriations Committee . More >
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR SPRING 2008 GRADUATION CEREMONY
This is the largest graduating class in TTU history. This is, of course, wonderful news but it also poses some challenges. Not all of the graduating class will able to be seated on the Hooper-Eblen Center floor. Some members, probably those earning graduate degrees, will march in with the class as usual but will be seated in reserved seating in the stands. This will require more preparation and coordination on the part of TTU staff. It is VERY important that you attend commencement rehearsal in order to receive the proper instructions.
The commencement program will begin with the macebearer leading the processional. The macebearer is followed by the marshalls, the platform party, the faculty, and the candidates. There will be two lines with the president leading the right line and the provost and vice president for academic affairs leading the left.
President Bell will have an opening statement and then will introduce the commencement speaker. Following the speaker's address, President Bell will extend appreciation to the faculty.
Dr. Jack Armistead will begin the graduation proceedings.
After the diplomas have been given out and the students returned to their seats, the President will confer degrees in absentia.
We expect every seat in the Hooper-Eblen Center to be filled for spring commencement. Ushers will be asking guests to fill all seats on each row in order to prevent others from wandering around looking for open seats. Overflow seating will be provided next door in the Fitness Center gym with a live broadcast feed from the ceremony projected on a large screen.
Ushers will be located at the east entrance on the concourse of the Center to assist those with physical limitations or disabilities. A special section has been reserved for those honored guests at the top of section B. Family members can sit in Row V of Section B. An interpreter for the hearing impaired will be on the right side of the stage during the ceremony.
Handicapped parking is available off Willow and on McGee Blvd. Person(s) with disabilities can also be dropped off from the semi-circle in the front entrance of the Hooper-Eblen Center and enter at ticket window entrance. Please do not leave cars parked on semi-circle; this area is for drop-off only.
We ask graduates to please do not pause for pictures as they come off the stage during the ceremony, and certainly do not pass up anyone who has paused to have their picture taken. The diplomas are in alphabetical order and getting out of line might cause a mix up. Also, students will remain standing until members of their entire row have received their diplomas and returned to their seats. Then the entire row will be seated.
WCTE-TV Channel 22 will record the commencement ceremonies. You may purchase copies of the program from TTU’s Office of Photographic Services; copies are available in both videotape & DVD. Photo Services personnel will also be taking still pictures of graduates at the time they accept their diplomas and shake hands with the president. Prints are available through the Photo Services Office. For additional information please call 931-372-3305.
Please be aware that individual recording equipment is not permitted on the arena floor.
We sincerely request your attention and respect for the ceremony on Saturday morning. All of the students have worked very hard for the reward they will receive on Saturday, and we ask that you hold your celebration until after the ceremony.
Because of the large turnout expected for commencement, as well as other events on campus on May 3, parking will be a real challenge. You may want to ask your friends and family to arrive plenty early in order to have time to make the long walk to Hooper-Eblen Center.
All parking lots are available for parking during graduation. However, tickets will be given if you are not in a legal parking space. Please do not park in the grass, street, fire lanes, etc.
The large commuter lot below McGee Blvd is the closest available lot. Spaces are limited, so please arrive early. Handicapped parking is available off Willow and on McGee Blvd. Person(s) with disabilities can also be dropped off from the semi-circle in the front entrance of the Hooper-Eblen Center and enter at ticket window entrance. Please do not leave cars parked on semi-circle; this area is for drop-off only.
Undergraduate students who choose not to participate in commencement activities MUST notify the TTU Graduation Office as soon as possible via e-mail at dhensley@tntech.edu.
Graduate students who choose not to participate in commencement activities MUST notify the Graduate School Office as soon as possible via e-mail at skendrick@tntech.edu. If you have already marked on your graduation application that you will not attend, no further action is necessary.
There are certain university regulations for what may or may not be worn with your cap and gown.
Caps shall be worn with the mortarboard level, long point to the back, front point well down on the forehead. Tassels shall be worn on the right side. If you should lose your tassel or need to exchange your cap for another size, the Bookstore will open at 8 AM on Saturday. Women's caps shall not be removed during the exercise. Men shall remove caps during prayers, the playing of the Tech Hymn, and during the commencement address. If you forget when to remove your cap, please refer to the commencement program that denotes the proper times to remove caps.
In addition to the cap and gown (and in the case of graduate students, the hood), the only items approved by the Committee on Commencements, Convocations, and Academic Ceremonies to be worn with the academic regalia are: insignia for all official campus honors organizations.
Military uniforms must be covered by the gown. We suggest that the women wear a dress or skirt and dark shoes. We recommend that the men wear dark dress pants, dark shoes, light shirt, and a dark tie.
A note about celebrating — please do not bring “silly string” products to the ceremony. Chemicals in the product react with the mats and flooring in the arena and cause extensive and costly damage. If you plan to celebrate during the ceremony, we respectfully ask that you use confetti or poppers instead.
On Saturday morning all candidates for graduation should arrive at the Eblen Center by 9 A.M. for check-in and to find their place in line. Personnel from the Graduation Office and the Graduate School will be on either side of the concourse to assist with line-up.
As you file into the arena and as you get to your row, ushers will be standing by each row to ensure that the row is filled and everyone has a seat.
When you receive your diploma cover, you must go behind the curtain with other graduates to receive a diploma insert. If you have not cleared your account with the university prior to graduation, you will be given a note instructing you to see someone after the ceremony to settle all accounts before the university can issue you a diploma. Personnel from the Business Office, the Graduate School, and the Graduation Office will be at the ticket windows of this building for thirty minutes following graduation to settle such accounts and to issue the diplomas.
If anyone has received a Stafford or SLS loan while in school and has not already completed an EXIT interview in the Financial Aid Office, you need to do this before commencement.
If there is a special pronunciation of your name or if you want only part of your name read, please see one of the candidate readers after rehearsal.
Contact Information
Records/Graduation Office
(931) 372-3317
Commencement Coordinator
Commencement@tntech.edu >
Photo Services
(931) 372-3305
University Police
(931) 372-3234
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