For Traditional Graduates

CONGRATULATIONS ... almost!

It is the responsibility of all graduating students to complete certain tasks in preparation for graduation. Completion of tasks will assure the student is able to participate in celebratory events and the commencement ceremony as planned.

THE COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY:

Hiram College's commencement ceremony includes the Dean of the College reading each graduate's name as they process to the front. They will be given a diploma folder, congratulated by the College President and the Chair of the Board of Trustees.

All students with a G.P.A. of 3.5 or above after Fall Semester will be listed with Latin honors in the commencement program and the honor will be announced with their name during Commencement. Final Latin honors (Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Cum Laude) will be awarded officially after final grades are recorded. If your final cumulative G.P.A. is 3.5 or above, the associated Latin honor will appear on your diploma which will be mailed to you four to six weeks after Commencement. All final Latin honors and departmental honors will be noted on your final transcript.

GRADUATE'S TO DO LIST:

The following 'to do list' is a tool to assist each student. It is intended to assure there is a clear understanding of what needs to happen as graduation approaches. Please review this information carefully and contact the appropriate office with any questions.

IN JANUARY

• GET YOUR SENIOR PORTRAIT TAKEN ON JANUARY 11 OR 12, 2013 if you haven't done so already in the Brown Fall room located inside the Kennedy Center.
• PARTICIPATE IN COUNTDOWN TO GRADUATION ON JANUARY 31, 2013 ANYTIME BETWEEN 9:30 AM AND 5:00 PM.  By taking these steps, you are making your arrangements to graduate and entering to win great prizes. Visit the following locations or if you are unable to attend Countdown, please call or email Kathryn Craig at 330-569-5131 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to discuss your final preparations:

1. Kennedy Center Main Lounge to make arrangements for commencement events including Senior Celebrations, Commencement Brunch, and Commencement.  Place orders for your cap & gown and class ring.  Plus, get all your questions about commencement week and commencement day answered.
2. Teachout Price Student Services Suite for Financial Aid & the Registrar to assure you are completing all requirements necessary to graduate.
3. Hinsdale 101 Career Center to learn the three key steps to get your career plans moving forward or to register your "first destination" if you have already made plans.  Also, check in with the Office of Alumni Relations and learn about the Senior Class Gift.

IN FEBRUARY

• BE SURE THE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE HAS YOUR CORRECT MAILING ADDRESS. The registrar confirms each student's current mailing address during the graduation petition meeting. If you believe that this address is incorrect, you need to contact the registrar's office immediately. Commencement invitations will be mailed out in March to the mailing address you have on file in the registrar's office. If you have an additional immediate family address that you would like a Commencement invitation mailed to, you must contact the Office of Special Events by the end of February at 330-569-5900 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . For the August and December graduates, diplomas are typically mailed by the end of February to your most recently updated mailing address, whether done through the Registrar's Office or through the Alumni Office.
• ORDER CAPS AND GOWNS. Be sure to order your cap and gown through www.herffjones.com/college/graduation OR by placing your order in the book store.  DEADLINE IS March 13, 2013.
• ORDER GRADUATION ANNOUNCEMENTS (Optional). Personalized graduation announcements will be available to order through the book store starting on Feb. 1. The cost for personalized graduation announcements is $1.75 each + tax or a package of 10 for $14.95 + tax and will be available for pickup in the bookstore 2 weeks after placing the order.

IN MARCH AND APRIL

• REGISTER FOR COMPLIMENTARY TICKETS AND PURCHASE ADDITIONAL TICKETS. Discuss with your family and friends and be sure to register for your complimentary tickets plus order and purchase additional tickets as desired for the senior soiree and the commencement brunch before April 26, 2013 using the on-line registration system. You can also register by calling or e-mailing the Events Office on 330-569-5900 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Details can be found under Commencement Registration and Tickets.

IN APRIL

• JOIN THE ONLINE ALUMNI COMMUNITY. As a Hiram College alumni, you automatically join a career network of more than 15,000 alumni. The easiest way to take advantage of this is through the online alumni community. Register at alumni.hiram.edu to connect with others in your career field and geographic area. In addition, stay in touch with classmates through your class page and blog, post an online class note, and let others know what you are up to. This is also a great way to keep Hiram updated with your contact information to ensure you receive all of our communications about opportunities for alumni.
• PICK UP YOUR CAP AND GOWN STARTING ON APRIL 27, 2013 in the Bookstore.  Cost for the undergraduate cap, gown, and tassel is $39.95 + tax.  Payment is due at time of pick up.

DURING COMMENCEMENT WEEK

• ATTEND REHEARSAL. Attendance  at Commencement Rehearsal  is required for all graduates since you will receive full instructions about the academic procession and procedures.  Commencement rehearsal will be held Tuesday, May 7th, at 5:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Ballroom.  Please be prompt - it will take about one-half hour.  If you have an unavoidable conflict, please notify one of the faculty marshals as soon as possible.
• ATTEND REQUIRED FINAL EXAMS. Students will be reminded that the approval of graduating seniors at the May 7th faculty meeting will be subject to change depending on the results of final exams and final grades.  Therefore, not attending final exams, unless explicitly excused by the professor, could result in not graduating on May 11th.
• STUDENTS NOTIFIED THAT THEY ARE AT RISK OF NOT GRADUATING  MUST GO TO REGISTRAR'S OFFICE TO CONFIRM GRADUATION STATUS. In light of the new College policy regarding Commencement, students not planning to graduate in May might still be allowed to participate in the Commencement ceremony.  Please contact Cathy Mansor in the Registrar's Office for more information.  Any student who seems to be in danger of NOT GRADUATING (based on preliminary course grades) will be informed of this fact by phone, email, text, or registered mail between May 8th -10th.  Students who receive such notices should see Cathy Mansor in the Registrar's Office by Friday, May 10th to be certain that they will graduate.
• UP-DATE REGISTRAR'S OFFICE IF YOUR MAILING ADDRESS HAS CHANGED.  Diplomas for May graduates will be mailed by first class USPS delivery four to six weeks after commencement.  Please make sure before you leave campus in May that the Registrar's Office has the correct mailing address on file since your location may have changed from when you completed your graduation audit.
• ATTEND SENIOR CELEBRATION EVENTS.

ON COMMENCEMENT DAY

• BE ON TIME FOR CLASS PICTURE. A class picture will be taken commencement day in front of Bates Hall at 12:15 p.m.  You must be prompt or miss being in the picture.
• BE ON TIME FOR LINE UP FOR COMMENCEMENT. All graduating students are to line up at Martin Field House.  You MUST be there at 1:15 PM  or risk not marching.  If there are any changes to this, it will be announced at the rehearsal on May 7th.

ENJOY YOUR COMMENCEMENT DAY WITH FACULTY, STAFF, FAMILY, AND FRIENDS.