Graduation 2008 Ceremony Details

Graduation Application Process:

Students should apply to graduate online, on SRS, by no later than February 15th, 2008. Please include your name, as you would like it to appear on your diploma (must have at least your first initial and full last name). Graduates will also need to pay an administrative graduation fee of $75. This fee is also due by February 15th, 2008.

Students wanting to participate in the Commencement Ceremony on April 27th should fill out a Cap and Gown Order Form and submit it by March 7th. Please include your size (sizes are according to the graduates’ height). There is also a $25 regalia fee, to be paid at the time the order form is submitted.

Also included on the Cap and Gown Order form is a request for tickets. All family and friends of graduating students will need a ticket, so please request the number of tickets you need. Each student is allotted five (5) tickets, and extras are distributed depending on availability. Extra tickets will be disbursed by April 1st, 2008.

Graduating students are responsible for making sure they have satisfied all major requirements in order to graduate. It is strongly recommended that students meet with their academic advisor to perform a degree audit, identify missing requirement and verify that you are on track to graduate. Should you have any questions regarding requirements or degree audits, feel free to contact Student Services.

Ceremony Basic Details:

• Date: April 27th, 2008
• Time: Ceremony begins at 1pm
• Location: Meydenbauer Center, 11100 NE 6th St., Bellevue, WA 98004

Ceremony Location Details:

The Meydenbauer Center is located in downtown Bellevue, WA. It has its own parking garage, which charges a fee of $7 for 1-2hours, and $8 for 2-3 hours, so please be prepared. For more information on the Meydenbauer Center, go to http://www.meydenbauer.com.

Graduates should arrive no later than 12:30pm to be lined up. Guests should be seated by 12:50pm. The ceremony starts promptly at 1pm. Guests are permitted (and encouraged) to take photos throughout the ceremony. The ceremony will also be recorded, and a DVD will be sent with the student’s diploma.

Attire for the Ceremony:

This is a semi-formal ceremony; attire tends to favor items such as a dress shirt and slacks for men and slacks, skirts, or dresses for women. It is requested that graduating students and their guests refrain from wearing jeans. Graduating students must wear graduation regalia in order to participate in the ceremony.

Regalia Information:

All students participating in the graduation ceremony should purchase graduation regalia, available through DigiPen. There is a $25 regalia charge, which covers the cost of the graduates’ cap and gown. Students should fill out a Cap and Gown Order form and submit it with payment to the front office at their campus. The Cap and Gown Order form is due by March 7th – because of the ordering process, late forms cannot be accepted. Click here to download a copy of the Cap and Gown Order Form.

Other Ceremony FAQ:

• When should I arrive?
  • Graduates should arrive no later than 12:30 of the day of the ceremony to be lined up. Guests should remember to bring their tickets, as they cannot be admitted to the hall without them. Guests should be seated by 12:50, and the ceremony will begin promptly at 1pm.

• What will the ceremony be like?
  • The ceremony begins at 1:00 PM promptly and should last approximately 75 to 90 minutes. Graduates will enter the auditorium at 1:00 PM with processional music – Claude Comair will lead the procession, followed by faculty and then students in alphabetical order by the degree programs. Candidates for graduation will sit at the front of the center section. During the conferrals of degrees each class will get up together and move to stage right. They will then walk up and across the stage as their name is called. Collect your diploma and don’t forget to smile so mom or dad can snap a photo of the big moment. A short reception with light refreshments will follow the ceremony.

• When will I receive my real diploma?
  • Since the Commencement Ceremony occurs the weekend following finals, all of your grades have not been received – therefore your diploma will be mailed to you in about 6 weeks. Make sure that we have an address where we can mail your diploma. Also, many graduates move after graduation, so if you do, make sure we have your new address. Occasionally, an employer will require proof of graduation. If you need proof of graduation, and you have not yet received your diploma, we can provide proof through a Graduation Verification Form. Please email Student Services to request a Graduation Verification Form.

• I have guests coming out of town. Where should they stay?
  • We have a list of accommodations here. (Accommodations)

• What if I have a question that is not answered here?
  • If you have a question that we didn’t answer here, please email Lindsay Heimer, lheimer@digipen.edu with any questions you have.

Congratulations to the graduates of the Class of 2008!