Commencement Information for Graduating Students

Eligibility to Graduate 

Students who have questions about their eligibility to participate in the Commencement Exercises this year should address them to the Registrar.  Contact Gail Johns, Degree Auditor at gail.johns@oberlin.edu or call 440.775.8450.

In general, a student must be registered for work sufficient to complete all requirements for the degree(s) sought by the end of the last semester in residence, in order to be eligible to participate in the annual Commencement Exercises following that semester. Students who have permission to finish their work away from Oberlin may participate in Commencement Exercises only after all requirements have been met. Mid-Year 2011 graduates and their families are invited to participate in all Commencement Weekend festivities, including the ceremony.

Parent Mailings

Parents who are living apart will receive the Commencement mailings if the graduating student has provided the Registrar’s office with address information for both parents. If this information was not provided to the Registrar’s office but you would like both parents to receive the Commencement mailing, you need to send an email to secretary.office@oberlin.edu and provide the name and address of the parent not listed with the Registrar. In an effort to protect the privacy of the student, our policy requires that the graduating senior must make the request.

Registration 

View the event website to register.

To ensure your name is pronounced correctly during the Commencement Ceremony, please complete the form on the Graduating Senior site in Blackboard. You must sign into Blackboard to access.

Graduation Announcements
Graduation announcements and class rings may be ordered from Jostens.  A representative from Josten will be on campus, April 4, 2012, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., lower level Wider. Please find all information on the Jostens website.

Photography

• A photographer from GradImages™ will be at your ceremony to take a candid photograph of you at your special moment of recognition.

• You will receive a free passport-sized digital proof of this photo on an order card within 5-7 days following the ceremony.

• Questions may be emailed to service@gradimages.com.

• After the ceremony you may order online at www.gradimages.com or call 800-261-2576.

• Since photographs will be available, family members and guests are encouraged to remain in their seats, relax and enjoy the ceremony.

• PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY: To pre-register your permanent email address, please visit www.gradimages.com and click on Pre-Event Registration. You may add contact information for up to 6 additional relatives and/or friends.  

GradImages™ never has and never will sell  or share the address/email information provided to us to any other vendor.

Florist
Flowers may be ordered through Carlyle Shop.  Please find additional information by choosing the link:   Carlyle order form.
Carlyle Shop
17 W College St.
440.775.3871

Cap and Gown
Caps and Gowns are not required for the commencement exercises; however, should you choose to wear a cap and gown, the regalia may be ordered from:  Choose this link for Ben Franklin's pricing guide.
Ben Franklin
13 W. College Street
(440) 774-5711

Graduate Weekend Registration
Graduating seniors and qualified returning mid-year graduates who are planning to participate in the various events, may find the link below.  To reserve your complimentary tickets (Maximum of 1 free ticket per event), choose the "Graduating Student" as the registration type.  Please ensure that you read the registration form and complete as appropriate.  Registration for parents and family must be completed seperately either by the graduate or by the family/friend by choosing the registration type "Parents and Family Members".  

2012 Registration Form

Meal Tickets

Graduating seniors will use their ID card for access to Dascom Dining Hall. Mid-year graduates will receive a temporary ID card for the same purpose upon arrival.

If you are planning to attend any of the special event meals during reunion/commencement weekend, please use the Graduate Registration link as described above to reserve your meal tickets.  These meal tickets are free for graduating seniors and are limited to one ticket per student.  Tickets for family and friends must be purchased seperately using the Parent and Family Member Registration form.  Please only request tickets for events you plan to attend to ensure enough space for all interested students.

Meal tickets may be picked up at the Commencement / Reunion Welcome Center in the Alumni Center, 65 E. College St. Suite 4, beginning at 9:00 am, Friday May 25 and throughout the weekend. If you have further questions about special meal tickets, please contact:

ALUMNI OFFICE
440.775.8692
alumni@oberlin.edu

Graduating Senior Housing
Graduating seniors will be able to stay in their assigned housing throughout Senior Week and Commencement activities. If you are in residence during the Spring 2012 semester and therefore already have housing on- or off-campus, please do not request housing on the registration form.  You will remain in your current room, village  house, or off-campus house.  Students are expected to check-out of housing by 10:00 AM on Tuesday, May 29, the day after  commencement. If you have further questions about housing or the check-out process, please contact:

RESIDENTIAL EDUCATION 
440.775.8472
resed@oberlin.edu

Mid-year Graduate Housing
Students who graduated in December and are eligible to return to campus for Senior Week and Commencement/Reunion Weekend activities are housed in Zechiel Hall. Please indicate your need for housing on the Graduate Registration form.  Students can arrive on Tuesday, May 22 and can pick up keys and temporary ID card in the Office of Residential Education, Stevenson Hall - Griswold Commons between the hours of 12 noon and 5 pm.  After 5 pm, students can pick up their keys and ID cards at Safety and Security. If you have further questions, please contact:

ALUMNI OFFICE
440.775.8692
alumni@oberlin.edu

Family Housing
Parents & Families requesting to stay in residence halls must complete the "Parents and Famiy Members" registration type, which may be found on the link below.  Lists of regional motels and local accommodations are also provided on the below links.
Local Accomondations

Campus Housing and Meals Form

Entertainment
You or your parents may wish to make reservations for your entertainment tickets since these events sell out quickly.  Reservations can be made on the "Parents and Family Members" registration form.  Graduating students are not provided with complimentary entertainment tickets.

Commencement Ceremony
In May a letter will be sent to the graduating seniors and mid-year graduates with processing instructions from the Office of the General Counsel and Secretary.