Johnson & Wales Commencement > Florida

Your Graduation Ceremony
Commencement will be held Saturday, May 17, 2008 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. Graduation ceremonies for the College of Business, The Hospitality College and the College of Culinary Arts will begin promptly at 10am (see Arrival & Assembly for graduate and guest arrival times). This will be your final opportunity to assemble with your faculty and college chairpersons before receiving your degree.

This, the 15th Commencement Ceremony, will celebrate the traditional observances that accompany one of the highest rewards of academic achievement.

Arrival & Assembly
Graduates, family and guests must enter the convention center through the main entrance.

Graduates must arrive no later than 8:30am so they may be assembled by college. Guests should plan to arrive by 9am as the doors to the convention center will close for the procession at 9:45am. Those attending the ceremony should allow for extra time for traffic and parking. Parking is located across the street from the convention center.

Graduates should follow the signs in the center to the area reserved for the graduate's designated college. You will then line up to form the academic procession with your faculty. University staff will distribute name cards that will be used by announcers when you receive your degree. These cards are coded to assist you in lining up before the ceremony. Be sure you have your name card with you before you begin the procession.

Guest seating
Tickets are not required for the Commencement ceremony. Guest seating is open and available on a first come, first served basis. Guests should plan to be seated by 9:45am so that they will be seated when the ceremony begins. Doors will be shut when the procession begins at 9:45am and will not be reopened until approximately 10:15am (after the invocation).

Every guest who arrives prior to the 9:45am academic procession will be accommodated. Guests who arrive after 9:45am will be seated after the invocation (space permitting).

Policy on Photography
To maintain the solemnity of the ceremony, guests will not be allowed onto the main floor area to take photographs. A professional photographer has been retained to take no-obligation photos of the graduates. These photos will be made available by Bob Knight Photo, which will contact you directly via email to give you the opportunity to purchase photos.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, graduates and guests are welcome to return to the stage and pose for photos using the platform as a memorable backdrop.

A Note on Conduct
The university makes every attempt to plan and conduct a meaningful, dignified ceremony. The significance of this day, the recognition of your academic achievements, should be observed with respect.

Disorderly conduct, rowdiness, or the presence of alcohol or drugs will be grounds for immediate ejection, and may result in your diploma being retained by the university.

Graduates are advised to use restroom facilities before the start of the ceremony, as you will not be permitted to leave your seats once the ceremony begins. You are required to remain seated in the convention center throughout the program. Parents, family and friends are encouraged to follow this example, as leaving the ceremony demonstrates extreme disrespect to all in attendance.

The Procession
Graduation programs will be placed on each seat. The program will list the order of exercises. The ceremony begins with the academic procession, followed by academic departments and the platform party. Students will be seated by colleges and their degrees conferred accordingly.

Conferring of Degrees
At a certain point during the commencement, the vice president, Loreen Chant '89, will ask graduates eligible for bachelor’s degrees to stand. She will then present them, on behalf of the faculty, to the president of the campus, Donald G. McGregor, J.D. The president will confer the degree upon these individuals and then ask them to be seated. The process will then be repeated for associate degree candidates.

Receiving your Diploma
At a designated time, graduates will be invited to the platform to receive diplomas. (This will not be your official diploma. Official diplomas will be mailed approximately 12 weeks after you complete all requirements for your degree. The details printed on your degree will be based on the information we have on file.) Ushers will escort you to the platform in a systematic and orderly fashion.

Once you reach the platform, you should present your individual name card to the announcer. As your name is read, you will receive your “diploma,” then proceed to center stage to greet the campus president. After that, proceed down the center staircase and promptly return to your seat as directed by the ushers.

We urge all students to check their account status with Student Financial Services prior to Commencement. Failure to satisfy all financial obligations to the University will prevent you from receiving your diploma in a timely manner.

Recession
The ceremony concludes with the awarding of degrees. Graduates are to stand as the platform party leaves the convention center. You will be directed by the ushers for a swift and orderly exit. Do not leave the convention center until directed to do so by an usher.