Master Degree Commencement

Event information for the 2009 Winter Master Degree Commencement

Date: Saturday, December 19
Location: The Bank of Kentucky Center
Ceremony Start Time: 3:00 p.m.

The Bank of Kentucky Center doors will open to guests at 2:00 p.m. on December 19. Please note that entry will not be permitted before 2:00 p.m.
The commencement ceremony should conclude by 4:30 p.m.
Tickets are not required for the ceremony.
The 3:00 p.m. ceremony is for Master degree candidates only. A separate ceremony for undergraduate commencement will be held on Saturday, December 19 at 9:00 a.m. in The Bank of Kentucky Center.

NEW: Faculty Line Up
NEW: Reception Information
Graduate Line Up
Academic Apparel
Parking, Shuttle Service and Directions
Guest Information and Seating
Disabled Guests and Graduates
Arena Policies
Distribution of Diplomas
Photography
BOK Ribbon Board Messages
Graduation Gifts at Commencement
Academic Colors for Hoods and Tassels
Senior Challenge

GRADUATE LINE UP
Line up for the commencement processional will take place at The Bank of Kentucky Center in the Conference Room located on the arena floor level of the facility. Graduates are asked to arrive at the assembly area at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 19.

At the designated tables in the graduate assembly area, each graduate should obtain a name card that indicates where to be seated according to college and degree. After taking your position in the line of march, remain in place and keep your name card. The processional into the hall will begin at 3:00 p.m.

All Master candidates must have the appropriate color hood for their degree (see chart below) and will carry it during the processional to the graduate seating area on the arena floor. If you forget to bring your hood, you will be required to purchase another on the day of the ceremony from the Bookstore.

The name card obtained at assembly will be handed in upon reaching the stage during the conferring of degrees. Student marshals, dressed in gold gowns, will direct graduates at appropriate times during the ceremony.

Graduates must return to and remain in their seats once they have received their diploma cases. The entire ceremony is expected to last approximately one and a half hours so please share this information with your guests and plan accordingly.

Personal property should not be left in the assembly area. You will not be allowed back into the assembly area following the ceremony. You are encouraged to leave personal belongings in your car or with your guests. Neither Northern Kentucky University nor The Bank of Kentucky Center can be responsible for lost or stolen articles.

ADADEMIC APPAREL
Each graduate should purchase academic apparel at the NKU Bookstore. This purchase can be made in person or by calling (859) 572-5142.

Graduates must have a cap, gown and tassel. Each Master degree candidate must also purchase the appropriate hood for the degree. At the appropriate time in the ceremony you will process to the stage with your hood. You will be hooded on stage by your college representatives when degrees are conferred.

Please note that Master candidates do not receive Honors cords. If you are a member of an honorary society, check with your dean’s office to determine the availability of additional cords to be worn at Commencement.

The cost for Master’s regalia is approximately $68.60 plus tax and will be available at the Bookstore through Saturday, December 19. Early purchase will assure the best selection of apparel sizes.

Regular Bookstore hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. The Bookstore will be open on December 19 from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. For additional Bookstore information, please call (859) 572-5142 or visit the NKU Bookstore online.

FACULTY LINE UP
Beginning at 2:00 p.m., all faculty will line up at The Bank of Kentucky Center in the Vault. Access to the facility will not be available before 2:00 p.m. so please plan to arrive accordingly. The procession onto the arena floor will begin at 3:00 p.m.

While commencement volunteers will be on site to monitor access to the line up area, faculty are encouraged to leave valuables in their car. Neither NKU nor The Bank of Kentucky Center can be responsible for lost or stolen items.

A more detailed printable version of the faculty line up information is also available.

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PARKING, SHUTTLE SERVICE AND DIRECTIONS
Parking is available free of charge in all surface lots and garages on campus on December 19. Shuttle service from parking facilities to The Bank of Kentucky Center will be available before and following the ceremony. Look for shuttle stop signage when you arrive on campus on December 19.

Disabled parking is available on all levels of the Welcome Center parking garage located across the street from the arena.

For directions to Northern Kentucky University visit the Campus Maps and Directions page.

GUEST INFORMATION AND SEATING
Guests should enter The Bank of Kentucky Center through the event level doors located at the end of the pedestrian bridge coming from the Welcome Center garage. Doors to the arena will not be open for early admittance so plan to arrive at or after 2:00 p.m. Tickets are not required for the ceremony. Seating is available on a first-come first-served basis. Graduates will line up in the conference room located in The Bank of Kentucky Center.

DISABLED GUESTS AND GRADUATES
Disabled guests and graduates may be dropped off in front of The Bank of Kentucky Center at the circle drive off the Nunn Drive entrance to campus. You will be directed to the elevator which will take you to the appropriate level in the arena.

Disabled parking is available on all levels of the Welcome Center parking garage located across the street from the arena. Accessible seating is available in the last row of certain sections on the Concourse level for disabled guests. Accommodations for disabled graduates will be made in the Graduate Assembly area or may be made by contacting (859) 572-5810.

ARENA POLICIES
No cans, bottles, coolers or other similar containers will be allowed in the arena. No food or beverages may be brought into the arena. Random security checks will be performed by arena security staff at all gates. Be aware that all large bags, camera bags and diaper bags are subject to search. The Bank of Kentucky Center management reserves the right to make the final determination on prohibited items. For more information on The Bank of Kentucky Center visit The Bank of Kentucky Center website.

DISTRIBUTION OF DIPLOMAS
Diplomas will be mailed after January 29, 2010. To ensure you receive your diploma in a timely manner, you are encouraged to go online and check your address through your MyNKU account (once you log in go to the Bio-demographic Tab). If changes need to be made, please contact the Registrar’s office at (859) 572-5556. Questions regarding diplomas should be directed to the Registrar Service Center at (859) 572-6427 or 6625.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Photographs of graduates will be taken by a professional photographer from Grad Images during the ceremony. Order information and proofs will be sent to you by the photographer following the ceremony. For more information or to order prints please call 1-800-261-2576. Grad Images is also offering a special $5 discount on orders of $25 or more when graduates register their email address prior to graduation. Visit the Grad Images website and click on Pre-Event Registration to take advantage of this offer.

RECEPTION INFORMATION
A complimentary reception for graduates, faculty and guests will take place in the Veranda on the Concourse level behind the stage drape following the ceremony. Refreshments will be served.

BOK RIBBON BOARD MESSAGES
Graduates and guests may purchase a personalized message to be shown on the electronic ribbon boards in The Bank of Kentucky Center arena before the commencement ceremony. For more information, visit the Ribbon Board Information page or the Pricing and Order Information page. Additional inquiries should be directed to Matt Merchant at (859) 292-2883.

GRADUATION GIFTS AT COMMENCEMENT
The NKU Bookstore will be open at its on campus site in the University Center from 8:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. on December 19. Show your appreciation to the person who helped turn the dream of a college education into reality by presenting them with the Stole of Gratitude. Take advantage of a 10% commencement day discount on all diploma frames. For your convenience, diploma frames will be available at The Bank of Kentucky Center also. Look for the NKU Bookstore booth on the Concourse level.

ACADEMIC COLORS FOR HOODS AND TASSELS
Below are the master/doctorate degrees and the color of the hood in parentheses for each degree as determined by NKU and the universally-accepted academic hood color chart.

College of Arts and Sciences
Master of Arts in English (white)
Master of Arts in Integrative Studies (white)
Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology (old gold)
Master of Public Administration (peacock blue)

Haile/US Bank College of Business (drab)
Master of Accountancy
Master of Business Administration
Master of Science in Executive Leadership and Organizational Change

College of Education and Human Services (light blue)
Master of Arts in Education
Master of Arts in Education: Principal Preparation
Master of Arts in Education: Teacher as a Leader
Master of Science in Community Counseling
Master of Arts in Instructional Leadership
Master of Arts in School Counseling
Master of Arts in Teaching
Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership

College of Informatics (copper)
Master of Arts in Communication
Master of Science in Computer Science
Master of Science in Health Informatics
Master of Science in Business Informatics

College of Health Professions (apricot)
Master of Science in Nursing

SENIOR CHALLENGE
As you begin to think about caps and gowns and résumés, take a moment to reflect upon your time at NKU. Graduation is not the end of your journey, but rather the beginning of a lifelong partnership with your alma mater. Please support the NKU Annual Fund and celebrate your graduation in one of the following ways:

Gift of $10 – Graduation Gift

Say “Thank You” to NKU
Receive a special pin at commencement
Name recognition as a donor in a special section of the commencement program book*

Gift of $25 – Special Message
All of the above benefits plus:

Say “Thank You” to a family member, professor or a friend
Your special message will be placed next to your name in the special donor section of the commencement program book*
Mail notification can be sent to the person you honored

Gift of $75 – Brick Paver
All of the above benefits plus:

A brick paver installed in front of the W. Frank Steely Library allows your special message to be remembered for a lifetime

* While all graduate names will be included in the printed program, to be listed as a donor, messages and payment must be received by November 16. No refunds will be given after November 16.

For more information on graduation giving, call Lori Shelley at (859) 572-7531 or email SHELLEYL@NKU.EDU.

Please check back for additional information as it becomes available. For additional commencement questions please email specialevents@nku.edu.