Undergraduate Commencement

Event information for 2009 Winter Undergraduate Commencement

Date: Saturday, December 19
Location: The Bank of Kentucky Center
Ceremony Start Time: 9:00 AM

The BOK doors will open to graduates and guests at 8:00 a.m. on December 19. Please note that entry will not be permitted before 8:00 a.m.
The commencement ceremony should conclude by 11:00 a.m.
Tickets are not required for the ceremony.
The 9:00 a.m. ceremony is for undergraduate degree candidates only. A separate commencement ceremony for master degree candidates will be held on Saturday, December 19 at 3:00 p.m. in The Bank of Kentucky Center.

NEW: Faculty Line Up
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
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 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 19. Please note that The Bank of Kentucky Center doors will not be open before 8:00 a.m.

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 9:00 a.m.

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 two 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 in 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.

Each degree candidate must have a cap, gown and tassel. Undergraduate students graduating with University Honors (GPA of 3.50 or higher) will receive an Honors cord to wear with their apparel. Honors cords can be picked up at the dean’s office of your respective college until December 18 or at commencement on December 19. 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 of the Associate’s and Bachelor’s apparel is approximately $40.60 plus tax. Academic apparel is 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
Faculty will line up beginning at 8:00 a.m. in the Veranda in The Bank of Kentucky Center, located behind the stage drape on the Concourse level of the arena. Access will not be available before 8:00 a.m. so please plan to arrive accordingly. The procession down the stairs to event level will begin at 9:00 a.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 faculty line up information is also available.

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 beginning at 7:30 a.m. 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 Directions to Campus 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 8:00 a.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 www.bankofkentuckycenter.com.

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.

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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.

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 www.gradimages.com and click on Pre-Event Registration to take advantage of this offer.

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.

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.