COMMENCEMENT EXERCISE
When: Sunday, December 20, 2009 at 2:00 PM
Where: George R. Brown Convention Center, General Assembly Theater (3rd Floor)
1001 Avenida de las Americas
Houston, Texas 77010
(713) 651-9243
*Click here to explore the Convention Center website for details, including maps and directions, floor plans as well as parking information.
Specific information concerning the General Assembly Theater, area hotels, restaurants, and a virtual tour of the GRB are listed below:
Virtual Tour of the GRB
http://www.emarketing360.com/CC/TX/GRB/list.htmlPhoto Gallery of the GRB
http://www.houstonconventionctr.com/press_room/imagesgrb.htmlGeneral Assembly Theater (3rd Floor)
http://www.houstonconventionctr.com/images/ga2.jpgDowntown Houston – Hotels, Restaurants, Discovery Green, Pavilions, etc.
http://www.houstonconventionctr.com/experience_houston/downtown.html
Please visit this TWU website often for updates that will be made frequently as Commencement draws closer. Further preparatory instructions for those participating as graduates in this Graduation Ceremony will be posted as information becomes available.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Guest Tickets
We anticipate that each student attending the commencement ceremony are eligible to obtain seven (7) tickets for family and friends (i.e. “guests”). Tickets for guests must be issued because of our growing number of graduates attending Commencement. All seven tickets are designated for guests; the graduate does not require a ticket. After all ticketed guests have been seated; the remaining non-ticketed guests will be allowed to enter the General Assembly Theater for seating.
If you require more than the allotted seven tickets, please check in with the Registrar Montra Washington (mwashington5@twu.edu or 713-794-2320) to inquire if extra tickets are available. We do not print extra tickets, thus only when students turn excess from their own seven back in to the Registrar are there any available. These are released only two at a time, on a first come, first serve, in person only basis. There is no need to contact Enrollment Services to “reserve” your seven tickets. Ticket distribution will be available for pick up beginning in early November 2009. Those unable to pick up guest tickets at TWU-IHSH will be able to retrieve them at the “Will Call” table on site at the Convention Center prior to the ceremony. If this is your plan, please make sure you contact Ms. Washington prior to Commencement to inform her of your intent accordingly.
Photography Information
Student photographs will be taken by Debi Fasullo "Candid Campus Photography". The photographer can be contacted at: 281-313-8934 ext 15 or 1-800-233-3686. Candid Campus Photography will start taking cap and gown portraits at 12:00pm on the 3rd floor of the George R. Brown near the General Assembly Theater.
Cap/Gown/Ring - Order Online!
Representatives from Herff-Jones will be on campus one more time this semester, Monday, November 2nd from 11:30am-1:00pm to take orders for commencement-related items in person. A table will be set up opposite Room #2305. Please note November 2nd will be the last opportunity for students to place orders without late fee. There will be a late fee of $25 applied to orders received 11/17-11/20 and a late fee of $50 for any orders received 11/21/-12/04. No orders will be accepted after 12/04 as Herff-Jones cannot guarantee delivery.
The Herff-Jones web site http://www.herffjones.com/college/gratuation is not available for online orders for commencement related items as of November 1st, the web site will be available next semester. Students can still order other items like rings past the end of the month through the commencement date.
For more detailed information about the Houston Commencement in general, please reference http://www.twu.edu/houston/graduation-information.asp.
Line Up
Graduates are expected to arrive already dressed in cap and gown by 1:00 p.m. for line-up formation in the 3rd floor staging area (signage will be posted). ONLY CANDIDATES will be allowed in this formation area. A tremendous amount of coordination is required to make sure all are present in the correct order, have the name pronunciation verified, and to double-check personal appearance. We cannot stress enough the importance to be on time. There is much to be accomplished in that brief hour prior to the beginning of the ceremony. A last check for attendance will be run at 1:15 p.m. Those students not in line at that final call time will need to be placed at the end of the line - NO EXCEPTIONS! Once you have arrived and are placed in line, do not leave your position. You will be departing the staging area in two lines for a formal entrance into the General Assembly Theater.
Line Up Basic Guidelines
It will be necessary to take with you only what you will wear and carry as you walk across the stage. There will be no place to leave clothing and/or other personal items during the ceremony. As a courtesy to all others present, we ask that you turn off your cell phones if you are leaving them in your belongings with family members. For those of you planning to carry your cell phone, double check to make sure it is on a vibrate setting. Please make arrangements prior to your arrival for personal matters to be handled.
NOTE: Doctoral candidates will receive specific instructions about hooding upon arrival. Please plan to be at the Convention Center one hour early to ensure that all preparations will be completed prior to the beginning of the ceremony.
Diplomas
ALL DIPLOMAS WILL BE MAILED 7 WEEKS AFTER DECEMBER 20th, 2009. (Please note that all holds on students' accounts must be cleared before transcripts and diplomas can be issued. This includes parking tickets, library fines, account balances, etc.) Otherwise, new graduates can expect their diplomas approximately three months after graduation. If you are moving following commencement, please submit a written request for an address change as soon as possible and specify on this request, "New address for mailing diploma" to the Enrollment Services Office (1st floor).
page last updated 11/2/2009 10:36