Gretchen's Accomplishments

General

• Creation of new academic ceremonies logo
• New Commencement regalia for students to be phased in beginning May 2009
• Re-design of new Marshals Robes
• New system developed for distributing and collecting Marshals’ robes before and after ceremonies
• Restoration of SMU Mace
• Better communication between Registrar’s Office and Diploma Ceremony Coordinators
• Creation of new banner stands and bases
• Selected dressier ceremony attire for staff and volunteers
• Tate banners used on the stage and first balcony at ceremonies held in McFarlin Auditorium
• Development of a new and more efficient process for producing Commencement programs which includes proofing candidate lists prior to being sent to designer
• Better communication with ceremony staff including revised instructions and “cheat sheets”
• Revision of instructions for CPPO, Police, McFarlin Auditorium staff to clear up inaccuracies and to make more readable
   

Opening Convocation

• Redesign of program
• New online faculty RSVP system used to track ceremony attendance
• Water bottles handed out to students in procession line-up
• New custom SMU lantern will be incorporated into Opening Convocation in August 2008
• Addition of 32 country flags representing international students to Flag Alley
• Water bottles handed to students while they wait for procession to begin
• Phi Beta Kappa delegation leads processional symbolizing academic excellence
• Bullhorns beckon students from residence halls to ceremony
• Party on the Quad attracts SMU staff to cheer for new students during processional; we lure SMU community to the Quad with popsicles, chilled water, and giveaways
• Choir performs during the ceremony
• Howard Lantern introduced at ceremony
• Students walk through giant balloon columns, greeted by the Mustang band and receive a small, fun giveaway as they recess to a welcome picnic hosted by the President
• President’s Picnic held following the ceremony beginning in August 2008
   

December Graduation

• Relocation of December Graduation from three ceremonies in McFarlin Auditorium to one ceremony in Moody Coliseum
• Redesign of website to be extremely user-friendly
• Redesign of program
• Creation of an online faculty RSVP system to track dinner/ceremony attendance
• Inclusion of faculty and faculty dinner prior to ceremony
• 15-piece brass band added; fanfares announce various groups processing into Coliseum as well as used during diploma cover presentations
• Special choral selection performed during the ceremony
• Coliseum decorated in holiday motif
• Convert a gym into a sanctuary by covering athletic posters with piping and drapery
• Winter slideshow of SMU on Jumbotron as guests arrive
• Ceremony simulcast on large monitor located in lobby
• Photo-op created by mustang statue
• Expansion of communication with students including enhancement of instructions for Commencement to include better information in a readable design, more email reminders
• Memento given to students who attend December graduation
• Re-design of new procession passes to look more professional
   

Honors Day

• Redesign of program
• New online faculty RSVP system used to track ceremony attendance
• Balloon columns decorate the front steps of McFarlin
• Students’ award certificates distributed during ceremony instead of through the individual schools the following week
• Lapel pins given to every student who attends Honors Day instead of Honors cord
• Choir performs during the ceremony
   

Baccalaureate

• Visible signage outside of McFarlin
• Earlier time for guests to enter McFarlin to reduce wait-time outside of auditorium
• Giddy-Up shuttles transport guests at Baccalaureate
• Design and creation of new custom SMU lantern for Baccalaureate ceremony resembling Dallas Hall
• Addition of trumpet fanfares during the Rotunda Recessional
• Re-design of new guest tickets to look more professional
• Safer exit plan developed for guests after the ceremony to prevent the lobby and front steps of McFarlin from becoming jammed
   

May Commencement

• Redesign of website to be extremely user-friendly
• Redesign of program
• Creation of an online faculty RSVP system to track breakfast/ceremony attendance
• Expansion of communication with students including enhancement of instructions for Commencement to include better information in a readable design, more email reminders
• Addition of the 50th Class Reunion Chair on the Platform Party with a speaking role
• Addition of commencement ceremony announcer
• Transformation of Moody Lobby including blue draping to disguise athletic posters and ticket booth, addition of state flags and plants for color and decoration
• Addition of a large monitor to simulcast the ceremony in the Moody Lobby
• Visible signage for candidate line-up and faculty breakfast
• Shuttle bus now transports Platform Party from Moody to the President’s Luncheon
• Giddy-Up shuttles transport guests at Commencement
• Mementos given to students who attend Commencement
• Re-design of new procession passes to look more professional
• New student line-up entry
• Commencement Slideshow appears on the Moody Jumbotron prior to Commencement which includes photos from the 50th reunion class, campus shots, and a candidate seating guide for the audience
• Addition of simulcast of the ceremony on the Moody Jumbotron
• Enhancement of emergency preparedness plan including “crow’s nest” observers, and police and public affairs participation in training staff
• New system for guests to safely exit Moody Coliseum at the end of Commencement while retaining the dimming of lights during “Varsity;” script added to the text and new protocol created
• Commencement Check-Off Lunch re-initiated
• Banner Bearers receive a framed photo taken with their banners along with a note from their dean
• Faculty Senate President receives a framed photo with the mace along with a note from the Provost
• Additional seating available for the elderly and disabled in Moody