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Candidate | Ceremony Instructions

Baccalaureate Service, McFarlin Auditorium

(undergraduate candidates only)

Friday, May 17, 2013; 8:00 p.m.
McFarlin Auditorium
6405 Boaz Lane
Dallas, Texas 75275
214-768-3417

The Baccalaureate Service is a religious ceremony held the Friday evening before May Commencement Convocation in McFarlin Auditorium. This is a small and intimate service that features a special sermon for undergraduate candidates and their guests. The service will last approximately one hour.

Wearing full regalia candidates process into McFarlin Auditorium and are seated together. Weather permitting, students are lined up on the Historic Main Quadrangle in the order of their arrival. In the event of rain, candidates will be seated directly upon arrival. Additionally, seating in McFarlin Auditorium is very limited; therefore, candidates are entitled to two guest tickets only. Additional tickets for the Baccalaureate Service are not available. Guests without tickets may fill any remaining seats beginning at 7:30 p.m. The ceremony is simulcast in the Hughes-Trigg Theater.

Full academic regalia includes mortarboard with tassel, robe, and the red stole of gratitude. No other adornments may be worn. Undergraduate students begin forming three columns at 7:20 p.m. on the walks in the quadrangle in front of McFarlin. It does not matter in which column you choose to march, although you may be asked to change columns so that participants are equally distributed. The candidates, lined up two abreast, begin moving to the auditorium at 7:58 p.m.

In the line of march, keep a distance of four feet between pairs. Upon reaching your seat, remain standing until the President of the University is seated.

For more information regarding the proper attire, please see Academic Regalia.

Go to Baccalaureate Service Tickets for details regarding the guest ticketing process.

Rotunda Recessional


Friday, May 17, 2013; following Baccalaureate Service
Historic Main Quadrangle
In front of McFarlin Auditorium and Dallas Hall

The Rotunda Recessional will follow the Baccalaureate Service. Undergraduate Candidates, led by faculty and alumni marshals, will march through the front doors of Dallas Hall, through the Rotunda and around to the quadrangle. This tradition welcomes graduates into their new phase of membership of the SMU community - their life as alumni.

After the singing of Varsity, the Platform Party will lead graduating students from McFarlin, across the quadrangle and through the Rotunda of Dallas Hall. Alumni Marshals will assist in this passage. Guests will then be dismissed and invited to follow the candidates down the walk to Dallas Hall.

Being one of the University's most symbolic traditions, Rotunda Passage includes both a processional and a recessional. The processional occurs before Opening Convocation, held the day before their first day of classes as a first-year. Students process through the back of Dallas Hall, through the Rotunda and onto the quad as a new member of the SMU student body. This tradition is concluded with the Rotunda Recessional following the Baccalaureate Service during Commencement Weekend. Rotunda Recessional is a symbolic departure from campus.

In case of rain, there will be no formal recessional, but Dallas Hall will be open for an informal walk of remembrance.

Alumni who are parents of graduating seniors are welcome to participate as marshals for Baccalaureate, please contact Mindy Rowland at 214-768-4741.

Commencement Convocation

(all graduating students)

Saturday, May 18, 2013; 9:00 a.m.
Historic Main Quadrangle
3225 University Boulevard
Dallas, Texas 75275
214-768-3417

On Saturday morning, the all-University May Commencement Convocation assembles degree candidates from all of SMU's schools and professional programs. The ceremony takes place on the Historic Main Quadrangle, which is transformed by the pageantry. Students and faculty, dressed in academic regalia, march to the ceremony to grand, processional music.

Doctoral candidates and honorary degree recipients are hooded, Commencement speakers impart knowledge unto our newest class of candidates and President Turner confers degrees. At the conclusion of the ceremony a prayer is said for the recently appointed alumni and "Varsity" is played .

Guests do not need tickets.

The ceremony lasts approximately 90 minutes. For guests who are unable to attend, the ceremony will be simulcast live at http://smu.edu/live.

SMU's May Commencement Convocation 2013 will be a historic occasion, to be held on the Historic Main Quadrangle for the first time in over fifty years. In the event of heavy rain, the ceremony will be relocated to McFarlin Auditorium for candidates, faculty and administration only. All interested parties will be notified on our website and will be encouraged to watch the ceremony on smu.edu/live. If rain is in the forecast, please check our website at 6:00 a.m. on May 18, 2013 for an official announcement.

All participating candidates must wear SMU custom academic regalia. No honor cords, decorations or adornments are worn to the morning ceremony. This includes stoles provided to you by your school or student group. Students without regalia will be directed to the SMU bookstore to rent a cap and gown. For more information regarding the proper attire, please see Academic Regalia. Student line-up locations open at 7:30 a.m. Candidates will gather with their degree groups at designated locations across campus. Your line-up location will be communicated to you and we will post that information as it becomes available.

Flash Photography will begin taking formal portraits at 7:30 AM.

Assemble with your degree group. Signs will be posted and faculty marshals will be on duty. The student procession will begin moving at 8:55 a.m. Faculty marshals will direct you to your seat; please follow the marshal's directions. Remain standing until invited to sit.
Please leave purses, coats, and other personal belongings with one of your guests, as there will be nowhere to store these items during the ceremony. We can not secure anything left behind.

Guests, for more information please go to Guest Information.

Diploma Presentation Ceremonies

(all graduating students)

Saturday, May 18, 2013
The Guildhall at SMU has their diploma ceremony on Friday evening, May 17. See Full Schedule
Wearing full academic regalia, graduates are individually recognized in school or departmental ceremonies. Honor ribbons, stoles and other decorations may be worn for the afternoon diploma presentation ceremonies.

Contact information for the Diploma Presentation Ceremonies is listed on the Events Schedule page.

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