Office of the President

Commencement 2008: General Information

Final grades - Final grades for the spring semester will be available by May 10 on WebSU. The registrar will contact those students who are not successful in satisfying the necessary requirements for graduation.

Student Finances - Students must pay all financial obligations to the university before graduation. This includes unpaid tuition, library fines, health center charges, parking tickets, athletic equipment charges, charges for unreturned books etc. Payments in full must be received in the Business Office by 4 p.m. May 6 for students to pick up caps and gowns. Please direct questions about student account balances to 570-372-4060. The Business Office is located on the first floor of Selinsgrove Hall.

Caps, Gowns and Hoods- Caps, gowns and hoods may be picked up in the Degenstein Campus Center from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 4 p.m. on May 8 and 9. The graduate’s complimentary luncheon ticket will also be distributed at this time.

Special Needs - Both the Baccalaureate service and the Commencement ceremony will be signed for the hearing impaired, and seating will be available for the visually impaired, wheelchair users and two or three family members. Please contact Martha Blessing at 570-372- 4293 or blessinm@susqu.edu if you or any of your guests have special needs that require our assistance.

Parking - Parking is available on a first-come, firsts-served basis. You may park in any non-handicapped space. Spaces in the Weber Chapel lot and those near the Clyde H. Jacobs Fitness Center will be reserved for persons with special needs. Over 200 additional parking spaces are available in the Sassafras Avenue lot behind Lopardo Stadium.

First Aid - A first aid station is available in the athletic training room on the lower level of the Garrett Sports Complex.

Campus Center Facilities Hours

• Campus Bookstore May 10, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. May 11, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
• Benny’s Bistro May 11, 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
• Java City May 11, 8 a.m.–1 p.m.

Share the News! Send a news release to your local paper. The Office of Communications gathers hometown information for news releases. All you need to do is provide information online so a graduation release can be sent to your local paper. The form may be found on the Web site of the Office of Communications at www.susqu.edu/news/releases/pubform.cfm.

Commencement DVDs - This year, Susquehanna University will give a professionally produced 2008 Commencement DVD to each graduate as a gift. The DVD will be sent to the address where this Commencement guide was mailed. JPL Video Productions of Harrisburg, Pa., will record the entire ceremony using three state-of-the-art video cameras. An elevated camera at the stage will record each graduate receiving his or her diploma. Professional production with proper camera placements eliminates the frustration of trying to capture the event yourself. The ceremony will be professionally edited and copied to a high-quality DVD with menu navigation. Need additional DVDs for family members or those unable to attend? You may purchase more DVDs at a cost of $25 per DVD by simply filling out and returning the order form on the back cover.

Photographs, Rings and Announcements - Susquehanna has made arrangements with several outside firms to provide Commencement-related services. You are under no obligation to purchase any of their products.

• Chappell Graduation Images from Aardvark Studios will take professional quality photographs of students receiving their diplomas. The company will contact students with information about their services.
• Exemplar Recognition will provide information later in the semester to graduates about ordering graduation announcements and class rings. Visit the Campus Bookstore Web page for more information.

Celebration Express in the Degenstein Campus Center offers a wide assortment of gifts for the graduates such as balloon bouquets, cakes and bookstore gifts. Simply call the Campus Center Office at 570-372-4395 to place your order and then pick up your gift at the information desk the morning of Commencement. All orders must be placed by May 5.