Commencement | Graduation 2021
When: Saturday, May 8, 2021
Where: Venue To Be Determined
Time: 10 a.m.
- Bachelor's degrees from the School of Education and the School of Arts and Sciences.
- Master of Science in Education degrees
- Line-up will begin at 8:45 a.m. in the Fitness Center
- Reception on the campus quad following the ceremony, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Time: 2 p.m.
- Bachelor's degrees from the School of Professional Studies
- Master of Science in Organizational Management degrees
- Line-up will begin at 12:45 p.m. in the Fitness Center
- Reception on the campus quad following the ceremony, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Peru State College May 8, 2021 Graduation Ceremony will be Streamed Live -- Check back closer to the event for the Link.
THERE IS NO REHEARSAL.
PLEASE READ THIS INFORMATION CAREFULLY!
Congratulations on your accomplishments at Peru State! All graduates from December
2019/2020, May 2020/2021, August 2019/2020/2021 are eligible to participate in commencement
exercises. If you have previously declined participation, it is not too late to change
your mind. Peru State students who have not previously participated in commencement
exercises should contact Student Records to discuss their eligibility. We encourage
ALL graduates to participate and celebrate this accomplishment with their friends,
families, and fellow graduates.
Special Assistance:
If you, the graduating student, are unable to navigate stairs, or require any type of physical assistance, please notify the Student Records Office immediately so that we may make special arrangements to assist you. Phone: 402-872-2226 or studentrecords@peru.edu
We strongly encourage you and your guests to arrive early to allow additional time
for parking, shuttle services, walking, etc. A shuttle service will be provided to
transport guests between the parking lots and the Al Wheeler Activity Center. Security
officers and police officers will be in the area for assistance. Handicap parking
is available in the lot just east of the AWAC. If you have mobility issues, talk with
law enforcement and security and they will be able to assist you.
Parking Map
Seating for guests will be on a first come, first served basis. There will be a section reserved on the gym floor for those who have physical limitations. See an usher at the door for assistance. We highly recommend that your guests plan to come early to allow time for parking, shuttle services, walking, etc.
All participants need to be attired in appropriate academic caps and gowns.
Cap and Gown Order
Members of recognized national honor societies and/or organizations are eligible to
wear honor cords or membership pins.
If you are a member of a nationally recognized honor society and/or a member of a
recognized organization (e.g. Student Senate), please check with your organization’s
faculty sponsor to see if your organization or honor society has been approved to
wear honor cords for this year’s Commencement. Make arrangements with the faculty
sponsor prior to Commencement to obtain information regarding purchase and receipt
of the appropriate honor cord(s). We will not have extra honor cords at Commencement.
BACHELOR: After all diplomas have been awarded and graduates have returned to their seats,
Dr. Hanson will ask all grads to switch their tassels to the left side of their mortarboards.
MASTER: Wear your tassel on the left side throughout the entire commencement ceremony.
You will be hooded on stage. More instruction will be given that morning at line up.
If you, the graduating student, are unable to navigate stairs, or require any type
of physical assistance, please notify the Student Records Office immediately so that
we may make special arrangements to assist you.
We will assemble in the Fitness Center in the Al Wheeler Activity Center for the processional
line-up. Check-in will take place there. Plan to stay in the Fitness Center in the
Al Wheeler Activity Center for checking in and lining up for the processional until
the commencement ceremony begins. There is nowhere to secure valuables so you may
want to give those to one of your guests before coming to check in. Please note: For safety reasons, it is not permissible for anyone, including children, other
than the graduating students to march in the processional down the aisle to the graduate
seating or across the stage.
Awarding of Diplomas: (covers)
- Master Degree Candidates: Dr. Tim Borchers, Vice President for Academic Affairs, will ask all of you (Masters) to stand and he will present you, as a group, to President Dan Hanson. President Hanson will then verbally confer the degrees. Following the conferring of the degrees by President Hanson, row by row, the master degree candidates will proceed to the steps at the foot of the stage. The first person in line will proceed to the podium, stop, hand your name card to the Registrar and wait for your name to be announced. As your name is announced, move forward to where you will receive your diploma from Dr. Borchers. After receiving your diploma from Dr. Borchers, proceed across the stage to shake hands with President Hanson (photos will be taken while you shake hands, so please direct your attention to the photographer), exit the stage, return to your seat and be seated. When next in line to go on stage, please proceed to the top of the stairs one by one to wait. As the previous person’s picture is taken, the next person should walk up and stand beside the podium, hand your name card to the Registrar and wait there until your name is being read, then continue as noted above.
- Bachelor Degree Candidates: Dr. Tim Borchers, Vice President for Academic Affairs will ask all of you (Bachelors) to stand and he will present you, as a group, to President Dan Hanson. President Hanson will then verbally confer the degrees. Following the conferring of degrees by President Hanson, row by row, the bachelor degree candidates will proceed to the steps at the foot of the stage. The first person in line will proceed to the podium, stop, hand your name card to the Registrar and wait for your name to be announced. As your name is announced, move forward to where you will receive your diploma from Dr. Borchers. Then proceed across the stage to shake hands with President Hanson (photos will be taken while you shake hands, so please direct your attention to the photographer), exit the stage, return to your seat, and be seated. When next in line to go on stage, please proceed to the top of the stairs one by one to wait. As the previous person’s picture is taken, the next person should walk up and stand beside the podium, hand your name card to the Registrar and wait there until your name is being read, then continue as noted above.
- When all graduates have received diplomas, both groups will be asked by President Hanson to rise for recognition. Please remain standing for the recessional.
- Remember, on the day of Commencement, everyone will receive a diploma cover with a message from President Hanson inside. Diplomas for those who graduated in December 2019 and August 2019 were previously mailed. All other diplomas will be mailed after requirements have been confirmed and degrees have been posted to official transcripts. All August 2019 and December 2019 graduates are asked to please deposit their diploma covers in the drop box after the recessional since their covers were previously mailed to them along with their diplomas.
Restrooms for graduates are located near the north entrance to the fitness center. Guest restrooms are located in the lobby of the AWAC.
We ask that you please make sure all cell phones are set to silent or shut off. Please
remind your guests to do this as well.
Thank you! We look forward to seeing you at Commencement. Please do not hesitate
to call the Student Records Office at 402-872-2226 if you have any questions.
Please join us for a reception honoring our graduates on the Campus Quad, weather
permitting immediately following the commencement ceremony. Your families and friends
are also invited to attend the event, which will feature light hors d’oeuvres, music
and an opportunity for our faculty and staff to wish you well in your future endeavors.
Shuttle service will be available for transportation from the AWAC to the Campus Quad
for those who have mobility issues.
Who: Graduates, Families, Friends, Students, Faculty & Staff
What/Where: Reception on the Campus Quad
When: Saturday, May 8, 2021, see time from above.
Rain Location: Student Center