Commencement 2008
Speaker
Vartan Gregorian, 12th president of the Carnegie Corporation of New York, will be the Commencement Speaker. Click on the "Honorary Degrees" link on the menu at right for Gregorian's full bio and bios of all 2008 honorary degree recipients.
Date and Location
Commencement 2008 will be held Sunday, May 18, on the Jefferson Academic Center Green. The procession, from Kneller Athletic Center to the Campus Green, begins at 1:15 p.m., and the ceremonies start at 1:30 p.m.
Invitations
You may invite as many guests as you wish to Commencement and Convocation. A packet of five formal invitations will be delivered to your campus mailbox. After you have received your initial five invitations, you may request additional invitations at the Dean of Students Office, 508-793-7423. There is no charge for these University invitations, and your guests do not need to show an invitation in order to attend Commencement. Please also keep in mind that there are no guaranteed seats at Commencement.
Parking
All University parking lots and the parking garage will be available for parking. The parking garage holds approximately 500 cars and has entrances on Downing and Florence streets. We recommend that you try the parking garage first. Visit our campus map to see the locations of the lots. In addition, the city waives on-street parking regulations in Clark's neighborhood, to help accommodate the large number of vehicles on campus for Commencement. Keep in mind that Clark is an urban campus and parking is limited. It's best to arrive on campus early to allow time to find a parking space.
Publicity
Clark's Communications Office distributes to the media the names of domestic graduates unless they request confidentiality by contacting the Registrar's Office. Please complete the newspaper form to ensure we have the information we need to send a graduation announcement to your hometown newspaper.
Accommodations
Clark does not reserve rooms for Commencement. You can find a list of area hotels and motels on Clark's Web site.
With the many colleges and universities in the Worcester area with commencement ceremonies and reunions at the same time of year, we recommend that you make your reservations early.
Eligibility
Students who have completed all work and whose grades (no incompletes) have been received at the Student Records Office automatically are included in the Commencement program and invited to participate in the graduation ceremony. If a last-minute emergency prevents you from joining the ceremony as planned, please call 793-7575.
Financial status
Please review your student account prior to April 1 to see if you have any holds and/or a balance due. All holds and balances must be cleared before you can be cleared for graduation. You may contact your student account counselor with questions. If your last name begins with A-GE call 508-793-7721; GF-NO call 508-793-7483, NP-Z call 508-793-7491 before April 1.
Exit interviews for federal or Clark loan recipients
All students who received federally-funded or Clark institutional loans to finance their educations must complete an on-line exit interview. The exit interviews are mandatory, and diplomas of any students who do not complete an on-line exit interview may be withheld. You will be notified in March in regard to the exit interview process.
Considerations for Guests
Indoor seating
Commencement at Clark is held outside rain or shine. The only time it is moved inside is for severe weather, such as a thunder storm with lightning. Guests who prefer seating indoors may sit in Atwood Hall and Room 320 of the Jefferson Academic Center, enabling them to see a broadcast of the ceremony.
Seating for physically challenged guests
If special seating is required for physically challenged family or friends, please contact Physical Plant at 508-793-7566 in advance to arrange reserved seating.
For everyone's enjoyment
To allow all to hear and enjoy the Commencement ceremony without disruption, we request that you hold off celebrating until after the final recession. Drinking and raucous behavior during the ceremony will not be permitted.
Media
Photos available for purchase
Professional photographers will set up near the Commencement platform to take photographs of each graduate as he/she is handed a diploma. There is no obligation to purchase the photograph when the details are sent home following graduation.
Taking your own photographs
Family and friends may take their own photographs along the processional route from Kneller and from a small section reserved at the side of the platform.
Live video on the Clark Web site
Clark will be video taping the commencement ceremony. Information on how to view the video live will be available on our Web site.
DVDs for purchase
DVDs of Commencement will be available for purchase through the Clark bookstore for $8.95 each, with free shipping. Please call 508-793-7755, e-mail the bookstore or drop by to order your copy before or after the event.