Summer Commencement - Saturday, August 15 - 8 p.m. Click here to download the document for more information.
Commencement
Saturday, May 9, 2009
GENERAL INFORMATION
All Commencement activities are scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2009.
Commencement exercises will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. in Paladin Stadium. Participating students are expected to attend a rehearsal at 10:30 a.m. in McAlister Auditorium, and then meet again at 6:30 p.m. at McAlister Auditorium to prepare for the ceremony. Tickets are not needed for admission to Paladin Stadium, and students may have as many guests as they would like. A number of other events are planned during the morning and afternoon, and these events are listed on the Commencement schedule.
Please refer to the instructions below for obtaining rain tickets, senior dinner tickets and regalia.
If you have additional questions about Commencement 2009, please contact the office of Student Life at 864.294.2203.
ORDERING ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REGALIA
Herff Jones will be at Furman to take your order for cap, gown, hood and
graduation announcements on Thursday, March 5 from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. The
Herff Jones representatives will be located in the lower level of the
University Center just outside the Bookstore. If you can't make that date,
you may drop by the Bookstore to be measured for your cap and gown. You
may order graduation announcements and accessories at
www.herffjones.com/college.
Each candidate for graduation should order announcements and regalia from the Furman University Bookstore by March 5. Please contact the University Bookstore at 864.294.2164, toll-free at 1.800.476.5669, or via e-mail at bookstore@furman.edu for additional information. University Bookstore personnel will be available for assistance with robing on Commencement day.
RAIN PLAN AND GRADUATION TICKETS
In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in Timmons Arena. Each graduate will be furnished five (5) admission tickets for use by family or friends in case of inclement weather. Please refer to the specific instructions shown below regarding the claiming of rain tickets, senior dinner tickets and regalia. The sale of rain tickets is strictly prohibited.
- UNDERGRADUATE DAY STUDENTS
Undergraduate day students will receive rain tickets, senior dinner tickets and regalia at the Senior Picnic scheduled on Wednesday, April 15, at the Cherrydale Alumni House. Picnic information will be mailed to students in mid-March.
- UNDERGRADUATE EVENING STUDENTS
Undergraduate evening students will receive rain tickets, senior dinner tickets and regalia at the Undergraduate Evening and New Horizons Alumni Club Graduation Banquet on Friday, April 17, at 6:30 p.m. in the Melvin and Dollie Younts Conference Center, Shaw Hall. Invitations to the banquet will be mailed from the Continuing Education office. If evening students are unable to attend the banquet, tickets and regalia will be available for pick-up in the Continuing Education office, 864.294.2155, located in the lower level of Herman N. Hipp Hall.
- MASTER’S DEGREE CANDIDATES
Master’s Degree candidates can obtain rain tickets, dinner tickets and regalia at the University Bookstore after April 19. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. All rain tickets, dinner tickets and regalia must be picked up by May 5. Questions concerning regalia and announcements should be directed to the University Bookstore, 864.294.2164, toll-free at 1.800.476.5669, or via e-mail to bookstore@furman.edu. Students that completed work in December and plan to participate in May Commencement should obtain rain and/or dinner tickets from the University Bookstore when claiming regalia.
SUMMER SESSION GRADUATES
There will be a ceremony at the end of the summer for those who complete graduation requirements in the summer session. Summer Commencement information will be available in early June.
PALADIN STADIUM
Commencement exercises will begin promptly at 7:30 p.m. in Paladin Stadium. Stadium gates will open at 6 p.m. No tickets are needed for the stadium.
DINING ON CAMPUS
The Tower Café is a coffee shop on campus located lakeside in the lower level of the University Center. The Tower Café will be open on Saturday, May 9, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Starbucks coffee, bagels and muffins will be available for purchase.
The Charles E. Daniel Dining Hall is located lakeside, adjacent to the Janie Earle Furman Rose Garden. Brunch and dinner will be available during the hours shown below. Graduates will receive
three (3) complimentary dinner tickets. Additional tickets for dinner may be purchased via mail by returning the linked
Dinner Ticket Order Form and a check, made payable to Furman University, by
April 17. After April 17, additional tickets may be purchased at the Dining Hall on Commencement day.
Brunch Charles E. Daniel Dining Hall 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
$8.15 per person.
Dinner Charles E. Daniel Dining Hall 4:30 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
$12.30 per person.
WORSHIP SERVICE
The Commencement Worship Service will begin at 9 a.m. on Commencement day. All graduates and guests are invited to attend. The service will end promptly at 10 a.m. to allow ample time for graduates to attend Commencement rehearsal. Dress is casual and graduates do not process or wear caps and gowns.
DIPLOMAS
Contact Academic Records, 864.294.2030, www.furman.edu/registrar, for questions concerning academic status, diplomas or transcripts.
PHOTOS AND DVDs
A professional photographer with Chappell Studios, 800.424.3686, will be present at Commencement and will photograph all graduates as Dr. Shi shakes hands with them. Graduates will receive free passport-sized digital proofs of these photos on an order card within 5 to 7 days following the ceremony. After graduation, photos can be ordered online at www.gradimages.com or by contacting Chappell Studios. They are also offering students a $5 discount on any photo order over $25 when they register their email address prior to graduation at their website.
A professional videographer with Zaker Video Productions, Inc., 708.423.8418, will be video taping the ceremony. After graduation, videos can be ordered online at www.zakervideo.com or by contacting Zaker Video.
DIRECTIONS TO FURMAN
From Charlotte, NC, and points northeast
Take I-85 to I-385 N toward downtown Greenville. Pass the Bi-Lo Center on the right, staying on the same road (which becomes Beattie Place, then College Street) until it meets US 276. Bear right onto US 276 West toward Travelers Rest. Go five miles to the Furman exit.
From Atlanta, GA, and points southwest
Take I-85 to I-185 N toward downtown Greenville (exit 42). Follow I-185 into Greenville (continuing straight as the road becomes Mills Avenue, then Church Street). Turn left onto Beattie Place (which becomes College Street). Bear right onto US 276 West toward Travelers Rest. Continue five miles to the Furman exit.
From Columbia, SC, and points southeast
Take I-26 to I-385 N toward downtown Greenville. Travel I-385 approximately 43 miles into downtown Greenville. Go past the Bi-Lo Center on the right. This road becomes Beattie Place, then College Street. Follow this road until bearing right onto US 276 West toward Travelers Rest. Continue five miles to the Furman exit.
From Asheville, NC, and points northwest
Take I-26 to Hendersonville, NC, then US 25 S. In Travelers Rest, bear left onto US 276 to Greenville, just past the Hampton Inn. Stay on US 276 one mile to the Furman exit.
How to get to Furman by air
The Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport services most major airlines and/or commuter flights from around the country and includes direct flights from Atlanta, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Philadelphia, Newark, Cincinnati, Toronto, and Munich, Germany.
PARKING AND SPECIAL NEEDS
Parking
Paladin Stadium and Timmons Arena have adjacent parking lots to accommodate graduates’ guests. Limited handicapped parking is available along Bill Timmons Drive. Parking attendants will direct traffic.
Wheelchairs
Wheelchairs are not provided for Commencement, thus it is recommended that guests bring their own. Persons requiring wheelchair transportation may disembark at the handicapped parking or special needs drop-off area located in front of Paladin Stadium. Parking attendants will be available for directions. Golf cart transportation will be provided from the handicapped parking area to the handicapped entrance gate.
Seating - Limited
Seating for persons in wheelchairs (and one assistant) is located in the front of Section 1 of the stadium and is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Accessible seating for those with limited mobility is available in sections 2, 6 and 7 of the stadium.
Exiting the Ceremony
Following the ceremony, golf carts are available behind the press box at the gate to Section 1 to transport those needing assistance to their cars.
For further information and/or assistance, please contact Disability Services at 864.294.2320 or Public Safety at 864.294.2111. There will be no formal recessional of graduates.
EMERGENCIES ON CAMPUS
If you have an emergency while on campus, please call the Public Safety office at 864.294.2111.
HOTEL INFORMATION
The local hotels below have a special Commencement rate for Furman guests. When contacting the hotel, make sure to let the reservationist know that you will be attending the Furman Commencement.
The local hotels below also have special Furman rates. Please make certain to ask for the Furman rate when making reservations.
