Undergraduate Commencement

Accessible Parking and Seating	Nonattendance
Announcements	Parking
Candidate Attire	Participation List
Cap and Gown	Photographer
Ceremony Schedule Commencement Mass	Picture Taking
Diploma	Rain Plan
Handicapped Parking and Seating	Reception
Hometown Press Release	Speaker
Hotels	Tickets
Map	Weather
Miscellaneous	Live Streaming Video

Announcements:

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The St. Paul Bookstore will be hosting a "Grad Fest" on Wednesday, Nov. 11 and Thursday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the bookstore atrium. Five free graduation announcements will be handed out at that time.  Additional announcements may be purchased in the Bookstore.  Personalized announcements can be ordered by connecting to the following link or through the St. Thomas Bookstore website.

   Accessible Parking and Seating:
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Guests can pull up to the cut-out on Kellogg Boulevard at the RiverCentre (accessed going west bound on Kellogg) and drop off those that need extra assistance or cannot walk long distances.  The driver can then pull into the St. Paul RiverCentre ramp and park.  There are parking spaces in the ramps that are dedicated, accessible spaces.   

There are designated seating areas at the ceremony for people with mobility impairments.  These seats are on the floor/ground level.  People also can sit at the end of a row and ask an usher to remove a chair.  Ushers will be available to assist people with mobility issues.

   Candidate Attire:
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In keeping with the solemnity of the occasion, graduates must wear university issued academic regalia, including cap and gown. Only University issued honor cords, medallions, and Kente cloth stoles are also approved for wear during the ceremony. No other oversized personal adornments, such as; flower leis, hats, signs, ribbons, or scarves are acceptable.

The cap should be worn with the mortarboard parallel to the ground and without any additional modification to the appearance. Candidates receiving their Bachelors degree should wear the tassel on the right side and it is then moved to the left side at the designated time.

It is recommended that personal clothing include dark pants for men, dark pants or skirts for women, and comfortable dark shoes.

Cap & Gown:

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The St. Paul Bookstore will be hosting a "Grad Fest" on Wednesday, Nov. 11 and Thursday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the bookstore atrium. Caps, gowns and tassels will be distributed at that time.  If you are unable to attend, you may pick up your cap, gown and tassel(s) at the St. Paul Bookstore beginning Dec. 15 through Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., and Friday, Dec. 18 from 9 a.m. until 12 noon.  There is no charge for your cap and gown.  You will need a picture I.D. when picking up your cap and gown.

   Commencement Ceremony Schedule
Friday, Dec. 18, 3 p.m.

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Please plan accordingly and allow extra time to find parking if you are driving to the RiverCentre.

Students: Please be sure to have your cap, gown, and tassel with you and arrive on time for line up at the RiverCentre.

1:30 p.m.	Faculty and staff marshals report to Saint Paul RiverCentre meeting room 3.
2 p.m.	Doors open to St. Paul RiverCentre Grand Ballroom for guests.
2:15 p.m.	Undergraduate candidates report to Saint Paul RiverCentre meeting room 5 to line up.  When you arrive at meeting room 5 find your name on the alphabetical lists located at the entrance to door 5.  Next to your name will be your row number.  The numbers will be posted on the walls of meeting rooms 4-6.  Find your row number and go to that row.The faculty marshal for your row will have your reader card with your name on it and will help you to get in the right order. Stay with your row.
2:30 pm	Faculty and staff (non-marshals) report to Saint Paul RiverCentre meeting room 3 to line up.  Appropriate academic regalia is required.
3 pm	Commencement exercises begin with academic procession from St. Paul RiverCentre Meeting Rooms 4 - 6.
4:30 pm	President's Reception in the St. Paul RiverCentre Ballroom Concourse/ Rotunda Overlook following the ceremony. Graduates, guests, faculty and administrators are invited.

Commencement Mass:
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The commencement Mass begins at 1 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Paul.  It is a long-standing tradition at St. Thomas. You should sit with your family and guests.  Caps and gowns are not worn during Mass. Cars cannot be left in the Cathedral parking lot following Mass.  You must find parking near the Saint Paul RiverCentre for the commencement ceremony.

Diploma:

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You will receive your diploma when all requirements for the degree are completed. In addition, your tuition account must be paid in full and, if requested, you must complete a Perkins loan exit interview. Your diploma will be mailed to you approximately 8 weeks after all requirements are verified as completed.

All seniors who place a pre-paid order for diploma frames during "Grad Fest" on Wedesday, Nov. 11 and Thursday, Nov. 12 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. will receive a 10% discount on their pre-paid order. Diploma frames will be available for pickup the week of graduation.

The size of all diplomas is 8.5x11 inches.  Information on the diploma includes the name of the university, the university seal, the graduate’s name, the degree represented by the diploma, and the date of graduation.

Hometown press release:

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Hometown press releases are issued for all verified undergraduate and graduate students.  Please note that the list of verified students is not available until approximately one month after the end of a term.  In addition, it can take two to three weeks to process and mail the list.  Publication is at the discretion of local newspapers.  If you have questions regarding the releases, please e-mail Tom Couillard at tecouillard@stthomas.edu. 

Hotels:

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St. Paul
Crowne Plaza Hotel
11 E. Kellogg Blvd.
(651) 292-1900

Embassy Suites Hotel
175 E. 10th Street
(651) 224-5400

St. Paul Hotel
350 Market Street
(651) 292-9292
(800) 292-9292

Holiday Inn Express—Bandana Square (not downtown)
1010 W. Bandana Blvd.
(651) 647-1637

Roseville 
Days Inn Roseville
2550 Cleveland Avenue No.
(651) 636-7939

Minneapolis (downtown)
Doubletree Guest Suites
1101 LaSalle Avenue
(800) 222-TREE

Bloomington (near the airport and Mall of America)
Comfort Inn—Airport
1321 E. 78th Street
(952) 854-3400
(800) 228-5150

Comfort Inn & Suites — Mall of America
2221 Killebrew Drive
(952) 854-5555
(800) 456-4000

Holiday Inn Select—Airport
3 Appletree Square
(952) 854-9000

Important Note: Alcohol is strictly prohibited during the procession and ceremony.

Miscellaneous:

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Students and faculty do not leave valuables in the line up area during the ceremony. 

You may walk a distance from your car to the location of the ceremony so plan accordingly.

Nonattendance:

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You should notify Barbara Rath at barath@stthomas.edu or 651-962-6708 if you do not plan to attend the ceremony.

Parking:

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Go to the RiverCentre parking website 
www.rivercentre.org/parking for parking information. Parking at the RiverCentre parking ramp is $10.00 for event parking.  The other parking ramps near the RiverCentre will charge their standard fees for parking the day of commencement.

 Participation List:
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Undergraduate students may click here to see if they have been cleared to participate in the December graduation ceremony.  If your name does not appear on the list, please review your degree evaluation and contact your advisor for additional assistance.

Photographer:

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A professional photographer from Grad Trak Graduation Images will take your picture as you receive your diploma. You will receive a passport-sized full-color proof in the mail approximately one week after the ceremony, with no obligation to purchase. www.gradimages.com or (800) 261 - 2576

Picture Taking:

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Picture taking on or near the stage is prohibited.

   Reception:
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A reception will immediately follow the ceremony in the Ballroom Concourse/ Rotunda Overlook.

Shuttle: [top]
Shuttles will be available for undergraduate students only for the Commencement Mass and ceremony.  The shuttles will leave from in front of the arches on Summit Avenue and return to the arches after the ceremony and reception.  At the RiverCentre shuttles will drop off and pick up on Kellogg Boulevard in front of the RiverCentre. 

From the UST St. Paul Campus to the Cathedral of St. Paul for the Commencement Mass
12:30 p.m. Shuttles leave UST
12:45 p.m. Shuttles arrive at the Cathedral

Cathedral to St. Paul RiverCentre following Mass
2 p.m. Shuttles leave Cathedral
2:10 p.m. Shuttles arrive at the St. Paul RiverCentre

UST St. Paul to St. Paul River Centre
1:45 p.m. Shuttles leave UST
2 p.m. Shuttles arrive at the St. Paul RiverCentre

St. Paul RiverCentre to St. Paul Campus
4:15 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 5:15 p.m.

Speaker:

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Andrea J. Lee, IHM, President of St. Catherine University, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Tickets:

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No tickets are needed for this graduation ceremony.

Weather:

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Please click here for the most current weather conditions. For the most up to date event information on the day of Commencement, call the event line at 651-962-7434.

Live Streaming Video:
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Live Streaming video will be available during the ceremonies.