Commencement Information and RSVP for 2023 Ceremonies

• Saturday, May 20th at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.

Fall 2022, Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 graduates are invited to participate! Be sure you have applied for graduation to be eligible to RSVP.

• The ceremonies will be held in the Jefferson College Hillsboro Campus Field House and be live-streamed on YouTube. Check back for links after May 10th.
• The number of guests per candidate for graduation is not limited and tickets will not be required. 
• Candidates for graduation will need to RSVP to participate in the ceremony of their choice. The number of participants at each ceremony will be limited. You will need to reserve your seat by May 5th. 

Information for Graduates!  (Faculty and Certified Staff - Scroll down for information.)

Step 1: Applying for Graduation

If you plan to complete your certificate or degree in Spring 2023 or Summer 2023, apply for graduation if you have not already done so. Your eligibility for graduation will be reviewed and you will receive an eligibility letter regarding necessary classes, GPA and exit exam information. Click here to apply for graduation if you have not done so already. 

Step 2: Sign Up For a Commencement Ceremony

Jefferson College will host two 2023 Commencement ceremonies in the Jefferson College Hillsboro Campus Field House. Candidates for Fall 2022, Spring 2023 and Summer 2023 graduation are encouraged to participate in the ceremony of their choice.  Please RSVP for a ceremony by May 5^th to ensure your name is in the commencement program. Any late RSVP will allow for Commencement participation, however your name will not appear in the the Commencement program. Guests are not limited in number and do not require tickets.

• 10:00 am ceremony graduate RSVP
• 1:00 pm ceremony graduate RSVP

Step 3: Pick Up Your Cap and Gown

Cap and Gown Cap pick up is available April 3^rd – May 5^th in the Jefferson College Bookstore - Hillsboro location only. No pre-order required. The cost of your cap and gown is included in your graduation fee. Try on your cap and gown to be sure your cap fits and your gown zips. It is strongly recommended you remove wrinkles by ironing on a low setting on the reverse side or steam lightly. Should you have any difficulties, please visit the Jefferson College Bookstore before the ceremony. The bookstore manager will be at the ceremonies should you have a last-minute issue. Graduates may tastefully decorate their cap. Any decoration deemed inappropriate by college staff will require replacement with a plain cap on the day of Commencement. Graduates should wear only approved graduation apparel. See web page for a complete listing of approved apparel.

Follett Bookstore will offer sales of flowers, T-shirts and other memorabilia that will be available for pick up at the ceremonies. All online orders will be available for pickup on site the day of the graduation. To retrieve your order, please stop by our booth located conveniently at the entrance to the graduation before the ceremony begins.

Place your preorder by visiting https://www.thecommencementgroup.com/jeffersoncollege/.

Commencement Day - Live Stream and Photography

Both ceremonies will be live-streamed via the links below. Videos of the ceremonies will be posted the following week for future viewing.

Live Stream Links:

Professional Photographers (Grad Images) will take photos of graduates on and off the stage. Information regarding how to order photos will be available on the Commencement webpage after the ceremonies. You will also receive Grad Images order information in your commencement program.

Commencement Day – Parking, Security/Bag Check

All graduates and guests will be directed to park in the Orange, Red, Blue then Green parking lots. A shuttle will be circulating parking lots to assist with transportation to the Field House. Limited accessible parking will be available in the Red parking lot for those vehicles with an accessible placard (gold carts will be circulating the accessible parking area for assistance to the Field House. Doors to the Field House will open one hour before each ceremony.

Commencement Day – Line-Up and Processional

Graduates should be in line at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony start time.

Graduates should leave your keys/personal items with your guests as there will be no secure area for these belongings.  Please silence all phones.

Graduates are to report to the lower-level multipurpose room and move through the hallways to line up in alphabetical order.  Look for signs on the walls and communicate with other graduates in line to be sure you are lined up in alpha -order. Graduates with the last names beginning with A-L (blue line) will follow the blue line and graduates with last names beginning with M-Z (red line) will follow the red line.  Staff in red vests will be in the hallways to assist you. 

Summa Cum Laude grads (4.0 GPA) will line up in front of the blue line (before the A’s) regardless of the last name and will sit in the front rows on the floor.

You will be handed an index card with your name on it.  It is important to hold onto this card!  You will take it with you when you approach the stage and hand it to the speaker who will be announcing your name.

Staff line workers will assist you and remind you of what is expected.  When the music begins, graduates will move single file onto the gym floor.  Please walk very slowly.

As graduates enter the gym floor, a person counting will be handing some graduates a slip of paper which states “Start a New Row”.  Graduates handed this slip of paper should show the staff member on the floor assisting with seating so they know to direct you to start a new row.

Remain standing during the processional and for the National Anthem.

When directed to approach the stage, stand and exit your row to your left. Remember to take your name card with you.  Line up and approach the stairs to the stage.  Wait on top stair until your name is called.  You will be handed a diploma cover, a photographer will take your picture and you will continue across the stage and exit on the opposite side.  Another photo will be taken.  You will then be directed by staff in red vests to your row to be seated.

Do not leave any personal items on your seat.

Summa Cum Laude grads (4.0 GPA) sitting in the front rows will be announced last.

Commencement Day – Recessional

When all graduates have received their diploma cover and the ceremony closes, staff will release one row at a time into the front lobby. Please continue to exit out the front lobby doors to keep the line moving. You can meet your guests in the lobby and out in front of the Field House.

After Commencement

Refer to the Commencement program on ordering photos from Grad Images.

Certificates and degrees will be posted and diplomas will be mailed out approximately at the end of June for spring graduates and by the end of August for summer graduates. If you are interested in picking up your diploma rather than receiving via mail, please contact Lynda Ferguson at (636) 481-3205 or lfergus1@jeffco.edu.

Diplomas will not be released until your account is paid in full. You may pay any balances on your MyJeffco student tab or at the Cashier window.

Transcripts - You may order a transcript at any time via the Jefferson College website by searching “transcripts”. Important: if it is necessary, choose to “wait until degree is posted” so transcripts are not sent out prior to your degree posting.

Commencement Day – Accessibility

The Graduate RSVP will contain questions regarding graduate and guest accessibility needs. You may also contact the Accessibility Resources Office at (636) 481-3158.

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact Enrollment Services at (636) 481-3205.

Congratulations, graduates!

 

Information for Faculty and Certified Professional Staff  

This information is directed to Faculty and Certified Professional Staff Participating/Walking in the 2023 Commencement Ceremonies. Please review these guidelines and do not hesitate to reach out to Stacey Wilson, Registrar/Commencement Coordinator, should you have any questions. swilson@jeffco.edu or (636) 481-3207.

Full-time Faculty and Certified Professional should have already registered to participate in one of the two ceremonies (unless excused by Dr. McCaffrey). 

General Information
Ceremonies will be held in the Jefferson College Hillsboro Campus Field House.
The Early Childhood Center has agreed to provide free childcare for Commencement workers/participants. If you are interested, please contact Stephanie Cage at ext. 3298 or scage@jeffco.edu by May 12th.

Regalia
Bring your cap and gown with you. If you are still in need of regalia, please reach out to Craig Keller, Bookstore Manager. While it is too late to order and receive appropriate hoods, the Bookstore can supply you with a black cap and gown.

Parking
All traffic will be directed through the Viking Woods entrance, Mel Carnahan Drive, to the Orange, Red, Blue then Green parking lots. Please do not bring bags/purses into the Field House as there is no secure area for storage. 

Arrival/Check In
All full-time Faculty and Certified Professional staff participating in the ceremony (walking in the processional) should report to the Multipurpose Room in the lower level of the Field House for check in and line-up. Faculty/Certified Professional staff should be in line 30 minutes prior to your assigned ceremony.  After reporting to the check-in station in the Multipurpose Room in the lower level of the Field House, you are welcome to relax until line-up. You may line-up/sit next to whomever you wish.

Processional/Recessional
All Faculty and Certified Professional staff will line up at the beginning of the BLUE after Administration and the Board members. Administration/Board members and Faculty Marshals will lead the processional. The first half of the group will be counted off and instructed to sit on the EAST side of the floor. The second half will be instructed to begin sitting on the WEST side of the floor. Faculty and Certified Professional staff will be seated in rows of four on each side of the graduates. This is a simple process and a Marshal or a worker in a red vest will assist you on the floor. Please keep a very slow pace as you process out on the gym floor. Remain standing once you get to your seat. Graduates will sit in the center of the floor in rows of twelve. When the ceremony is over, Faculty/Certified Professional Staff will be released one row at a time and proceed to exit out into the lobby. You are free to leave at this point.

Final Reminders
Final Grades are due by noon on Tuesday, May 23rd. For faculty and certified professional staff - all rented caps and gowns should be turned in to the Bookstore by Thursday, May 25th. Graduates keep their cap and gown. 

Please contact Stacey Wilson, Registrar/Commencement Coordinator, with questions - swilson@jeffco.edu or (636) 481-3207.