Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Commencement ceremony, where is it held, and when is it over?The Commencement ceremony for the School of Law is always held on the Saturday of the Mother's Day Weekend and for this coming year it will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2008, in the McCarthey Athletic Center. Graduates must line up in the gym of The Charlotte Y. Martin Centre in their academic attire no later than 8:30 a.m. and this is a good time for their guests to arrive in the McCarthey Athletic Center. The ceremony begins with an academic procession at 9:15 a.m. and the speaking part of the ceremony is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Ample seating is available, graduates may invite as many guests as they wish to the ceremony, and no tickets are needed for admission. If the graduate or guests have special needs for seating (wheelchairs, walkers, etc.), the graduate should contact Susan Harmon at 509-323-3700 or sharmon@lawschool.gonzaga.edu no later than two weeks prior to Commencement (and earlier, if possible) so that we can make the necessary arrangements. We estimate that the ceremony will be over at 11:00 a.m. and it is followed by a social held on the lawn at the School of Law. The social is a time for graduates to hug, kiss, take photographs, introduce their families to favorite faculty members, and to say good-bye - we expect the social will be over by about 12:30 p.m.How does a student order graduation announcements and invitations?CEWard-National is the firm which handles the selling of both academic attire (addressed in the next question and answer) and graduation announcements and invitations. That firm will be sending all graduating law students the order forms and information about the announcements and invitations in late fall/early winter. The GU Bookstore will have samples on display and will have order forms. CEWard-National will be at Commencement Fest on Wednesday, Feb. 13, to take orders for academic attire and announcements/invitations for Commencement. For those students who are unable to make it to Commencement Fest, they may place their orders by mail.How does a student order academic attire?Gonzaga hosts a day called Commencement Fest which is held on Wednesday, February 13, 2008, in the Globe Room of the Cataldo Dining Hall (the CAT) on the GU campus. Commencement Fest is envisioned as one-stop shopping for the graduation needs of our seniors and graduating law and graduate students. We invite an assortment of vendors to show our students their products or services. There will be a number of departments and organizations from Gonzaga who will be offering services and information to our seniors, law and graduate students for their graduation and commencement needs as well as advice as they choose to start a career or further their education. The focal point of the whole day is the ordering of academic attire. The law academic attire cost will be $79.50 (this includes tax) and payment can be made with cash, check, VISA or MasterCard. Academic attire will be distributed to the student in The Martin Centre on Friday, May 2 and Monday, May 5 from 11 am to 3 pm, Thursday, May 8 from 4:40 to 7:30 pm, and on Friday, May 9 from 2:30 to 5:00 and 7:00 to 8:00 pm.Is there a Baccalaureate Mass and who may attend?The Baccalaureate Mass for the School of Law is held in St. Aloysius Church at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 9, 2008. Graduates and their guests are cordially invited to attend.Do law students need to attend rehearsal and when and where is it held?Rehearsal is held in the McCarthey Athletic Center on Thursday, May 8, 2008, from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. together with the graduate students. All law students should plan to attend the rehearsal because detailed information is given, questions are answered, and those all-important "how to wear your academic attire" instructions are given. If you can't attend, not to worry! We will see you at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday in the gym of The Martin Center (you will be lining up here prior to the academic procession) and we will stay with you every step of the way.Is the Associate Dean for Student Affairs going to pronounce my name properly as I cross the stage?The Associate Dean hopes and prays that she pronounces every name properly and she will practice with a large stack of name cards for a month prior to Commencement. If you have a wonderful and unusual name, you could make it easier for her by giving her a simple way to pronounce your name. Please bear in mind that the pronunciation explanations at the bottom of the page in the dictionary do not readily come to mind to an Associate Dean who is having to read many names. On the blue graduation form which you received at registration at the beginning of your final year, there is a place to give the proper pronunciation of your name. You could simplify matters by letting the Associate Dean know (for example) that the last name Krusee is pronounced like this: crew c or that Prusch is pronounced like: brush with a pPhotographs at Commencement - can family members take them and will there be a professional photographer?Family and friends may approach the stage and take pictures or a video; we ask everyone to be aware of other photographers and audience viewing. There will be a professional photographic team that will be taking a formal picture of every graduate as well as a candid shot. Order forms will be sent to the graduate during the summer from Image Studios in Moscow, Idaho (208-882-5594). You are under no obligation to order the pictures but I can tell you that, in the past, the pictures have been very good.
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