2018 Spring Commencement Orientation 1
First of all It’s going to be a splendid graduation. The Apollo is a terrific venue, and we have amazing speakers. § The honorary doctoral degree will be conferred upon Cecile Richards , a national leader for women’s rights and social and economic justice, author of New York Times bestseller Make Trouble , and President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Planned Parenthood Action Fund for more than a decade. § The Champion of Public Health award will go this year to Sergio Matis , co-founder and executive director of the Community Health Worker Network of NYC (CHWNYC), an independent professional association that works to advance the CHW workforce while preserving the integrity of the work. 2
Important notes to get you oriented § Tickets § What to wear § Arriving at the Apollo § Guests § Preparing to Process § Processional § What if I am late? § Receiving your “diploma” § Collecting a gift § The after-party! § Returning your regalia 3
Tickets § YOU need a ticket to enter the Apollo § YOUR guests need tickets to enter the Apollo § We have a finite number of tickets to the Apollo § Unfortunately no additional tickets will be allocated § You are responsible for getting tickets to your guest and ensuring that they arrive with them 4
What to wear? Your regalia! § You may arrive at the Apollo already robed, or you may choose to put on your regalia once you are there (if you’re going to be robing at the Apollo, it will be wise to arrive before 3:30.) There are restrooms/dressing rooms available for your use. Feel free to bring bobby pins and safety pins if you think you may need them. § Do not forget your regalia! You won’t be permitted to march in commencement without it, and we won’t have “spare” regalia available on the day of commencement. § Wear comfortable shoes. Seriously. You’ll be walking up and down quite a few stairs. 5
Arriving at the Apollo § Arrive at 3:15 pm. § It’s SO important not to be late – there’s lots to accomplish before you actually process with your fellow grads into the Apollo’s Main Stage. § Don’t forget your CUNY SPH ID! § Enter through the Apollo’s front door at 235 West 125 th Street, between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd and Frederick Douglass Boulevard. § You will be directed to the Mezzanine, which we have reserved for graduates to prepare and assemble. 6
What about your stuff? § The Apollo can’t guarantee the safety of personal belongings left in the Mezzanine during the ceremony. § Do NOT leave anything in the Mezzanine. Take all belongings with you to your seat in the Orchestra section. § Balloons are not permitted in the theater. 7
Your guests § No guest will be allowed into the Apollo without a ticket. § Guests can enter the Apollo starting at 4:15pm § Children 2 years and older will need a ticket. § Children must be supervised by an adult. § Seating in the Apollo will be on a first-come, first- served basis. The holding of seats for other guests will not be permitted. § Balloons are not permitted in the theater. 8
A note about parking: don’t count on it! § Grads and guests are strongly advised to use public transportation. § The School is not able to provide parking, and street parking is very limited. § Parking apps such as Spot Hero and NYC Best Parking may be helpful if public transportation is not an option. 9
Preparing to Process § Once you are upstairs (Mezzanine), check in with CUNY SPH Staff to collect your name card. § Keep your name card with you at all times! You will need it so that your name is read as you walk across the stage § Each program will be led by a student marshal with the name of your program (eg. MPH in Community Health Education) 10
Processional § Stay in line behind your student marshal § Once downstairs, Apollo ushers and SPH staff will direct you to sit in a designated area according to your program. § Don’t forget your name card! 11
What if I am late? § You will not be seated until after the Procession and the National Anthem have been completed. There will be a wait of approximately 15-20 minutes before being seated. § Late students will not be a part of the processional. § Late guests will be ushered into the theater at an appropriate time, so as not to interrupt the ongoing ceremony. Theater doors will close at 4:50pm and re- open after the anthem 12
Receiving your “diploma” § You will be prompted to get up and follow your student marshal § Don’t forget your name card! § You will walk up a short flight of stairs to the platform, hand your student marshal your name card § When your name is called, walk across the stage and greet your department chair and Dean El-Mohandes § Walk off the stage and sit back in your seat 13
Before you leave the Apollo At the close of the commencement ceremony, a gift from the CUNY SPH Advisory Council Chair will be distributed to all graduates as they exit the theater § Please keep your gown on until after you have received your gift, so the marshals distributing the gifts know who the grads are. 14
The after-party The reception will be held from 7:00-9:00pm at the Alhambra Ballroom, just around the corner from the Apollo at 2116 Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. 15
Returning your regalia § As you know, the School has purchased regalia for all graduates. The gowns you are picking up today will be collected back from you to be dry-cleaned and stored for use by future graduating classes. Please be mindful of the condition of the gown. § Regalia must be returned no later than 6pm on June 8, 2018 § Master’s grads: § Please return your gown and hood. The cap and tassel are yours to keep. § Doctoral grads: § Please return your gown. The doctoral tam, hood, and tassel are yours to keep. 16
Where to drop off your regalia? § You regalia should be returned to Ms. Velvet Brown on the 5 th floor between 10 am and 6pm. § Ask security on the 5 th floor to contact Ms. Brown § Make sure that the bag in which you return your regalia has your name and empl ID on it somewhere. § If you need to return your regalia after 6pm, please contact Velvet.Brown@sph.cuny.edu to arrange this. § REMEMBER: § Regalia must be returned by 6pm on June 8, 2018. 17
See you at the Apollo! It’s going to be awesome. § Please keep tabs on your SPH email account for important updates. § Send any questions you have to commencement@sph.cuny.edu. 18
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