June 2011 Commencement Ceremony

Congratulations on your academic accomplishment. On Monday June 6, 2011 you will march with the 2011 graduating class. BMCC is proud of you, and we have planned a commencement ceremony to celebrate your achievement. To make sure that this is a successful event, please read these instructions carefully, and save them for reference.

For spring 2011 potential graduates only: Awarding of June degree is subject to completion of all graduation requirements by the appropriate deadlines.

Commencement at BMCC is free for the graduates. All expenses are paid from the Student Activity Fees.

The Commencement Ceremony usually lasts three and a half hours. Please be courteous and patient with your fellow graduates and with your guests. In order to assist you in planning for the day, please read this letter.

Date, Place & Time of Commencement

Monday, June 6, 2011
Jacob Javits - North Hall
11:30 A.M. - 3:00 P.M.

Graduates must arrive no later than 10:30 A.M

Graduates Enter
10:30am
37th Street and 11th Avenue

Guests Enter
10:45am
39th Street and 11th Avenue

TRANSPORTATION
Subway & Bus
Take 8th Ave Subway A, C or E trains to 42nd Street. Then take the M42 that runs from east to west on 42nd street.

PARKING
There is no parking at Jacob Javits.

CAPS AND GOWNS
All graduates participating in the Commencement Ceremony must march in cap and gown. There is no cost affiliated with your cap and gown. Distribution of caps and gowns will take place in S206 on the dates and times indicated below.

Tuesday	May 24	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday	May 25	11 a.m. to 7 p.m
Thursday	May 26	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday	May 27	11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday	May 31	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday	June 1	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday	June 2	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

 

Please bring your BMCC ID and these instructions when you pick up your cap and gown. Upon receipt of your cap and gown, you will be given a name card. Please save this name card and bring it with you to Commencement.

2011 YEARBOOK
The 2011 Yearbook will be available when you pick up your cap and gown. However, only those students whose portraits appear in the book may pick up a copy during the distribution of caps & gowns. All other graduates may pick up any remaining copies on the day of graduation.

TICKETS
The Commencement Ceremony is for Summer 2010, Fall 2010, Winter 2011 and Spring 2011 graduates. There are over 3,200 eligible graduates in the class of 2011.

As a graduate, you do not need a ticket for the Commencement Ceremony. Your cap and gown will serve as your entry ticket. However, each of your guests, including each child and adult, must have a ticket. Each graduate will receive two (2) tickets for his/her guests.

Please note: If you want additional tickets, network with your fellow graduates to see if they have tickets that they are not using. Sale of tickets will result in disciplinary action. The earliest that we will know if there are extra tickets will be FRIDAY, JUNE 3rd.

Pick up your tickets from the Tribeca Performing Arts Center Box Office located in the main lobby on the following dates:

Tuesday	May 24	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday	May 25	11 a.m. to 7 p.m
Thursday	May 26	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday	May 27	11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday	May 31	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday	June 1	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Thursday	June 2	11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

GRADUATES WITH DISABILITIES
If you have a disability, notify Mr. Marcos Gonzalez, Director of Office of Accessibility, by calling (212) 220-8182 at least one week in advance of Commencement so he can make appropriate arrangements. Graduates with disabilities should enter at 37th Street and 11th Avenue.

MOBILE PHONE AND PERSONAL BELONGINGS
All cell phones and pagers must be turned off before entering the Javits Center and remain turned off during the ceremony.

There is no coat check, so please do not bring backpacks, large purses, etc. If you do bring coats or any other belongings, you need to give them to one of your guests to hold.

DIPLOMAS
At Commencement, you will receive a letter of congratulations from the president in your diploma cover. It does not contain your actual diploma. The Registrar's Office will send you a letter when your diploma is ready for pick up.

GUEST SEATING
The doors open to guests at 10:45 A.M. All guest seats are unreserved. Guests may sit in any section of the North Hall on a first come, first served basis. They should remain in their seats throughout the ceremony. Please let your guests know to bring a photo ID.

CHILDREN
Each child attending the ceremony requires a ticket and must be supervised by an adult. The commencement ceremony is at least three hours long. We strongly recommend that you do not bring infants, toddlers, and small children. They may become bored, restless, and noisy. Due to the length of the ceremony, everyone should eat, especially the children before arriving at Jacob Javits-North Hall.

GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES
If one of your guests is using a wheelchair or needs a sign language interpreter, notify Mr. Marcos Gonzalez, Director of Office of Accessibility by calling (212) 220-8182 at least one week ahead of time. Students picking up tickets for guests with disabilities should also notify the box office. Guests in wheelchairs should arrive one hour before the event and enter at 39th Street and 11th Avenue.

ALUMNI STATUS
The class of 2011 will receive an attractive BMCC Alumni lapel pin as a gift from the Office of Alumni Affairs. Please take the Alumni Survey when you receive your cap and gown. Pins will be available during the summer in Room S247 to those graduates who are not attending graduation. Visit the Alumni web page at www.bmcc.cuny.edu/alumni (Alumni discounts, programs and IDs are available) or visit at Facebook: BMCC Future Alumni to keep in touch.

COMMENCEMENT PROCEDURES FOR GRADUATES

Note: There is no dress rehearsal, so please read this section carefully.

1. Report to Jacob Javits-North Hall promptly at 10:30 A.M. (allow adequate travel time).
2. Due to security checks, you must go through screening with the following: cap, gown, BMCC ID, these instructions, and the name card you received when you picked up your cap and gown.
3. Upon arrival, proceed to the main entrance where Production Assistants will direct you to your staging area according to your major for the processional line-up by 11:00 A.M.
4. The processional begins at 11:30 A.M.
5. Graduates will march into the North Hall and sit in their departmental areas led by Faculty Marshals.
6. The program begins (music, invocation, greetings, speeches, etc).
7. When your academic major is called, stand and proceed to the stage.
8. Give your name card to the appropriate Vice President or Dean on stage, so your name can be called.
9. Dr. Antonio Pérez, BMCC President, will present you with a diploma cover.
10. Shake hands with Dr. Pérez.
11. Go off stage and take your picture.
12. Return to your seat.
13. Please be courteous to your fellow graduates and guests.
14. Refrain from leaving your seat during the ceremony.

The most solemn moment of Commencement is the conferral of degrees. This takes place after all the graduates have received their diploma covers and have returned to their seats. This occurs when the college president exercises the authority to grant your associates degree. Guests in the audience should remain quiet.

15. After the closing remarks, the Platform Party will leave the North Hall.
16. Graduates leave the North Hall with your fellow graduates after the Platform Party leaves.
17. Guests must remain in their seats until all of the graduates have marched out.

Production Assistants, BMCC staff dressed in black and white with blue and orange sashes, will be available to assist you throughout the day.

We strongly suggest that you prearrange a place to meet your guests after the ceremony.

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Student Activities, Room S206C or call 212-220-8160.

Thank you for your attention and cooperation.

 

Congratulations and Best Wishes on this joyous day!