General Information
Graduating Senior Class Meetings
Advisors to the graduating senior class schedule monthly meetings to distribute information and answer questions regarding graduation requirements, planned graduation activities, and the ordering of academic regalia (caps and gowns) and graduation announcements.
The final meeting will be held 3:00 p.m., Monday, May 4, and will include a rehearsal to prepare all graduates for the Service of Consecration (See pg 6 for graduation rehearsal info.). Graduating students are strongly encouraged to attend all meetings. For more information, contact the graduating class advisor, Ms. Davita Bonner at 481-2143.
Service of Consecration for Graduates & Candlelight Wreath Laying Ceremony
The Service of Consecration for Graduates is a sacred worship experience of consecration. It is a time when we ask God to anoint and bless our graduates. Bethune-Cookman University is a church affiliated institution and was founded by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune on her principles of faith in God.
All graduates (master’s and bachelor degrees) should assemble in the lobby of the Performing Arts Center at 6:00 pm in caps and gowns. Graduates are reminded of the dress code: Ladies — black or dark dresses, and black dress shoes; Men—white shirt, black or dark blue tie, black or dark pants, and black dress shoes. The graduates will march into the auditorium at the direction of the University Marshal. Faculty members must wear academic regalia and should be seated in the designated area by 6:30 p.m.
Graduates are requested to inform guests attending the service that they should be seated 15 minutes before the event begins. Guests should not leave the auditorium until the entire ceremony is over. The doors will be closed if we reach seating capacity. Leaving causes disruption and noise which disturbs others.
At the end of the Service of Consecration, the platform guests, faculty, and graduates will march to the statue of our founder, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, for a Candlelight Wreath Laying Ceremony. In the event of rain, the wreath laying ceremony will be held inside the Performing Arts Center.
Graduation Rehearsal, Ocean Center
Rehearsal for the Commencement Convocation will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 8 at the Ocean Center, 101 N. Atlantic Avenue, Daytona Beach. The offices of Career Services and Alumni Relations will disseminate information to the graduates as well as surveys to assist the university in improvement of its services to all students. During rehearsal, the registrar’s staff and university marshal will provide an overview of the order of service for the Commencement Convocation. The cost of parking at the Ocean Center is $5.00.
The President’s Celebration in honor of the Graduates, Wildcat Student Center
Persons attending this event must have tickets for admission. Complimentary tickets will be distributed to the graduates May 4-8 as follows: Monday— 12 noon Thursday in the Office of Career Services, Parlin Student Center and 1:00 p.m. Thursday through Friday in the Wildcat Student Center. Additional guests of graduates may attend at $10.00/person; alumni may attend at $10.00/person. Faculty and staff will be admitted with B-CU ID badges, and guests at $10.00/person. Please contact Ms. LaShan Mallory at 481-2498 for further information.
The Commencement Convocation
Commencement is a formal ceremony to celebrate the graduates’ commissioning into a new mission (undertaking) of life. Only those students who have completed ALL requirements (including clearing financial obligations) for graduation at Bethune-Cookman University may participate.
Bethune-Cookman University seeks to develop graduates who are honorable, democratic citizens capable of making worthwhile contributions to society. The University expects its graduates to uphold the highest moral and ethical standards set forth by our founder Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune by practicing self-discipline throughout the graduation activities. Graduating students are still accountable for their behavior.
Academic convocations are solemn and sacred affairs; therefore, all attendees should remain until the ceremonies are over. The attire that is worn and the behavior of participants must lend dignity to these occasions. Graduating students are required to wear appropriate regalia to participate in both ceremonies (Excerpt from Ceremony Etiquette for Academic Convocations, 9/2007)
