Cornell University Commencement

Recognition Event for January Graduates
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Barton Hall

The seventh annual Recognition Event and Reception for all January 2010 graduates is being planned. Information will be mailed to families and emailed to students in late October.

Checklist

Click here for a printable checklist for students. Read this web page for specific details about the Recognition Event, then use the checklist to prepare for the event.

RSVP for Recogniton Event - all degree candidates

Students must RSVP online by December 16 for the University's Recognition Event and Reception for January graduates. There is no limit to the number of guests who my attend, and there are no tickets for this event.

Recognition Event Schedule - December 19, 2009

• 9:15am - Guests may begin arriving at Barton Hall
• 9:15-9:30am - Students register & assemble for procession
• 10:00-11:15am - Recognition Event in Barton Hall
• 11:15am-Noon - Coffee Reception in Barton Hall

Additional College Events - prior to Recognition Event

College of Human Ecology
Friday, 12/18, 3:00-4:30pm
Reception to honor January Graduates
Martha Van Rensselaer Hall Auditorium. No ticket required.
RSVP by 12/11: email or call 607-255-2235 (total attending, no limit).
In the event of inclement weather, check www.human.cornell.edu for possible cancellation of this event.

School of Industrial & Labor Relations
Friday, 12/18, 3:30-4:30pm
Informal Reception for Graduates and Families
ILR Conference Center, Room 229
RSVP by 12/11: email or call Lorie Anderson at 607-255-2223.

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Saturday, 12/19, 7:30-8:30am
Continental Breakfast for Graduates and Families
Statler Hotel, Terrace Restaurant
Tickets required
RSVP by noon 12/14: click here to RSVP

School of Hotel Administration
Saturday, 12/19, 7:45-9:00am
Breakfast for Graduates and Families
Statler Hotel, Ballroom, 2nd Floor
RSVP by noon 12/11: email or call Kathy Mix at 607-255-6376.

Accommodations

The on-campus Statler Hotel is available for the December event. Rising from the center of this Ivy League campus, the Statler Hotel is centrally located to events and provides on-site parking for guests. Taverna Banfi, the Statlers's signature Tuscan Italian restaurant, is also available for lunch and dinner on Saturday. Please call the hotel at 800-541-2501 or email statler_reserve@cornell.edu to reserve your guest room or dinner reservation.

Since many people and students are traveling away from Ithaca this time of year, we do not anticipate housing problems. You may find information about the availability of local hotels and bed & breakfasts by visiting Ithaca's Visitor Bureau website at http://www.visitithaca.com.

Announcements

Customized announcements may be ordered online at http://www.shop.jostens.com or by calling 800-854-7464.
Click here to view Jostens' product flyer.

Cap, Gown and Tassel

Order rental regalia by November 15. Cap, gown and tassel must be worn by degree candidates at the Recognition Event.

The rental costs are:
Undergrad: no charge
Master: $17.50
PhD/Doctorate: $62.69
Law: $62.69

Missed the November 15 Pre-order Deadline?
Students who did NOT pre-order rental regalia by November 15 will be able to walk in at the pick-up location noted below and receive an outfit, but exact sizes will not be guaranteed. Please bring $10 (cash only) for late fees, in addition to standard rental fee above.

Pick-up Location
Students will need to pick up cap, gown and tassel on December 17 (Thursday) or December 18 (Friday) between 10:00am-5:00pm at Teagle Hall, Multi-Purpose Room.

Return Location
Students MUST return their cap and gown in Barton Hall immediately following the reception, but may keep the tassel.

Ph.D. Candidates Wishing to Purchase Regalia
Ph.D. degree candidates and faculty wishing to purchase a tassel, cap, gown, and/or hood may do so August 1, 2009 until October 18, 2009 at: http://www.herff-jones.com/college/cornell. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery.

Ceremony Instructions

Students must arrive in Barton Hall between 9:15-9:30am to register and assemble for the procession. Students should enter Barton from Graden Avenue (Teagle Hall side of Barton) and follow the signs to the area by the red curtain that is across the middle of the room.

Students go to the table by their college sign and will be given a card with their name and address information. This will be used to mail a photo proof later in January to the address provided. Students will carry the card with them to their seat, during the procession. Ushers will collect the cards after students are seated.

Readers from each college will read students' names from the cards as they cross the stage. Ushers in red jackets will instruct students to line up in the appropriate locations, before, during, and after the ceremony.

During the ceremony, each college will be asked to stand, and as each student's name is read, they will walk across the stage to shake hands with their college dean.

After the ceremony, students, family members, and guests may enjoy the reception. Congratulations!

Diplomas

Diplomas will be sent by the Office of the University Registrar in April 2010 to the home address listed in Student Center. The conferral date for January graduates is February 1, 2010. (Due to the way the 2010 calendar falls, the conferral date is a February date; however, we are continuing to refer to graduates as "January" graduates throughout our website.)

May 30, 2010 Commencement Information

January graduates are also invited to participate in the Commencement Ceremony in May. Graduates may choose to attend the December event, the May ceremony, or both. Information detailing the May event will be mailed to parents in December. Information and severe weather tickets will be mailed to students in late February. Whether a student attends the December event or not, he/she will automatically be on the mailing list to receive information for the May ceremony. Refer to the May section of the Commencement website for more details.

Mobility Impaired Guests Parking & Seating

Guests who cannot maneuver the stairs into Barton Hall on the Statler side are encouraged to enter from the Teagle Hall side (Garden Ave.) of the building. Vehicles may temporarily stop on that side of the building to let mobility impaired guests out for easy access to the building. The driver will then need to go park the vehicle at one of the suggested parking areas noted below.

Guests with wheelchairs and walkers will be able to sit with other family members (in chairs with back support) without requiring a special pass or seating location. As a courtesy, ushers will be inside Barton Hall (at Garden Ave. entrance) with wheelchairs to transport guests to the seating area, if needed.

Parking

When arriving on campus, please use the Parking Garage, the Crescent lot behind the football stadium, the C parking lot along Campus Road, or parking spaces along Tower Road and Garden Avenue. There is no charge for parking on campus on Saturday. Campus Map

Photographs

Professional photographs will be taken of the student and their dean while on stage, as well as one of the student alone, off stage. The photographer will send proofs of both photos to the home address approximately 30 days after the event to provide an opportunity to purchase photographs.

Reception Details

A reception will immediately follow the Recognition Event in the same building, Barton Hall. Light refreshments (coffee and pastries) will be served. All students and guests are invited. Please plan to stay and enjoy the reception.

Tickets

There are no tickets required for this event, as there are plenty of seats for everyone. However, we do ask students to RSVP online by December 16th to help with our planning.