Graduate Students

May 2009 Convocation & Degree Requirements

(for degrees conferred August and December 2008, and May 2009)

Are you Ready for May Convocation?

SUNY ESF Convocation will be held on Saturday, May 9, 2009. Students who completed degree requirements in August or December 2008, or who will complete degree requirements by Wednesday, April 29, 2009 are invited to participate in the May 2009 Convocation ceremonies. If you do not receive a Syracuse University (SU) mailing about Commencement ceremonies by March 27, contact SU Office of Special Events, 315-443-4631.

Master's degree students who have defended theses may request permission to participate in ceremonies with written recommendations from the appropriate Department Chairs and permission from the Dean of Instruction & Graduate Studies. No exceptions will be made to allow doctoral students (who have not completed degree requirements) to participate in Convocation. You may verify your eligibility to graduate with the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies by April 24, 2009. If you do not meet this deadline, your name may not appear in the Convocation program.

What is the Difference Between Convocation and Commencement?

Convocation is "the ceremonial assembly of members of a college or university." SUNY ESF students will celebrate May Convocation in the Landmark Theatre on Saturday, May 9, 2009.

Commencement is "the ceremonies or the day for conferring degrees or diplomas." SUNY ESF students join with Syracuse University students to formally celebrate academic degrees. The 2009 Commencement will be held on Sunday, May 10, 2009 in the Carrier Dome of Syracuse University. August 2008, December 2008, & May 2009 graduates are invited to participate in May 2009 Commencement. Graduates are strongly encouraged to attend these events so that they may receive the recognition they earned.

Annual Spring Banquet

This annual ESF event will be held in April and is a semi-formal dinner that recognizes the scholarship, service and contributions of ESF students. Dancing follows that formal program. This is the biggest social event of the year! Get your tickets as soon as they go on sale in March in the Office of Student Life, 110 Bray Hall (470-6658).

Commencement and Convocation Important Dates and Activities

Saturday, April 18	Annual Spring Banquet at the On-Center
Friday, April 24	Deadline to verify eligibility to graduate and for MS or PhD defenses
Monday, April 27	On-campus parking permits available for Convocation Day parking
Wednesday, April 29	Deadline for final, signed version of thesis or dissertation document and associated paperwork for MS and PhD degrees, or diploma form for MF, MPS, and MLA degrees to Office of Instruction & Graduate Studies
TBA	Convocation Rehearsal, Marshall Auditorium
TBA	Commencement rehearsal in Carrie Dome (enter at Gate “D”)
Saturday, May 9	10:00 am—Curriculum-Specific Continental Breakfasts TBA. Family and friends welcome! 12:30 pm-Student Line up, Landmark Theatre 1:00 pm-Convocation, Landmark Theatre
Sunday, May 10	8:45 am—ESF Procession to Dome 9:30 am—Academic Procession 10:00 am—Commencement

YOU DON’T NEED TICKETS TO ATTEND ESF CONVOCATION AT THE LANDMARK OR COMMENCEMENT AT THE CARRIER DOME. The ONLY event that requires tickets is the Commencement Eve Dinner in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, May 9. You have or will have received information from Syracuse University about this and make

	Master’s hoods The colors of the ESF Master's hoods represent the colors of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry: forest green, white and gold. Hoods are black with gold velvet lining with green, white & gold satin chevrons on the inside lining.
	Doctoral hoods The colors of the Ph.D. hoods represent the colors of the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry: forest green, white and gold. Hoods are black, with navy blue velvet outer lining and white & gold satin chevrons on the inside lining.

Formal Attire Is Required!

During the Middle Ages, monks and students wore academic regalia as protection from the damp and drafty conditions of monasteries and castles. Through the years, regalia evolved to represent and celebrate scholarly achievement. The colors of the hoods and various trimmings symbolized the disciplines and institutional traditions.

In deference to and in celebration of tradition and scholarship, ESF students who participate in Convocation and Commencement are required to wear academic attire. Caps and gowns are available for purchase through the SU Bookstore in the Schine Student Center, (315) 443-9900.

Convocation Parking

On Campus: A limited number of on-campus parking permits will be available in 110 Bray Hall on a first come-first served basis. One permit per family; extra permits may be available depending upon supply. ESF I.D. required for permits. Additionally, all SU lots will be open throughout the weekend.

Landmark Theatre: While there is no designated parking for the Landmark Theatre, there are a number of city parking lots in close proximity to the facility.

Directions to Landmark Theatre from the ESF Campus:
326 South Salina Street, Syracuse, NY 13202

Directions	Miles
Turn Right on IRVING AVE	0.6
Turn Left on HARRISON ST	0.7
Turn Right on S SALINA ST	0.3

Guests with Limited Mobility

Both the Landmark Theatre and the Carrier Dome have wheel chair accessible doors on the lower level, and there is space within where guests in wheel chairs can comfortably view the ceremonies. For the Saturday Convocation, guests in wheel chairs or those who need a little extra help should enter the Landmark Theatre via Salina Street. For Sunday Commencement, guests requiring special accommodations can be dropped off in front of the Carrier Dome while someone else parks the car. ESF and SU Public Safety officers are very understanding about this!

Guests Who Are Hearing Impaired

We will be happy to make arrangements to have a sign language interpreter at Convocation on Saturday. Simply call the Office of Student Life (470-6658) prior to Friday, April 17. The Commencement ceremonies are signed; several interpreters are located throughout the Dome. Seating locations for hearing impaired guests will be posted in the Carrier Dome.

Remember to reserve overnight accommodations early! We also recommend making restaurant reservations to avoid disappointments and long waits! Lodging options HERE.

Convocation Logistics
May 9, 2008 - Landmark Theatre

• All graduates must be at the Landmark by 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 9. Degree candidates are asked to enter through the Jefferson Street entrance. Guests are requested to enter the Theatre through the Salina Street entrance when they arrive. You will gather with your classmates in the upstairs lobby. Undergraduate students will be arranged by curriculum and will process into the theatre according to program of study, followed by Master’s degree candidates, then doctoral degree candidates. You will receive a “name card” and additional instructions as you form the processional line.
• The ceremony will begin PROMPTLY AT 1:00 p.m. The Provost will begin his remarks at 1:00 p.m. and all participants will already be seated.
• Each degree candidate in attendance will be individually recognized. Your name will be announced, and you will cross the stage to shake hands with the President of the College and the Chair of the Board of Trustees.
• Individual recognition of undergrads will begin after the Salutatorian and Valedictorian have finished their brief remarks. Undergraduates will be recognized by major, followed by graduate degree candidates.
• All students will follow a counter-clockwise pattern to receive recognition. Students in the Environmental Studies curriculum will be called first. They will rise, and proceed to their right into the aisle and up the stairs. Students will hand name cards to their faculty chairs at the podium on the left, then cross the stage, shake hands with the President of the College and the Chair of the Board of Trustees, and return to their seats on the Theatre floor.
• The same format is followed for each of the remaining curricula. The students seated at the end of the left side aisle will be signaled by a Commencement Host to rise and form a line, so that “lag time” between people crossing the stage is held to a minimum. The last student in each curriculum who will cross the stage will receive a different color name card. This will notify your department chair that that person is the final student from that curriculum to cross the stage. This protocol is followed by graduate degree level for graduate degree candidates (not by curriculum, but by degree level, with PhD degrees recognized last).

Additional Information

• Commencement invitations are available from 110 Bray on a first come-first served basis, but limited to 5 per graduate. ESF I.D. required.
• If you have questions about the Convocation Ceremony, contact the Office of Student Life at (315) 470-6658. If you have any concerns about your graduate degree requirements, call the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies at (315) 470-6599.

Degree Requirements

What Does it Mean to "Complete Degree Requirements?" The Master's degree requires completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours at the graduate level, of which at least 18 must be in coursework. By this time, you should have completed an approved study plan (3B) and submitted it to the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies. Students must also meet capstone seminar, thesis, and exam requirements, submit a Diploma Request Form, pay for binding fees (as appropriate) and submit theses electronically to the ProQuest archival service.

Doctoral degreestudents must successfully complete a minimum of 60 graduate credits – an appropriate combination of at least 30 to 48 credits are awarded for coursework and at least 12 to 30 credits are awarded for dissertation (xxx 999). An approved study plan (3B) must be executed. Students must also meet capstone seminar, dissertation, and exam requirements, submit a Diploma Request Form, pay for binding fees, submit dissertations electronically to the ProQuest archival service, and submit a Survey of Earned Doctorates.

All graduate students must be registered for at least one credit hour for the semester in which they complete degree requirements. A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.000 is required for graduation.

What Paperwork is Required to "Complete Degree Requirements?"

• MF, MLA and MPS degrees -- in addition to successful completion of coursework and Faculty requirements:
  • Graduate version of the Diploma Form
• MS degrees  -- in addition to successful completion of coursework and Faculty requirements:
  • Submission of thesis document and payment of abstract fee to ProQuest
  • Submission of the appropriate copies of the thesis to the Office of Instruction & Gradaute Studies
  • Thesis binding fee ($35/copy)
  • Graduate version of the Diploma Form
• Doctoral degrees  -- in addition to successful completion of coursework and Faculty requirements:
  • Submission of document and payment of abstract fee to ProQuest
  • Submission of the appropriate copies of the dissertation to the Office of Instruction & Gradaute Studies
  • Dissertation binding fee ($35/copy)
  • Survey of Earned Doctorates
  Graduate version of the Diploma Form

If you are submitting a thesis or dissertation, did you...

• Leave at least 1.0 inch margins?
• Have the abstract page signed by your major professor(s)?
• Have the title page signed by your major professor(s), chair of the exam committee, department chair, and Director of the Division of Engineering (ERE only – Dr. James M. Hassett)?
• Include your resume or vita as the last page of the thesis or dissertation?
• Spell check all pages - especially the acknowledgment page?!!!
• Make sure all pages are included and in correct order?
• Make sure you have not gone beyond your delimitation date? (If so, you must petition an extension.)
• Submit your document to ProQuest?