May, 2008 Graduation
Undergraduate Students

Commencement is May 10-11! Because ESF and SU share Commencement ceremonies, you will also receive information from SU. If you have not received an SU mailing by March 28, contact SU Office of Special Events, 443-4631.

All undergraduate students who will satisfy degree requirements by May or August 2008, and those who completed their degree in December 2007, are expected to participate in Convocation and Commencement. You must complete the Application for Graduation and return it to the Registrar’s Office by April 12. If you do not meet this deadline, your name will not appear in the convocation program.

Convocation and Commencement are different in their objectives. Convocation is a less formal ceremony in which the ESF community recognizes the achievements of graduating students. Cap and gown are required. Commencement is a more public and formal ceremony that officially marks the end of graduating students’ ESF careers. Degrees will be awarded at this time and full academic dress is required.

Members of the graduating class are strongly encouraged to attend both events so that they may receive the recognition they undoubtedly deserve.

Be sure to thoroughly read the “Convocation Logistics” section later in this newsletter. It will give you a good idea of how things will work graduation weekend.

Commencement Weekend Festivities

Wednesday, May 7	3:30 pm—Convocation Rehearsal, Marshall Auditorium - Followed by Champagne Toast on the ESF Quad, sponsored by the ESF Alumni Association
Thursday, May 8	10:00 am—Commencement rehearsal in Carrier Dome (enter at Gate “D”)
Saturday, May 10	10:00 am—Curriculum-Specific Continental Breakfasts TBA, guest welcome
	12:30 pm—Students Line up, Landmark Theatre
	1:00 pm—Convocation, Landmark Theatre
Sunday, May 11	7:45 am—Continental Breakfast, Nifkin Lounge
	7:45 am—Recognition of Higher Degrees, Nifkin Lounge
	8:45 am—ESF Procession to Dome
	9:30 am—Academic Procession
	Commencement will begin at the end of the procession

NO TICKETS REQUIRED!

YOU DON’T NEED TICKETS TO ATTEND ESF CONVOCATION AT THE LANDMARK OR COMMENCEMENT AT THE CARRIER DOME. The ONLY event that will require tickets is the Commencement Eve Dinner in the Carrier Dome on Saturday, May 10. You will/have received information from Syracuse University about this and will need to coordinate attending this dinner per their instructions.

Caps and Gowns

Those who participate in Commencement are required to wear academic attire. You can obtain these items in the Bray Hall Rotunda, Wednesday, April 30, and Thursday, May 1. 10am to 4pm

“I’m Graduating! What Do I Do Now?”

Need help with job search techniques, writing your resume, interview skills, employer contacts? Have you established contacts to obtain references? There is a way to maintain contact with ESF and to look for employment opportunities. Stop by 110 Bray Hall and see all that is available!

Eat, Sleep and Be Merry!

Guest rooms are at a premium during Commencement Weekend. If you will need accommodations, make those arrangements NOW! Very few motels in the metropolitan Syracuse area still have rooms available. You may be able to locate rooms in Auburn, Utica, Cortland, and other towns close to Syracuse. AAA members may wish to contact the Syracuse area office at (315) 451-2000 for more detailed information. Also, check the SU Commencement information on reserving space in SU residence halls—space is limited! Hotel Links: www.esf.edu/maps/lodging.htm

Listed below are some nearby locations for dining out during Commencement Weekend. Let’s face it, if someone is taking you out to dinner, you’ll probably want to go some place other than the local pizza joint!

There are many additional fine restaurants listed in the Syracuse Yellow Pages. Due to the number of people who will be in Syracuse during Commencement Weekend, reservations should be made well in advance!

Another option is the Commencement Eve Dinner in the Carrier Dome. You can reserve a table of ten or purchase just the number of tickets needed. Further information about ticket prices and entree choices will be included in the SU Commencement mailing.

Saratoga Steak 200 Waring Rd. 445-1976	Dominick’s 1370 Burnet Ave. 471-4262	Glen Loch – Jamesville 4626 North St. 469-6969
Kitty Hoynes 301 W. Fayette St. 424-1974	Pastabilities 311 S. Franklin St. 474-1153	Phoebe’s 900 E. Genesee 475-5154

Annual Spring Banquet

This annual ESF event will be held April 12, 2008. This semi-formal dinner recognizes the scholarship, service and contributions of ESF students. Dancing will follow that formal program. This is the biggest social event of the year! Get your tickets as soon as they go on sale watch for adertisements!

Graduation Invitations

If you’d like souvenir invitations, you can pick them up in 110 Bray Hall beginning March 24. Limit 5 per graduate. Please bring your ESF I.D. with you.

Senior Class News

Any ideas for the Senior Class Gift? Share your thoughts with other class members at the upcoming Senior Class Meeting. Watch for meeting announcements in e-mail and posted around campus! We’ll also be discussing the Year-in-Review. If you can’t attend but have some input, leave a message for the Senior Class Chair in 110 Bray Hall.

Parking!

On Campus: A limited number of on-campus parking permits will be available in 110 Bray Hall beginning Monday, April 28, on a first come-first served basis. One permit per family; extra permits may be available Monday, May 5, depending upon supply. Please bring your ESF I.D. with you when you come to pick up your permit. 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.

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 April 18. 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.

Lights, Camera, ACTION!
The 18th Annual ESF Year-In-Review is in the planning stages right now! The presentation will feature as many graduates as possible. We need prints or slides of you and your ESF buddies (the funnier the better!). All will be returned if marked with your name and address. Items can be dropped off in 110 Bray Hall. The presentation will be featured at the Spring Banquet.

Directions to Landmark Theatre from 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

Convocation Logistics
May 10, 2008 - Landmark Theatre

• You must be at the Landmark by 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, please enter through the Jefferson Street entrance. Your 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. Students will be arranged by curriculum and you will be instructed about your “name card”. You will then process into the theatre according to your program of study.
• 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.
• All students will follow a counter-clockwise pattern to receive recognition. Students in the Env. Studies curriculum will be called first. They will rise, and proceed to their right into the aisle and up the stairs. Students will hand a name card to their faculty chair 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 seat 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 as to when to rise and form a line, so that “lag time” between people crossing the stage is held to a minimum. If you are the last student in each curriculum who will cross the stage, you will receive a different color name card. This will notify your faculty chair that you are the final student from your curriculum to cross the stage.

Additional Information

• Convocation Rehearsal: Wednesday, May 7, at 3:30 p.m. in Marshall Auditorium. Followed by a Champagne Toast on the ESF Quad.
• You will wear a cap and gown at Convocation as well as Commencement. You can pick these up in Bray Rotunda, April 30. May 1. You will need a parking pass from the Office of Student Life in order to park on campus during Commencement Weekend. A limited numbers of passes are available. Stop by 110 Bray to obtain a pass beginning April 28.
• Commencement invitations are available from 110 Bray beginning March 24. First come first served, but limited to 5 per graduate.

Other questions or concerns? Call us in 110 Bray at 470-6658.

We’re looking forward to celebrating with you!