North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Annual Commencement Ceremony
May 9, 2009
Time and Place of Commencement
Spring Commencement will take place at the Greensboro Coliseum, located at 1921 West Lee Street, on Saturday, May 9, 2009. Line up will be at 8:00 a.m. and the processional will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Commencement Speaker
The commencement address will be delivered by Mr. Byron Pitts.
Commencement Participation
All approved degree candidates for the Spring 2009 semester are eligible to participate in commencement. You must participate in the commencement ceremony the semester you complete your degree requirements.
Commencement Rehearsal
Compliments of the Office of Alumni Affairs – A breakfast will be served for all approved degree candidates on Friday, May 8, 2009 beginning promptly at 9:00 a.m. until 9:45 a.m. in the Alumni Foundation Event Center.
Commencement rehearsal is scheduled for Friday, May 8, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Corbett Sports Center. All approved degree candidates and all faculty marshals are required to attend. Other faculty members are welcome.
Attire
Full academic regalia is required to participate in the ceremony. Students without academic regalia will not be allowed to participate.
Women wear dark dresses, dark shoes, no high collars or bows at neck and no corsages or jewelry on the robe.
Men wear white shirts, dark tie, dark trousers, socks, and dress shoes.
Cap and Gown
All graduates should check with the Bookstore for information on ordering academic regalia. Regalia ordered through the Bookstore can be picked up beginning March 23. Please call the Bookstore at (336) 334-7593 if you have any questions.
| Cap, Gown and Tassel | Cost* | Cost** |
| Bachelor's | $ 27.99* | $ 39.99** |
| Master's | $ 59.99* | $ 65.99** |
| Doctoral | $ 88.99* | $ 120.99** |
| Custom Stole | $ 32.99* | $ 37.99** |
*Regalia ordered during the Gradfest, March 23-26, 2009: 10am-4pm
**Regalia ordered online March 27 - April 30, 2009
Cap and Tassel
Candidates for degrees wear the black mortarboard with a tassel that is the distinctive color of the degree being received.
Bachelor Candidates
Wear tassel on the right side of cap until degrees are conferred. Move tassel to the left after the Chancellor confers degree. The Interim Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs will indicate the appropriate time to move tassel to the left by placing his hand on his cap.
| Bachelor Major | Tassel Color |
| Accounting, Business Administration & Business Education | Drab |
| Agriculture | Maize |
| Art | White |
| Biology | Golden Yellow |
| Chemistry | Golden Yellow |
| Economics | Copper |
| Education | Light Blue |
| Engineering | Orange |
| English | White |
| Family and Consumer Science | Maroon |
| Fine Arts | Brown |
| Foreign Language | White |
| History | White |
| Human Performance and Leisure Studies | Sage Green |
| Journalism and Mass Communication | Maroon |
| Liberal Arts | White |
| Mathematics and Mathematics Secondary Education | Golden Yellow |
| Music | Pink |
| Nursing | Apricot |
| Physics | Golden Yellow |
| Political Science and Criminal Justice | Citron |
| Psychology | Gold |
| Public Health | Salmon Pink |
| Social Work | Citron |
| Sociology | Citron |
| Speech | Silver Gray |
| Technology | Bright Red |
| Theater | Brown |
| Transportation |
Drab |
Master Candidates
Gowns fasten at the neck, and hoods draped down the back. Wear your tassel on the left.
| Master Major |
Tassel Color |
| Adult Education | Light Blue |
| Agricultural Economics | Maize |
| Agricultural Education | Maize |
| Animal Health Science | Maize |
| Biology, Biology Education | Golden Yellow |
| Chemical Engineering | Orange |
| Chemistry, Chemistry Secondary Education | Gold |
| Civil Engineering | Orange |
| Computational Science and Engineering | Orange |
| Computer Science | Orange |
| Construction Management | Red |
| Counselor Education | Light Blue |
| Electrical Engineering | Orange |
| Elementary Education, General | Light Blue |
| English and African American Literature | White |
| English Education | Light Blue |
| Food and Nutritional Science | Maize |
| Graphic Communication Systems | Red |
| History Education | Light Blue |
| Human Resources | Drab |
| Human Resources Management | Drab |
| Industrial Engineering | Orange |
| Industrial Technology | Red |
| Instructional Technology | Light Blue |
| Management Information Systems | Drab |
| Manufacturing Systems | Red |
| Mathematics, Applied and Mathematics Education | Golden Yellow |
| Mathematics Education | Golden Yellow |
| Mechanical Engineering | Orange |
| Middle Grades Education | Light Blue |
| Occupational Safety and Health | Red |
| Health and Physical Education | Sage |
| Physics | Golden Yellow |
| Plant and Soil Science | Maize |
| Reading Education | Light Blue |
| Rural Development Policy | Maize |
| School Administration | Light Blue |
| Social Work | Citron |
| Teaching | Light Blue |
| Technology Education | Light Blue |
| Transportation and Business Logistics | Drab |
Doctoral Candidates
Gowns fasten at the neck. Wear your tassel on the left; you will be hooded on stage.
| Doctoral Major | Tassel Color |
| Electrical Engineering | Gold |
| Energy and Environmental Studies | Gold |
| Industrial Engineering | Gold |
| Leadership Studies | Gold |
| Mechanical Engineering | Gold |
Distribution of Cords to Honor Undergraduates
Undergraduate honor students will receive honor cords from the Office of the Registrar starting Monday, April 27, 2009.
| Grade Point | Average Honors |
| 3.00 to 3.24 | Cum Laude |
| 3.25 to 3.49 | Magna Cum Laude |
| 3.50 to 4.00 | Summa Cum Laude |
All semester hours attempted and quality points earned will be used to compute the overall grade point average. Honor Students are determined based on the most current (spring or summer 2008) overall GPAs. Students making the Spring 2009 Honor Roll must have completed a total of 12 or more semester hours. Note: For transfer students see the Undergraduate Bulletin.
Distribution of Commencement Participation Cards
Approved undergraduate degree candidates will receive name cards from the Office of the Registrar starting Monday, April 27, 2009 and at commencement rehearsal. Approved Master's and Doctoral degree candidates will receive name cards on the morning of commencement at the Coliseum. Students without a name card will not be allowed to participate in the commencement ceremony.
Commencement Participation Policy
Two commencement programs are scheduled each year, one in December for fall and summer graduates and one in May for spring graduates. Students must meet the following requirements to be eligible to participate in the ceremony:
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Have completed degree requirements the semester/session prior to the upcoming commencement ceremony for which they plan to participate; or
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Be enrolled in the final courses and/or academic activity necessary to complete degree requirements in the semester for which they plan to participate in the respective commencement.
In either scenario, all students must submit an application for graduation to the Registrar's Office prior to the commencement deadline for either May or December graduation. The student must be "cleared" by the Registrar's Office to be approved to participate in the commencement activities.
Students who complete degree requirements during the summer session(s) ARE NOT eligible to participate in the preceding May commencement activities. However, they will be eligible to participate in either the following December or May commencement provided they meet the respective requirements as stated above.
Fees
Fees and fines, including the $60.00 graduation fee, must be paid, and library books must be returned to the library. Any delinquent accounts in the Treasurer's Office will cause the diploma to be withheld until the account is cleared.
Diplomas
Diplomas will be mailed to all graduates who have satisfied their academic and financial obligations to the University.
Photographs
Photo Specialties at P.O. Box 3600 Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, (919) 967-9576 will be available during Commencement. To view your photograph go to www.seemygraduate.com.
Live World Wide Video Presentation
To view the commencement ceremony live via the Internet, go to www.ncat.edu and click on the link to the commencement. The program will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Conduct
Commencement is a ceremonious and sacred event. The University expects full cooperation from all participants, including graduates and their invited guests. Disorderly or disruptive conduct will not be tolerated and the University reserves the right to remove disruptive persons from the Commencement Ceremony.
Alcoholic Beverages Are Prohibited Under NC Law
Alcoholic beverages are illegal. Compliance with the law is essential and will be enforced if necessary. Violations can result in a degree candidate's removal from commencement. Voluntary compliance is the responsible, mature, and preferable conduct to ensure that commencement will be dignified and memorable. It is a distinguishing event in the degree candidate's life and a credit to the University.
