Welcome message from 2008 Commencement Dr. Edward H. Hammond, President of Fort Hays State University.
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Wednesday, May 14
9 a.m.-3 p.m. - Cap, gown, hood, tassel, and name card with line of march distribution in the Memorial Union. Table located next to the University Bookstore.

Thursday, May 15
9 a.m.-3 p.m. - Cap, gown, hood, tassel, and name card with line of march distribution in the Memorial Union. Table located next to the University Bookstore.

7 p.m. - GRADUATE SCHOOL AWARDS CEREMONY & RECEPTION
for all graduate students in the Stouffer Lounge of the Memorial Union. (no academic gowns) No tickets required. Free admission

Friday, May 16
9 a.m. - Noon - Cap, gown, hood, tassel, and name card with line of march distribution in the Memorial Union. Table located next to the University Bookstore.

11:30 a.m. - GRADUATE & FACULTY BRUNCH
for all degree candidates, faculty, and guests in the Fort Hays Ballroom, Memorial Union. (no academic gowns) Contact the Alumni Office for information at 628-4430 or 1-888-351-3591.

1 p.m. - 4 p.m. - Cap, gown, hood, tassel, and name card with line of march distribution in Gross Memorial Coliseum, Gate 1.

2 p.m. - REHEARSAL FOR COMMENCEMENT
Degree candidates assemble inside Cuningham Hall for Commencement processional rehearsal and final instructions. (no academic gowns)

3-6 p.m. - GRAD FEST 2008
Robbins Center. (across from Gross Memorial Coliseum) All graduates and guests are welcome. Contact the Alumni Office for information at 628-4430 or 1-888-351-3591.

Saturday, May 17
8-9:45 a.m. - Cap, gown, hood, tassel, and name card with line of march distribution in Gross Memorial Coliseum, Gate 1.

9:15 a.m. - Degree Candidates assemble inside Cunningham Hall. Please be punctual

9:30 a.m. - Faculty assemble inside Cunningham Hall. Faculty will precede the candidates in the line of march.

10 a.m. - COMMENCEMENT
Gross Memorial Coliseum
Gates open at 8:30 a.m.

Noon - After Commencement, graduates will have the opportunity to meet with professors and instructors in the "Victor E. Lounge" (inside track area of Gate 3). This would be a great time for sharing experiences, memories, and taking pictures. Beverages will be provided.

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Education Specialist's and Master's Degree Candidates
Graduate degree candidates will wear hoods during the processional. Candidates will walk across the stage alphabetically by degree groups.
Associate and Baccalaureate Degree Candidates
Undergraduate degree candidates walk across the stage alphabetically by department within each degree group and college.

Cap, Gown, Hood, Tassel, and Name Card with Line of March Distribution for Degree Candidates
Degree candidates will obtain cap, gown, tassel, graduate hood, & name card with line of march in the Memorial Union, next to the University Bookstore, May 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; May 15, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; May 16, 9 a.m. to Noon; or Gross Memorial Coliseum, Gate 1, May 16, 1 to 4 p.m.; May 17, 8 to 9:45 a.m.
The faculty "Line of March" will be mailed to the faculty from the Office of the Provost.

Academic Dress
Place cap on the head squarely. In addition to appropriate attire, women are requested to wear dark dress shoes and men wear white shirts and dark shoes. Associate and Baccalaureate degree candidates wear tassel on the right side of the cap; change tassel to left side when degree is conferred. Candidates for master's and education specialist's degrees are entitled to wear the tassel on the left side of the cap.

Commencement Attendance
All July 2007 graduates who did not participate in the 2007 ceremony are eligible to participate in 2008, as well as all December 2007 graduates, May 2008 candidates and those July 2008 candidates who have filed an Intent to Graduate.

Names and Honors in Commencement Program
All July and December 2007 graduates and May 2008 candidates will be listed in the Commencement program, with honors noted where appropriate. There is no honors distinction for graduate students.

Commencement Pictures
Photographers from Chappell Graduation Images, Fairfield, IA, will take individual pictures as each graduate crosses the stage and at the stage exit ramp, and will send proofs and ordering information to each candidate after Commencement. There is no obligation to purchase pictures. Individuals who wish to take personal pictures may do so from an area designated on either side of the stage.

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• Gross Memorial Coliseum - Commencement is viewed live in Gross Memorial Coliseum. Seating is available on the bleachers and in the balcony area. All seats in the coliseum are normally filled by about 9 a.m. Please arrive early.
• Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Sheridan Hall - Commencement is viewed on a large screen in air-conditioned Sheridan Hall.
• TV broadcast – Commencement will be broadcast live to campus residence halls and over two area cable TV systems. Eagle Broadcasting will carry the live telecast on KFHS-TV, Channel 67.  In addition, Rural Telephone will carry the live broadcast of Commencement to more than 30 communities in Northwest Kansas.  Residents in communities served by Rural Telephone should check their local listings for the channel in their community. 
• Internet – Commencement will be broadcast live on the Internet. Those who wish to view Commencement on a computer should download either Quicktime 7 of Windows Media Player prior to May 17. For the Internet option, use Windows 2002 or Windows XP or Mac OS X v. 10.3.9 or later. The address for the Internet broadcast is http://www.fhsu.edu/.
• ***Commencement Tapes Available - If you would like a video tape or DVD of the 2008 FHSU Commencement, please reserve your copy now. The costs are $10.50 for a VHS tape and $11.50 for a DVD if mailed and $8.50 (VHS) and $9.50 (DVD) if you pick them up. Be sure to include your full mailing address and a check for the correct amount payable to FHSU. Mail it to:
  
  Fort Hays State University
  CTELT
  Attn: Eva Gould
  600 Park St.
  Hays, KS 67601-4099
  
  For information or questions regarding ordering commencement videos, call 628-4194.
  
  (If you are an FHSU Faculty or Staff member, please contact
  the Provost's Office, bleikam@fhsu.edu, regarding a copy of the Commencement video.)***

Seating
Faculty will be seated with the candidates at the end of each row on the arena floor of Gross Memorial Coliseum. Persons other than degree candidates attending Commencement are asked to enter the Coliseum through Gates 1, 2, 3 or 4 - not through Cunningham Hall. Relatives and friends choosing to view Commencement in the Coliseum will be seated on the bleachers and in the balcony. Reserving large sections of seats in the bleacher and balcony areas is not allowed.
Seating arrangements for the disabled have been made in the bleacher area on either side in front of the stage. There are no reservations for this area. One person, if necessary, will be allowed to accompany an individual in this seating area. There is not sufficient space in this area for entire families. The most convenient entrances are Gates 2 and 3. An interpreter for people who are deaf or hard of hearing will be near Section B in the bleacher area. Limited seating within close proximity will be available.

Automobile Parking
Please leave early to allow sufficient arrival time. Traffic is extremely heavy in the Gross Memorial Coliseum area for Commencement. The Coliseum parking lot is normally full before 9 a.m. Shuttle bus service for those who park on campus will be provided to and from Gross Memorial Coliseum. In the event of rain, please park on campus. For those choosing to view Commencement in Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, parking is available on campus near Sheridan Hall. Drivers may let off passengers with disabilities at Gates 2 and 3. Access vans are available to transport passengers with disabilities who park on campus to and from Gross Memorial Coliseum and Sheridan Hall. After the event, vehicles leaving the parking lot at the north exit will be directed north. Those exiting south will be directed south.

Courtesy Statement
The University expects courtesy to be extended to all candidates crossing the stage. Therefore, please do not shout or applaud to an individual candidate. An appropriate time will be announced for applause. Noisemakers or air horns are not allowed. Candidates are required to participate in the entire ceremony. The audience is asked to refrain from moving around and leaving to ensure all graduates are provided appropriate courtesy.

Motel Accommodations
If you have out-of-town guests who need a listing of motel accommodations, please contact the Hays Convention & Visitors Bureau at (785) 628-8202; from outside the Hays area call 1-800-569-4505 or go to http://www.haysusa.net.

Alumni Association Membership
The FHSU Alumni Association extends congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2008! All graduates receive a congratulatory Tiger gift and six-month membership in the FHSU Alumni Association. After this time, you will be given the opportunity to purchase a membership. Enjoy the many membership benefits provided to you compliments of the FHSU Alumni Association.

Commencement Announcements
The Alumni Association provides the official university announcement. Instructions for ordering announcements were mailed to all degree candidates in December and January. Graduates who missed the ordering deadline may still purchase personalized or traditional announcements up to and even after graduation.
To order online, go to http://www.CBGrad.com or call toll free at 1-800-433-0296. If you have any questions, contact the Alumni Association at 1-888-351-3591.

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Graduate and Faculty Brunch - Contact the Alumni Office for information at 628-4430 or 1-888-351-3591.
Join your classmates, professors and friends for the annual Graduate and Faculty Brunch dedicated to recognizing and honoring all graduates and nominees for the Torch, Pilot, and Navigator awards. The 2008 Award recipients are announced at this event. Each graduate will receive one complimentary ticket to the Friday brunch in the Fort Hays Ballroom by returning the attached “clip out” ticket order form or by ordering online. Reservations for guest(s) may be made at $12.50 each on a first-come, first-served basis. All complimentary and guest tickets should be picked up at the Alumni Office, located in Robbins Center, from May 7-14 unless and early request for mailed tickets is received by April 25. Graduates who do not make reservations by the deadline will be admitted to the brunch ONLY on the basis of cancelled reservations and should contact the Alumni Office at (785) 628-4430 or toll free at 1-888-351-3591.

Grad Fest 2008 - Contact the Alumni Office for information at 628-4430 or 1-888-351-3591.
Grad Fest is sponsored by the Student Alumni Association. Graduating seniors, Master's degree and Education Specialist's degree candidates and their guests are invited to Grad Fest 2008, a celebration to say “farewell” to life as a student and “hello” to life as a FHSU alumni. All candidates are admitted FREE. Watch your mail and e-mail for more details, or contact the Alumni Office at (785) 628-4430 for more information.

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