Honoring God at Graduation

The graduation ceremonies at Southwestern Adventist University are both formal academic ceremonies and religious services. We want to honor the graduates on this joyous occasion, but even more we want to honor God.

A Family Event

Commencement Services are a time for celebration and commemoration by graduates, as well as their friends and families.

Overjoyed

Faculty and staff members rejoice in the success of their students, and are eager to wish them well during graduation ceremonies.

Appropriate Dignity

This year's ceremonies will take place on December 15, 2011. We require that all participants in the services behave with appropriate dignity.

Graduation

For Faculty, Staff, Emeriti

Thursday, May 2

Faculty and staff should have their regalia already. If you are missing something, please call Jason Kowarsch.

Graduation rehearsal is at 4:00 p.m. in the gym. Sponsors should be present.

Friday, May 3

Consecration is at 8:00 p.m. in the Keene SDA Church.

Sabbath, May 4

10:00 a.m. Sabbath School at the Leiske-Pultar Gymnasium. Faculty will not march.

11:30 a.m. Baccalaureate at the Leiske-Pultar Gymnasium. Faculty will march. Platform personnel should be dressed in regalia and will assemble at 11:15 in the Mabee Center lobby.

3:00 p.m. Business Department Recognition/Reception, Pechero Hall #126.

3:30 p.m. Theology Department Dedication Ceremony, Keene SDA Church Chapel

4:00 p.m. Education and Psychology Dedication at Wharton Auditorium.

5:30 p.m. Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony, Keene SDA Church

A reception for nursing candidates for graduation and their guests will follow in the fellowship hall.

Sunday, May 5

Commencement begins at 10:00 a.m. in the Gym. Academic regalia are required of all faculty.

  1. Assemble at 9:30 a.m. in the Mabee Center. Processional begins at 10:00 a.m. sharp.
  2. March double file down the center aisle following the processional* order.
  3. Men remove caps for each prayer; replace after prayer.
  4. At the close of the program, follow recessional* order. Stay in line and march all the way up to the area between the cafeteria and Pechero Hall for the reception.
  5. Return regalia to the Records office by 5 p.m. May 8. There will be a charge for unreturned regalia.

* Order of Processional and Recessional

Processional

  • Grand Marshal
  • Platform Personnel
  • Trustees/Emeriti
  • Faculty
  • Class Sponsors
  • Class Officers
  • Honors Students
  • Class
  • Grand Marshal

Recessional

  • Grand Marshal
  • Platform Personnel
  • Trustees/Emeriti
  • Faculty
  • Class Officers
  • Honors Students
  • Class
  • Class Sponsors
  • Grand Marshal