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Family and Guests

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. We require that all participants in the services behave with appropriate dignity. This year’s ceremonies will take place on May 4,5 and 6, 2012.

Common Courtesy

Confetti, air horns, and silly string must not be used in the Leiske-Pultar Gym or the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Under no circumstances are guests to stand on seats, thus blocking views of the ceremony.
Fire regulations forbid anyone to congregate or sit on the stairs or in the aisles.
Only the official photographer and other photographers employed by the University may take photographs in the roped-off area at the front of the auditorium.
Video tripods cannot block aisles.

Special Needs (May ceremonies only)

Guests with special needs may telephone Silvia Collins in the Academic Administration office at (817) 202-6211 or email her at silviac[at]swau.edu. An accessible section with a good view is reserved for guests in wheelchairs along with one attendant.

Parking/Shuttle Service (May graduation)

Shuttle services to the gymnasium from satellite parking areas will be available during the Baccalaureate and Commencement ceremonies.

Seating

To make sure that family members have priority seating for Commencement, we are issuing TEN "First Access" passes to each graduate. These passes give entrance to the gym from 9:00 to 9:30. (Seats cannot be saved for guests arriving later.) The general public will be admitted at 9:30, when "First Access" passes will no longer be honored. Guests arriving after !0:00 will be admitted only at designated breaks in the program. Overflow seating is available in Wharton Auditorium.

Calendar of Events for May Graduation

Thursday, May 3

4:00 p.m. Rehearsal: Graduates will need to be at the gymnasium by 4:00 p.m.

Friday, May 4

8:00 p.m. Consecration: Consecration will take place at the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church.

A Reception for graduates and their parents will follow in the Chan Shun Centennial Library.

Sabbath, May 5

10:00 a.m. Sabbath School at the Leiske-Pultar Gymnasium.

11:30 a.m. Baccalaureate at the Leiske-Pultar Gymnasium.

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

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

5:30 p.m. Nurses’ Pinning Ceremony:

The ceremony will take place at the Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church. A reception for nursing graduates and their guests will follow in the fellowship hall.

Sunday, May 6

10:00 a.m. Commencement:

This will take place at the Leiske-Pultar Gymnasium. A reception for the graduates and their guests will follow on the lawn between the Committee of 100 Cafeteria and Pechero Hall.