Commencement
2009 - Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the Ceremony?
The Chicago-Kent College of Law Commencement Ceremony will be
held on Sunday, May 17, 2009 at 3:00 PM in the Arie
Crown Theater, located inside McCormick Place's Lakeside Center
(east of Lake Shore Drive) at 2301 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago,
IL. A reception for family and friends will immediately follow
the ceremony.
How do I get there and where do I park?
Directions and Parking information can be found on the Venue Information page.
What time do I need to be at the Theatre on May 17?
Graduates should arrive at the Theatre NO LATER THAN 1:45 PM in order to pick up their cap and gowns and line up for the procession. Theater doors open to guests needing special assistance at 1:50 PM, and for all other guests, at 2:00 PM.
How long will the ceremony last?
The ceremony lasts approximately
two hours. A reception will immediately follow. The ceremony and
reception typically last a combined total of three hours.
How many guests may I have at graduation / where do I get
tickets?
Each graduate receives seven complimentary tickets. Ticket
Distribution begins in April 2009. Graduates themselves
do not need a ticket. All children over the age of two will need
a ticket to the ceremony unless they will be sitting on an adult's
lap. If you require additional tickets they may be purchased on
a first come first serve basis for $15 each, beginning in May 2009.
Are commencement tickets transferable?
Yes. If you do not need all of your complimentary tickets, you
are welcome to give them to a fellow graduate.
How do I order my cap and gown?
The Cap and Gown Order form will be available in February 2009.
Where do I pick up my cap and gown?
All caps and gowns will be distributed on the day of Commencement
at the Arie Crown theater, McCormick Place. Graduates should arrive at the Theatre NO LATER THAN 1:45 PM in order to pick up their cap and gowns.
Are caps and gowns free?
There is no charge for the cap and gown, unless you submit your
request after the due date which will be in April 2009. Forms submitted after that date will incur a $20 late fee. Forms submitted less than 2 weeks before the ceremony will incur a $15 rush fee on top of the $20 late fee.
If I own my own cap, gown and hood, can I wear it?
Unfortunately, no, as all graduates must wear the Chicago-Kent
academic regalia provided for you by the cap and gown vendor.
The cost for the cap, gown and hood are already covered in the
graduation fee assessed by the Registrar's Office to each graduating
student.
Can I wear a hood from either an organization or from the
institution that I received my master's or PhD?
No, it is the tradition of Chicago-Kent College of Law, as well
as proper etiquette, for graduates to wear only one hood at a
time.
Will I receive my diploma at the ceremony?
Because your final grades will not be in before the commencement
ceremony, you will not receive your diploma on graduation day.
You will, however, receive a diploma cover during the ceremony.
Diplomas will be distributed by the Registrar's
Office after the final grades are recorded. Final transcripts,
class ranks, and diplomas for the class of 2009 will be distributed
in mid-July. You will be notified via e-mail when diplomas are
ready for pick up. If at all possible, we ask that you pick them
up at the Registrar's Office. Picking them up in-person reduces
the chance that they will be lost or damaged in the mail. If you
have any questions, please email regq@kentlaw.edu.
Not all of my guests will be able to attend the commencement
ceremony and reception. Will the ceremony be video recorded?
Each year, the Office of Alumni Relations videotapes the ceremony
and posts it permanently on our Web site. Unfortunately, this
is not a live/simultaneous webcast. Students will be notified
via e-mail when the commencement ceremony is available to view
online. You may view videos of past ceremonies here.
Is there a dress code for graduation?
There is no formal dress code. Most graduates wear business-like
attire under their robes.
Will I have my photo taken when I receive my degree?
Graduates will be photographed as they walk across the stage
to receive their diploma by Chappell Photographers. A proof will
be mailed to you at a later date, at which time you may order
your copy. It is important that you update your address with
the Registrar's office so that your photos are sent to the
correct address.
My guests or I require special assistance. Where can I find
more information?
If you or your quests will require special assistance please
contact commencement@kentlaw.edu. For additional information, please visit the Special Assistance page.
I will not graduate until July or August of 2009. Am I able
to participate in the May 2009 ceremony and walk with my classmates?
This is an option, however, please contact both Dean
Sowle and Tara
Anderson in order to decide if this is feasible for your particular
standing.
I planned to participate in the ceremony, but I can no longer
attend, what should I do?
Please email commencement@kentlaw.edu
as soon as possible.
Will my kentlaw.edu e-mail account terminate after I graduate?
All kentlaw.edu student accounts will terminate in August 2009
after the July 2009 bar exam. December 2008 graduates e-mail accounts
will terminate at the same time in July 2009.
As a Chicago-Kent graduate, the Office of Alumni Relations is pleased to offer you the option of setting up an alumni.kentlaw.edu email address through our e-mail forwarding service. This service is available through the Chicago-Kent Alumni Online Community and allows you to choose a username@alumni.kentlaw.edu address that will be forwarded to your specified personal email account (e.g. gmail, yahoo, or work e-mail, etc).
This system allows you to utilize a simple e-mail address to give to family and friends, and your username can be your current username@kentlaw.edu or you can create a new one. You’ll never have to notify everyone in your address book of a new or discontinued e-mail address because you can simply update your personal e-mail address by logging into the Online Community and emails will subsequently be forwarded to your email address.
In order to access email forwarding, all you have to do is sign up for the Chicago-Kent Alumni Online Community. Accounts for May 2009 graduates will be available in mid-July.
How can I stay in touch with Chicago-Kent and my classmates
after graduation?
All Chicago-Kent Alumni are invited to join the Alumni
Online Community a networking site where you can search a
directory of alumni, join various alumni groups, keep abreast
of Chicago-Kent news, and learn about and register for alumni
events. Accounts for May 2009 graduates will be available in mid-July.
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