Commencement

commencement2020

St. Mary’s College grads, get ready to make your mark on the world!

The ceremony begins at 10:00 a.m. sharp on Townhouse Green.  All graduates will assemble at the Recreation Courts no later than 9:15 a.m. Please be sure to wear caps and gowns.

We hope the following information will be helpful in your plans to attend the Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 16, 2020.  We appreciate your patience, understanding, and cooperation on this very special day.

  • The ceremony will be held, rain or shine, under a large tent on Townhouse Green. Tickets are not required.  Depending on the weather forecast, you may want to include rain gear or sunscreen and hats.
  • The Commencement site will open at 8:30 a.m. Personal items left on chairs do not constitute reserved seating.  The first three rows on both sides of general seating are reserved for wheelchairs, guests who are seeing- or hearing-impaired, and special guests of the College.
  • We ask that everyone mute their cell phones during the ceremony.

We look forward to sharing this special time with the Class of 2020 and their families and friends.  If you need further information about Commencement logistics, please call the Events & Conferences Office at (240) 895-4310.

 

Checklist

CAPS & GOWNS
All students, regardless of their major, wear the same graduation regalia (cap, gown, hood, & black tassel). Prospective graduates will be notified by email in mid-February regarding the ordering process for caps and gowns and these orders should be placed at https://buildagrad.com/smcm by April 6, 2020. Payment information is not required at the time these orders are placed and students pick up and pay for regalia May 11 -16 at the Campus Store. Those students who only need part of the outfit or do not need regalia, should still place an order and there is an option to indicate that only part of the outfit is needed or no outfit is needed. Those students who place orders after April 6, should order and pay for regalia by visiting www.smcmbooks.com. The cost for the complete outfit will be $49.95 if ordered by April 6, and $59.95 after that date. Please contact the Campus Store at 240-895-4420 if you have questions about your cap and gown order.
ACADEMIC REMINDERS
St. Mary’s College has a strict requirement for participation in the graduation ceremony. In order to walk in the ceremony, you must be within four (4) credits of the graduation requirement, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0, and an action plan for completion of the remaining credits must be filed in the Office of the Registrar. A notation will be placed in the Commencement program indicating that there are credits left to be fulfilled. If you are in any danger of not meeting this requirement, call the Office of the Registrar at 240-895-4336.
FINANCIAL REMINDERS
Check with the Business Office to be sure your financial obligations to the College are covered. Your diploma will not be mailed to you nor will a transcript be issued until your account is cleared. For information, call 240-895-4315. Students receiving financial aid should call that office, 240-895-3000, before Commencement.
LIVING ON-CAMPUS
Seniors living on campus must check out of residence halls and suites by 3:00 p.m. and out of apartments and townhouses by 5:00 p.m. on May 16, 2020.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Personalized graduation announcements, starting at $14.50 for a set of 5, can be ordered at www.balfour.com or by calling 1-877-225-3687.
DOUBLE MAJOR
If you have a double major, you must choose the major with which you wish to walk. If you have a double major in both a BA and BS degrees and you have chosen to receive a BS, then you will be required to walk with the major associated with your BS degree. Go to the Office of the Registrar’s table during Grad Fair on April 9 to register your preference and to check the spelling and pronunciation of your name.
SUMMER 2020 & FALL 2020 GRADS
If you are planning on walking during Commencement, please send an email to: graduation@smcm.edu and include your student ID, full name, and major.

 

Hospitality Service

LOCAL HOTELS (SMCM FAMILIES & FRIENDS)

Families are encouraged to make hotel arrangements as early as possible. The following hotels have set aside rooms to accommodate SMCM families.

  • Hampton Inn Lexington Park – $89/night (∼ 8 miles) 22211 Three Notch Rd., Lexington Park, MD 20653; 301-863-3200.
  • Fairfield Inn by Marriott – $89/night (∼ 8 miles) 22119 Three Notch Rd., Lexington Park, MD 20653; 301-863-0203. Click here to make a reservation.
  • Home2Suites by Hilton – $129/night (∼ 8 miles) 46058 Valley Dr., Lexington Park, MD 20653; 301-866-1416. Click here to make a reservation.
  • Country Inn & Suites – $116/night (∼ 11 miles) 44941 Worth Ln, California, MD 20619; 301-737-5227.

RESIDENCE HALLS (GRADUATING SENIORS RESIDING OFF-CAMPUS)

Graduating seniors living off-campus who would like to be on campus for Senior Week may make arrangements to stay in the residence halls by calling the Office of Residence Life at 240-895-4207 no later than May 1. These arrangements DO NOT include a meal plan; seniors not on the meal plan must pay for individual meals.

 

Senior Week Events

Event Time Location
Awards Convocation Friday, April 17, 3:00-4:00 p.m. MPOARC Arena
The annual presentation of academic awards to students from all class years. Students who will receive academic awards will be notified in advance and their participation in the event requested. Family and friends of these students are welcome to attend and no advance reservations are required. There is a reception with light refreshments following the awards presentation.
Lavender Graduation Friday, April 26, 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Daugherty-Palmer Commons (DPC)
Hosted by LGBTQ Student Services, it is a special ceremony that honors the achievements of graduating gender and sexual minority students and distinguished allies. Recognized students will receive a rainbow tassel and a reception will follow the ceremony. Students and family members can RSVP to lgbtq@smcm.edu.
Beach Day Wednesday, May 13, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m. Waterfront
Relax with your friends at the waterfront (weather permitting).
Senior Gala Thursday, May 14, 6:00 – 11:00 p.m. Campus Center
Cost: $40 (includes 4 tickets for alcoholic beverages) or $30 (includes unlimited non-alcoholic beverages) per person.
Tickets must be purchased by May 1. Bring your fancy attire and enjoy beverages and hors d’oeuvres on the patio (weather permitting), dinner and dancing in a beautifully decorated Great Room, and making memories with your friends. Tickets can be purchased here (coming soon).
**Graduation Rehearsal** Friday, May 15 at 11:00 a.m. Recreation Courts (MPOARC Arena)
The rehearsal takes about an hour and will provide useful information and serve as a practice for the next day. If you absolutely cannot attend the rehearsal, contact the Office of the Registrar, 240-895-4336 to report your absence.
Senior Convocation Friday, May 15, 4:00 p.m. Townhouse Green
Senior Convocation is the final assembly of the graduating class prior to the conferral of degrees at Commencement on Saturday. Members of the senior class plan the program for Convocation including the selection of a faculty member who offers closing thoughts to the class.

TRAFFIC & PARKING:
In order to expedite traffic for Convocation, traffic along College Drive will be one way from 7:00 – 10:00 p.m. (going from Mattapany toward Route 5) on Friday, May 15, and parking along that road will be prohibited from 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. Family and guests will park in Lots R, S, T, V, and Z. Once these lots are full, drivers will be directed to other designated parking areas. Elderly and/or disabled guests should park in the designated area of Lot R and golf carts will be available to transport them to the seating area.

Family Activities Friday, May 15 & Saturday, May 16 See Details
Dinner
Friday, May 10, 5:00 p.m. Select restaurants will offer a 10% discount for St. Mary’s Graduates. We encourage you to make reservations in advance. Participating restaurants are listed below. The Great Room will provide standard dinner operations from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Senior Convocation
Friday, May 15, 4:00 p.m. held on the Townhouse Green. Free.

Breakfast:
Saturday, May 16, Campus Center Great Room 7:30 – 9:00 a.m. Cost: $10/person.
A full breakfast will be offered for graduates and their families. Payment can be made at the Great Room.
Great Room Meal RSVP: The form below is to help the Great Room estimate the number of guest attending the meals listed below. Payment for the meals will be made at the Great Room.
Great Room Meal RSVP

**Photographs** Saturday, May 16, 9:15 a.m. Recreation Courts (MPOARC Arena)
A group photo of the graduates will be taken at 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, May 16 at the recreation courts. Graduates must be in cap and gown to be in the pictures. Late arrivals will not be included. An 8×10” copy of this photo will be mailed by the photography vendor to each graduate as a gift from the College.Individual photos of each person receiving a diploma will be taken by a professional photographer. One proof of that photo will be sent to each graduate at no charge. Additional prints will be available for purchase from the photographer.

QUESTIONS REGARDING PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO CLASSIC PHOTOGRAPHY AT 410-203-1003 OR CUSTOMERSERVICE@CLASSIC-PHOTO.COM.
Commencement Saturday, May 16, 10:00 a.m. Townhouse Green
All graduates will assemble at the Recreation Courts no later than 9:15 a.m. Please be sure to wear caps and gowns.

TICKETS & SEATING:
No tickets are necessary for the Commencement ceremony. Seating is first-come, first-served. Although the area will be tented, some seating is in an open area in full sun. Guest should be prepared with hats, sunscreen, and other protective measures. Please bring rain gear if the weather is threatening. The event is held outside, rain or shine. No seats may be held for guests without someone being physically present to hold them.

TRAFFIC & PARKING:
College Drive will be closed until Commencement is over, then traffic will be one way until 4:00 p.m. (going from Mattapany toward Route 5). Families and guests may park in any available lot.

SPECIAL NEEDS:
Reserved seating for guests with disabilities is available. Seating must be reserved in advance and due to high demand seating is only available for the disabled individual and one additional person. Sign language interpreters will be provided for the deaf/and hard-of-hearing. Contact the Events & Conferences Office at 240-895-3060 for reserved seating and questions about access to this event.

ALCOHOL-FREE:
Commencement is a time to celebrate your accomplishments here at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and it should be a celebration treated with the respect it deserves. Commencement is an alcohol-free ceremony. Staff will monitor the attendees for alcohol possession.

CONGRATULATIONS!