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Graziadio Commencement

Information for Staff

Commencement is an exciting time in a student's life and is a time-honored tradition that serves to celebrate and recognize the significant achievements of our graduates. The Graziadio School is proud to honor its graduating students for successfully completing their degrees during commencement ceremonies which are held three times a year in April, August and December.

Our strategic plan, Distinctive Leadership 2015, outlines our need to focus on students as a primary element. One way for us to do this is through service. In order to continue the success of our commencement ceremonies, we will continue to utilize our Commencement Host Program. With this program, we are asking that every staff member of the Graziadio School volunteer their services once a year.

Each department has been assigned to a commencement ceremony, either in the Spring, Summer or Fall. If you are unable to volunteer during the ceremony that you are assigned, it is your responsibility to switch with another staff member from a different ceremony date and to inform Kenisha Danley of the change. Of course, you may wish to volunteer for additional commencement ceremonies. Please see the commencement host assignment spreadsheet below with the link to confirm your participation as a host, for the indicated ceremony, and the host position guide are listed below.

As we get closer to the ceremony date the commencement host assignment grid and presentation will also be added to this page. So please look to this page for updates as it's your one stop shop for all things commencement host related.

The Commencement Host Program will ensure that we help to cultivate community while providing the best student experience possible to our students.

If you have any questions or concerns, please email Kenisha directly at kenisha.danley@pepperdine.edu.

Graziadio Business School Host Program Department Assignments
Summer  Fall Spring
  • Fully-Employed Recruitment
  • Marketing & Communications
  • EMBA/PKE
  • MSOD
  • Academic Affairs
  • Employer Relations
  • Fully-Employed BSM and MBA
  • e-Learning
  • Student Systems
  • Administration
  • Admission
  • Technology Services
  • Online Program
  • Financial Planning Office
  • Alumni Relations
  • Full-Time Career Services
  • Global Programs
  • Full-Time Programs
  • Full-Time Recruitment
  • Office of Financial Services
    • Financial Aid
    • Student Accounts
  • Executive Education
  • Dean’s Office

Commencement Host Position Information

 Morning Duty Descriptions (7:45 - 9:30 AM)

Check-In Greeter: located on the path leading to the check-in table

* Will greet graduates and direct them to the appropriate line/table to check-in

* Will keep the lines moving and the area clear

Lead Check-In Host: located next to the check-in table

* Oversee check-in activity
* Address any issues that arise
* Assist check-in host when needed

*Assists with the breakdown/cleanup of the check-in area

*Fields Questions for the following host: Check-in Host and Check-in Greeter

Check-In Host: located at the check-in table

1. Retrieve the graduate’s name card from their prospective Program box

2. Ask graduate to review the information on the card
3. Ask graduate to write their email address on the front of the card beneath their street address and the phonetic spelling of their name on the back of the card

4. When completed, have the student return the card to you

5. Affix nametag to graduate and explain to the student that the white card has their line-up information on it (which line to stand in and which number in line they are)

6. Return the card to Completed Program box. Please keep all cards in numerical order

 

VIP Host: located at the Information booth/table adjacent to the Firestone Fieldhouse

* Help VIP guests when they arrive and escort them to the appropriate events person/ to Jones Trophy Room
* Help guests with questions and concerns

* Should be aware of bathroom locations, time line and basic logistics of the day


Information Host:
located at the Information booth/table adjacent to the Firestone Fieldhouse

*Assist Commencement Hosts with checking in and out.

*Help guests with questions and concerns

* Is in charge of administering radios to staff

* Should be aware of bathroom locations, time line and basic logistics of the day

* Contact Public Services/EMT in case of an emergency

*Fields Questions for the following host: VIP Host, Program/Usher, Curtain Call Ushers and Human Chains

 

Program/Usher: located inside the Fieldhouse, spread out in Foyer and by auditorium entrance

*Pass out commencement programs and help with guest seating/questions

* Assist guests with physical limitations to special seating area

*Assist University Events with Human Chains to block guest from entering the ceremony as Platform Party, Faculty and Grads march in and out.

* Remind guest that strollers are not allowed into the gym (stroller parking in foyer- leave at their own risk)

 

Robe Host: located between the check in tables and robing

* Greet and direct graduates down the walkway to the robing area

*Fields Questions for the following host: Robing, Faculty Robing, Grad and Faculty Ushers, Line-up Stand by Host, Seat Confirmers, Tassel Adjusters, Card Collectors, Stage Ushers, Stage Line up

 

Robing: located at the Tennis Courts

* Assist graduates with putting on their cap and gown

 

Faculty Robing: located in the Firestone Fieldhouse Room 125

* Assist faculty with their caps and gowns

 

 Line-Up Duty Descriptions (9:30 - 10:30 AM)

Check-In Standby Host: located at the check-in table

1. Take the graduate to pick up their cap and gown

Note: while walking to the station, explain to the student that the name tag has their line-up information on it (which line to stand in and which number in line they are)

2. Lead the graduate up the stairs to the robing area and help them put on their cap and gown.

3. Pass the graduate over to the line-up standby host and hand their colored card to the host.

 

Lead Check-In Host: located next to the check-in table

* Provide final check-in count to University Events (make announcement over radio)
* Ensure all check-in cards are organized for line-up


Line-Up Standby Host:
located at the area in-between the two tennis courts

1. Take the graduate to their place in line

2. Hand the reader card to the graduate

3. Inform the line host of the late arrival

4. Return to the area in-between the two tennis courts

Faculty Usher: located in the Firestone Fieldhouse Room 125

1. Ensure that the Faculty members are lined up for the Processional (in no particular order)

2. When cued, lead the Faculty members into the Fieldhouse auditorium

3. Sits with the Faculty during the ceremony

* Important! Make sure the faculty do not unclip the chairs. If they need more space they can sit in every other chair.

 

Grad Usher: located at the line-up tennis court

* Note: please be in the lineup area at 9:30am you will be needed to help with line-up

1. Help graduates line up numerically/alphabetically by program

2. Pass out the colored cards to the corresponding graduates (name tags may be discarded)

3. When cued, lead the graduates down the stairs, in a single file line, into the entrance of the Fieldhouse (wait at door for official cue to walk into Fieldhouse)

 

March-In Leader: Will march in all graduates and count in (15) per row

 

 During Ceremony Duty Descriptions (10:30 AM - 12:00 PM)

Human Chains: will be located in the Fieldhouse Foyer

*Assist University Events with Human Chains to block guest from entering the ceremony as Platform Party, Faculty and Grads march out.

 

Graduate Stage Line Up: will wait in the empty seats behind the graduates until the conferring of the degrees

* Direct BSM graduates from their row to go up to the stage to receive their diploma jackets.

* Cue BSM graduates beginning from the second row backward to be seated as the first row proceeds to the

stage to receive their diploma.

* Direct MBA graduates from their row to go up to the stage to receive their diploma jackets.

* Cue MBA graduates beginning from the second row backward to be seated as the first row proceeds to the stage to receive their diploma.

 

Tassel Adjuster: will wait in the empty seats behind the graduates until the conferring of the degrees

*Adjust the graduate’s tassel before he/she approaches the stage

 

Card Collector (From Graduate): will wait in the empty seats behind the graduates until the conferring of the degrees

* Collect colored cards from Graduates and hand to Vincent Way for announcement

 

Card Collector (From Arman D.): will wait in the empty seats behind the graduates until the conferring of the degrees

* Collect colored cards from Arman D.

* Keep cards in order of students crossing the stage

* Give cards to GradImages representative at the end of the ceremony

Note: Please speak with Photo representative any time before ceremony begins

 

Seating Confirmation Usher: will wait in the empty seats behind the graduates until the conferring of the degrees

* Stands next to the current row to notify which row the graduate enters

* Guide graduates to appropriate seat

 

Stage Usher: will wait in the empty seats behind the graduates until the conferring of the degrees

* Assist graduates as they come off the stage; after photo (ensure that they go in the correct direction, back to seat)

 

Faculty Usher: sits with the faculty during the ceremony, ensuring that the chairs stay connected

 

Program/Usher: located inside the Fieldhouse next to the curtains

* Pass out commencement programs and help with guest seating

* Keep people in foyer quiet

 End of Ceremony Duty Descriptions (12:00 PM)

Curtain Call Usher/Human Chains: will be located in the Fieldhouse Foyer

* Close off red carpet exit 30 minutes prior to the end of the ceremony (11:30am)

* Ensure the guests remain in their seats until the end of the ceremony after graduate procession

*Assist University Events with Human Chains to block guest from entering the ceremony as Platform Party, Faculty and Grads march out. 

Faculty Usher:

* At the end of the ceremony, will lead the faculty down the red carpet on the right side (facing the stage), out the Fieldhouse doors facing Heritage Hall (west)

* Guide Faculty members to regalia drop off location

Grad Usher (Front): following faculty recession

*Lead graduates down the red carpet to respective exits (see diagram)

* Guide the graduates to regalia drop off location

Grad Usher (Back): Ensure the line of graduates keep moving out of Fieldhouse