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News & Information

• Additional Info
• Arrival Information
• Caps & Gowns
• Commencement Ceremony Etiquette
• Commencement Date
• Commencement Participation Policy
• Commencement Symbolism
• Delayed Broadcast
• Diplomas
• Disability Assistance
• Dual Degrees
• Graduation Awards
• Graduation Photographs
• Honors
• Name in the Commencement Program
• Parking
• Refreshments
• Rehearsal
• Room Assignments
• Tickets
• Transcripts

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Commencement Date

Commencement exercises will be held Friday, May 15, 2009, at the Knight Campus in Warwick. Graduates should report on campus no later than 3:30 p.m. The Commencement Procession will begin at 4:30 p.m.

Rehearsal

Rehearsal day will be held Thursday, May 14, 2009, at the Knight Campus in Warwick. Graduates should report on campus no later than 3:30 p.m. The rehearsal will begin at 4:30 p.m.

You should plan to attend rehearsal on Thursday. Report to your assigned robing room. About a week before commencement, graduates will receive additional graduation information in the mail identifying room assignments. Rehearsal will conclude about 6 p.m. Refreshments will be available immediately following.

Caps and gowns are not worn at rehearsal.

Room Assignments

Graduates who are participating in the line of march at Rehearsal Day, May 14, and at Commencement, May 15, must report by 3:30 p.m.

• Please find your assigned classroom here:
  • Assigned Robing Classroom - PDF file*
  • Assigned Robing Classroom - MS Word document†

†MS Word documents require MS Word to view or print

Caps & Gowns

Online cap & gown ordering is now closed.

Keepsake gowns are made of pressed acetate and need not be returned. They are a permanent keepsake memento of your CCRI commencement.

Cap tassels are worn on the right side until degree is received.

Lincoln, Providence & Newport Campus students may pick up their cap and gown at their respective bookstores May 4 to 8 and May 11 to 13. After May 13, all caps and gowns will go to the Warwick Bookstore.

Warwick Campus students may pick up their caps and gowns at the Warwick Bookstore May 4 to 8 and May 11 to 15.

As of May 14, all caps and gowns will be available only at the Warwick Bookstore from 8:15 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Please bring a student ID or a comparable ID with you when picking up caps and gowns at the bookstores.

If you plan to pick up your cap and gown before rehearsal, please be at the campus by 3 p.m. to allow yourself time to go to the bookstore.

The Warwick Bookstore will be open commencement evening, May 15, for souvenirs, etc.

If you need additional information on caps and gowns, please call the Warwick Bookstore at 825-2134, the Lincoln Bookstore at 333-7011, the Providence Bookstore at 455-6101 or the Newport Bookstore at 851-1610.

Please remember that all outstanding debts to CCRI must be paid in full before picking up your cap and gown. [view your account balance in Pipeline]

Diplomas

Diploma covers will be awarded to graduates at commencement. Diplomas and honor certificates will be mailed to all graduates approximately four to six weeks after grades have been certified. All summer graduates will be mailed diplomas and honor certificates approximately eight weeks after grades have been posted at the end of August.

Disability Assistance

A sign language interpreter will be present. Please call 825-2179 to arrange seating for guests needing this service. Wheelchair seating is also available. Commencement staff and security personnel will assist with seating.

Graduates needing special accommodations for rehearsal and commencement must identify themselves prior to rehearsal day by calling the Associate Vice President of Student Services' Office at 825-2179.

Graduation Photographs

For your convenience, we have made arrangements with Chappell Studio for a professional photographer to record the moment you are awarded your diploma. You will receive a passport-sized full-color proof in the mail approximately one week after the ceremony. There is no obligation to purchase this photo; however, you will have the option of ordering enlargement packages at reasonable prices. Chappell Studio guarantees complete satisfaction or you will receive a full refund. Personal picture taking should be done prior to or after the ceremony. Family members are encouraged to remain in their seats and enjoy the ceremony.

Graduation Photography Preregistration «Check Back at a Later Date

Arrival Information

Please inform your guests that the field house doors will open no earlier than 3:30 p.m. Please plan accordingly for inclement/warm weather.

Dual Degrees

If you are receiving a dual degree, you will walk across the stage once; however, both degree accomplishments will be announced when the dean reads your name. Your name will appear in the commencement program under each degree/certificate awarded.

Honors

Beginning the week of May 11, honor cords and honor certificates will be awarded to students attaining highest honors (3.75 - 4.00), high honors (3.50 - 3.74), and honors (3.25 - 3.49). Honors are based on a student's cumulative grade point average (GPA) for the semester ending Dec. 31, 2008.

Cords may be picked up in the Office of Student Services. Hours for pickup are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. On May 14, hours are until 6:30 p.m. in the Commons area in Warwick.

Delayed Broadcast

Public Access will air CCRI's graduation ceremony with a delayed broadcast to be aired from noon to 2 p.m. on May 23 and 30 on Channel 15. This is a wonderful opportunity for those guests who are unable to attend the commencement ceremony. See the Delayed Broadcast Schedule for additional broadcast dates.

Additional Info

For information on commencement, call the Office of the Associate Vice President of Student Services at 825-2179.

Tickets

Four (4) keepsake commencement announcements and up to four (4) admission tickets are available to graduating students. Graduates may invite up to four (4) guests to attend commencement exercises. Announcements and admission tickets will be available at the bookstore when picking up caps and gowns. Admission tickets are required for admission to enter the field house. An admission ticket is required of all guests unless a child is an infant. Tickets must be ordered online via the Caps & Gowns Order Form. Only potential graduates may order tickets.

Online cap & gown, and ticket ordering is now closed.

Commencement Ceremony Etiquette

To show respect for and to honor all our graduates, we ask that our guests remain in their seats throughout the entire ceremony, which is expected to conclude at approximately 8 - 8:30 p.m. Administration and graduates will exit first. Guests will follow after the recessional ends.

Guests will not be allowed on the gymnasium floor during graduation. Security guards will be stationed at each bleacher aisle and next to the stage. They will ask guests to remain seated. Guests may take photographs from their seats; they will not be allowed in the stage area. A professional photographer will be near the stage to take photographs of every graduate receiving his/her diploma.

Graduation Awards

Academic achievement is recognized at graduation in the following manner:

Honors:

Designated students have achieved at least a 3.25 grade point average.

High Honors:

Designated students have achieved at least a 3.50 grade point average.

Highest Honors:

Designated students have achieved at least a 3.75 grade point average.

Kappa Beta Delta:

Kappa Beta Delta is an international honor society for the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs accredited business programs. The purposes of this Society are to encourage and recognize scholarship and accomplishment among students of business, management, and administration pursuing associate degrees, and to encourage and promote personal and professional improvement and a life distinguished by honorable service to humankind. To be considered for invitation, candidates must have completed 15 semester hours of credit with a minimum of six credit hours completed in business courses. The academic ranking of those considered must place them in the upper 20 percent of their class, with a minimum grade point average of 3.00.

Phi Theta Kappa:

Phi Theta Kappa is a national honor society for community and junior colleges throughout the United States. Its intent is to recognize the most outstanding students at two-year institutions. In order to be initiated into Phi Theta Kappa at the Community College of Rhode Island, a student must have applied for membership, achieved a 3.75 grade point average or above, and be of good character.

Psi Beta:

Psi Beta is the national honor society in psychology for students at community and junior colleges. The requirements for admission include a 3.00 cumulative average, two courses in psychology (including general psychology) with a "B" or better and participation in volunteer community service or other psychology-related activities.

Honors Program:

Honors Program graduates must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.25 and complete at least four honors projects to earn this special recognition.

Commencement Symbolism

Much of the symbolism found in academic ceremonies dates back to the Paris and Bologna universities of the 12th century, which were modeled on medieval craft guilds. Symbolism carried down through the intervening centuries continues to reflect the status and function of positions in academia and administration. [read more]

Parking

Graduates attending the commencement will enter the Knight Campus at 400 East Ave., Warwick. Upon entering the main driveway, turn left at the top of the hill to the student parking lot to the east of the main building. Graduates entering from Commonwealth Avenue will enter the lot from the easterly end. There will be uniformed officers to assist with parking. [see satellite map][see driving directions]

There will be two marked police cruisers that will be available for the transportation of graduates or guests unable to walk to the megastructure or field house. Guests driving a vehicle with a physical handicap sticker will be asked to advise the officers at the blocked area of B-Road of their need to park close to the building. They will be asked to proceed to the lower lot of the field house and park in the lot that is reserved for this purpose. This will allow easy access to the ground floor of the field house through the power handicap door located on this level. Guests parking at this location must display a state-issued certificate.

The North Lot at the top of A-Road will be reserved for dignitaries and VIP guests. An officer will be stationed near this parking lot to assist in assigning spaces.

Faculty will be allowed to use the gated faculty parking lot. If transport is needed at that location, the officer on scene must be notified.

Guests arriving for the graduation will park in the student lot. All guests will walk to the front of the field house located to the rear of the main building. Officers are stationed at that location for assistance. [see satellite map]

Upon leaving the commencement, vehicles will have the option of exiting via the main road, where Warwick police will be to assist in an orderly departure, or out C-Road to Commonwealth Avenue to Toll Gate Road.

Name in the Commencement Program

Commencement program reflects names of all graduates as reported at 8 a.m. on May 8, 2009.

Commencement Participation Policy

All students who need no more than 6 credit hours to complete their degree requirements may participate in the May commencement ceremony. Summer applicants who have 6 or fewer credit hours to complete and who wish to attend the preceding May ceremony must apply and indicate their preference to "walk through" in the appropriate section on their graduation application.

Graduation Application

Refreshments

Light refreshments will be available in the Commons area immediately following commencement exercises.

Transcripts

Upon certification of grades, final transcripts should be available approximately two weeks after commencement.

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This page last modified on: May 26, 2009