(This post is for those MAPHers graduating this quarter. For those of you taking more time—carry on!)
Alright, so you’ve turned in your thesis. Congratu-freaking-lations! I don’t need to tell you just how big of a deal that is. But now your eyes are naturally turning towards graduation (despite those two pesky finals you have left). Here’s everything you need to know:
If you haven’t already, you should be heading over to the bookstore (at 58th and Ellis—not the Seminary Co-op) to purchase your caps and gowns. At U of C, only PhD students are hooded—Masters students are distinguished by the long sleeves on their robes. And yes, caps and gowns are required to walk!
All convocation events are on Saturday, June 15th. Tickets are not required for any of the events. The schedule is:
9:15am College Convocation, Main Quadrangle
This is a massive ceremony for all undergraduates and graduates in every division. No names are called and no diplomas are handed out—it’s more of a formal ceremony, an extra for those of you who want to attend. It certainly isn’t mandatory, but you’re more than welcome to go (it was a little too early for yours truly during her MAPH year). (Pictured right: a photo from my MAPH year.)
11:30am Lunch, Bartlett Commons and Bartlett Quadrangle
Lunch is provided for all Humanities Division graduates and their guests. As MAPHers constitute the majority of each year’s Humanities graduates, we will be making a large showing! The Director and Deputy Directors will likely say a few kind words, and you will bask in kinship while surreptitiously examining people’s families for funny resemblances.
1:45pm Diploma and Hooding Ceremony, Mandel Hall
After the lunch, the mentors will lead everyone in a large group over to Mandel Hall. MAPH graduates line up in one of the rooms outside of Mandel prior to the ceremony about half an hour before it begins. If you are skipping the lunch and meeting us at Mandel, just look out for MAPHers and/or mentors in their gowns.
At 1:45 you will process into Mandel Hall amidst a fanfare of bagpipes. Names will be called, diplomas will be given out, noisy embarrassing tears will be shed by your Program Coordinator and maybe one of the mentors. You know which one.
2:45pm Post-Ceremony Toast, Bartlett Quadrangle
Just a celebratory toast to the graduates with families, friends and faculty! Not mandatory, but will be nice.
And that’s it all the information I have for you. Hopefully I’ll see you around before (and after!) convocation—don’t be a stranger now, y’hear?