Commencement

Friday, May 24, 2013 at 10:30 a.m.
Caroline H. Hume Concert Hall
Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
Ticket information below

Nicholas McGegan, Music Director of Philharmonia Baroque, will deliver the Commencement address and be awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa.

The student speakers at the Commencement ceremony are Omar Shelly (undergraduate) and Timothy Sherren (graduate).

Following the approximately ninety-minute ceremony, there will be a reception in the Atrium for graduates and their guests.

Mandatory Meetings for Graduating Students

The Office of Student Life and the Registrar’s Office will hold meetings for all May 2013 graduates. Students expecting to graduate in May must attend one of the following sessions:

  • Wednesday, March 13 from noon to 12:30pm in the Recital Hall, or
  • Wednesday, March 13 from 3pm to 3:30pm in the Recital Hall, or
  • Friday, March 15 from 2:30pm to 3pm in room 507.

Graduating students received an email on February 28, 2013 with instructions on registering for one of the meetings.  Please contact the Office of the Registrar if you did not receive this email, or if there are changes to your graduation plan.

Forms and Documents

This list of documents to be completed in order to graduate.

Ceremony Tickets

Tickets to the Commencement ceremony will be available at Office of Student Life, Suite 208, beginning Monday, May 6. Each student may invite up to two guests to sit in the Concert Hall for the ceremony. The graduating student will not need a ticket; however, each guest must have a ticket to be admitted.  Students must personally pick up their tickets.  

The Conservatory will have overflow seating for guests who are over the two ticket maximum. Overflow seating will be in the Osher Salon, where a live-feed of the ceremony will be streamed; tickets are not needed for overflow seating. Guests of graduates in overflow seating may join the reception in the Atrium following the ceremony.

Any questions should be directed to Caitlin Shepherd, Student Life Assistant, at cshepherd@sfcm.edu.

Participation in Commencement

Students that have met all the requirements within their degree program, as confirmed by the Office of the Registrar, are eligible to participate in Commencement.  Students that completed all degree requirements and graduated after fall semester (“December graduates”) are eligible to walk in the May Commencement ceremony.  All student participants in Commencement are required to utilize caps, gowns, and hoods purchased from Herff-Jones in the same year as the Commencement ceremony.

Caps and Gowns

Graduates and faculty will take part in a processional and recessional dressed in academic regalia. The Conservatory supplements the cost of caps, gowns and hoods for Commencement.  Graduating students will receive an email in February with information on how to purchase their caps, gowns, and hoods online from Herff-Jones. The order must be placed online no later than Friday, April 5, 2013.  All caps, gowns, and hoods will be shipped directly to the Conservatory and distributed by the Office of Student Life in order to save graduating students the cost of shipping.

Announcements and Diploma Frames

Herff-Jones has a number of announcements, thank you cards, and diploma frames available for students and their families to purchase.

Driving Directions and Parking

Please visit the Admissions webpage for driving directions and parking.

Airport and Hotel Information

Please visit the Admissions webpage for airport and hotel information.