Preparing for Commencement
Graduate Information Form
All graduating students must complete a Graduate Information Form no later than March 16, 2013. Late submissions must be submitted in person at the student Service Center in the Admissions Building, and will incur a $50 late processing fee that will be attached to your Student Account.
Click here to access the form.
Commencement Checklist
Commencement Checklist and Information Brochure
Graduation Fee
The graduation fee of $100.00 covers such expenses as graduation caps, gowns, honor cords, diplomas, diploma covers, graduation audit, and Commencement ceremony and celebrations. This fee will automatically be charged to your Menlo Student Account.
Announcements
Personalized graduation announcements and accessories are available from Herff Jones. Announcements can be ordered on line at www.herffjones.com/college/menlo. Brochures regarding ordering your announcements will be included in the graduation information packets.
Generic announcements, including note cards, custom seals and thank you cards are also available in the Bookstore. For more information please call 650.543.3711 or visit http://bookstore.menlo.edu. Please note: Menlo College does not issue invitations. It is up to you to notify friends and family of this special occasion. Ordering announcements is the perfect way to do so.
Class Rings
Class rings may be ordered from the Bookstore at any time. “Ring Days” are scheduled for February 27 & March 7, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm in front of the Dining Commons. Discounts will be available if you order your class ring during the “Ring Days” event. Contact Cari Smith from Herff Jones for ring ordering information at 415.796.3413 or by e-mail at bayareagrad@gmail.com.
Caps, Gowns, and Hoods
Cap and Gown Order information – if not submitted at the February 20 and 21 information meetings, must be submitted online no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 15. If you are submitting your order after Friday, March 15, there will be a $50 late fee added to your Menlo Student Account, and you will have to go to the Menlo College Bookstore to submit your order in person. Your cap, gown and hood will be available for pick-up in the Bookstore on Monday, April 29. A tassel is included with your cap.
The website to submit your cap and gown order online is: www.herffjones.com/college/menlo.
The hoods for Menlo College are:
White Liberal Arts
Beige Management
Maroon Mass Communication
Gold Psychology
Drab/Beige Business
Caps, hoods, and tassels may be kept, but gowns should be returned immediately following the ceremony. If you are unable to return the gown immediately after the ceremony, you must return it to the Bookstore no later than Friday, May 17.
If you return the gown after May 17, a $50 late return fee will be charged to your Menlo Student Account. If you do not return the gown, you will be responsible for the $300 gown replacement cost.
Honor Cords
Honors listed in the Commencement Program and announced on Commencement Day are considered Expected Honors only as they are based on your cumulative GPA as of the end of the Fall Semester. If you are graduating with Expected Honors, honor cords will be distributed at check-in on Commencement Day.
Please note: Any honors listed in the Commencement Program and announced at Commencement are considered unofficial. Your diploma will reflect any official Academic Honors earned based on your final cumulative GPA, and may be different than Expected Honors referred to during Commencement exercises.
Honors are determined as follows:
Cum Laude 3.5000 – 3.6999
Magna Cum Laude 3.7000 – 3.8999
Summa Cum Laude 3.9000 – 4.0000
Photographs
You may take advantage of scheduling Senior portraits prior to Commencement Day. For more information you will have the opportunity to meet with the photographer during the “Ring Days” Events on February 27 and March 7 or you can visit: www.douglaspeckphotography.com. Pricing information is included in this information packet. If you are not able to meet with Doug Peck, Photographer on March 14 or 15 and want to schedule portrait sessions, he can be contacted at photodpeck@aol.com, or 650.483.9587. These portraits make a nice addition to the graduation announcements.
Arrangements have been made for group (by major), cap and gown and “graduate receiving diploma” photographs to be taken on the day of Commencement beginning at 8:15 a.m. You must first check-in at the Haynes-Prim Pavilion beginning at 8:00 a.m. before getting your photo taken. Photograph package information will be available from the photographer. You are under no obligation to purchase photographs. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Imwalle at 650.543.3852 or kimwalle@menlo.edu.
Commencement Ceremony Program
The names of all graduation candidates are published in the Commencement Ceremony Program. The Commencement Program will list your degree, major, concentration (if any), hometown, expected honors (if any) and honors society membership (if any). This information will be taken from the Commencement Information Form you submit online at the Graduation Information Meeting on either February 20 or 21.
If not submitted at the information meetings, Commencement Information Forms should be turned in to the Student Services Center no later than Friday, March 15, to guarantee accuracy of the information listed in the program. Any forms turned in after March 15, will result in a late fee of $50 charged to your Menlo Student Account, and changes cannot be made to the Commencement Ceremony Program after Friday, March 22.
You will have a chance to review your information on the Menlo College Commencement website. You will be asked to confirm the accuracy of this information, and receive a confirmation e-mail once you have completed this step. Please check all of your information carefully as it will be published in the Commencement Ceremony Program as listed.
Contact the Office of Public Relations at 650.543-3901 or pr@menlo.edu by Friday, March 22 if any changes are needed to your listing. Changes cannot be made to the Commencement Ceremony Program after March 22.
Your submission of the Commencement Information Form indicates your authorization for Menlo College to list your name and graduation information on the Commencement website.
Commencement Rehearsals
Commencement rehearsals are scheduled for Wednesday, May 8, and Thursday, May 9, on the Main Quad. We try to be respectful of this busy time for everyone; please be sure to arrive promptly at the scheduled time.
If you are planning to participate in the Commencement Ceremony, you must attend one of the following rehearsal times:
Wednesday, May 8, Evening rehearsal 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Main Quad
Thursday, May 9, Afternoon rehearsal 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Main Quad
Guests
You may invite as many guests as you wish to the Commencement Ceremony. However, please be aware that this is an outdoor ceremony. The day may be warm (seating in the shade is limited) or it may rain. The ceremony will be held outdoors, rain or shine!
Please note: Menlo College does not issue invitations. It is up to you to notify friends and family of this special occasion.
Special Accommodations
We strive to accommodate participants or guests with special needs (such as a hearing impairment or physical disability). Please contact Linda Teutschel in the Office of the President at 650.543.3744 or linda.teutschel@menlo.edu by Friday, April 26, to allow us ample notice to make arrangements.
Changing Your Mailing Address
To ensure that you continue to receive vital pieces of mail, a change of address form will be made available online, and you will have a chance to submit the form at the February 20 or 21 graduation meetings. Your mail will be forwarded up to 2 months; however magazines, newspapers, and junk mail will not be forwarded.
It is up to you to let important mail sources, such as your bank, know that your address has changed, and to officially change your mailing address with the USPS.
Campus Mailbox Keys
Graduating seniors must return their campus mailbox keys. All students must return their key to the Campus Post Office by Friday, May 10. If you do not return your key, a $50.00 replacement fee will be charged to your Menlo Student Account. Make sure to check your mailbox before you turn in your key, in order to pick up any mail you may have.
Diplomas
Menlo College diplomas will list your name, major, month and year of graduation, and any official Academic Honors. The diploma will not list your concentration. The name that will be printed on your diploma will be taken from your graduation petition.
Do not forget to visit the Menlo College Commencement page to confirm accuracy of your name, degree, major, concentration (if any), hometown, expected honors (if any) and honors society membership (if any) as it will be published in the Commencement Ceremony Program. Contact the Office of Public Relations at 650.543.3901 or pr@menlo.edu if any changes are needed to your listing by Friday, March 15. Changes cannot be made to the Commencement Ceremony Program after Friday, March 22.
Your submission of the Commencement Information Form indicates your authorization for Menlo College to list your name and graduation information on the Commencement website.
Your diploma will be sent via certified mail to the address provided on your graduation petition. If you specified that you will pick-up your diploma, you will receive a notice at the address provided on your graduation petition or a phone call when you diploma is available for pick-up. Your diploma will not be released if you have not returned your graduation gown to the bookstore, or if you have any outstanding financial obligations to Menlo College. If you have any questions regarding your diploma, please contact Rachel Tipton in the Office of Academic Advising at 650.543.3917 or rtipton@menlo.edu.
December and May Graduates
If you are cleared by the Business Office and have met all degree requirements, you will receive your diploma by certified mail (unless you are picking up your diploma) approximately twelve to fourteen weeks after Commencement. Your graduation gown must have been returned to the Bookstore before your diploma can be released.
August Graduates
If you are completing additional units during the summer at another institution, an official transcript must be received by the Office of Academic Advising by Friday, September 6, 2013. You cannot owe any money to the College and your graduation gown must have been returned to the Bookstore before your diploma can be released.