Class of 2008
Accommodations
If you have not done so, please think about booking accommodations as soon as possible.
Caps and Gowns
All graduating seniors are required to complete a brief online survey for the Career Center BEFORE picking up their cap and gown. Each year, the Career Center reports to the University community the employment and graduation rates of our newest graduates.
Please log on to www.surveymonkey.com/rwuclassof2008survey to complete this quick survey. The career Center will provide lists of students who have completed the survey to the bookstore and only students who are on that list will be able to pick up their cap and gown. Caps and gowns will be provided free of charge through the bookstore during the bookstore’s Senior Event Days which will be held on March 25, 2008 through March 27, 2008.
Career Center
The Career Center is available to assist students and alumni to reach their career and educational goals. If you find yourself without a definite start to the next phase of your life, contact The Career Center at (401) 254-3224. They can provide direction, guidance, advice and information to point you toward career and/or graduate school paths. They are available 12 months of the year.
The Ceremony
The Commencement Ceremony begins at 10:00am on Saturday, May 17, 2008 under the tent on the main athletic field, rain or shine. The ceremony last approximately two and a half hours.
Events for Seniors
The Senior Sendoff Luau is one week until graduation celebration. The last senior night of the year will be held at Gillarys Tavern on May 10. Busses will begin to leave from North Lot behind the Campus Recreation Center at 9:00pm and run continually. Each student is required to bring a State ID and RWU ID.
The Parent Dinner Dance will take place on Friday, May 16th at 6:00pm at the Venus de Milo Restaurant in Swansea, Massachusetts (Route 6). The deadline to RSVP is May 5th and Student Programs and Leadership (401) 254-3088 are handling deposits and confirmations. The Parent Dinner Dance starts at 6:00pm with cocktails. The dinner will be served at 7:00pm and the dance will continue until 10:00pm.
The Commencement Ball will take place on May 2 from 7:00 pm-12:00am at the Providence Convention Center. Tickets will be available at the ticket booth located in the Campus Recreation Center beginning in early April.
Graduation List
In January, students need to apply and be authorized by the Registrar’s Office to appear on the graduation list. This requires that all students receive financial clearance from the Bursar’s Office and confirmation of graduation status from the Registrar’s Office. Students whose name does not appear on the list cannot participate in the ceremony under any circumstances. No exceptions will be made. To see if your name appears on the graduation list, go to depository/registrar/tentative_graduation_list.pdf. Students in the School of Continuing Studies please call Pam Downey at (401) 254-4805 to check your graduation status. Should you have any questions regarding your status in either area, please contact Anabela in the Registrar’s Office at (401) 254-3510.
Guests
Guests must be seated no later than 9:30am as that is the time the procession begins. While we encourage guests to arrive early, no one is allowed to take their seat before 8:00am and no one may reserve seats.
Invitations
Souvenir guest invitations (5 invitations per graduate) are provided by the University for graduates who would like to send their guests a formal invitation. These invitations will be available for pick up beginning March 3, 2008. Day division students and Continuing Studies students may pick up their invitations in the Special Events & Conferences Office in the Campus Recreation Center during the hours of 8:00am- 5:00pm, Monday-Friday. For those Continuing Studies students who will not be able to pick up their invitations in Bristol, please call 401-254-3067 so other arrangements can be made.
Mailing Addresses
All seniors should be sure that the Registrar’s Office (401) 254-3033 has the most updated mailing address on record so that important information prior to Commencement will be able to get to you. There is a form on the Registrar’s website to make these changes.
Move out of Residence Halls
All graduates must move out of their residence hall room by 7:00pm on the day of Commencement, Saturday, May 17th. Please plan accordingly.
News Releases
At Commencement rehearsal you will receive a form regarding a news release about your graduation. You need only to fill in the blanks with your own information and send it off to any newspaper or other news outlet you like. To send it to more than one place, just photocopy the form as often as you wish. The Office of Public Affairs will not be sending notices, so if you want your news to be included in the local papers, you must complete this form.
Parking & Accommodations for Graduates & Guests with Disabilities
Due to the large number of graduates and guests participating in the ceremony, parking on campus will be difficult. Graduates living on campus must park in Lot J only. Guests and graduates arriving from off campus must enter through the North Gate and park in the North Parking Lots. No parking will be allowed in the lots surrounding the Campus Recreation Center. Campus shuttles will run throughout the day to transport graduates and their guests to and from the ceremony and receptions.
Graduates or guests with special needs should contact Kate Tobin in the Public Safety Office at least five business days prior to the ceremony to make arrangements for handicap parking and other special needs. She can be reached through email at ctobin@rwu.edu or by phone at (401) 254-3703. Please be sure to specify your needs and including name of the graduate. For parking requests, please identify the driver of the vehicle, as well as vehicle’s license plate number and state.
Pets
University policy prohibits bringing pets on campus grounds and in buildings unless it is a service animal.
Photographer Information
A photographer from Chappell Studio will be at ceremony to take both a candid photograph and a staged photo of graduates. You will receive free proofs of these photos in the mail within 5 to 7 days following the ceremony. You may place orders or obtain answers to questions at chappell.com or 1-641-472-6892. Since professional photographs will be available, family members and guests are encouraged to remain in their seats, relax, and enjoy the ceremony.
Pictures
Interested in immortalizing your college years at Commencement? Submit a disk with photos to the Department of Special Events and Conferences, Recreation Center, Suite 215A, or e-mail to: hdagwan@rwu.edu. All photos must be sumbitted by April 15, 2008.
Questions
Please feel free to contact the Office of Special Events & Conferences at (401) 254-3067 or the Continuing Education Office at (401) 276-4846 if you have any questions or need more information. Please remember, questions regarding your status as a potential graduate should be directed to the Registrar’s Office at (401) 254-3510.
Receptions
Informal reception for each respective school follows the ceremony and we encourage graduates and their guests to attend these gatherings. The locations for these receptions will be listed in the commencement program you will receive at the ceremony.
Rehearsal and Senior Last Bash BBQ
There will be a rehearsal on Thursday, May 15, 2008 at 12:15pm in the Campus Recreation Center Fieldhouse. All graduates must attend this rehearsal as instructions regarding the ceremony will be given at that time. After rehearsal, enjoy Senior Last Bash BBQ at Colt State Park! There will be free food, prizes and giveaways. Free to all RWU seniors!
Senior Class Speaker & National Anthem Selection
Applications for both of these honors will be available beginning February 25, 2008 in the Special Events & Conferences Office in the Campus Recreation Center as well as in the Office of Student Life in the Center for Student Development. Requirements, auditioning information, and the selection process for both will be included with the applications. All undergraduates who have been cleared for graduation are eligible to apply.
Simulcast of Ceremony
The ceremony will be simulcast in the Gymnasium for additional guests.
Tickets
Each graduate will receive 5 reserved tickets under the tent. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. Day division students and Continuing Studies students may pick up their tickets with an ID in the Special Events & Conferences Office in the Campus Recreation Center during the hours of 8:00am- 5:00pm, Monday-Friday beginning March 3, 2008 through April 25, 2008. For those Continuing Studies students who will not be able to pick up their invitations in Bristol, please call 401-254-3067 so other arrangements can be made. Graduates may invite as many guests as they would like, but must realize that seating under the tent is limited to 5 tickets per graduate.
Videographer Information
The University is proud to offer each graduate a free DVD copy of the ceremony which will be sent to your home address.
Yearbook Information
You may buy yearbooks at the Department of Student Programs and Leadership for $45.00 in cash or check made payable to Roger Williams University, or by credit card online through www.shopjostens.com. Senior portraits will be taken on campus November 27-November 30th. Seniors can schedule a time at www.ouryear.com (School ID: 273). There will be a $10 sitting fee. This will be the last time portraits are available to be taken on campus. Students can submit their own headshot in lieu of having a portrait taken. Those photos can be submitted to the Yearbook Office via the Department of Student Programs and Leadership in the Campus Recreation Center. Any other questions can be directed to the Department of Student Programs and Leadership at (401) 254-3088.