The Ceremony

In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be moved inside the Houston Field House. Please note that the campus video sites will not be open unless the ceremony is moved inside.

Closed-circuit television viewing will be available at the following sites:

• Alumni Sports & Recreation Center
• Darrin Communications Center 308
• Darrin Communications Center 318
• Darrin Communications Center 324
• Darrin Communications Center 330
• Darrin Communications Center 337
• Low Center for Industrial Innovation 4034
• Low Center for Industrial Innovation 4050
• Low Center for Industrial Innovation 4040
• Mueller Center Lobby (Video Wall)
• West Hall Auditorium

Information about a delay in the start time of the ceremony will be announced on WRPI (91.5 FM).

Tickets for the Ceremony

Tickets for the Ceremony will be distributed at Academy Hall Auditorium during Status Check on Thursday, May 1, from 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Each graduate will receive seven tickets to the Harkness Field. In inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Houston Field House. Three of the seven tickets will allow guests into the Field House. The remaining four tickets may be used at closed-circuit television viewing locations. 

Order of Exercises

• Degree Candidate Procession (starts precisely at 9:30 a.m.)
• Academic Procession
• Presentation of Colors
• National Anthem
• Presentation of the Class of 2008
• Invocation
• Greetings
• Conferring of Honorary Degrees
• Address to Candidates
• Presentation of Faculty Awards
• Recognition of Emeriti
• Conferring of Doctoral Degrees
• Announcement of Institute Honors
• Conferring of Master’s Degrees
• Presentation of the Class Banner
• Rensselaer Alumni Association Welcome
• Conferring of Baccalaureate Degrees
• Final Remarks
• Alma Mater
• Benediction
• Recession

Ceremonial Behavior and Protocol

Commencement is a special event for all involved. Please show respect for everyone who has come to share the experience.

• Show respect for your fellow graduates by remaining in your seat until the Recession.
  
  
• Turn off cellular phones and pagers on the Harkness Field, or in the Houston Field House.
  
  
• Family members may use the designated photo areas at stage right and stage left. No photographs will be allowed at center stage. Out of consideration for others, please enter this area, take your picture, and return to your seat as quickly as possible. (Professional photography and video services will also be available.)
  
  
• Guests attending Rensselaer’s 2008 Commencement are advised that bags, backpacks, luggage, coolers, parcels, briefcases, and like articles will be strictly prohibited from the Harkness Field. Guests may be subject to search of their person and/or possessions. Guests with prohibited articles will be requested to return them to their vehicle.

Alcoholic beverages are not allowed in the ceremony and will be confiscated. Smoking is prohibited on the Harkness Field and in the Houston Field House.

Regalia Policy

Rensselaer abides by the rules of the Intercollegiate Bureau of Academic Costume; however, members of nationally recognized academic Honor Societies may display approved insignias on the standard academic regalia.

All insignias must be pre-approved for display through the office of the vice Provost and Dean for Undergraduate Education. Request letters for approval of insignia should include the name, address, and telephone number of the National Honor Society; a description of the insignia including its size, and where it will be worn on the standard Rensselaer academic regalia.

Questions? Please contact us at commencement@rpi.edu.