University of Delaware Commencement Winter 2010
January 9, 2010
The Winter Commencement ceremony will take place on Saturday, January 9, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bob Carpenter Center and will last approximately two hours. The doors will open at 9 a.m. To allow ample time for parking and seating, please plan to arrive early; degree candidates and guests should plan to arrive at the Bob Carpenter Center no later than 9:30 a.m. Remember that the traffic situation associated with a ceremony of this size will be congested.
Immediately following the Commencement ceremony, a reception will be held for graduates and guests on the concourse of the Bob Carpenter Center. We encourage graduates to use this opportunity for photographs with fellow graduates, family and friends. Light refreshments will be served.
Questions related to degree completion, requirements, and graduation eligibility should be directed to the appropriate academic department.
Severe Weather Conditions
It is anticipated that the Commencement ceremony will be held regardless of weather conditions. However, in the event of severe weather conditions on January 9, listen for announcements on regional radio stations, call 302-831-2000, or visit www.udel.edu to confirm the status of the ceremony. Please refer to the UDel weather-related closings page for a full list of severe weather announcement channels.
Tickets
All guests must have tickets to attend the Winter Commencement Ceremony. However, degree candidates wearing academic regalia are not required to have a ticket. Guest seating at the Bob Carpenter Center is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each degree candidate is entitled to a maximum of eight (8) guest tickets. Degree candidates may pick up guest tickets from the Student Services Building located on Lovett Avenue just half a block from the intersection with Academy Street. Tickets will be distributed from Monday, November 30 through Friday, December 4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Should degree candidates need additional tickets, there will be a waiting list maintained at the Student Services Building. Those on the waiting list will be accommodated on a space-available basis. Any remaining tickets will be available for pick-up from the Student Services Building from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following dates: December 7 – 11; December 14 – 18; and January 4 – 8.
Lodging
For information regarding lodging in the area, please refer to the UDel Lodging page.
Graduate Students
Doctoral and Master's degree candidates who are not on campus may contact the Office of Graduate Studies at 302-831-8484 to request that tickets be mailed to them.
Contact the Office of Graduate Studies for information on the Hooding Ceremony, to be held on Friday, January 8, 2010.
Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly
The Bob Carpenter Center is fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Public Safety officers will be available outside the Bob Carpenter Center to direct guests who need disabled parking. Special seating areas for persons with disabilities will be available. In addition, a sign language interpreter for persons with hearing impairments will sign the ceremony from a location adjacent to the stage and seating will be available next to this location. Arrangements for the disabled seating areas do not need to be made in advance. Guests who need access to these seating areas should notify ushers upon arrival at the Bob Carpenter Center. Please note that the seating areas for persons with disabilities are reserved for the person in need of disabled seating accompanied by one guest only. The University of Delaware does not provide wheelchair rentals or availability.
Photographs
Chappell Studios (GradTrak), a professional photographic service, has been contracted by the University to take individual photos of degree candidates when they are called to the platform to receive individual recognition.
Guests are welcome to take candid photographs throughout the Commencement ceremony from the guest seating areas only. There will be no access near the stage for purposes of taking photographs during the ceremony.
Academic Regalia
Degree candidates planning to attend the ceremony should come to the University Bookstore in the Perkins Student Center December 7 - 9, 2009, to purchase their caps and gowns. Caps and gowns are retained by the candidates following the ceremonies.
The University Bookstore is the only approved vendor for University of Delaware Commencement items, including official and required University regalia (caps, gowns and hoods). Moreover, by using the University Bookstore exclusively, the University can determine which graduates intend to participate in Commencement exercises. Finally, this exclusivity ensures that the regalia worn at graduation will be uniform. Thus, regalia to be worn at graduation must be purchased only at the University Bookstore in the Perkins Student Center. If you have any questions, please contact them at 302-831-2637.
The Office of the Vice President and University Secretary is responsible for commencement. Should you have questions that cannot be answered by the above information, please contact us directly at 302-831-2113 or email at commencement@udel.edu.
When the Winter Commencement brochure becomes available, it will be posted on this website in its entirety. Commencement brochures will be mailed to graduating students at their permanent address and should be received in November. Please refer to this brochure for further information.
