39th Commencement at UMass

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Commencement preparation information

Certification

In order to graduate, you must be CERTIFIED by the Registrar's Office as having completed all of the necessary requirements for the awarding of the MD degree, including any outstanding administrative responsibilities. Certification for the graduating Class of 2012 will be held Tuesday, May 29, through Thursday, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to noon in the Registrar's Office (Room S1-844). The certification process takes approximately 20 minutes. No student who has outstanding fees or fines (i.e., tuition, loans, library books, parking fees or tickets) may graduate.
Permission of the Associate Dean for Student Affairs is required for early certification for graduation. Students are responsible for completing all certification requirements and obtaining signatures. Students with early certification are still subject to university policies and procedures regarding graduation (e.g., diplomas may be held for non-payment of fines incurred after completing early certification).
If you are not certified by Friday, June 1, you will NOT receive a diploma at Commencement. If you need further information, please contact the Registrar’s office at: 508-856-2267 or registrar@umassmed.edu.

Financial Aid exit interviews

All students with a Learning Contract or any student loan debt are required to attend an exit interview with staff in the Financial Aid Office. An e-mail will be sent out from the Financial Aid Office listing dates and times. Please make certain to schedule and attend yours.

Lockers

Please remember to clean out your locker by May 25. Anything left in the locker will be "recycled."

Invitations and tickets

Invitations and seating tickets will be available in the Student Affairs Office early in April. We are pleased to be able to give each student 10 invitations and tickets to distribute to family and friends. If you do not plan to use all your tickets, please return extra invitations and tickets to Kathy Alvarez in the Office of Student Affairs as soon as possible, but no later than May 18, in order that we may redistribute them as needed. Additional invitations and tickets may be obtained from Kathy Alvarez if you have more guests who would like to attend.
Reserved seating for handicapped guests and three companions will be held until 11:45 a.m., at which time the seats will be released for open seating. Please make a request for such accommodations in advance: contact Judy Holewa in the School of Medicine Office of Student Affairs at 508-856-1829 or Judy.Holewa@umassmed.edu to arrange for exchanging four standard admission tickets for four reserved seating tickets for handicapped guests and their companions.

Regalia

University Cap & Gown has been selected to provide your graduation regalia. To rent your tam and gown, please complete this form and submit it with a personal check or money order in the amount of $51.00 (made out to University Cap & Gown) to the Office of Student Affairs as soon as possible, so your order may be processed in a timely manner. There will be a $10.00 late charge added to all orders placed after May 25. If you do not know what size tam to order, a measuring tape is available from Kathy Alvarez in the Student Affairs Office.
Caps and gowns must be returned in the original bag, clearly marked with your name, to the Student Affairs Office no later than Monday, June 4. The Student Affairs alcove area will be open on Sunday afternoon following Commencement, should you wish to return your regalia at that time. The hood that will be provided at the ceremony is yours to keep.

Alumni breakfast

The Alumni Association is pleased to honor you at their Annual Alumni Breakfast on Friday, June 1, at 9 a.m. Outstanding Medical Educator and student awards will be presented at this event.

Photos and video

Your class picture will be taken at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 1, at the Lazare Research Building alcove area. You must wear your cap and gown for the picture.

An individual photograph will also be taken of you as you receive your hood during the ceremony. If you wish to purchase a photo, you may order directly from the photographer using this form.
A video recording of the entire Commencement ceremony will be available. If you wish to purchase a copy of the full-length DVD, please complete this form.

Hometown publicity

If you wish to place a graduation announcement in your hometown newspaper, a suggested format is provided here (Word doc). Amend it to convey all the appropriate personal information.