Instructions for Candidates Participating in Commencement
June 11, 2010

The following instructions apply to all candidates participating in the 2010 Caltech Commencement exercises.

Please note that you must notify the Registrar’s Office that you are participating (e-mail ghb@caltech.edu or phone 626-395-6355) no later than 4:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 9. If we don’t hear from you, you will be dropped from the marching list.

Dress

Candidates for the B.S., M.S., Engineer’s, and Ph.D. degrees may purchase their caps and gowns at the Caltech Bookstore starting Monday, May 17, through Thursday, June 10, at 6 p.m.

Academic garb looks best when worn over dark shoes and dark lower garments. The collar of a white shirt or blouse nicely complements the academic robe. Tassels are worn on the left at all times.

Processional

It is very important that each candidate for a degree reach his/her specified line formation site, in cap and gown, no later than 9:00 a.m. on June 11. The Commencement exercises will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. and latecomers may not be included in the processional.  Detailed instructions on your participation in the ceremony will be distributed in the Marshaling areas and you will be asked to sign in.

The staff of the Public Events and Commencement offices will coordinate the assembling of the academic procession. Candidates will form in a line at each of these three locations:

• B.S. degrees: along the covered walk south of Parsons-Gates
• M.S. and Engineer’s degrees: along the covered walk at the south end of the bridge across the Millikan Library reflecting pool
• Ph.D. degrees: along the covered walk north of East Bridge, behind the M.S. and Engineer’s candidates

The marching order will be:

(1) Candidates for the B.S. degree
(2) Candidates for the M.S. degree
(3) Candidates for the Engineer’s degree
(4) Candidates for the Ph.D. degree
(5) Faculty
(6) Trustees and Speakers

Candidates for degrees will follow the Marshal of their respective group to their seats on the Beckman Mall. Candidates are to remain standing until Mr. Kent Kresa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees asks the audience to be seated at the beginning of the ceremony.

End of Ceremony

Graduates should remain standing after the Alma Mater and during the Recessional march of the Faculty, Trustees, and Speakers—until the Recessional music stops. There is no formal Recessional for graduates.

Photographs

Video and audio tape recordings of the entire Commencement Ceremony will be available, along with still photographs of graduates. In order to streamline the photograph-ordering process, graduates are asked to voluntarily provide their name and mailing address to GradTrak®/Chappell Studio on a card that will be supplied in the formation area. Doing this will decrease substantially the time between the ceremony and when you receive your proof. Please note that if you do not wish to do this, you will still receive your proof—just not as quickly.