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Announcements/Invitations: |
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Many students choose to order personalized announcements to send to
their families and friends. To be certain you are getting USF
approved announcements, contact
Herff Jones.
PLEASE NOTE:
The University cannot completely control solicitations or the quality
and accuracy of the products produced by outside vendors. In an
attempt to avoid costly mistakes, we have designated a list of
‘authorized vendors’ posted on this official USF website and recommend
that you choose one of the ‘authorized vendors’ listed.
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Application to Graduate: |
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Applications for graduation must be received in your college advising office by the fourth week of the term in which you plan on completing all degree requirements. (See your Advisor as some Colleges have additional graduation deadlines).
>>Download
the form now<< |
link to the Registrar's website
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Authorized Vendors: |
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The University cannot control solicitation or the quality of the
products producted by outside vendors. In an attempt to help you
avoid costly mistakes, we have designated a list of "authorized
vendors" and posted this on our official website. We recommend that
you choose from these vendors.
Bob Knight Photo,
the official photographer of all USF Commencement ceremonies... (Click
to visit BOB KNIGHT)
Banzai Audio
Visual Productions, the official videographer of the Tampa
Commencement ceremonies... (Click to visit BANZAI)
Herff Jones,
the authorized vendor for
graduation announcements... (Click to visit
Herff Jones)
USF Bookstore,
providing your cap, gown, hood, tam and tassel needs...
(Click to
visit the BOOKSTORE)
USF Marshall Center, providing Honor Sash Sales. (Click for more
information)
Holiday Inn Express, providing discount hotel accommodations for your
family and friends. (Click for more
information)
Wingate Inn, providing discount hotel accommodations for your
family and friends. (Click for more
information) |
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Campus Contacts: |
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Tampa -
Anne Cash
(813) 974-1816 -- acash@admin.usf.edu |
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Lakeland -
Samantha Lane
(863) 667-7017 -- slane@lakeland.usf.edu
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St. Petersburg -
Annette Hamon
(727) 553-4256 --annette@spadmin.usf.edu
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Sarasota/Manatee -
Anne
Patricia Dobson (941) 359-4268 –- adobson@sar.usf.edu
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Caps, Gowns, and Sashes: |
more information on Caps, gowns, and sashes
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Academic regalia is
required to participate in commencement.
Doctoral regalia is available for rent or purchase through the USF Bookstore for doctoral students and USF doctoral graduates who may have already completed their doctoral program and wish to invest in ceremonial regalia.
The doctoral robe is green with
black velvet detailing with gold piping and features two embroidered
university seals. This robe has been designed exclusively for the
University of South Florida and adds a prestigious element for the doctoral students during the ceremony.
The full doctoral set for purchase includes the robe, hood and tam.
The set for rental includes the robe and hood. Tams must be purchased and cannot be rented due to health considerations. Motar boards are permitted, but are not advised.
The USF doctoral regalia is required for all doctoral students who participate in Commencement.
To see a sample of this robe or to get more information on ordering or renting, contact the USF Bookstore.
View more info
Full academic regalia for Bachelors
and Masters includes:
Bachelors – cap and gown
Masters – cap, gown and hood
Education Specialist/Doctoral – cap, gown, hood
Tassels for Bachelors are worn on the right until the degree is
conferred.
Tassels for Masters, EdS and Doctoral are worn on the left.
Prices – Instructions – Sale Dates – Bookstore...
View more info
Sashes and cords are permitted for
honors students and International students. Honors sashes are
ordered through the Marshall Center Information Desk. International
sashes are ordered through International Student and Scholar
Services. No student organization sashes, cords, pins or other
attire is permitted over regalia. |
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Diplomas: |
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Diplomas are mailed approximately 4-6 weeks after all grades
have been certified by each college. For more information, contact the
Registrar’s Office at (813) 974-5559 or e-mail
blazenby@admin.usf.edu.
Diploma covers can be purchased at the Bookstore. Please call (813)
974-0595 for more information. |
link to the Registrar's website
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Fees: |
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Other than the cost of regalia, there is no fee
required to participate in any Commencement ceremony.
(Link
to Bookstore)
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Graduating with
Honors: |
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Undergraduate students with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher are identified as honor graduates. This honor distinction is noted on the diploma and in the Commencement program. Undergraduate candidates with a cumulative GPA of 4.0 are recognized at the Commencement ceremony. |
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Hoodings: |
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Students earning the highest academic
degree at a Commencement ceremony are hooded by their major
professor during that ceremony. For the Tampa campus ceremonies,
Doctoral students are hooded. For Regional Campus Ceremonies,
Masters students are hooded. Students that will be hooded carry
their hood with them into the ceremony. For the hooding, the student
faces the audience as the professor places the academic hood over
their head to their shoulders. The process is not complicated, but
your attention is requested to insure that the hooding proceeds
gracefully and professionally. To see a sample of a hooding, please
click on the following link:
Sample Hooding |
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Hotel Information: |
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The Wingate Inn Tampa North and the
Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites New Tampa are the authorized hotels
for Commencement.
Wingate Inn - Tampa North
17301 Dona Michelle Drive, I-75 at Bruce B. Downes Blvd.
(813) 971-7676
Mention the group code: "USF" to get the special rate of $99
www.wingatenewtampa.com
Holiday Inn Express Hotel Suites New Tampa
8310 Galbraith Road, off of Bruce B. Downes Blvd in New Tampa
(813) 910-7171
Mention the group code: "USF" to get the special rate of $99
www.hisuitestampa.com
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Hotline: |
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Call 813-974-9406
for up-to-date ceremony information. |
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King O’
Neal 4.0 Scholars: |
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The King O’Neal
award is given each semester by the Alumni Association in honor of
charter graduates Lucas King and Evelyn O’Neal. It is presented to
undergraduates with the highest cumulative grade point average,
4.0 during commencement ceremonies. The recipients of the King
O’Neal award also receive a certificate of accomplishment, a gold
medallion of the university seal and are individually recognized
during commencement ceremonies. |
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Mace: |
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The mace is a
ceremonial staff used for all USF commencement ceremonies and during
the installation of the university president. Today’s mace was
commissioned in 1998 by the university’s Faculty Senate, as a
ceremonial gesture used to show the right of an academic institution
to grant degrees to graduates. USF’s mace includes a gold pine cone
at its top to represent growth and continuity. Eight silver
semicircles, which support the pine cone, stand for the eight
colleges in existence at USF when the mace was commissioned. When
not in use, the mace is displayed in the foyer of the president’s
office. The original university mace is on display in the Alumni
Center. |
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Netcast: |
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Tampa
Commencement ceremonies are netcast live through USF Academic
Computing. You can test your computer in advance of the ceremony and
access the live feed on ceremony day through this weblink:
http://netcast.usf.edu/commencement |
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Photographs: |
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Each graduate who crosses the stage will have his/her
photo taken by Bob Knight PhotoMarketing, Inc. Two (2) or three (3) complimentary proofs
will be sent to each graduate along with a price guide for ordering
additional quantities if desired. Please contact Bob Knight directly
at (800) 628-4509 for all photo inquiries. |
click to go to Bob Knight PhotoMarketing, Inc.
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Programs: |
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Each graduate will receive two souvenir programs on the
day of the ceremony. The graduate names listed in the program come
from the Registrar office, based on the list of students who have
applied to graduate by the end of the fourth week of the term. Your
name may not be in the program if you have applied to graduate after
that deadline, or if you have elected total privacy on your student
record. Registration for the Commencement ceremony does not ensure
your name is printed in the program. Following the ceremony,
additional programs, if available, will be available at the Bookstore
Customer Service counter or the Visitors Information Center in the front of campus
beginning the Tuesday following the ceremony. |
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Protocol: |
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The Commencement Ceremony is a most dignified event.
Decorum and courtesy are very important for graduates and their
guests.
Graduates must be attired in full academic regalia to participate in
the ceremony (see the Cap and Gown section of this website).
Military dress uniform may be worn in lieu of academic regalia.
All graduates and members of the general audience should stand and
remove hats during the singing of the National Anthem.
No air horns, balloons, bubbles, beach balls or similar items are
allowed in the Sun Dome. The use of noisemakers may be intended to
show one person’s pride in a graduate, but it can also ruin the
chance for another family to hear the name of their graduate
announced.
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Rehearsal: |
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There is NO REHEARSAL for any USF Commencement
ceremony. |
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Tickets: |
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There are no tickets required for the
Tampa ceremony. |
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Videography: |
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The Tampa ceremonies are videographed in
their entirety by Banzai Audio Visual. VHS and digital copies are
available for purchase after Commencement.
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visit
Banzai Audio Visual
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What to expect at
the ceremony: |
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USF’s commencement
ceremony is rich in tradition.
Graduates are seated by college and stand for the platform
processional. On the platform will be the University President,
Provost, Deans, Vice Presidents, Regional Campus Executives, Faculty
representatives, University Trustees, Distinguished Guests, the
Outstanding Senior, Student Body President, Alumni Association
representative and the King O’ Neal 4.0 Scholars. The processional is
led by the Faculty Senate President, who bears the mace of the
university.
After opening remarks and honoree presentations, the conferring of
degrees begin. Students are led to the platform by ceremony
Marshals, who are faculty volunteers. It is a longstanding tradition
at USF for each student to have their name individually read and to
personally shake the President’s hand as they cross the stage.
Candidates for Doctoral degrees proceed first, followed by Education
Specialists, Master of Fine Arts, Master’s and then Bachelor’s. Degrees are conferred at
the end of the ceremony.
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What to wear: |
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Female graduates
-- Dark clothing and shoes; skin tone hose; no beach-type thongs/sandals or
shorts
Male graduates -- White shirts; dark
ties; dark trousers; no beach-type thongs/sandals or shorts
Guests -- Business casual |
more
info: caps, gowns, & sashes
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Your name at ceremony: |
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Each
participating graduate will pick
up a ceremony card the day of the ceremony. This card is what will be handed to the reader on stage,
and is the only way the reader will know who each graduate is.
Graduates who do not participate in the ceremony do not have their
names called. The name on your ceremony card will be exactly as you
registered on this website.
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