Photos provided by Chappell Studios

Spring 2008

Who May Participate in Commencement? Academic & Administrative Responsibilities Dates & Deadlines 2008 Commencement Form
	David E. Jones, Provost

Porter College Commencement
Saturday, June 14, 2008
9:30AM Porter College Quadrangle

The commencement ceremony at Porter is one of the finest of Porter traditions. It is truly a Porter event: a community celebration of you and your time here. Faculty and graduates enter and are seated on the Quad to a fanfare. The ceremony has traditionally included a keynote speaker, faculty and student speakers, awarding of College recognition awards, and of course, the acceptance of your “diploma.” (For information about your OFFICIAL diploma see below.) The ceremony is followed by a reception on the meadow facing the ocean. Seating at the ceremony is limited, and early arrival of your guests is recommended.

Porter College wishes to make its programs and events accessible. If you or your guests have special needs, or to reserve Handicapped Parking at the College, please contact Porter Activities at (831) 459-2857 by May 16.

Who May Participate?

Any Porter College student who is a senior may participate in the Commencement ceremony. Whether you officially graduate Winter, Spring, Summer, or Fall, or if you still have to complete your thesis or orals, or if you just didn’t get your “Announcement of Candidacy” filed, you may still participate in the event. However, only those students who have completed all paperwork and are recognized by the Registrar’s Office as having done so will find their names automatically in the program. Any students who have filed NRI (non-release of information) cannot have their names printed in the program. Participants will be listed with the quarter they intend to graduate.

Non-Porter students wishing to walk with Porter: there is a fee of $75 to participate in Porter ceremony. This covers the costs of guest seating, reception following the ceremony, and Senior Dinner.

Caps and Gowns are not required, but most students choose to wear cap & gown. Commencement attire and Commencement announcements will be available through Bay Tree Bookstore beginning in early April. Check your college mailbox for information.

Your Academic & Administrative Responsibilities

The information in this section concerns OFFICIALLY graduating seniors from UCSC. By completing the following steps you will receive that long awaited diploma in the mail. It will arrive a few months after the quarter for which you announced your candidacy. It does not affect your participation in the Commencement ceremony.

Check Your Degree Completion Requirements

Check in with your department advisor to make sure you have fulfilled your major requirements. Be sure the board has officially approved any thesis work, field study credit, or advanced standing transfer credit you may wish to apply to your major. If you are completing an individual major, contact the chairperson of your committee to make sure that your major requirements will be completed by your announced graduation date. Check your academic record to insure that it reflects the appropriate major. If not, submit a change of major petition to the Registrar's Office as soon as possible.

Check with your Student Portal (MyUCSC) to make sure you have satisfied all degree requirements outside of your major (GE's completed, Entry-Level Writing, American History and Institutions requirements satisfied, completion of 180 credits, no more than 25% of your credits at UCSC taken for P/NP, minimum of 2.0 GPA, and 35 of last 45 credits taken at UCSC). If you have not satisfied all degree requirements, you may need to schedule your candidacy for a later quarter. Your may still participate in ceremonies as long as you complete all degree requirements by the end of fall 2008.

Note: Bachelor Degree Requirements can be found at http://reg.ucsc.edu/Navigator

* If you have any difficulties with the information on the Student Portal, please go to the main Porter College Office (or call 831-459-2273) to make arrangements to meet with a Porter Academic Advisor.

Declare your Graduation intentions to UCSC. You must apply for graduation to receive a diploma.

Apply for graduation online through the Student Portal (MyUCSC) in the quarter you are completing your graduation requirements by the deadline date (refer to Dates and Deadlines below for quarterly deadlines to apply for graduation).

• We are pleased to announce that undergraduates are no longer required to apply to graduate in person at the Office of the Registrar. If you are currently enrolled and you have not previously applied, you may apply online via MyUCSC.

• If you have applied to graduate in a previous term or cannot access the Apply to Graduate link via MyUCSC, please refer to the information and application form online at: http://reg.ucsc.edu/graduation_announcerequest.htm

The Office of the Registrar checks to see that all University, Campus, and major requirements are met before certifying graduation. Your board of studies submits a list of course requirements that you have taken to fulfill the major and a statement about whether you have passed the senior thesis, comprehensive, exam, or other specified requirements. If deficiencies are found in a preliminary check, you will be notified of the specific requirements you have not met. It is your responsibility to fulfill these prior to graduation. If you have an incomplete in a course that is required you will not be able to receive your diploma until you have made it up. You will also need to re-file the "Announcement of Candidacy" form at the Office of the Registrar.

Commencement Registration

Registration for Commencement is now open for the 2008 Porter College Commencement.

Dates & Deadlines

File For Candidacy (Registrar) Deadlines: Fall: October 26, 2007; Winter: February 2, 2008; Spring: April 25, 2008; Summer: July 31, 2008.

Let the College Know:2008 Commencement form is now available. Any questions? Call 459-2857 or e-mail porter_activities@ucsc.edu.

Porter Commencement Committee: Help plan and implement your graduation program and social events surrounding it! Any Porter senior may participate. Dates for the Porter Commencement Committee to be determined.

Commencement Speeches: Would you like to speak at graduation?
Submit an outline or draft of a 3-5 minute speech or reading that will appeal to a general audience, or a specific segments of that audience, that includes families, students, grads, and faculty. A student/staff/faculty committee will be selecting from outline submissions. Deadline to apply at Porter Activities (D-143) is to be determined. You will be asked to "audition" following the selection of finalists. If you have questions or would like to serve on the selection committee call Porter Activities at 459-2857.

Order Cap & Gown/ Formal Announcements: if you plan to use them (Bay Tree Bookstore) Reservations start in April. Watch your COLLEGE MAILBOX for information!

Graduation Pictures: Graduates, pre-register your email along with friends and family email addresses and Graduation Images will contact them just as soon as your photos are available for online viewing and ordering. The URL is http://www.gradimages.com/Register.cfm.