WGU WASHINGTON 2015 COMMENCEMENT
XFINITY ARENA
2000 HEWITT AVENUE #200, EVERETT, WASHINGTON 98201 (425) 322-2600
MAY 2, 2015
10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
CEREMONY GUIDEBOOK
#wguwa15
Ceremony Protocol
Information for Graduates
Congratulations!
After many sacrifices and a great deal of hard work, you’ve achieved the dream of earning your
degree. We’re looking forward to celebrating with you in WGU Washington’s fourth annual
commencement ceremony. This is a day you will be sure to remember with joy and pride.
In order that the commencement celebration goes off without a hitch and that you know what is
expected, we encourage you to read this guide completely and carefully so that you may be
prepared for the day ahead. There are also important facts that we ask you to communicate to
your guests before the event, especially seating and protocols.
Academic Attire for Graduates
Please do not forget to bring your regalia with you. This includes gown, cap and tassel for
all graduates and a degree-specific hood for master’s graduates. (You may want to watch this
video about the proper way to wear the cap and gown. Unlike shown in the video, do NOT iron
your gown but you may steam it to remove any wrinkles.)
If you have not yet ordered your regalia, please do so as soon as possible by visiting the Oak
Hall website. The initial deadline for ordering was April 19. You may still order regalia until
Thursday, April 23. A $36.00 expedited shipping fee will apply.
If you are affiliated with an honor society, you may wear society pins or honor cords. If you are a
master’s graduate, bring your hood but do not wear it. You will carry it to the stage for hooding.
After you are hooded, you may want to position your hood more comfortably after taking your
seat. Most hoods have a cord to slip around a shirt button to keep it in place or you may attach it
with a safety pin to your top.
We strongly encourage you to wear comfortable, yet professional, business attire beneath your
gown rather than casual clothing. You might be seated over an ice rink and could feel a slight
chill. Close toed shoes are recommended.
Orientation Sessions
In order to ensure that the day’s events flow smoothly, we will be hosting orientation sessions to
review the commencement ceremony. Instructions for joining the sessions will be emailed to all
registered graduates.
Get Social
Make this year’s Commencement extra special by sharing your experience. Tag your social
posts from Commencement week with #wguwa15. You will see your messages and photos on
a social feed along with comments from fellow graduates and guests all week leading to
commencement.
Don’t forget to download your social apps to your smartphone prior to commencement and
encourage your guests to do the same. Be sure to silence your phone before the ceremony but
keep it with you. Check out all the commencement posts on our Tagboard album.
/WGU Washington
@WGUWashington
@WGUWashington
Webcast
If your friends and family are unable to join you for this special occasion, WGU Washington is
proud to bring your commencement ceremony to THEM! We plan to broadcast the event live on
the internet. The webcast will be free and accessible on the WGU Washington commencement
homepage: http://washington.wgu.edu/commencement.
Page 1
Ceremony Protocol
Information for Guests
Guest Seating and Protocol
The commencement ceremony will be held at XFINITY Arena, 2000 Hewitt Avenue #200,
Everett, WA 98201. We ask you to review this information and communicate it to your guests so
we have a smooth and enjoyable ceremony for everyone.
The processional will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. Doors will open to guests at 9:15 a.m. (and
not before). Please ask your guests to arrive between 9:15 and 9:45 a.m. Guests should plan
to be seated no later than 9:50 a.m.
We ask that you remind your guests to bring their cell phones but silence them and remain in
their seats during the ceremony so that others may have an unobstructed view. We ask that
guests do not stand in aisles to take photos. WGU Washington has hired a professional
photographer who will photograph each graduate as they receive their hood and diploma cover
and these shots will be available for purchase online. Family photos may be taken after the
ceremony.
Babies and Young Children
We know that many graduates want young family members to be a part of this special event.
For your child’s comfort and as a courtesy to graduates, we encourage you to bring a favorite
toy to keep young ones quietly entertained over several hours. Caretakers are kindly
encouraged to bring restless young children or crying babies to the arena’s concourse level to
avoid disrupting the ceremony. The ceremony will be broadcast to monitors on the concourse so
that your guests may continue to watch. Babies and children are not allowed on stage and may
not sit with graduates.
Special Needs Accommodations
Guests requiring special seating for mobility and hearing impairment will be accommodated
before and during the ceremony. ASL services will be provided during the ceremony. XFINITY
Arena ushers will be present as guests enter the venue and may be called on to assist with any
special needs.
Balloons
XFINITY Arena has a strict prohibition against balloons. Guests bringing balloons will be
required to leave them outside the building.
Flowers
Flowers are permitted in the arena, but please do not bring vases and water. Bouquets will be
available for purchase in XFINITY Arena near the main entrance.
Page 2
Commencement Schedule for Graduates
May 2, 2015
8:00 a.m. Graduate Registration – XFINITY Arena
Please arrive already dressed in your cap and gown. Report to the graduate registration table
where you will pick up your name card containing your name, degree, and seating assignment.
For most graduates, this will be a range of rows, such as A3-A5 or B12-B15. Your final row and
seat will be determined once all grads have registered and have found their seats (further details
below). Hold on to this card as you will hand it to the reader who will announce your name and
degree during the ceremony.
You will also receive a preprinted barcode card to provide our photographer so they may
correctly identify each graduate.
If there is a note on your card that indicates, “Please see reader,” you will be directed to the
reader near the registration table who will add pronunciation notes to your card to assist them in
reading your name correctly.
If you are a military graduate, please proceed to the table near the registration table marked,
“Military” to sign in and receive an additional card to hand to the reader for the military coin
presentation. Hold on to this card.
Note: If you are active duty military or a veteran and you have not yet let us know, please do so
now so that you can take part in our special military coin ceremony.
Once you have completed registration, proceed to the photography station to have your
individual photo taken by Grad Images. Hand them your preprinted barcode card at this time.
After your photo, please note on your card if you are in Line A or Line B. Proceed to the seating
area and locate your seating range in section A or B. You will be directed to the next available
seat within the range of rows indicated on your card. Ushers will be on hand to guide you to the
appropriate rows and make adjustments, as needed.
Once you are seated, you will receive additional instructions for the ceremony and will be
provided a pen to note your final assigned row. Remember, too, who is sitting next to you as this
will be your seat during the ceremony.
After receiving final instructions, graduates will be led from the seating area to the marshalling
area, starting with the back rows and proceeding to the front in order to maintain the appropriate
order. Please remain in line between the people sitting next to you until all graduates have exited
the seating area and are lined up appropriately. Ushers will be on hand to guide this process and
will let you know when you may leave the line for a break. It is important to remember your row
and neighbors as this is the position you will take for the processional.
Note: Graduates will not be provided with breakfast, so please be sure to eat and get your coffee
before you arrive! We will have water and granola bars on hand.
9:15 a.m. Break
You may leave the line at this point for one last “biologic break” but stay in the area for the lineup
that will start promptly at 9:30 a.m.
9:30 a.m. Graduate Lineup
After the break, students will line up for the processional.
9:55 a.m. Graduates and stage party proceed to the auditorium entrances
Graduates, faculty, and the stage party begin moving toward the arena floor in order to be ready
to begin entering at 10:00 a.m.
Page 3
Commencement Schedule for Graduates (continued)
10:00 a.m. Processional March
Participants will be lined up for the processional in the hallways outside of two entrances to the
stage area. Once cued, the stage party will lead the way to the center aisle, where the two lines
will meet, and walk in pairs down the center aisle. Mentors will follow the stage party, and then
military graduates. Graduates of each college will then enter, marching behind a college-specific
ceremonial flag mounted on a pole (called a gonfalon). Master’s degree recipients will be followed
by bachelor’s degree recipients for each college.
Mentors will be seated to the left and right of the stage and graduates will be seated directly in
front of the stage by college. Military graduates will be seated in the first rows with master’s
degree recipients behind them and bachelor’s degree recipients behind the master’s grads.
Family members graduating together will be seated in the final rows so they may cross the stage
and receive their diploma covers together.
Note: If you and a family member are both participating in commencement and you have not yet
let us know, please do so now so that we may assign your seating accordingly.
Processional March
Stage Right (A)
Stage Left (B)
Stage Party (includes grad speakers)
Stage Party (includes grad speakers)
Faculty
Faculty
Veteran and Active Duty Military Graduates
Veteran and Active Duty Military Graduates
College of Business Gonfalon
Business Master’s Degree Recipients A
Business Master’s Degree Recipients B
Business Bachelor’s Degree Recipients A
Business Bachelor’s Degree Recipients B
College of Health Professions Gonfalon
Healthcare Master’s Degree Recipients A
Healthcare Master’s Degree Recipients B
Healthcare College Bachelor’s Degree Recipients A
Healthcare College Bachelor’s Degree Recipients B
College of Information Technology Gonfalon
IT Master’s Degree Recipients A
IT Master’s Degree Recipients B
IT Bachelor’s Degree Recipients A
IT Bachelor’s Degree Recipients B
Teachers College Gonfalon
Teachers College Master’s Degree Recipients A
Teachers College Master’s Degree Recipients B
Teachers College Bachelor’s Degree Recipients A
Teachers College Bachelor’s Degree Recipients B
Family members graduating together
Family members graduating together
Page 4
Commencement Schedule for Graduates (continued)
10:10 a.m. Ceremony Begins
The program begins with The National Anthem. Everyone will then take their seats. Chancellor
Floten provides a welcome address, followed by the commencement speakers.
Advisory Board Member, Major Gen. Lowenberg, will then present challenge coins to military
graduates.
The chancellor will first present the master’s graduate class for hooding, followed by bachelor’s
graduates. (Note: Specific instructions can be found on page 6 for master’s degree recipients and
page 7 for bachelor’s degree recipients.)
Near the end of the ceremony, the chancellor will announce a special social media opportunity for
graduates and their guests using cell phones. Closing remarks and the recessional will follow.
11:50 a.m. Recessional (time is approximate)
The stage party will lead the recessional, followed by mentors, military graduates, master’s
graduates, bachelor’s graduates, and family members graduating together. The stage party will
exit down the center aisle, followed by mentors. Once the last mentor passes the first aisle of
graduates, the graduates file from their row to the center aisle two rows at a time, joining the rows
on the other side of the aisle, forming a group of four abreast. Once everyone has left the row, the
next two rows should file out in the same fashion, followed by the next, until all have exited.
Graduates will exit stage right (between sections 101 and 120 on the diagram on page 4) and
proceed up to the main entrance on the second level to meet your guests.
After the Ceremony
Meet Your Mentor
Mentors are encouraged to proceed directly to the main entrance to meet their students.
Recycling Your Regalia
Page 5
Commencement Schedule for Graduates (continued)
You are welcome to keep your regalia. However, if you would like to dispose of your regalia, there
will be collection boxes in the lobbies near the information table and exit. Your gown, made from
recycled plastic bottles, will be recycled into products such as down comforter material for pillows
and blankets or carpet fibers.
Photographs
Grad Images will be photographing each graduate during the registration process, as they receive
their diploma and, for master’s degree recipients, as they are hooded. Those images will all be
available online for viewing/purchase within one week after the ceremony. Grad Images will
contact graduates directly by email with secure access to their photos.
Webcasting
The ceremony will be webcast, available for viewing during the ceremony and after at
http://washington.wgu.edu/commencement. The video will also be posted on YouTube, under
WGU Washington Commencement 2015.
Note: Still photography and video is taken at every commencement ceremony. A graduate’s
appearance and participation in the commencement ceremony is recorded on video and still
photography. WGU may use some of these images in its publications (student newsletter, alumni
newsletter, university newsletter, etc.) for informational purposes. If you do not wish to release
your image to WGU Washington for use, please notify photographers and film crews that you do
not wish to be photographed or interviewed (if requested) so that we may honor your intentions.
Page 6
Ceremony Instructions for Master’s Graduates
Instructions for Master’s Graduates with Hoods
1. Master’s degree recipients will be asked to rise for the conferral of degrees. Once the
chancellor has completed this conferral, she will ask Veterans, active duty military personnel
and student speakers to remain standing and all others may be seated until their row is
signaled by the usher to stand. Grads then come to the stage using the outside corridor to
reach the stairs, row by row in this order:
a) Group Health Cooperative student, Christina Lombardi, will approach the reader on
stage left. The student speaker, Theresa Slater, will proceed down the stairs to the
reader on stage right.
b) Veterans and active duty military personnel will line up next (as directed).
c) Successive rows: When prompted by a staff member (usher), rise and proceed to
either the left or right stairs (as directed). You will exit from the stairs at stage center.
2. At the foot of the stairs, hand your name card to the reader. You will be prompted when it is
your turn.
3. When prompted by the pacer, proceed onto the stage with your hood draped over your left
arm.
 Safety Note: Be careful walking up the stairs to be sure the sleeve of your gown does
not get hooked on the stair railing.
4. WGU Associate Provost Mitsu Phillips or Faculty Mentor Anthony Buchanan will place the
5.
6.
7.
8.
hood on each master’s graduate. As you approach your hooder, let him/her take your hood,
then turn to face the audience in front of the hooder. Bend your knees slightly to allow the
hooder to easily place the hood over your head. There will be a professional photographer
below the stage to capture this image. (Note: Graduates with long hair may wish to move
their hair out from under their hood once it has been placed.)
Move forward to receive your diploma cover and shake hands with Chancellor Floten or
Melissa Flores, Vice President of State Operations. There will be a professional
photographer below the stage to capture this image.
After the photo, proceed down the stairs, stage center. A WGU Washington alum will meet
you at the bottom of the stairs to present you with a special WGU Washington alumni pin.
Return to the row from which you started (entering from the center aisle, the opposite end
from which you exited to line up), find your original seat and be seated.
Do not sit in a row different than the one you started in. Do not leave any seats empty
between graduates.
Page 7
Ceremony Instructions for Bachelor’s Graduates
Instructions for Bachelor’s Graduates
1. At the completion of the master’s degree conferrals, Chancellor Floten will ask bachelor’s
degree recipients to rise for the conferral of degrees. She will ask Veterans, active duty
military personnel and student speakers to remain standing and other rows may be seated
until your row is cued by the usher. Then you come forward row by row.
a) Immediately after these comments, student speakers should proceed down the stairs
to the reader station, Jeremy Williams, stage right, and Dana Ralph, stage left,
present their cards to the reader and wait to be cued to proceed.
b) Veterans and active duty military personnel will use the stairs to the right or left side
of the stage (as directed).
c) Successive rows: When prompted by a staff member (usher), rise and proceed to the
either the left or right stairs (as directed). You will exit the stage from the front stairs.
2. Approach the stage and hand your name card to the reader. (See diagram below)
 Safety Note: Be careful walking up the stairs to be sure the sleeve of your gown does
not get hooked on the stair railing.
3. When prompted by the pacer, proceed onto the stage and move forward to receive your
diploma cover and shake hands with Chancellor Floten or Melissa Flores, Vice President of
State Operations. There will be a professional photographer below the stage to capture this
image.
4. After the photo, proceed down the front stairs. A WGU Washington alum will meet you at
the bottom of the stairs and present you with a special WGU Washington alumni pin.
5. Return to the row from which you started (entering from the center aisle, the opposite end
from which you exited to line up), find your original seat and be seated.
6. Do not sit in a row different than the one you started in. Do not leave any seats empty
between graduates.
Legend
R = Reader
P = Pacer
A = Assistant
H = Hooder
D = Diploma
Cover
Smiley Face =
Graduate
Page 8
Special Instructions for Veterans and Active Duty Military
Group Photo
Following registration, military graduates will have their group photo taken with Major General
Lowenberg (retired). Come to the stage area. This photo will take place on stage at 8:40 a.m.
Processional March
Veterans and active duty military will be recognized during the commencement ceremony. In
order to facilitate easy access to the stage, veterans and active duty military will process into the
hall as a group and will sit together in the front rows, regardless of degree. You will line up with
master’s degree recipients in front, followed by bachelor’s degree recipients. You will be
followed by the Business College gonfalon and graduates.
Special Recognition
Before conferring degrees, Chancellor Floten will introduce General Lowenberg. As he comes to
the podium, please rise together, turn to the outside corridor and process to the reading station
at the base of the stairs. Hand your coin ceremony card to the reader. When cued by the pacer,
proceed up the stairs to General Lowenberg who will present you with a WGU WA military coin
with a handshake and salute. Exit at stage center and proceed back to your original seat.
Crossing the Stage
The chancellor will ask all master’s degree recipients to rise for the conferral of degrees. Military
grads receiving master’s degrees should remain standing, then line up behind the student
speaker and special awardee, using the outside corridor as before. At the reader station they
should hand the reader their graduation card. When cued, each should proceed to the hooding
station to be hooded, cross the stage to the diploma station and receive the diploma cover, and
shake hands with the presenter. Then, the graduate should exit down the center aisle, enter
their row, find their seat and be seated, as outlined for master’s graduates on p. 6.
After all master’s graduates have been recognized, the chancellor will ask bachelor’s degree
recipients to rise for the conferral of degrees. Military grads receiving bachelor’s degrees should
remain standing and turn toward the outside aisle and proceed to the reader station, lining up
behind the student speaker who will be first in line. At the reader station they should hand the
reader their graduation card. When cued, each should cross the stage to the diploma station,
receive the diploma cover and shake hands with the presenter. Then, they should exit down the
center aisle, return to their row through the center aisle, and return to their original seat, as
outlined for bachelor’s graduates on p. 7.
Special Instructions for Student Speakers
Check In
Student commencement speakers should check in at the registration desk at 8:00 a.m., as
outlined on p. 3. Pick up your commencement card and have your picture taken, then come to
the VIP Reception in the Octane Room on Level 3.
Degree Conferral
Chancellor Floten will ask the master’s speaker, Theresa Slater, to start the hooding by lining up
at the reader station, stage right ,and handing her card to the reader. When she announces the
bachelor’s degree conferral, Jeremy Williams will go to the reader station, stage right, and Dana
Ralph, stage left, present their cards and wait to be introduced. Once you have received your
diploma cover, retake your seat on the stage.
Page 9
Important Notes and Reminders
 Graduate registration begins at 8:00 a.m. Please be on time to ensure we have ample
time to prepare for the ceremony.
 XFINITY Arena will begin to seat guests at 9:15 a.m. Have guests arrive between 9:15
and 9:45 a.m.
 Wear your caps and gowns to the XFINITY Arena. Master’s graduates should bring their
hood but not wear it.
 If you haven’t already, let us know if you are (1) in military service or a veteran, (2)
have a mobility or hearing impairment, (3) have another family member
participating in commencement, or (4) are an employee of Group Health
Cooperative by emailing us at [email protected].
 There will be a parking fee for your vehicle if you utilize the garage or parking lots. Some
lots are cash only. Come prepared with payment. Street parking is free, but there might
be a time limit.
 Special seating is available for hearing and mobility impaired guests. Ushers will be on
hand to help direct guests as needed.
 Please help us to keep aisles clear at all times to follow fire and safety regulations.
 Please bring your cell phone, but silence it during the ceremony. Be ready to tweet at
#wguwa2015. Have the mobile application installed beforehand. Remind your guests.
 Please ask your guests to come prepared to keep small children entertained and remove
crying children quickly to the concourse. The ceremony will be broadcast to monitors on
the concourse.
 The ceremony will be webcast and available for guests viewing remotely at
http://washington.wgu.edu/commencement.
 Questions? Contact: Debbie Buchanan, 206.673.8560, or [email protected]
Page 10
Directions & Parking
XFINITY Arena
2000 Hewitt Avenue #200
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 322-2600
Driving From the North
1. Take I-5 South to Exit #194 – US-2/Everett Avenue
2. Take the Everett Avenue ramp towards the City Center
3. Turn right onto Everett Avenue
4. Turn left onto Broadway Avenue
5. Turn right onto Hewitt Avenue
6. Entrance is at Hewitt and Oakes Avenue
Driving From the South
1. Take I-5 North to Exit #192 – Broadway (exit is now on the RIGHT side of the freeway)
2. The exit will take you onto Broadway Avenue heading North
3. Turn left onto Hewitt Avenue
4. Entrance is at Hewitt and Oakes Avenue
Driving From the East
1. Merge onto US-2 West
2. Turn slight left to take the I-5 South ramp toward Seattle/Everett/Hewitt Avenue
3. Take the ramp toward Hewitt Avenue/City Center
4. Turn slight right onto California Street
5. Turn left onto Maple Street/WA-529
6. Turn right onto Hewitt Avenue/US-2
7. Entrance is at Hewitt and Oakes Avenue
Driving From Everett Station (Sounder & Amtrak Trains)
1. Head north toward Hill Avenue
2. Slight left onto Hill Avenue
3. Turn left onto Pacific Avenue
4. Turn right onto Oakes Avenue
5. Take the 2nd right onto Hewitt Avenue
6. Destination will be on the right
7. Entrance is at Hewitt and Oakes Avenue
By Bus
Bus lines that have stops within a 3-block radius of the main XFINITY Arena entrance: 510, 512,
and 90X.
For more information, please visit King County Metro.
Driving from Best Western Plus Navigator Inn & Suites
1. Head northeast on Evergreen Way
2. Continue onto Rucker Avenue
3. Turn right onto Hewitt Avenue
4. Entrance is at Hewitt and Oakes Avenue
Page 11
Directions and Parking
XFINITY Arena
Parking Options near XFINITY Arena
The Snohomish County Parking Garage, located at Wall Street and Oakes Avenue, will be
available for parking. There are 1,200 spaces available; parking fee for the garage is $6 to $8.
There are also several thousand complimentary parking spaces within walking distance of the
arena. Please note that some street parking may have time limits.
Page 12
Directions and Parking
XFINITY Arena
Construction on Broadway Bridge
The closure of the Broadway Bridge is scheduled to start Thursday, Jan. 29, while crews begin
work to demolish and rebuild the 102-year-old bridge. During the project, Broadway Avenue will
be closed between Hewitt Avenue and California Street for approximately a year, and traffic will
be detoured around the work area.
Drivers will follow a signed detour using California Street, Virginia Avenue and Hewitt Avenue.
Signs will be posted advising drivers of the closure and detour routes. This work is weather
dependent and could be delayed if conditions change.
This construction should have little impact on the ceremony, but please be aware of the detours
if you are using Broadway Avenue. Drivers can follow construction progress and check
conditions on detour routes with new traffic cameras available on the project website. For
camera links, project details and detour maps, visit www.everettwa.org/Broadway.
Page 13
Pre-Commencement Mixer
Henry M. Jackson Conference Center, Everett Community College
Student Mixer
WGU Washington graduates and faculty are invited to attend the 2015 Commencement Mixer.
This is a great opportunity to mix and mingle with your fellow graduates and meet your mentors!
Register for the mixer on our commencement site.
Date
Friday, May 1, 2015
Time
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location
Henry M. Jackson Conference Center / Wilderness Auditorium
Everett Community College
2000 Tower Street, Building 8
Everett, WA 98201
•
•
•
Business Attire
Light Refreshments
Photo Booth and Design Hub to create fun
commencement social posts
Directions
From I-5 Southbound
1. Take Exit 198 and follow the highway south into Everett to Tower Street and turn right.
2. Follow Tower Street two blocks and continue left to the main college entrance and
campus parking to your right.
From I-5 Northbound
1. Take Exit 195 and turn left onto E. Marine View Drive.
2. Go one half mile to 16th Street and turn left.
3. Follow 16th Street to Broadway.
4. Turn right onto Broadway and continue to Tower Street and turn left.
5. Follow Tower Street two blocks and continue left to the main college entrance and
campus parking to your right.
From US 2 Westbound
1. Head West on the U.S. Highway 2 from Lake Stevens/Snohomish.
2. Take the exit toward Hewitt Avenue/Everett.
3. Turn right on Walnut Street.
4. Turn left heading west on Everett Avenue
5. Turn right heading north on Broadway (9 Blocks from Walnut St.).
6. Continue on Broadway to Tower Street and turn left.
7. Follow Tower Street two blocks and continue left to the main college entrance and
campus parking to your right.
From Downtown Everett
1. Take Broadway north to Tower Street and turn left.
2. Follow Tower Street two blocks and continue left to the main college entrance and
campus parking to your right.
Page 14
Pre-Commencement Mixer (cont)
Henry M. Jackson Conference Center, Everett Community College
Parking
Graduates, faculty, and guests attending the mixer will be provided with Everett Community
College event parking permits by email. Parking permits may be used in any lot on campus with
the exception of paid visitor parking. The Henry M. Jackson Conference Center is located in
building 8.
Campus Map
Page 15