Information for Family and Guests
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Otterbein hosts an annual commencement for students receiving degrees at the undergraduate level and an annual commencement for students receiving degrees at the graduate level.
The graduate ceremony will be held at 3:30 p.m. (doors open at 3:00 p.m.), Saturday, May 18 in Cowan Hall and will last approximately one hour.
In 2013, the undergraduate ceremony will be held at 12:00 p.m. (doors open at 11:00 a.m.), Sunday, May 19 in the Rike Physical Education Recreation Center and will last approximately two and one-half hours.
Detailed information is displayed on the remaining links of this commencement website.
Graduate Commencement - Saturday, May 18
| 3:00 p.m. | Doors to Cowan Hall Open - seating is first-come, first-served; there is no reserved seating |
| 3:00 p.m. | Hooding Process Begins - front lawn of Towers Hall; rain location is basement of Cowan Hall |
| 3:25 p.m. | Commencement March to Cowan Hall Begins - line forms at Roush Hall North Plaza (side lawn); rain location is basement of Cowan Hall |
| 3:30 p.m. | Commencement - Cowan Hall (concludes approx 4:30 p.m.) |
| Approx 4:30 p.m. | Reception for All- Roush Hall North Plaza (side lawn) |
Undergraduate Commencement - Sunday, May 19
| 9:00 - 9:45 a.m. | Baccalaureate - Cowan Hall |
| 9:45 - 11:30 a.m. | Commencement Brunch - Campus Center (tickets available online and at door). |
| 10:45 - 11:30 a.m. | Departmental Honors Pins (if applicable) distributed in front of Towers Hall if not received prior to commencement from the Department Chairperson |
| 11:00 a.m. | Doors to Rike Center Open - seating is first-come, first-served; there is no reserved seating |
| 11:15 a.m. | March Line-Up Begins - front lawn of Towers Hall; rain location is Clements Center |
| 11:30 a.m. | Commencement Concert, Otterbein University Alumni Band - Rike Center |
| 11:45 a.m. | Commencement March Across Campus Begins - line forms in front of Towers Hall; rain location is Clements Center |
| 12:00 noon | Commencement- Rike Center (concludes approx 2:30 p.m.) |
Baccalaureate Service
A Baccalaureate Service will be held at 9:00 a.m. in Cowan Hall on Sunday, May 19. Both undergraduate and graduate students and their guests are invited to attend. Members of the graduating class and faculty will constitute a major part of the program. Academic regalia and a procession are not part of the Baccalaureate Service.
Tickets
While tickets are not required for the graduate ceremony, they are required for the undergraduate ceremony. They must be requested by the graduating student and picked up in person by the graduating student. Extra tickets are not available. View the Rike Center layout for commencement.
Don't forget that commencement will be streamed live for virtual access to the ceremony starting at 12 noon EST and concluding around 2 p.m.
Order Brunch Tickets by May 8
A brunch will be held between the Baccalaureate Service and the Bachelor's Commencement on Sunday, May 19, from 9:45-11:30 a.m. for all graduates and their guests. Tickets are on sale in the Campus Center Office and are available online through May 8. The cost is $10 per person.
Parking
Family and guests may park in any campus lot. See the
campus map for the location of parking lots.
Special Needs Drop-Off for Undergraduate Commencement: Guests who would have difficulty walking from the parking lot to the Rike Center can be dropped off at the west doors of the Rike Center opposite Davis Annex. This entryway is closest to the area where special needs guests will be seated (which is in comfortable chairs directly behind the graduates on the main floor). Those with special hearing needs can be dropped off at the front of the Rike. This entryway is closest to the area where you will be sitting (which is at the front in bleacher seating). Map of the Rike Center special needs seating.
Special Needs Drop-Off for Graduate Commencement: The entrance to Cowan Hall is right off Grove Street so drop off is easy.
Additional Note :At the Rike, only one ticket holder is permitted to sit with a special needs guest due to space limitations and the need to accommodate other special needs families.
Lodging
Click here for area accommodations.
Professional Photographer
Grad Images is the University's official commencement photographer. Two pictures will be taken of each graduate who will then be contacted directly by Grad Images within one to two weeks after the ceremony. Grad Images may be contacted via their website or at 1-800-424-3686.
Need a graduation gift for your son or daughter? Buy a 2013 Sibyl Yearbook!
Don't miss out on this year's Otterbein University yearbook for your student. It's a great way for your student to cherish their college memories. Buy your yearbook online at jostens.com/yearbooks. Now through 4/30/2013, get the yearbook for $65.
Order online: www.jostens.com/yearbooks
Call Jostens toll free by phone: 866-282-1516
Or hard copy order form available in the Alumni Office M-F 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Questions? Contact: Yearbook@Otterbein.edu; Twitter - @OtterbeinSibyl