We’re hoping for clear weather, but JUST IN CASE, please read through details of the rain plan for Saturday's undergraduate Commencement.
MUST DO: Students should pick up their two rain plan tickets in Alamance 109 (Office of Student Life) and get those tickets in the hands of those who will use the tickets if the rain plan is necessary.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?
Commencement will be held outdoors if conditions permit, and will proceed if there is light rain. Please be prepared with rain jackets or ponchos. Umbrellas will NOT be allowed. Find out more about Commencement at www.elon.edu/commencement
WHEN WILL A DECISION BE MADE ABOUT THE RAIN PLAN AND HOW WILL I FIND OUT?
The decision to implement the rain plan may be made at 8 p.m. on Friday and will be announced shortly thereafter. If the forecast changes overnight, the decision to implement the rain plan will be made by 6 a.m. Saturday and will be announced immediately.
The announcement will be made through the following methods:
- E-Net website http://www.elon.edu/e-net/
- Prerecorded telephone message at (336) 278-RAIN (7246)
- Elon’s Twitter account – twitter.com/elonuniversity
- Elon’s Facebook account – www.facebook.com/ElonUniversity
HOW DOES THE RAIN PLAN WORK?
In the event of rain, Elon’s undergraduate Commencement will be divided into two ceremonies to allow all students to receive their degrees in Alumni Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday, May 20.
The first ceremony for students receiving Bachelor of Arts degrees will begin in Alumni Memorial Gymnasium at 9:15 a.m. The second ceremony will begin at 1:15 p.m. for students receiving Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degrees.
The two ceremonies will have about the same number of graduates and the Commencement speaker will address students at both programs. For guests without rain plan tickets, Commencement exercises also will be streamed live online (www.elon.edu/live) and broadcast via closed-circuit television in the following locations:
- McCoy Commons, The Oaks
- McCrary Theatre, Center for the Arts
- Moseley Center/Lakeside
- Great Hall in the Global Commons
- McMichael Science Center
If the rain plan is implemented, the post-Commencement receptions will not be held.
WHAT IF THE RAIN STARTS AFTER COMMENCEMENT HAS BEGUN?
If the ceremony has begun outdoors and it begins to rain heavily or conditions are dangerous, the ceremony will move to Alumni Gym and will continue where it left off. Graduates will report to Jordan Gym and will march from there to Alumni Gym to receive their diplomas.
Due to limited space in Alumni Gym, family members with tickets will be seated on a first-come, first-seated basis as space allows. Family members with tickets who are not able to be seated in Alumni Gym will be sent to McCrary Theatre in the Center for the Arts and other campus locations. Families of graduates who have already received their diplomas are encouraged to not come to Alumni Gym to allow more space for those who have not yet received their diplomas.
All graduates will be photographed and videotaped regardless of where they receive their diploma.