DENISON UNIVERSITY
Commencement Weekend 2012
May 12-13 — Granville, Ohio
Greetings from President Knobel
You are probably just as surprised as I that Commencement for the Denison Class of 2012 is right upon us.
It surely can’t have been nearly four years since I greeted the first-year students of 2008 at my front door and hosted them for a barbecue in the backyard of Monomoy Place! But, here they are, not only at the threshold of graduation from Denison but at the beginning of adult lives that will take them far beyond their college.
At Denison, we work hard to provide a celebratory setting for graduates, their families and their friends to observe this very important passage in life. I know Commencement will be a time for the graduates of 2012 to look back upon the special relationships forged with fellow students, faculty, and staff as well as upon the learning that has taken place both in and out of the classroom. It is also a time to look into the future, anticipating how these bonds and this education have prepared Denison men and women for productive, responsible, and rewarding lives.
I look forward to spending a Commencement weekend with you that celebrates both past and future, confident that it does not represent a real leave-taking from Denison. Alumni across the country have reminded me again and again of their enduring relationships with the college and their classmates. Denison graduates are never strangers to this “college on the hill”!
Dale Knobel
President
Commencement at Denison
The tradition at Denison of celebrating Commencement outdoors began nearly 50 years ago, giving students, faculty, parents and friends the opportunity to savor the beautiful campus on a spring day in Granville. For the past 12 years, weather permitting, the ceremony has been held on the Fine Arts Quadrangle on the lower campus with the graduates in caps and gowns marching two by two from Swasey Chapel. Students are seated alphabetically according to their degrees, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts, and those graduating with academic honors wear red, silver or gold shoulder cords symbolic of that recognition.
Schedule: Saturday, May 12
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. — First Baccalaureate
Swasey Chapel
2:30 - 4 p.m. — President’s Reception for graduates and their guests
Swasey Lawn
(Rain Site: Burton D. Morgan Center)
4 - 5 p.m. — Second Baccalaureate
Swasey Chapel
Schedule: Sunday, May 13
10 - 11:30 a.m. — The Faculty Coffee
Academic Quad
(Rain Site: Livingston Gymnasium)
12:30 - 3 p.m. — 171st Annual Commencement Exercises
Fine Arts Quad, Lower Campus
(Rain Site: Mitchell Recreation and Athletics Center)
Commencement Speaker
Ellen Gould Chadwick '75
Denison alumna Dr. Ellen Gould Chadwick '75 will serve as the college's 2012 Commencement speaker. Chadwick is the Irene Heinz Given and John LaPorte Given Chair in Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the associate director for the Pediatric, Adolescent and Maternal HIV Infection section of the Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
A specialist in infectious diseases and pediatric and adolescent HIV/AIDS, Chadwick is the chairperson of domestic and international protocols investigating the pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenomics and efficacy of new antiretroviral agents and approaches to therapy for HIV-infected infants. In response to the growth of pediatric AIDS in international settings, she has traveled to several African nations to train physicians about prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and the scale-up of antiretroviral therapy for HIV-infected children. And as associate chair for education at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chadwick oversees the education mission for the Department of Pediatrics.
President Knobel said of Chadwick, "We are proud of Denisonians who make a difference in our world. An education in the liberal arts is aimed at preparing women and men to identify human needs and to be resourceful in addressing those needs worldwide." He added, "Dr. Ellen Gould Chadwick is an exemplar of Denison graduates at their best."
Chadwick graduated from Denison University in 1975 with a bachelor of arts, with honors, in chemistry and earned her M.D. in 1979 from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. She has received numerous awards and honors, including the Chicago-Area Infectious Diseases Society Research Award; the Excellence in Care Award from the Children's Memorial Hospital HIV Team and Design Industries Foundation for AIDS (DIFFA); and the Earl J. Frederick Award for Team Leadership in Healthcare for Children.
Green Graduation Pledge
During Commencement, graduating seniors, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to don green ribbons signifying that they have signed the Graduation Pledge of Social and Environmental Responsibility.
The oath states, “I pledge to explore and take into account the social and environmental consequences of the decisions I make in my personal life and the actions that I take in my professional career. I will strive to continually better my community and the global society in which I live.”
The green ribbons will be handed out prior to Commencement on Sunday. For more information about how to participate in this worthy program, link to Denison’s Environmental Studies Green Graduation Pledge website.
Caps and Gowns
All graduates participating in Commencement must wear a cap and gown provided by the College at no charge. Regalia may be picked up at the Bookstore starting Wednesday, May 9. (Graduating seniors who are unable to attend Commencement should notify the registrar so their diplomas may be mailed. Please note that seniors who have not completed all their degree requirements may not participate in Commencement exercises.)
Graduation announcements may be ordered through the Denison Bookstore. A letter detailing information about regalia and announcements will be mailed to parents in February.
Baccalaureate
Baccalaureate is a multi-religious gathering for graduates and their guests. It celebrates the pluralistic community that comprises our college today, including its Protestant Christian roots. Swasey Chapel is near capacity for both identical programs on Saturday afternoon (1:30 and 4 p.m.), and seating is limited and unreserved. The President will host a reception between ceremonies from 2:30 until 4 p.m. on the Swasey Chapel Lawn. (Reception Rain Site: Burton D. Morgan Center)
Weather and Rain Site Information
Sunday events are held outdoors, weather permitting. In the case of inclement weather, Commencement will be held in the Mitchell Center and the Faculty Coffee will be held in Livingston Gymnasium. Guests are advised to check the Denison website after 7 a.m. the morning of Commencement for the location of the ceremony.
Because of the construction underway at the Mitchell Center, access to the building will be a challenge. We appreciate your understanding of the unusual circumstances the construction has created, and we will do our best to transport guests as quickly and smoothly as possible.
The Faculty Coffee
One of the most treasured of our Commencement traditions is this opportunity for graduates to introduce their families to their professors. Look for faculty members at designated locations for departments or programs on the Academic Quad. Refreshments will be served. Graduates are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity before the Commencement ceremony begins to enjoy a farewell visit with the men and women who have been so central to their Denison education.
Parking, Shuttle Service, Courtesy Carts
Because of limited parking near the Commencement site and on the village streets, remote parking at the Mitchell Recreation and Athletics Center is a necessity. Shuttle buses and courtesy carts will be running on Sunday starting at 9 a.m. and immediately following the ceremony to transport guests to and from their vehicles. Carts and shuttle buses will run between designated “Shuttle Stop” areas on campus. Denison is unable to provide shuttle bus service to and from Port Columbus International Airport and other off-campus locations.
Special-Needs Parking: Seniors will be notified about procedures to follow to accommodate family members or guests who need special consideration. Even if your car already has a handicapped sticker, your graduate must make arrangements to put your name(s) on the Commencement parking list. Courtesy carts will be available to assist family members from parking areas to event venues. Designated areas near the Commencement ceremony venue will be restricted for special needs parking and easy drop-off of special-needs guests near the seating area (vehicles identified by a “Special Needs” card issued by the Office of the President). Once parked, notify a courtesy cart attendant for assistance in moving from your car to the Fine Arts Quad.
Please link here for a printable campus map with shuttle stops.
Seating
Seating at Commencement is available on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required. There is no limit on the number of guests you may bring.
Special-Needs Seating: Special seating areas will be set aside to accommodate your special-needs or hearing-impaired guest and a companion. Seating in these areas is general and unreserved. Ushers will help guide individuals to the designated area, and they will be available to assist attendees in any emergency.
Commencement Programs - Digital Version Now Available
Ushers will distribute programs, one per person, starting at 11 a.m. Sunday morning. If you are in need of additional programs for your party, please tell an usher. We will do our best to accommodate your needs once everyone has received at least one program. The program also has been posted online in a downloadable PDF format for mobile devices. You can download the program now at denison.edu/commencementprogram or access it at the ceremony with a QR code reader. We encourage you to consider the environment and Denison's committment to sustainability by utilizing the digital version of the program during the ceremony.
Still Photography
To avoid blocking the view of other guests or obstructing the line of graduates, we ask that parents and family wanting to take close-up photographs with their own cameras use the designated area near the platform. University personnel will staff this area, and we ask that family members cooperate with our staff in the photo area. You will be able to order professional still photos featuring your graduate’s diploma presentation and posed shots during the ceremony. Ordering details about the still photos will be e-mailed to graduates’ Denison e-mail addresses by GradImages by Grad Trak. For more information, call 1-800-261-2576, e-mail service@gradimages.com, or see GradImages’ website at: www.gradimages.com. GradImages encourages graduates to pre-register at its website.
Bookstore, Slayter Hall and Curtis Dining Hours
University Bookstore Hours
Friday, May 11: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 12: noon - 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 13: 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
on Lower Campus or in the Mitchell Center
Slayter Hall Hours
Friday, May 11: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Snack Bar open Friday
Saturday, May 12: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Snack Bar open Saturday
Sunday, May 13: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Jazzman's open 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Sunday
Snack Bar closed Sunday
Curtis Dining Hall Hours
Seniors are on the Board Plan through Sunday morning. Families and guests are welcome to purchase meals.
Friday, May 11
Brunch: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Adults: $7.00, Children (ages 4-12): $3.00
Dinner: 5 - 6 p.m. — Adults: $8.00, Children (ages 4-12): $4.25
Saturday, May 12
Brunch: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Adults: $7.00, Children (ages 4-12): $3.00
Dinner: 5 - 6 p.m. — Adults: $8.00, Children (ages 4-12): $4.25
Sunday, May 13
Breakfast: 8:30 - 10 a.m. — Adults: $4.75; Children (ages 4-12): $3.15
On-Campus Accommodations
A limited number of University residence hall rooms will be available for families and guests the nights of May 11 and 12. Lodging rates of $50 per night (single occupancy) and $70 per night (double occupancy) include two single beds with sheets, pillow, pillowcase, blanket, towel, washcloth and soap.
To reserve residence hall rooms, please e-mail Conference Services at sussman@denison.edu or call 740-587-6461 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Space is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so please make your reservations promptly. There will be no refunds for reservations canceled after Monday, May 7, 2012.
Please note: All graduates must be moved out of their residence halls by 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 13.
Area Accommodations
Link here for an updated list of lodging in Granville and the surrounding area, including phone numbers and Web links.
Further Information
For further information, contact Joyce Meredith in the Office of the President:
Phone: (740) 587-6515
Fax: (740) 587-6764
E-mail: meredithj@denison.edu