DENISON UNIVERSITY
Commencement Weekend 2013
May 11-12 — Granville, Ohio
A Message from President Knobel
You are probably just as surprised as I that Commencement for the Denison Class of 2013 is right upon us.
It surely can’t have been nearly four years since I greeted the first-year students of 2009 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 2013 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 13 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 11
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 12
10 - 11:30 a.m. — The Faculty Coffee
Academic Quad
(Rain Site: Livingston Gymnasium)
12:30 - 3 p.m. — 172nd Annual Commencement Exercises
Fine Arts Quad, Lower Campus
(Rain Site: Mitchell Recreation and Athletics Center)
Commencement Speaker
President Dale Knobel
Retiring University President Dale T. Knobel will serve as the keynote speaker at Denison's 172nd commencement exercises. During President Knobel's 15-year tenure as president, Denison has reached and surpassed important milestones in enrollment and fundraising, and has expanded and modernized a number of key facilities. A leading national liberal arts college, Denison has seen an increase in the profile of both its students and faculty.
At the ceremony, Dr. Knobel's service to the college will be recognized with the conferring of the honorary doctoral degree, Doctor of Letters, honoris causa.
Dr. Knobel has served since 1998 as the 19th president of Denison University. Among his numerous honors and recognitions, he was recently awarded the 2012 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Chief Executive Leadership Award for its District V. The distinction was given in honor of Knobel's "outstanding leadership and service in support of education.
In the nomination letter to the CASE selection committee, Denison Board of Trustees Chair Thomas Hoaglin, a member of the Denison class of 1971 and retired chief executive officer and director of Huntington Bancshares, noted "Denison University and its stature have risen to new heights during the last 15 years of Dr. Knobel's presidency. Denison is recognized as having a robust and well-managed endowment with a large base of supporters, a rigorous course of study and an outstanding faculty, and is the first choice for many of the most motivated and talented students entering college."
Under President Knobel's leadership, Denison completed an ambitious "Higher Ground" comprehensive campaign, which generated $178 million for student aid, endowed faculty positions, extensive new campus facilities, and both curricular and student life programming. The college's student/faculty ratio now stands at 10 to 1.
President Knobel has been a champion of several causes both on and off campus. He is an ardent proponent of student and faculty diversity, sustainable operations, the advancement of women in higher education and promotion of the liberal arts, traveling as far as England and Saudi Arabia to discuss the benefits of such a model with educational leaders in Europe and the Middle East.
A scholar of United States history, Dr. Knobel is a widely published expert on the subject of immigration, as well as ethnic and race relations in North America. He is the author or co-author of books dealing with ethnic stereotypes and anti-immigrant hostility.
Dr. Knobel came to Denison from Southwestern University in Texas, where he was provost and dean of the faculty. Previously, he had served at Texas A&M University as associate provost for undergraduate programs and as executive director of honors programs. He is the recipient of Texas A&M's Distinguished Achievement Award.
Having earned his bachelor of arts cum laude in history from Yale University in 1971, President Knobel holds a Ph.D. in history from Northwestern University (1976). He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
President Knobel serves as chair of Ohio Campus Compact, the collegiate service-learning consortium; as past chair of the Great Lakes Colleges Association; as past president of the North Coast Athletic Conference; and as trustee of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio. Following a term on the NCAA Division III President's Council, Dr. Knobel joined the NCAA Division III Membership Committee. Knobel is currently in his second term of service on the American Council of Education's Commission on Women in Higher Education, and in 2010 he was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
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, Diplomas
All graduates participating in Commencement must wear a cap and gown provided by the College at no charge. Regalia may be picked up during the Senior Fair held on Monday and Tuesday, May 6 and 7, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the second floor of Slayter. (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-faith 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.
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 and in the village. 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
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. You are encouraged to recycle extra programs after Commencement in one of the marked receptacles that will be located around the Commencement area.
In addition, we have made a digital version of the program (PDF format) available so that it can be downloaded to tablets and smartphones for use at the ceremony. You are encouraged to use the this version, which can be accessed at denison.edu/commencementprogram
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. This area will be staffed by university personnel, 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 10: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 11: noon - 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, May 12: 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
on Lower Campus or in the Mitchell Center
Slayter Hall Hours
Friday, May 10: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Snack Bar open Friday
Saturday, May 11: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Snack Bar open Saturday
Sunday, May 12: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Snack Bar closed Sunday
Jazzman's open 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. on Sunday
Curtis Dining Hall Hours
Seniors are on the Board Plan through Sunday morning. Families and guests are welcome to purchase meals.
Friday, May 10
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 11
Brunch: 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. — Adults: $7.00, Children (ages 4-12): $3.00
Dinner: 5:30 - 7 p.m. — Adults: $8.00, Children (ages 4-12): $4.25
Sunday, May 12
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 10 and 11. Lodging rates of $50 per night (single occupancy) and $70 per night (double occupancy) plus 7% tax 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 6, 2013.
Please note: All graduates must be moved out of their residence halls by 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 12.
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