Date: Thursday, May 15, 2008
Time: 5:00 ~ 6:00 Social Hour
6:00 ~ Ceremony          
Place: Woodward Center

Thursday, May 15th, 2008, the Division of Graduate and Continuing Education will host Westfield State College's Graduate Commencement for students receiving Master's Degrees and Certificates of Advanced Graduate Studies. The event will take place in the Woodward Center. The evening will begin with a reception from 5:00 to 6:00, refreshments will be available. The ceremony will start promptly at 6:00 and is expected to last approximately 90 minutes. Candidates will receive a formal invitation in April, however, are encouraged to save the date and make the appropriate arrangements outlined below at this time.

The Graduate Commencement is a recognition of academic accomplishment and an opportunity for graduates to celebrate with family, friends and faculty. As part of the Commencement proceedings, graduate students will have their academic hoods donned from the Dean of the Graduate School and an invited faculty member. The hood is placed over the graduate's head, signifying the completion of the graduate program of study. Graduate students will have the opportunity to briefly recognize those individuals who provided support during their graduate education (optional). Graduates are asked to limit their guests to about 5. Please note that the ceremony is longer than the attention spans of most small children. All faculty are invited to attend this ceremony, however, only faculty who have been asked by a graduate to don the hood are required to wear academic regalia. All graduates must wear academic attire. A professional photographer will take pictures of each candidate as they are hooded.

Graduate students who have received a Masters degree in August 2007, or January 2008, as well as graduate students who will have fulfilled all requirements for their degree in May 2008 are encouraged to attend. Graduate students: Please see What You Need To Do Now (outlined below) to participate in this important and momentous ceremony.

What You Need To Do Now:

1. Please contact Louise Thompson via email (lthompson@wsc.ma.edu) or phone (413) 572-8024 with your name, student ID, full address, email, phone, masters program and (expected) term of graduation. This ensures that you will receive the formal invitation and further information on the event. If you or your guests are wheelchair-restricted, sight, or hearing-challenged, please include this information so we may plan appropriate accommodations. An estimate as to the size of your guest party would be appreciated.
2. Please invite a faculty member to assist the Dean in the Academic Hooding Ceremony. The faculty member may be the candidate's advisor or another faculty member of the candidate's choice. If you are not sure how to contact a faculty member, Louise Thompson will be able to assist you.
3. To participate, you MUST wear academic regalia, which includes cap with tassel, gown, and carry a hood to be donned at the event. The WSC Bookstore will outfit you with the appropriate regalia from late April through May 3rd. The regalia must be purchased no later than May 3rd. It will cost approximately $50.00. Westfield State College Bookstore Hours Monday  Thursday 8:30 - 5:00 Friday 8:30 - 4:00 Saturday 11:00 - 3:00
4. Please nominate a faculty member for the John F. Nevins Outstanding Educator Award, to be given during the Academic Hooding Ceremony. Nomination forms can be requested through Danielle Bramucci (dbramucci@wsc.ma.edu).

Participation in the Graduate Commencement will mean you have completed all requirements outlined in your graduate program of study. You will adorn attire steeped in ancient tradition. Today's academic dress has its origins in the clerical attire worn by medieval scholars. The hood at that time was meant as a head covering during bad weather. The hood evolved over the years, becoming a small cape attached to the robe, and finally a draping separated from the robe. It entered this country through King's College (now Columbia) in colonial New York. The custom grew so rapidly that in 1894, an American Intercollegiate Commission standardized the style and color of robes and hoods. Whereas hooded regalia began as an academic dress for all students, it evolved to distinguish and signify the regalia of graduate students only. We look forward to witnessing you formally receive your academic hood, becoming a part of this tradition, and officially graduating.