EVENT	DATE, TIME & LOCATION	INFORMATION AND INSTRUCTIONS
Baccalaureate Dinner 5/03/13	5/03  5:00 p.m.                                 Franklin Hall	By Reservation Only Invitations mailed to parents by Senior Class
Baccalaureate Line-up and Dress	5/03  7:10 p.m.                            Vaughn Chapel	COME IN CAP AND GOWN Gather on sidewalk between Chapel bell tower and patio for Baccalaureate procession Dress:  Men should wear shirt, tie and dark shoes.  Women should wear skirt and blouse or dress and dark shoes. Honor Societies:  May choose to purchase and wear cordons, medals, etc.  If you choose to do this, please contact the following sponsors who will help you coordinate this with the Registrar's Office and the sponsor of your Honor Society.   Alpha Chi - Dr. Katherine Grimes                     Alpha Beta Pi – Dr. Edmond Hally           Alpha Delta Mu – Prof. Jennie West                Alpha Mu Gamma – Dr. Patricia Suppes    Alpha Psi Omega – Dr. Helen Prien                 Alpha Phi Sigma – Dr. William Osborne           Delta Tau Alpha – Dr. Kristen Robertson         Kappa Delta Pi – Dr. Mary Ann Norman   Kappa Pi –Prof. Jeff Dalton                              Lambda Sigma – Prof. Jason Sharp   Phi Alpha Theta - Dr. Milt Rowan                     Psi Chi - Dr. Sharon Stein
	5/03  7:30 p.m.                            Vaughn Chapel	Speaker:  The Reverend C. Wesley Astin, Jr., Dean of the Chapel Processional:  Ms. Betsy Smith Following the marshal assigned by Ms. Smith, process to reserved seats on each side of the main floor of the chapel.  No particular order is required for this processional; walk two abreast.  Male students should remove their caps just prior to being seated.
Senior Candlelight Ceremony	5/03	A special candlelight ceremony will follow immediately after the Baccalaureate Service.  Graduates will be directed by the Alumni Office to the Hart International Plaza for this ceremony.  You will be advised of further instructions, in the event of inclement weather.
COMMENCEMENT DAY (Saturday, 5/04/13)	5/04  10:30 a.m. (Line-up10:00)                 Lawn RAIN PLAN                                   GYMNASIUM	Commencement on Lawn is Open Seating                                                                                    No tickets required RAIN PLAN **GYMNASIUM** Reserved Seating                                                              Held Only Until 10:30 a.m. Up to five tickets per graduate (Graduates must pick-up in person (ID Required) from the Office of the VPAA, JWH 100, from April 8 – May 1.  Please review the attached RAIN PLAN Diagrams.  You must get these tickets to your family in advance of graduation.  Ushers will not be able to hold tickets for your family members.
Commencement Day Breakfast	5/04  7:15-9:00 a.m.                        Franklin Hall	Breakfast                                                                                                               $7.00 per guest, N/C to graduates
Class Photo	5/04  9:00 a.m.                            Vaughn Chapel RAIN PLAN                                                 GYM	Must Wear Cap and Gown Note:  Following the class photo, graduates should proceed immediately to line-up between the Chapel and Garber Hall Sun Room.
Cap, Gown & Hood Distribution	Caps, Gowns and Hoods were distributed March 21st.  Please contact Registrar immediately if you have not received these.	Because gowns are packaged, please improve their appearance by hanging them up as soon as possible.  The cap, gown and hood are yours to keep.
Diplomas	5/04                         Commencement Ceremony	The order of procession and the order of the granting of degrees will be strictly alphabetical.  You will be directed by marshals.  Please see the attached diagram for clarification.  (Note that instructions for last names beginning with A-M are on one side and Mc-Z are shown on the reverse side of your diagram.)   As you approach the President, be prepared to shake hands with your right hand and to receive your diploma with your left hand crossed above the right hand.  Photos will be taken of all graduates receiving their diplomas, so pause slightly for the photographer. You should remove non-prescription sunglasses prior to walking toward the President.   As soon as you return to your chair, please be seated.
SGA President, Senior Class President, Senior Speaker, and Award Recipients	5/04                         Commencement Ceremony	The award recipients will be notified during commencement line-up.  These individuals will be asked to sit in the reserved seating marked on the attached diagram.   The SGA President, Senior Class President, and Senior Speaker are asked to contact Sandra Prillaman in the VPAA’s Office, extension 4207, JWH 100, right away for special commencement instructions.
Dress for the Day	5/04                         Commencement Ceremony	MEN: 1.  Wear cap flat on your head 2.  Remove cap for invocation and replace after invocation.  Also, remove cap for benediction and replace for recessional. 3.  Tassels should be worn on the left side of the cap at all times. 4.  Wear light colored or white shirts with collar and tie, dark trousers (no jeans), socks, and dark polished street shoes. 5.  No flowers, jewelry, messages, name plates, etc., on the gowns or caps. WOMEN:  1.  Wear cap flat on your head 2.  Wear skirt and blouse or dress, and dark, polished street shoes.  (Flats are recommended due to being on the lawn.)  If you wear slacks, they must be dark -- no jeans. 3.  Tassels should be worn on the left side of the cap at all times. 4.  No flowers, jewelry, messages, name plates, etc., on the gowns or caps except for the designated regalia.
Behavior	5/04                         Commencement Ceremony	It is extremely important that all participants in the graduation ceremony remember that it is a significant occasion in the academic community and all persons are to avoid cheering or applauding friends or other graduates during the ceremony.  An appropriate time will be given in order to applaud for those graduating or receiving awards.  The success of these activities will depend, to a large extent, on your promptness.  Please appear at the designated times.
Lunch	5/04                                 On the Lawn between                         John Wesley Hall and the Lake/                                Garber Hall/Stanley Library	Meal tickets are being provided to the graduate, plus two guests, for the luncheon immediately following graduation.  (These will be distributed at the same time as your rain tickets.)  Additional tickets may be purchased at the time of the luncheon at the following rates:  Adults  $9.00; Children, ages 6-12 @ $5.00; Under age 6, no charge.

Dr. Timothy S. Mescon is the fourth president of Columbus State University. He assumed that responsibility in August 2008.  Currently Dr. Mescon serves as a trustee of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' Commission on Colleges. He is also a trustee at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts, chair of the board of the United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley (where he led the successful 2010 campaign), and a trustee of the Boy Scouts of America - Chattahoochee Council and the Fort Benning Futures Partnership Board. He also serves as an ally in the Circles Columbus Program. In 2012 and 2013, Georgia Trend magazine named Dr. Mescon one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians.