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Bachelor of Multi-Disciplinary Studies
University of Mississippi

Which ceremony you should attend

There are two ceremonies that our 2020 graduates are invited to participate in.

  1. The first ceremony you are invited to take part in is just for graduates from our degree programs.This is the ceremony where graduates are recognized individually and are called to walk across the stage and receive their diploma cover from the dean.  Any student graduating with a degree in Multi-Disciplinary Studies or University Studies would attend one of the ceremonies for “General Studies” (that is the title of our academic unit, under which we have multiple academic programs).  Our General Studies ceremony will take place in the Tad Smith Coliseum at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 7th.

  2. The second is a campus-wide convocation ceremony to take place in the Vaught-Hemingway football stadium at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 8th. This is a ceremony for graduates from all UM schools/degree programs and their guests. It usually lasts a little over an hour.  According to the schedule, if there is inclement weather, this ceremony will not take place as there is no building large enough to accommodate the expected number of attendees. 

Number of guests you can invite

Our graduates can invite up to 24 guests.  Tickets are no longer required for any ceremonies.  We continue to follow public health guidance and social distancing recommendations, and each graduate should adhere to the previous guest allotment determined by each school/college. View guest allotments and seating maps for all venues here (https://commencement.olemiss.edu/ticket-allotment-for-2020-graduates/).

Since ceremonies will not be ticketed, there will not be assigned seats, and guests are expected to follow social distancing recommendations of maintaining at least six feet from other households/families.

Cap and gown information

This information is on the UM commencement website at https://gradsupply.com/olemiss/.

Reader cards

This is the card that you will hand to the reader at the podium when it is your turn to cross the stage.  You will receive your reader card when you check in for the ceremony on May 7th.  Please be sure to fill in the requested information on the back of the card.  This is for the photographers to be able to send you your proofs a few days after the ceremony.

Honor Cords

Students who earned Latin honors have been submitted to the Office of the Registrar for listing of those honors in the university’s commencement program booklet.  If you have Latin honors (Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude or Summa Cum Laude on your reader card, you will be given a gold honor cord when you pick up your reader card).  Please note the university’s requirements for Latin honors in the current catalog at https://catalog.olemiss.edu/academics/regulations/honors.

Masks

As shared before, all Commencement 2020 attendees (graduates, guests and participants) must wear a mask at all times in all indoor venues. Additionally, in outdoor venues, everyone should wear a mask upon entry and while moving throughout outdoor venues. Masks may be removed once seated at outdoor venues.

Parking for the General Studies ceremony

If bringing their own separate vehicle, graduates are encouraged to park in the lots surrounding the Robert C. Khayat Law Center (see UM map at https://map.olemiss.edu/).  Guest parking will be available in all lots surrounding the Tad Smith Coliseum.

Checking in at the General Studies ceremony

GRADUATES

Arrival time: You should arrive at the Tad Smith Coliseum no more than 1 hour prior to your ceremony and no less than 30 minutes prior to your ceremony.

Entering the Tad Smith Coliseum:  Graduates should enter on the East side of the Tad Smith Coliseum through the roll-up door entrance located below door #3.  There will be a large white tent outside of the roll-up door for graduates to enter and check in before proceeding to the floor.  Only graduates will be allowed onto the floor level.

Check-in tables:  We will have tables set up in the graduate entry area where you can pick up your reader card and honor cords (for those who graduated with Latin honors).

GUESTS

Arrival time: Guests should arrive at the Tad Smith Coliseum no more than 1 hour prior to the ceremony and will enter through the front doors of the facility.

Graduate seating

There will be no processional.  Graduates will be directed to a seating area in front of the stage and can sit anywhere in the rows designated for their degree program (University Studies in the front and Multi-Disciplinary Studies in the rows behind them).  You do not need to sit in alphabetical order but must fill in the seats for your degree program.

Your turn on the stage

  • Our staff will guide students to the stage one row at a time, starting from the back.
  • Bring your reader card with you and hand it to the reader at the podium when it is your turn to be announced.
  • If your name is often mispronounced, be sure to lean over and whisper the correct pronunciation to the reader when you hand her the card.
  • The dean will hand you your diploma cover but will not be shaking hands.
  • When you exit the stage, you will be direct to exit the building through the same door in which you entered. There will be a photo backdrop as you exit where the photographers will take a photo of you without your mask.
  • Your guests will exit at the front of the building after you have walked across the stage.
    You will meet up with your guests at the front of the coliseum.
  • There will be a photo backdrop for you to take pictures and a Penske truck in which you will deposit your rental attire.
  • Please take your photos quickly and then depart to help maintain social distancing outside the building and to alleviate traffic/parking for the ceremony that will follow yours.

QUESTIONS? 

If you have any questions, please email us at generalstudies@olemiss.edu or call us at 662-915-3787.  And please remember to keep checking the UM commencement website regularly for updated information.