Olivet College will celebrate its 2008 commencement exercises Saturday, May 17. Baccalaureate begins at 11 a.m. in the Olivet Congregational Church and the commencement ceremony begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Cutler Athletic Complex. In case of inclement weather, commencement will be held in the Upton Center.

If there is potential for commencement to be held in the Upton Center, the college will distribute four event tickets to each graduating students at rehearsal Friday, May 16. Tickets that are not picked up by students by 5 p.m. on Friday will be available for pick up the morning of commencement in the Kirk Center from 9 a.m. to noon. At noon, any additional tickets left over will be available on a first come, first served basis. Tickets can be used by graduating seniors’ friends and families to gain entrance to the Upton Center beginning at noon. Overflow seating will be available in the Mott Auditorium with the graduation ceremony airing via closed-circuit television.

The Cutler Athletic Complex is a handicap accessible facility, and a sign language interpreter and special seating will be available for those who are hearing impaired. For more information on the facilities or to report special needs, please click here.

Parking is available directly across the street from the Cutler Athletic Complex.

For more information about commencement, please call the Registrar at (269) 749-7638 or the Office of Academic Affairs at (269) 749-7618.

Senior Check-off Form
Handicap accessibility
2008 graduation requirements
Teacher Certification candidates
Applying for graduation
Ordering your announcements, cap and gown
Rehearsal
Graduation

Handicap accessibility

• Handicap accessible parking is available in the lot adjacent to the football stadium home bleachers. A state of Michigan disability parking placard or license plate is required for access to this area.
• Special seating is available in the front section of the bleachers for guests in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. Due to space restrictions, only one family member is allowed to escort the guest.
• An American Sign Language interpreter will be located on the commencement platform. Hearing-impaired guests are permitted in the VIP seating area with one guest. For more information or to make arrangements, please contact Shannon Tiernan, director of foundation relations and special events, at (269) 749-7164.

Graduation Requirements

Congratulations Olivet College seniors! As you prepare for commencement, please keep in mind the following graduation requirements:

• Complete a minimum of 120 semester hours of academic credit
• Complete all course requirements for your major
• Non-teacher candidates are not required to complete a minor
• Complete both liberal arts core curriculum requirements and The Olivet Plan requirements
• Validated Graduation Portfolios are part of The Olivet Plan and therefore are a requirement for graduation. If you don’t complete this process by noon on May 16, you will not graduate.
• Maintain a minimum 2.00 cumulative grade point average (GPA) and also a 2.00 in your chosen major and/or minor
• Students seeking teaching certification must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.50 overall.
• Graduation rehearsal is Friday, May 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Mott Auditorium. Rehearsal is mandatory.
• Graduation honors are figured by averaging your GPA from all institutions attended. If your average is above 3.50, you will qualify for graduation honors.
• Caps, gowns, invitations, etc. are handled through the Olivet College Bookstore. 
• There is not a limit regarding how many family members can attend the commencement ceremony, unless the ceremony is held in the Upton Center. 
• Your diploma will include your name (as appears on your graduation application), name of the college, the type of degree you are receiving (Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Music Education or Master of Arts in Teaching), and the graduation date. Major and minor information is not listed on your diploma, but it will appear on your final transcript.

Teacher certification candidates

• Teacher certification candidates are not required to wear a cap and gown for the commencement ceremony.
• You will meet Tom Sampson, Education Department chair, at 1 p.m. in the Cutler Athletic Complex and walk together to the VIP seating area at 1:25 p.m.
• You do not march in with the Bachelor of Art and Master of Arts in Teaching candidates, but will be recognized as part of the ceremony.

Applying for graduation

• Work with your advisor(s) regularly to meet graduation requirements.
• Complete any necessary paperwork needed through the Registrar’s Office:  i.e. major/minor declaration forms, substitution forms, etc.
• Click here to complete a Senior Audit Request Form. This form must be returned to the Registrar’s Office.
• Meet with the Registrar’s Office to review your senior audit.
• If you have coursework from other institution(s), Advanced Placement courses, or national insurance exams, make sure the Registrar’s Office has an official transcript from each institution. Please note, these transcripts must be sent through the mail to be official.
• Click here to complete an Application for Graduation. You can take this form to the Registrar’s Office during your audit appointment.
• Take care of any outstanding balances with the Student Administrative Services Center to ensure you receive your diploma during commencement.

Ordering your announcements, cap and gown

• Personalized graduation announcements can be ordered from the Olivet College Bookstore at any time. They are $2 a piece and sold in increments of 10. There is a $2 handling fee for announcements shipped directly to the bookstore, $6 if they are shipped to your home.
• To have your cap and gown in time for commencement, they must be ordered by May 1. Visit the Olivet College Bookstore for more details.

Rehearsal

• Commencement rehearsal is Friday, May 16 from 2 to 4 p.m. in Mott Auditorium.
• Instructions regarding marching order, seating and program details will be covered at this mandatory event.
• If commencement will need to be held in the Upton Center due to inclement weather, four tickets will be distributed to each graduating student at rehearsal to distribute to their friends and family. Tickets that are not picked up by students by 5 p.m. on Friday will be available for pick up the morning of commencement in the Kirk Center from 9 a.m. to noon. Overflow seating will be in Mott Auditorium.

Graduation

• The Olivet College Bookstore will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Baccalaureate begins at 11 a.m. in the Olivet Congregational Church; line-up starts at 10:30 a.m. in the lower level of the Mott Academic Center.
• Chartwells will be serving brunch in the Kirk Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Commencement begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Cutler Athletic Complex; line-up begins at 12:45 p.m. at The Cutler Athletic Complex. In case of inclement weather, line-up will still begin at 12:45 p.m. in MacKay Gymnasium.
• Parking is available in numerous lots adjacent to the Cutler Athletic Complex. Parking will be marked the day of commencement.