The School of Health Professions Commencement 2013

Commencement Activity Schedule

Location / Directions

Commencement 2013 for the University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Health Professions will occur at St. Mary’s University in the 3,500-seat Bill Greehey Arena. The St. Mary’s campus is located at One Camino Santa Maria, San Antonio, Texas 78228.

St. Mary’s University Campus map: http://www.stmarytx.edu/map/

Directions to St. Mary’s University

From Loop 410/ IH10 intersection

• Traveling west on Loop 410, take the Babcock exit
• Turn left onto Babcock Road
• Turn right onto Hillcrest Street (this turns into NW 36th Street closer to the campus)
• Stay on Hillcrest/NW 36th Street until you get to Bangor Street
• At Bangor Street, turn left into the St. Mary’s University campus.
• Turn right onto Rattler Drive
• At the next stop sign, you will see the Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center/Bill Greehey Arena on your left.

From Downtown San Antonio

• Traveling on IH10 West, take the Culebra exit
• Turn left onto Culebra Street
• Turn right onto NW 36th Street
• At Bangor Street, turn right into the St. Mary’s University campus.
• Turn right onto Rattler Drive
• At the next stop sign, you will see the Alumni Athletics & Convocation Center/Bill Greehey Arena on your left.

For questions regarding Commencement events, please contact the Office of Student Services, Student Life, at (210) 567-2654. Please do not contact St. Mary’s University.

Parking

All lots besides Lot J will be available to graduates and guests unless otherwise designated.  There is plenty of parking around the arena so this should not be a problem.  During rehearsals, Lots T, H, W & G will be available for our use.  These are all lots located within close proximity to the arena.

Lot J (to the right of the arena) will be reserved for platform party, faculty, and designated staff on Commencement day.  Individuals with permission to park in this lot will need a parking permit supplied by the Office of Student Life and distributed through the Dean’s Office.

Entrance to the Arena

Platform party, faculty, graduates – Enter through the East Entrance (off Lot J) Guests – Enter through the South Entrance (main Arena entrance)

Special Needs

Please inform Dr. Lisa McDougle, Associate Dean for Students, at (210) 567-4836 if you have any special needs not discussed here such as sign language interpreters, etc. She will do her best to accommodate those needs with enough advance notice.

Tickets

Tickets are not required to attend Commencement. The Bill Greehey Arena is spacious and we anticipate no difficulties in accommodating your family and friends.

Caps, Gowns, and Hoods

All Commencement 2013 participants are required to wear the appropriate regalia.  Regalia requirements differ for degrees and schools.  Participants can rent or purchase regalia from the University of Texas Health Science Center Bookstore.

Deadline to order regalia is March 29, 2103. No late orders will be accepted. Orders can be placed in person at the bookstore or on-line from Herff-Jones at www.herffjones.com/college/uthscsa.

Doctoral unit (cap/gown/tassel/hood) $73.98 + applicable tax
Master unit (cap/gown/tassel/hood) $64.98 + applicable tax
Bachelor unit (cap/gown/tassel/stole) $64.98 + applicable tax

For additional information, contact the Bookstore at (210) 567-2841 or visit them online at http://uthscsa.bncollege.com/.

Commencement Rehearsal

Commencement rehearsal is scheduled for Thursday, May 23, at 9:30 a.m. at the Bill Greehey Arena in the Alumni & Athletic Convocation Center on the St. Mary’s University campus, lasting around an hour to an hour and a half. Rehearsal is very important. Information about the Commencement day process and requirements will be covered during this time. Reviewing Commencement procedures and the arena’s layout ahead of time will help you to be better prepared for the actual event, allowing you to focus on the experience of your special day! Attendance at this event is strongly recommended.

Group Photos

Prior to rehearsal, graduates should plan for the group photo to take place on the steps at the East entrance to the building. The group photo will take place 30 minutes prior to rehearsal time. Please note that the actual location may change according to the photographer’s preference (because of lighting or other conditions). If the locations changes, we will make every effort to alert the graduates.

Commencement Procession

On Saturday, May 25, 2013, Graduates will gather in the Auxiliary Gym in the Bill Greehey Arena on St. Mary’s Campus promptly at 8:00 a.m. to don cap and gown regalia and begin organizing the processional line. Please do not be late. Please ask that your guest not accompany you to the staging area, but instead find appropriate seating in the arena. Faculty will assemble near the back of the Auxiliary Gym for robing purposes. Platform party will assemble in the Movement Studio for robing purposes.

The Auxiliary Gym and the Movement Studio are accessible via the east entrance of the building and will be clearly marked by directional signs. Dean’s Office staff will be on-hand to assist graduates and provide directions.

Once assembled and organized, the group will proceed to the arena’s stage. The processional will start promptly at 8:50 a.m. led by Dr. Lisa McDougle, Associate Dean for Students, School of Health Professions.

Regalia Rental Returns

Graduates who rented regalia will return it after the commencement ceremony ends. Representatives from the University Bookstore will be available in the staging area to receive the items. "Keeper" gowns do not need to be returned.

Programs

Programs will be distributed to the graduates and guests upon arrival at the Bill Greehey Arena.

Diplomas

Info coming soon!

Individual Photos

Sam’s Studio will be the official photographer for individual and group photos. To place an order, go to this site and click on Photos/Videos. http://studentservices.uthscsa.edu/CS_CommenceSched.aspx. A representative from their studio will be on site during rehearsal with additional order forms. Individual photos will be taken during the ceremony as each graduate walks across the stage.

Commencement DVDs

Commencement DVDs will be available for order through the Office of Student Life at a cost of $15. The deadline for orders is Friday, May 31, 2013. Check the Student Life Office website for more details.

For additional information concerning graduation/commencement, click on the following link from Student Services: http://studentservices.uthscsa.edu/CS_CommenceSched.aspx.